Dental Medicine, DMD (ASDOH)

Doctor of Dental Medicine Program (ASDOH)

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ASDOH School Information & Policies   Length of Program Tuition and Fees Admissions Minimal Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation Auditing a Course Auditing a Module Grading

Academic Progress Committee Academic Caution and Probation Policy Class Rank Student Academic Promotion & Graduation Requirements Academic Standards, Guidelines, and Requirements Curriculum Courses: Descriptions and Credit Values

Length of Program

The ASDOH DMD program is a four-year residential program comprised of 275.3 credit hours.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition is due twice a year at ATSU. It is due at the beginning of the first and second semesters. Each payment is half the cost for the entire year. Tuition may be paid any time during the week that it is due. Delinquent tuition penalties accrue at 1.5% per month, which is 18% per year.

Class/Year	Tuition	Educational Supply Fee	Equipment Lab Fee
Class of 2022, year 1	$79,258.00	$1,150.00	$12,928.00
Class of 2021, year 2	$79,258.00	$1,150.00	$12,916.00
Class of 2020, year 3	$79,258.00	$1,150.00	$8,917.00
Class of 2019, year 4	$77,036.00	$1,150.00	$9,239.00

Admissions

Application Process

ASDOH participates in the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS).  AADSAS takes no part in the evaluation, selection, or rejection of applicants.  Applications may be obtained at www.adea.org/aadsasapp/.  Application questions should be directed to customer service representatives at 800.353.2237 or via e-mail at csraadsas@adea.org.  Applications must be submitted by November 15.

Applicants meeting the minimum GPA requirements will be sent instructions to complete an online secondary application with a January 15 deadline.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the first-year DMD class must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.

1. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative and science grade point average of 2.50 on a four-point scale (3.0 minimum recommended). The overall and science GPA, the school(s) attended, and the rigor of the academic course load are all assessed on an individual basis.
2. A formal minimum of three years college or university coursework from a regionally accredited school in the United States only (90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours). A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution is preferred.
3. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation and must have been completed from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. It is highly recommended that science prerequisite courses be taken within 5 years of applying, and prerequisite credits for AP or CLEP tests are no longer being accepted.
   • General Biology – one year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours (zoology or microbiology are acceptable alternatives)*
   • General Chemistry – one year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours*
   • Organic Chemistry – one year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours*
   • Human Physiology – 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours*
   • Biochemistry – 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours – upper division*
   • Physics (Algebra-based) – one year of lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours*
   • Anatomy – 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours*
   • English Composition/Technical Writing – minimum of 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours
4. Matriculants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended by the date of matriculation. The final transcript confirming the required amount of coursework or undergraduate degree must be submitted by the date of matriculation.
   • Individuals who have a reason acceptable to the University for submitting transcripts after the due date (i.e., late accepts or delays by sending institutions) must submit a letter from their professor stating satisfactory completion of the course with a passing grade to ASDOH admissions and their official transcripts to Enrollment Services by the first day of the second week of classes.
   • Applicants who have graduated from a foreign college or university must submit acceptable evidence of U.S. degree/course equivalency. Applicants must have foreign transcripts evaluated by a foreign evaluation service.
     • World Education Services Inc.
       P.O. Box 745
       Old Chelsea Station
       New York, NY 10113-0745
       212.966.6311
       www.wes.org
     • Foreign Consultants, Inc.
       Credential Evaluation Services
       3000 Dundee Road, Suite 209
       Northbrook, IL 60062
       773.761.0000
       www.foreignconsultants.com
     • Educational Credential Evaluators Inc.
       P.O. Box 514070
       Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
       414.289.3400
       www.ece.org
     • GCE, Inc.
       PO Box 9203
       College Station TX 77842
       1.800.707.0979
       www.gcevaluators.com

5. All applicants are required to take the US Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and submit their scores via the AADSAS site on or before December 1 of the application year. No scores older than three years from the application date will be accepted.
6. Applicants must provide a minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a Science Faculty or Committee Member, one from a Dentist and one from a Community Service Supervisor. The letter from the Community Service Supervisor must be from a broad-based volunteer community service project in which the applicant was involved but not paid.
7. ASDOH and many of its clinical affiliations require criminal background checks on matriculants and students to ensure the safety of patients and employees. The checks are conducted by a vendor selected by ATSU.  The student will pay the cost of the criminal background check directly to the vendor.  Failure to comply with this mandate will result in denial to matriculate.  A matriculant with a positive criminal background screen will be reviewed.

*Highly recommended that science prerequisite courses be taken within 5 years of applying.

*No longer allowing prerequisite credits for AP and CLEP (starting with the 2016-2017 application cycle).

Transfer Student Admission

ASDOH will consider transfer students on a case-by-case basis.  Please contact Admissions at admissions@atsu.edu or by phone at 866.626.2878 ext. 2237 for more information.

