Evaluation and Promotion

The evaluation of student performance helps students achieve their maximum potential and provides information on how well institutional educational goals are being met.

The official policies for evaluation of academic performance, promotion, grade grievance, and academic dismissal are contained in The UT Medical School Policy and Guidelines for Evaluation and Promotion of Medical Students on the Medical School student handbook Web site, http://www.med.uth.tmc.edu/P&G_Eval_&_Promos_Med_Students.htm. Hard copies are available in the Office of Student Affairs.

Examinations serve to inform faculty about a student’s grasp of course material and provide an indication of when academic help or remedial work is appropriate. Medical students are awarded the following grades on the basis of their academic performance: Honors, High Pass, Pass, Marginal Performance, or Fail. Grades and other information relative to a student’s academic performance are transmitted to the Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee which, based upon an overall consideration of the student’s grades, demonstrated knowledge, clinical performance, and suitability to practice medicine, decides whether a student should be promoted, continued with remedial work assigned, or dismissed. Any student whose record indicates that he/she is not qualified to continue the study of medicine will be dismissed.

Students can be referred for evaluation and counseling for academic or personal concerns through the Office of Student Affairs.

Conduct and Discipline

Students are responsible for becoming familiar with and observing University regulations concerning student conduct and discipline as set forth in Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3 of the Rules and Regulations of The University of Texas System Board of Regents. A reference copy of the Rules and Regulations is available in the Dean’s Office and the HAM-TMC Library.

For information regarding student academic and behavioral issues, contact:
Margaret C. McNeese, M.D.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston
6431 Fannin, Suite G400
Houston, Texas 77030

Basic and Clinical Science
Research Programs

Basic science and clinical research are essential components of the overall mission of the Medical School. The Medical School offers a Summer Research Program, which provides an intensive, hands-on, 10-week research experience for medical students during the summer after their first year. The program fosters development of scientific reasoning and other research skills. Students work closely with faculty mentors of their choice in ongoing research projects organized individually for each student. At the end of their research project, the student writes an abstract on their research – on which they are first-author. These abstracts are published and posted on the program’s Web site.

Students also may participate in research at anytime during their education, both during the summer and as an elective(s) during the regular academic year.

Short-term NIH training stipend support is available for a limited number of medical students, and other sources of financial support also are available.

Contact: Gary Rosenfeld, Ph.D.
713-500-7435
e-mail: Gary.C.Rosenfeld@uth.tmc.edu