Policy Purpose & Scope
This policy outlines expectations and procedures for remediation of courses and threads, including block and clerkship failures within the medical student education program curriculum. The policy is intended to ensure fair, consistent, and transparent processes while supporting student success and maintaining academic standards.
Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Alignment
This policy aligns with standards established by the LCME, including but not limited to:
- Element 9.9 Student Advancement and Appeal Process
- Element 10.3 Policies Regarding Student Selection/Progress and Their Dissemination
- Element 11.6 Student Access to Educational Records
This policy ensures that criteria for academic progression are clearly defined, consistently applied, and that students are afforded appropriate review and due process through the Student Progress Committee (SPC).
Foundations Phase: Course Failures and Thread Deficiencies
A. For Terms 1 and 2 (July-June of First year)
Students who fail up to one (1) course (block) and one (1) thread OR students who fail two (2) threads are automatically allowed to remediate during the Summer Quarter (Resource: Foundations Remediation). The Assistant Dean for Basic Sciences will notify the student and provide a formal remediation plan. Students may request to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) from the Office of Student Affairs and retake failed course/thread with a subsequent cohort.
Students who have more fails than presented in the paragraph above will be reviewed by the Student Progress Committee (SPC). The SPC may permit remediation, require repetition of failed coursework with the next cohort or require a dismissal consideration interview.
B. Term 3 (Fall of Second Year)
Students without outstanding course/thread failures who fail up to one (1) course and one (1) thread OR students who fail two (2) threads are automatically allowed to remediate during the Winter quarter. The Assistant Dean for Basic Sciences will notify the student and provide a formal remediation plan. Students may request to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) from the Office of Student Affairs and retake failed course/thread with a subsequent cohort.
Student who have outstanding course/thread failures from Term 1 or 2 who fail one course or thread in Term 3 will be reviewed by the SPC. Students who have more fails than presented in the paragraph above will be reviewed by the SPC. The SPC may permit remediation, require repetition of failed coursework with the next cohort, or require a dismissal consideration interview.
C. Failure of Remediation or Repeated Coursework
Students who fail a course remediation or a course retake will be reviewed by SPC. The SPC may permit an additional course attempt or require a dismissal consideration interview.
Students who fail a thread remediation will be reviewed by SPC. The SPC may permit an additional remediation attempt or require a dismissal consideration interview.
Remediation of the following Foundations courses will be arranged by the Course/Thread Director without a SPC review:
- Foundations of Clinical Medicine (FCM)
- Foundations Integration Weeks 1-3
- Medicine, Health & Society (MHS)
- Consolidation
- Transition to Clerkships
- Triple I
- Independent Study
- Advanced Step 1 Study
Failure of the remediation course will results in SPC review. The SPC may permit a second remediation attempt, require LOA with retakes, or require a dismissal consideration interview.
D. Progression Requirement
Students must pass all Foundations Phase coursework, including required remediations, prior to taking USMLE Step 1.
E. Retake Policy
Students approved to retake courses with a subsequent cohort may be required to repeat additional coursework previously passed if recommended by SPC.
Clinical Phase: Clerkship Failures
A. Clerkship Course Failures
Students who fail one course (clerkship) may repeat it without SPC review; however, a student who is or has been on probation or had to repeat any Foundations Phase course or failed Step 1 will be reviewed by SPC. Students who fail two courses (clerkships) or the same course (clerkship) twice will be reviewed by SPC. SPC may permit repetition of failed coursework or require a dismissal consideration interview. Students repeating a course (clerkship) failure must repeat the same course requirement but may do so at a different site at the discretion of the course (clerkship) director.
B. Clerkship Examination Failures
Student must follow the Clinical Curriculum re-examination policy.
C. Progression Requirement
Students must pass all Patient Care Phase required courses (clerkships) and clerkship examination prior to taking USMLE Step 2.
Documentation and Referral Procedures
A. Documentation of Remediation
Any remediation or retake of a course, thread or clerkship examination will be documented in a formal letter and placed in the student’s academic progress file.
B. Discretionary Referral to Student Progress Committee (SPC)
The Assistant Dean for Basic Sciences, Assistant Dean for Clinical Curriculum, Associate Dean for Curriculum or Clinical Competency Committee (CCC) chair may request a review by SPC of any student based on concerns such as low performance, low participation, or concerning evaluations. Students not meeting milestone expectations as determined by the CCC for level of training will be recommended for a review by SPC.
C. Probation
The SPC is responsible for reviewing students and making recommendations regarding progression, remediation, LOA, or dismissal. (11. Student Progress Committee Policies, Principles and Guidelines)
Oversight
The Student Progress Committee (SPC) is responsible for reviewing students and making recommendations regarding progression, remediation, LOA, or dismissal.
Related Policies
Related Student Information & Resources
Policy Info
- Policy Owner: Vice Dean for Academic Affairs
- Policy Category: Assessment, Evaluation, Exams and Grading
- Authorized Individual(s) or Governing Bodies: Faculty Council on Academic Affairs, Curriculum Committee
- Effective Date: July 1st, 2026
- Last Review Date: June 12th, 2026
- Policy Contact: Office of Educational Quality Improvement (eqi@uw.edu), Office of Curriculum ( somgov@uw.edu)