Transfer Credit

ASDOH will consider transfer credit on a case-by-case basis.  Please contact Admissions at admissions@atsu.edu or by phone at 866.626.2878 ext. 2237 for more information

Advanced Standing Admission

ASDOH will consider advanced standing on a case-by-case basis.  Please contact Admissions at admissions@atsu.edu or by phone at 866.626.2878 ext. 2237 for more information.

International Student Admissions

International students applying for admission to the DMD program must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident.  ATSU-ASDOH is approved to offer F-1 student visas.  In addition to meeting all the general requirements for admission, applicants must:

• Be proficient in the English language, both written and spoken is required. Written and spoken proficiency in the English language may be demonstrated by one of the following options:
  • Option 1: English is your first language.
  • Option 2: You are demonstrating your English proficiency by submitting acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
    • Registration information may be found by contacting ETS – TOEFL iBT Registration Office, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, Phone: 877.468.6335; or visit www.ets.org/toefl

• All pre-requisite course work must have been completed from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
• Credit for advanced standing will not be given for any work completed in foreign graduate or medical schools. All students must apply for first-year status.
• International students must have permanent residency status (green card) to be eligible to receive any type of federal financial assistance.
• F-1 Visa students not having permanent residency status must provide written proof of the ability to finance their dental education prior to matriculation.

International students seeking to enter a program of study at ASDOH must obtain an appropriate visa issued by the U.S. Government. ASDOH is approved to issue a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Form I-20. Upon receiving the completed Form I-20 from ATSU, you will be able to apply for an F-1 student visa.  Please contact Enrollment Services for more information at enrollmentservices@atsu.edu, by phone at 660.626.2019, or visit https://www.atsu.edu/registrar/internationalstudents.htm.

Selection of Applicants

The Admissions Committee seeks those individuals capable of meeting the academic standards of ASDOH and its program. Completed applications, in compliance with minimum admission requirements are reviewed on the quality of academic performance, clinical exposure, extracurricular activities, work and life experiences, interest in dentistry and oral health, and recommendations.  Applicants are evaluated on academic course work, performance on the DAT, AADSAS essay, letters of evaluation, and interviews. Demonstrated community service through volunteerism or service-oriented employment is preferred.

Personal interviews may be offered to those applicants who rank among the highest in evaluation of all admission criteria.  The Admissions Committee reserves the right to accept, reject, or defer any application.

Students sent a letter of acceptance are granted a specified time period to notify ASDOH of their intention to enroll.  Accepted students must submit the following to Admissions prior to matriculation.

1. Signed admission agreement
2. Non-refundable deposits
3. Copies of official transcripts from every institution attended
4. Immunization record
5. Criminal background check through the University approved vendor
6. Proof of health insurance form

Admission after acceptance is also subject to the satisfactory completion of all academic requirements.

Minimal Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation

Statement of Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion encompass an authentic understanding and appreciation of difference and, at their core, are based upon the value each human being brings to our society and each person’s access and opportunities to contribute to our University’s cultural proficiency.

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences is committed to equal access for all qualified applicants and students. Minimal Technical Standards for Matriculation (the “Standards”) state expectations of ATSU students.  The Standards provide sufficient information to allow the candidate to make an informed decision for application.  Minimal Technical Standards for Matriculation are a guide to accommodation of students with disabilities. Academic adjustments can be made for disabilities in some instances, but a student must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.  Applicants and current students who have questions regarding the technical standards, or who believe they may need to request academic adjustment(s) in order to meet the standards, are encouraged to contact Learning and Disability Resources. Procedures to apply for academic adjustments are found at the conclusion of this policy.

Categories of Technical Standards

The holder of a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care.  In order to carry out the activities described below, candidates for a degree in dentistry must be able to consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate, analyze, and synthesize data.  Students must possess at a minimum, the following abilities and skills:  observation; communication; motor; sensory; strength and mobility; intellectual; conceptual; integrative and quantitative; and behavioral and social.  These abilities and skills comprise the categories of ASDOH’s Minimum Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation and are defined as follows:

1. Observation: Candidates and students must have sufficient vision to be able to observe demonstrations, experiments, and laboratory exercises in the basic and clinical sciences.  They must be able to observe patient accurately at a distance and up close.
2. Communication: Candidates and students should be able to speak, hear, and observe patients in the English language in order to elicit information; examine and treat patients; describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and perceive nonverbal communication. They must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing. They must also be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team.
3. Motor: Candidates and students should have sufficient motor functions to execute movements required to provide clinical care. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine motor movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
4. Sensory: Candidates and students need enhanced sensory skills such as tactile discrimination and proprioception.
5. Strength and mobility: The provision of clinical treatment requires sufficient strength and mobility to maintain appropriate posture either sitting or standing for up to eight (8) hours per day.
6. Visual integration: Adequate visual capabilities are necessary for proper evaluation and treatment integration, including the assessment of hard and soft tissues, symmetry and range of motion.
7. Intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative: These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of health professionals, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, candidates and students should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.
8. Behavioral and social: Candidates and students must possess and display the following: a) emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, b) the exercise of good judgment, c) the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the didactic, preclinical and clinical coursework within the program as well as to the diagnosis and care of patients, and d) the development of mature, sensitive, ethical and effective relationships with peers, faculty, staff and patients. Candidates and students must be able to: a) tolerate physically and mentally taxing workloads, b) adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and c) learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the rigors of this academic professional program; in dealings with peers, faculty, and staff; and in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, empathy, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admission and educational processes.

