Body
Unit Policy
Title
School of Medicine: Translational Education at Carolina (TEC) 2.0 Foundation Phase Remediation and Make-up Policy
Introduction
Purpose
This Policy establishes the Remediation and Make-up structure and standards for Foundation Phase courses, including the Medical Science courses, Patient Centered Care (PCC) courses, and Social and Health Systems (SHS) courses.
Scope
This Policy applies to all University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (University) School of Medicine (SOM) Medical Doctorate (MD) Program students (“Students”) in the Foundation Phase the TEC 2.0 curriculum (“Curriculum”). This Policy also applies to Foundation Phase course directors, including Medical Science course directors, PCC course directors, and SHS one (1) – SHS three (3) course directors.
Policy
Policy Statement
A Student requiring Remediation or Make-up of a Foundation Phase course must do so during the designated Remediation/Make-up Blocks. There will be two (2) Make up/Remediation Blocks in the summer (June and July) and two (2) in the winter (January and February). Remediation/Make-up Blocks for first-year Students will occur during the summer (June and July) between their first and second years of the Foundation Phase. Remediation/Make-up Blocks for second-year Students will occur during the winter (January and February) following the end of the Foundation Phase.
All Medical Science courses must be remediated in chronological order. A Medical Science course Remediation may not span both Remediation/Make-up Blocks. Only one (1) Medical Science course may be completed during a Make-up Block. A maximum of two (2) Medical Science courses can be Remediated during the summer or winter. In the case of Make-up only (not Remediation), SHS and PCC courses may be made up at the discretion of the course directors, in conjunction with a Medical Science course during a given Remediation/Make-up Block.
Each Remediation/Make-up Block will have a maximum of five (5) exam days available to be used for proctored exams required as part of the Medical Science courses; the fifth exam day is a Make-up day only. The Medical Science course directors will assign exam dates for the Medical Science courses. If Students are unable to take exams on the specified days due to unexpected circumstances (e.g., acute illness), they must contact Student Affairs. This will result in the Make-up exam day being used for a Student’s last exam of the block. A maximum of one (1) test can be completed on a Make-up day. Failure to complete the Remediation or Make-up course during a single block will result in a failure of the course. In the case of Remediation, Students will then have two (2) failures on their transcript for that course. In the case of Make-up, Students will receive one (1) failure on their transcript for that course. All Students who have registered failing course grades are reviewed by the Student Progress Committee (SPC).
Components of Medical Science Make-Ups:
- All components of the original course EXCEPT for anatomy and microbiology practical exams will be included in the final grade calculation. Students will receive credit for previously completed components.
- The percentage of the components not included in the Make-up course (i.e., microbiology/anatomy practical exams) will be divided equally between the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) exams for the courses.
- The passing threshold for the course during the Remediation period will be the same as the passing threshold for that course during the academic year.
Components of the Medical Science Remediations:
- Seventy-five percent (75%) NBME and twenty-five percent (25%) clinical reasoning exam (latter to be graded by Case-Based Learning (CBL) directors or facilitators).
- Problem sets, CBL cases and recordings of sessions, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) recordings will be available for review but not included in grade calculations.
- The passing threshold for the course will be the same as the passing threshold for that course during the academic year.
Components of PCC and SHS Remediations AND Make-Ups:
- Course directors of PCC and SHS courses will communicate with Students directly regarding specific components of Make-ups and Remediations. PCC exam schedules will be determined by the Simulation, Experiential Learning, and Training (SET) Center.
Completion of the Foundation Phase:
- Students who fail a Remediation or Make-up OR do not complete a Remediation or Make-up by the end of the applicable block will only be allowed to continue in the Curriculum if permitted by the SPC. Please note that students who are Decelerated by the SPC will be required to join the MS1 Orientation on the first day of MS1 Orientation.
- All Foundation Phase courses must be completed and passed before Students are permitted to take USMLE Step 1 and begin the Application Phase.
Definitions
Simulation, Experiential Learning, and Training (SET) Center: A dedicated facility where learners practice clinical skills, decision-making, and teamwork in realistic, controlled environments using tools like mannequins, standardized patients, and virtual simulations, allowing safe, hands-on learning without risk to real patients.
Decelerate, Deceleration: An alternative distribution of the preclinical courses that allows Students to complete the first- and second-year curriculum in three (3) years. Deceleration may allow Students to decompress their curriculum or repeat a course (or courses) in which they have deficiencies or failing grades. Deceleration must be approved by the SPC.
Medical Science course: There are nine Medical Science courses in the Foundation Phase; three (3) delivered in each of the three (3) semesters of the phase. All Students are required to take and pass these courses.
Patient Centered Care (PCC): There are three (3) PCC courses in the Foundation Phase; one (1) delivered in each of the three (3) semesters of the phase. All Students are required to take and pass these courses.
Social and Health Systems (SHS): There are three (3) SHS courses in the Foundation Phase; one (1) delivered in each of the three (3) semesters of the phase. All Students are required to take and pass these courses.
Remediation: Remediation refers to the process by which SOM provides additional instruction, support, and interventions to Students who Fail (F) a course.
Make-up: Make-up refers to the opportunity given to Students to complete courses that they were unable to complete due to absences.
Remediation/Make-up Block: Remediation/Make-up Block refers to a defined period during which a course can be remediated or made up.
Foundation Phase: The first eighteen (18) months of the medical school curriculum comprised of:
- Nine (9) Medical Science courses (three per semester)
- Three (3) semesters of Patient Centered Care (PCC)
- Three (3) semesters of Social and Health Systems (SHS)
Application Phase: The twelve (12)-month phase of the medical school curriculum dedicated to core clinical experiences, beginning in March and ending in February of the following, year consisting of:
- Three (3) clinical courses:
- Care of Specific Populations
- Community Based Longitudinal Care
- Hospital, Interventional, and Surgical Care
- One (1) longitudinal course:
- Social and Health Systems 4
Related Requirements
Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Name: Heather Tarantino, Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs
Email: Heather_Tarantino@med.unc.edu
Other Contacts
Name: Kathleen Barnhouse, Assistant Dean for Preclinical Curriculum
Email: Kathleen_Barnhouse@med.unc.edu