Additional Information

Records and communications regarding disabilities and academic adjustments with the Director of Learning and Disability Resources have no bearing on the application process.  You may contact the director at Learning and Disability Resources, A. T. Still University of Health Sciences, 800 W. Jefferson Street, Kirksville, MO 63501, disabilityresources@atsu.edu, or by phone at 660.626.2774.

Any actions taken by ASDOH do not apply to clinical or licensure exams not administered by the School or University.

Applying for Academic Adjustments

The institution remains open to possibilities of human potential and achievement, providing support for students with disabilities.  The Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for the administration of and compliance with the Technical Standards and Academic Adjustments Policy  (ATSU Policy #20-110) through the Director of Learning and Disability Resources.  Please see the University Student Handbook for information on how to apply for academic adjustments, or email disabilityresources@atsu.edu.

Auditing a Course

Only one course per academic term may be audited by any one student.  Students who audit a course are expected to attend classes on a regular basis.  Successful completion of an audited course will be determined by the instructor and recorded on the student’s transcript as an AU (audit).    No letter grade or credit will be awarded for an audited course, and an audited course may not be changed to a course for credit or vice versa.

No tuition is charged for audited courses by currently enrolled ASDOH students.

Auditing a Module

To be considered for auditing a module, the individual must be enrolled in an ASDOH graduate or post-graduate program.  Eligibility to audit a module is at the sole discretion of the ASDOH administration.  Requests to audit an ASDOH module should go to the appropriate associate dean and must be approved in writing after consultation with the appropriate faculty member(s).

Individuals approved to audit a module will be notified in writing along with the specific module dates and be required to pay the associated fee.

Non-ASDOH Course:

Requests to audit another ATSU course outside of the dental school should go to the chair of the program under which the course is offered.  Requests to audit a course must be approved in writing by an ASDOH associate dean.

Grading

ATSU-ASDOH programs adhere to the University grading scale .  Doctor of Dental Medicine program students earn a letter grade or pass/fail grade for each course.  Students do not earn grades for courses.  Each course is linked to the 14 ASDOH competencies that must be attained prior to graduation.

Grading Criteria

Faculty are encouraged to use grading criteria, when possible, that is based on multiple methods such as examinations, quizzes, papers, projects, presentations, case studies and/or a final examination. Each course should have both formative and summative evaluation methods.

• A single assessment generally will not be worth more than 40% of the grading criteria with the exception of certain courses.
• Except for examinations and quizzes, each assessment method must have a grading criteria matrix (e.g., a grading rubric) established at the time the students are notified of the assignment.
• Mastery of course material shall be recorded as raw scores (e.g., not adjusted or graded on a bell curve).
• ASDOH’s protocol dictates that the statistical scoring method of curving (also known as grading on a curve or bell curving) will NOT be applied during calculation to yield a pre-determined distribution of grades.  Furthermore, ASDOH does not round individual assessment scores or final grades.

For clinical grading, refer to the Clinical Competency Guidebook and syllabus.

Students earning a 69.9% or below will be required to remediate course content and will receive an “F”.  When students successfully complete the remediation process with a 70% or higher, the grade of “F” will be changed to a “RC”.

If the student does not successfully complete remediation in accordance with the school policies, the grade of “F” will remain.  The student must then retake the course at the student’s own expense.  This fee is determined by the Finance Office and is based upon a per credit equation.

Grading Criteria for Pass/Fail Courses

Grade	Value
P	Pass – an average of 70% or better on course assignments or quizzes
F	Fail – an average of 69.9% or lower on course assignments/quizzes
I	Incomplete – Extenuating Circumstances*

*If the student does not successfully complete the remediation in accordance with school policies and/or the Course Director/Module instructor(s) criteria, the grade will remain an “F”. The student must then retake the course at their own expense.  The fee is determined by the Finance Office and is based upon a per credit equation.  When a student completes the remediation process with a 70% or higher, the grade of “F” will be changed to a “RP”.

At the discretion of the course director, a final grade of “I” may be temporarily recorded on a student’s transcript should they experience extenuating circumstances that prevent them from completing a course.  The student and course director must sign an Incomplete Agreement Form that specifically outlines course requirements and the specified amount of time in which requirements must be completed in order to receive course credit.  The student must retake the course when it is offered again during the next academic year or as determined by the course director.  Copies of the signed agreement will be placed in a student’s file that resides in Enrollment Services and with the course director.  Once all course requirements are successfully completed and at the conclusion of the semester, the student’s “I” grade will be replaced with the actual letter grade earned in the course.

At the conclusion of the semester, a Record of Grade Change will be forwarded to Enrollment Services. If the work is not finished within the period of time specified in the agreement, the grade will become an “F”.  Students earning an “F” for a course will be required to repeat the course prior to graduation. The “F” as well as the retake grade will remain on their transcript. The student must then retake the course at the student’s own expense. This fee is determined by the Finance Office and is based upon a per credit equation.

Remediation Process

All students earning a 69.9% or below (unless requesting a grade of incomplete) will be officially notified by their Course Director via email.  Students earning a 69.9% or below are automatically required to participate in the remediation process and will receive an “F” for the course and will be given an academic warning. The Course Director will work in conjunction with the course instructor to create a Remediation Plan unique to that student’s individual needs.

To successfully complete and pass the remediation process, students must receive an equivalent of a 70% or higher on their Remediation Plan. Remediation Plans may include additional assignments, examinations, quizzes, case studies, projects, presentations and/or typed papers and are determined at the discretion of the instructor. Remediation Plan assessments should provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate comprehension of the course content and be directed toward the content areas in which the student was deficient. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have met and passed all requirements outlined in their Remediation Plan by the determined deadlines.

If it is determined that a student needs to remediate a course, the student will be notified at the conclusion of the course via ATSU email. The course director and instructor will then develop a remediation plan and testing schedule for the student. The student must fulfill all the requirements outlined in the plan within 60 days of not passing the course. The course director has the discretion to extend the remediation period if needed.

At the discretion of the Course Director, students may be scheduled to complete the remediation process during student breaks, holidays, or any other dates in which the University is open for business. This may include administering assessments during Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Spring Break, and/or Summer Break. Students will always be notified in advance of their remediation schedule.

Students who successfully complete the remediation process with a grade of 70% or higher will receive a final grade of “RC” for the course. If the student does not successfully complete the remediation process in accordance with school policies, the final grade will remain an “F” and they will be placed on academic probation.  The student must then retake the course at the student’s own expense.   Students will be notified by the Controller’s Office in regards to their fee.

Students who fail when retaking a course module may be referred to the Academic Progress Committee (APC) and/or recommended for dismissal. Students may be allowed to repeat up to two courses while in dental school. Students requiring remediation in a third course module may be recommended for dismissal.

Academic Appeals

The individual professional and graduate programs of ATSU, through their faculty and established school procedures, retain principal responsibility for assessing student performance.  Disputes concerning unsatisfactory progress evaluations should be reconciled through the processes and procedures described under the DMD program.  Additional guidelines regarding academic appeals, including grade appeals, promotion, and/or dismissal appeals will be found within the ATSU Policies section, Academic Appeals policy .

Academic Progress Committee

Core Academic Progress Oversight Committee (Core APC)

The Core APC establishes policy and procedure for both the D1/D2 APC and D3/D4 APC; develops the academic criteria necessary for student progression and promotion from one year to the next of the 4 year program, culminating in graduation from the program; serves as appeal committee for decisions of both APC.

Meeting Schedule – The Core APC meets as necessary but at least at the following times:

• Regularly, one time each term
• Anytime a student appeals to the dean the recommendation for repetition of the year or dismissal from the D1/D2 APC or D3/D4 APC.
• As appropriate for advisory purposes and to establish policy and procedure for the D1/D2 APC and the D3/D4 APC

Composition: The Core APC is comprised of the following members:

Ex-officio Members (Voting)

• Associate Dean, Academic Assessment (Chair) (For student appeal decisions, votes only in the event of a tie)
• Vice Dean
• Associate Dean, Pre-Clinical Education & Simulation-Clinic Operations
• Associate Dean, Clinical Education and Student Success
• Associate Dean, Informatics, Innovation and Community Partnerships

Ex-officio Members (Non-voting)

• Director of Student Success
• Associate Vice President of Student Affairs

Faculty Members Appointed by the Dean (annually each academic year) (Voting)

• Two faculty members from the D3/D4 APC, including:
  • One CCU director; and
  • One faculty member who is not a CCU director
• One faculty member from the D1/D2 APC

D1/D2 Academic Progress Committee

The ASDOH D1/D2 Academic Progress Committee (D1/D2 APC) is responsible for monitoring student academic progress.  The intent is for the D1/D2 APC to be proactive as well as reactive in responding to concerns regarding student academic progress and to offer resources and assistance to students, develop Individual Education Plans (IEP) as well as imposing academic discipline.

The D1/D2 APC functions as ASDOH’s student promotion board for the first two years of the program. Therefore, the APC is responsible for promoting students from the D1 year to the D2 year, as well as from the D2 year to the D3 year.

Meeting Schedule: – The D1/D2 APC meets to review student progress as neede but at least at the following times:

• Regularly, at least two times each term
• Based on faculty input, if the D1/D2 APC determines that a student’s academic performance may be inadequate and intervention by the D1/D2 APC would be in the best interest of the student and their progress.

Composition – The D1/D2 APC is comprised of the following members:

Ex-officio Members (Voting)

• Associate Dean, Academic Assessment (Chair, votes only in the event of a tie)
• Associate Dean, Pre-Clinical Education & Simulation – Clinic Operations
• Associate Director of Education

Appeal of Academic Progress Committee’s Decision

Once the student is informed in writing of the APC’s decision, the student may appeal the APC’s decision to the Dean only if:

• new and significant information has been discovered or
• the student believes that the APC process was not followed as presented in this catalog.

A written appeal to the Dean must occur within seven calendar days (business days, excluding holidays and/or University closure dates) of the APC’s decision and must contain a signature of the student (emails and faxes are acceptable).  The Dean will review the appeal and issue a decision within seven calendar days of receipt of the student’s appeal. The Dean may meet with the Chair of the APC to discuss the appeal and determine if the APC process was followed.  The Dean has the authority to overturn or uphold the APC decision.

The highest level of appeal within the school is the Dean or Dean’s designee.  Students who wish to appeal a Dean’s decision regarding promotion or dismissal should review the Academic Appeals Policy: Promotion and/or Dismissal Decisions .

Academic Caution and Probation Policy

Purpose: The purpose of Academic Caution and Probation statuses are to identify students who are struggling academically, behaviorally, or professionally and alert the student, faculty and administration that the student is experiencing difficulty in navigating and/or successfully completing the ASDOH DMD program.

Once students are identified through the Academic Caution or Probation process, administration will intervene and direct the student to counseling, tutorial assistance, special scheduling, or other activities that might help the student resolve academic or professionalism deficiencies.

Students who are dismissed from the program by the Academic Progress Committee who remain in the program as a result of the appeal process to the Dean will remain on or be put on Probation until the Academic Progress Committee determines the probationary period has concluded.

Students who are dismissed or withdraw from the program and then are subsequently readmitted to the program will be reviewed by the Academic Progress Committee to determine if a probationary status is in order.

Scope: A student earns the status of Academic Caution when he or she demonstrates unacceptable academic performance or unprofessional behavior, which includes but is not limited to:

• Remediation of a course
• Failure of Part I or Part II of the JCNDE National Board Dental Examinations on the first attempt
• Accrual of 2 Professionalism Forms

Students with the Academic Caution status must realize that continued poor academic performance or unprofessional behavior may lead to Probation or dismissal from the program. A student will be placed on Probation for any one of the following reasons that include but are not limited to:

• Remediation of two courses*
• Failure of any ASDOH course or any College of Graduate Health Sciences (CGHS) course
• Failure of Part I or Part II of the JCNDE National Board Dental Examinations on more than one attempt
• Failure to comply with the University Code of Academic Conduct found in the University Student Handbook
• Failure to comply with University Behavioral Standards (located in the University Student Handbook) and ASDOH Technical Standards
• Accrual of 3 Professionalism Compliance Forms
• Being placed on an Individualized Education Plan
• Any combination of the previously noted Academic Caution reasons

* Students required to remediate a third course will be considered by the Academic Progress Committee for dismissal from the program.

Guidelines: Students currently on Probation or who are put on Probation may not:

• serve as an officer in any ATSU or ASDOH organization, or as an ambassador
• participate in ASDOH interview days
• represent ASDOH in University programs and committees, e.g., the Falls Prevention program, IPE activities
• participate in ATSU- or ASDOH-related extracurricular activities (e.g., humanitarian outreach trips scheduled on the academic calendar)
• attend conferences/events supported by ATSU or ASDOH without explicit permission from the Associate Dean for Academic Assessment
• be excused from curricular activities for professional development
• participate in ATSU or ASDOH research programs
• represent ATSU or ASDOH at related conference/events
• be considered to be in good standing within the School or University
• officially promote to the next year of the program

Note: The ATSU Office of Student Affairs will be notified when students are placed on Probation.

These guidelines are employed to assist the student in concentrating on improvement in the student’s academic progress or in remediating unprofessional behavior. As determined by the

Academic Progress Committee, once the deficiencies have been corrected by the student, the probationary status may be removed at the conclusion of the academic year. For example, this includes students on Probation who:

• pass Part I or Part II as applicable
• successfully pass remediation of courses or the retake of a course
• have not acquired additional behavioral/professionalism issues (in the form of substantiated complaints to administration, or Professionalism forms)

Students who are placed on Probation may be put on an Individualized Education Plan.

Students previously on Probation (i.e., once it has been removed) who must subsequently remediate courses, do not pass Part I or Part II or accrue any professionalism forms, will automatically be placed back on Probation.

Responsibilities:

• Students are informed in writing of the Academic Caution status or Probation by the Associate Dean for Academic Assessment or the Associate Dean’s designee.
• Decisions regarding Probation are made by the Academic Progress Committee and communicated to the student by the Associate Dean for Academic Assessment or the Associate Dean’s designee.
• Actions of Probation are communicated to Enrollment Services and the Office of Student Affairs by the Associate Dean for Academic Assessment.
• Students may be required to meet with the Academic Progress Committee to discuss their probationary status.
• Students have the option to request a meeting with the Academic Progress Committee to discuss their probationary status.

Class Rank

Class rank will be calculated for ASDOH D1 and D2 DMD students at the end of the fall and spring terms.  Class ranks will be calculated for ASDOH D3 and D4 DMD students at the end of the spring term only.  Enrollment Services will notify students when the ranking is available for viewing on the CampusNexus Student Portal.

Student Academic Promotion & Graduation Requirements

Purpose:  This policy defines the academic criteria necessary for student progression and promotion from one year to the next of the 4-year program, culminating in graduation from the program.  This policy applies to all ASDOH students.  Exceptions are made for transfer students only, based on admission status and individualized education plans developed.

First Year Promotion: Prior to being promoted from the first year to the second year of the ASDOH predoctoral dental education program, the student must successfully pass (“D” or above) all D1 courses, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, and take the Part I National Board of Dental Examiners examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (NBDE) prior to the beginning of the D2 year.

If a student does not take Part I within this stated time frame, he/she will not be allowed to begin the D2 year and will be required to withdraw from the program.

Second Year Promotion: Prior to being promoted from the second year to the third year of the ASDOH predoctoral dental education program, the student must successfully pass (“D” or above) all D2 courses and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, as well as 2.0 in the preclinical courses; and, pass the NBDE Part I examination. Students must also pass all preclinical competencies prior to treating patients in the clinic.

ASDOH must be in receipt of a passing score for Part I by one working day prior to the date of the D2 to D3 clinic promotion ceremony. If passing results are not received by this date the student will be required to withdraw from the program.

Third Year Promotion: Prior to being promoted from the third year to the fourth year of the ASDOH predoctoral dental education program, the student must successfully pass (“D” or above) all D3 courses; and, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

Graduation Requirements

Prior to graduating from the ASDOH predoctoral dental education program, the student must successfully pass (“D” or above) all D4 courses; have an overall GPA of at least 2.0; complete the Certificate in Public Health with Dental Emphasis program or obtain a Master in Public Health (MPH) degree, take and pass the Part II examination of the NBDE within the time period determined by the Associate Dean for Academic Assessment; discharge all financial obligations to ASDOH, a school of ATSU; and, file all necessary graduation forms.

NOTE: Participation in the graduation ceremony does not indicate that a student has graduated from a degree program.

Diplomas are not issued at the graduation ceremony.  The graduation ceremony and obtaining your diploma are two separate processes with separate application forms and requirements.

Degree Completion

Students are expected to complete their degree within the program’s standard plan of study as indicated in this catalog.  In circumstances where additional time is needed, and with approval of the Dean, students will have a maximum degree completion timeline of seven years for a doctoral program from the time of initial enrollment.  Failure to complete a degree program within the specified period may result in loss of some, or all, of the student’s previously earned course credits.

Academic Standards, Guidelines, and Requirements

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Academic Integrity

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to support the ASDOH community of students, staff and faculty in the collective commitment to maintaining academic integrity at ASDOH.  Academic integrity has been defined as, “a commitment to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage.”  Academic integrity is essential to the success of the School’s mission as educators and provides a foundation for responsible conduct in ASDOH graduates as they enter the dental profession. These fundamental values are essential to create a student-centered learning environment and patient-centered clinics, providing the value to the ASDOH graduate’s dental degree and forming the basis for the esteemed profession of dentistry.

Defining Fundamental Values and Behaviors that Maintain Academic Integrity:

Honesty – Academic integrity requires intellectual and personal honesty in teaching, learning, research and service, and is the prerequisite for full realization of trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility.  It begins with oneself and extends to others, whether in the classroom, simulation clinic, clinic or community.  Dishonest behavior not only jeopardizes the welfare of the academic community and violates individual rights, it can also tarnish the reputation of ASDOH and diminish the worth of the degrees we grant.  Cultivating honesty lays the foundation for lifelong integrity, developing in each of us the courage and insight to make difficult choices and accept responsibility for actions and their consequences, even at personal cost.

Trust – Academic integrity fosters a climate of mutual trust, encourages the free exchange of ideas and enables all to reach their highest potential.  Trust is also promoted by faculty who set clear guidelines for assignments and for evaluating student work; by students who prepare work that is honest and thoughtful; and by schools that set clear and consistent academic standards.  Trust enables us to collaborate to share information and circulate ideas.  The ASDOH community is based on trust, creating an environment in which all members of the community are expected to treat others – and be treated – with fairness and respect.

Fairness – Academic integrity establishes clear standards, practices and procedures, and expects fairness in the interactions of students, faculty, and administrators. For students, important components of fairness are predictability, transparency, reasonable expectations, and a consistent and just response to dishonesty. Fair, accurate, and impartial evaluation is essential in dental education, and fairness with respect to grading and assessment is essential to the establishment of trust between faculty and students. Faculty, staff and students each have a role in ensuring fairness, and a lapse by one member of the community does not excuse misconduct by another.

Respect – Academic integrity recognizes the participatory nature of the learning process and honors and respects a wide range of opinions and ideas.  Students and faculty must respect themselves and each other as individuals, not just as a means to an end.  They must also respect themselves and each other for extending their boundaries of knowledge, testing new skills, building upon success, and learning from failure.  Students show respect when they value and take advantage of opportunities to gain new knowledge, by taking an active role in their own education, contributing to discussions as well as listening to others’ points of view, and performing to the best of their ability. Being rude, demeaning, or disruptive to others undermines climates of respect. Members of the faculty show respect by taking students’ ideas seriously, by recognizing them as individuals, helping them develop their ideas, providing full and honest feedback on their work, and valuing their perspectives and goals.

Responsibility – Academic integrity upholds personal accountability and depends upon action in the face of wrongdoing. Every member of an academic community-each student, faculty member, and administrator-is responsible for upholding the integrity of education, scholarship and research. Being responsible means taking action against wrongdoing, resisting negative peer pressure, and serving as a positive example. Responsible individuals should take responsibility for their own honesty and should discourage and seek to prevent misconduct by others. This may be as simple as covering one’s own answers during a test or as difficult as reporting a friend for cheating. Whatever the circumstances, members of an academic community must not tolerate or ignore dishonesty on the part of others. Holding oneself and others to high standards of integrity is often challenging and requires courage.

Courage – An element of character that allows learners to commit to the quality of their education by holding themselves and their fellow learners to the highest standards of academic integrity even when doing so involves risk of negative consequences or reprisal. Being courageous means acting in accordance with one’s convictions. Like intellectual capacity, courage can only develop in environments where it is tested. Academic communities of integrity, therefore, necessarily include opportunities to make choices, learn from them, and grow. 1

Expectations: With a goal of establishing clear expectations for students and faculty, the following are provided as examples of behavior that are not consistent with ASDOH’s commitment to academic integrity including cheating, plagiarism and collusion. These examples are intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive, and are not to be read as a limitation to the School’s right to discipline for infractions that are not specifically listed.

Cheating is defined as giving or receiving unauthorized aid without the consent or knowledge of the faculty, before, during or after an educational activity (e.g., an assignment, examination, quiz, paper, laboratory project, patient based competency, etc.). Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Access to Unauthorized Examination Material and Study Aids -Giving or gaining access to current or previous examination materials or study aids without the express consent of appropriate faculty member, course director, and/or examining organization. Materials include written copies or digital content of past examinations, unreleased versions, individual questions, and answer keys. This also includes the creation of unauthorized study aid materials through systematic memorization, photography, or computer “hacking”, as well as the purchase or sale of such unauthorized materials.
• Receiving Unauthorized Assistance, Collaboration or Copying – Copying, collaborating or receiving unauthorized assistance during an academic exercise, whether in a proctored or online environment. Unauthorized assistance includes, but is not limited to: copying from another student’s exam or paper; collaborating with another student, both in person and through digital communication; use of notes, text books, digital or online resources, etc. during an examination or educational activity unless explicitly allowed by the Course Director.
• Failure to Follow Examination Protocol-Failure to comply with directions given by the Course Director, proctor or designee who is governing a didactic, preclinical or clinical examination (e.g., removing a typodont tooth during a competency assessment; bringing cell phones, books, backpacks into the exam; failing to sit in assigned seats; leaving room without permission; failure to end exam as directed, etc.)

Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s work or ideas without acknowledgment. A fundamental assumption is that work submitted by a student is a product of his/her own efforts. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:

• Contributions without Acknowledgment-The submission of any papers or assignments which fail to acknowledge another’s work or contribution. This includes specific phrases or entire passages, sentences, paragraphs or longer excerpts, without quotation marks or documentation. One may also plagiarize by paraphrasing the work of another and/or submitting the style of another, which is retaining another writer’s ideas and structure without documentation.
• Purchase of Submissions -The submission of work of another that was purchased, received as a gift, or obtained by any means.
• Project or Laboratory Submissions -The submission of a written or laboratory project which was created in whole or in part by another.
• Multiple Submissions or Self-Plagiarism-The submission of academic work for credit which has already been submitted for credit by the student in another course or module, unless explicitly allowed by the course director.

Collusion is defined as secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others and include, but are not limited to:

• Unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing academic assignments which are offered for credit. This includes collaboration with others on written “take- home” or online examinations, or other educational activity intended to be an individual effort. This also includes allowing others to edit papers or written assignments in any substantive way.
• Deliberate misrepresentation of each individual’s contributions to a project

Reporting of Prohibited Actions by Students: Consistent with ASDOH’s stated commitment to these fundamental values, every member of an academic community – each student, faculty member, and administrator – is responsible for upholding its academic integrity. As such, each is responsible to report any suspected breach by a student to the module or course director and Associate Dean for Academic Assessment as soon as possible, but no later than 10 business days, following the discovery of the breach.

Process:

1. The Associate Dean for Academic Assessment, in conjunction with the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Student Success, will investigate any suspected breach of academic integrity by students and report these findings to the Vice Dean.
2. In the event that there is a determination that a student has acted in a manner that is in violation of these expectations of academic integrity, the individual will be subject to the appropriate academic disciplinary actions in accordance with ASDOH policy, including dismissal from the program.

1The Purpose and Defining Fundamental Values and Behaviors that Maintain Academic Integrity sections of this policy were adopted with modifications from The Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity 2nd Edition, The International Center for Academic Integrity, April 2014, http://www.academicintegrity.org/icai/assets/Revised_FV_2014.pdf

Attendance

Please refer to the Matriculated Student Policies section of the ATSU University Catalog for details regarding Extended Absences (6-15 consecutive days) and the Student Leave Policy (15+ consecutive days).

Attendance in General

Attendance of all classes, labs, and clinic sessions is expected.  Specifically, students are expected to:

• Arrive early to class;
• Stay for the entire class;
• Respect the instructor’s time; and
• Communicate directly with the appropriate reporting person for absences.

Didactic Courses

Students are expected to be in class and stay for the duration of the class time.  Attendance is mandatory for all assessments per the policy below.

Sim-Clinic Class Attendance

Attendance is mandatory for all lectures and sim-clinic sessions.  At the discretion of the course director, students who miss more than 10% of sim-clinic sessions and/or associated lectures due to approved absences involving extenuating circumstances will earn an incomplete “I” final grade and must retake the course when it is offered again or as determined by the course director.

Students who miss more than 10% of sim-clinic sessions or a course with mandatory attendance due to unapproved absences will earn a failing “F” final grade and must retake the course when it is offered again at their own expense.  Please note that random attendance may be taken during the duration of the course by the instructor of other designated personnel.

Assessment Attendance

Attendance is mandatory for all assessments (e.g. exams, quizzes, test, group and individual projects and presentations).  The outcome for students missing an assessment for any reason will be determined by the course director on a case-by-case basis and may include but not be limited to:

• A request to provide official documentation (doctors note clearly articulating the student’s inability to attend class, proof of emergency or crisis, etc.)
• Earning a zero (0) score on the missed assessment if unapproved.
• The student being reported to the Academic Progress Committee (APC).
• A change in academic status (Academic Caution or Probation) as determined by the APC.

No call, no show absences for an assessment will result in an automatic zero (no credit) for the assessment and the student reported to the APC.

Clinic Attendance

The ASDOH clinical experience is based on a curriculum that provides significant opportunities for students to develop knowledge, skills, and values to become a competent general dentist.  Our learning environment is greatly enhanced by promoting peer collaboration and by maximizing direct patient care opportunities.  ASDOH students are admitted in part due to the experiences they bring to the ASDOH community and what they can offer to their peers in seminars and clinic/simulation activities.  As such, student participation in scheduled clinic/simulation activities and seminars is essential and required for all clinical courses.

The primary expectation of students when they are scheduled in the clinic is that they are preparedand available to treat all patients as assigned for the entire clinic session.  This includes being prepared and on time to manage any scheduled patient(s) at the start of each clinic session and staying for the duration of any session as a provider or assisting others providing patient care.

On-call – CCU and Internal Rotation Directors have the discretion to allow students to leave the clinic and remain on call and available to return to clinic in less than 10 minutes.  Please note that if an on-call student is not available as requested, it will be considered an unapproved absence.

Minimum Clinic Course Attendance Requirements

Students must attend a minimum of 90% of scheduled sessions to pass any clinical course.  The Office of Clinical Education may provide students with a maximum number of days per semester that a student may be absent from the clinic and still meet the 90% attendance requirement.  At the discretion of the course director, students who fail to meet the 90% attendance requirement may receive a final grade of Fail “F” or an Incomplete “I” as indicated in the course syllabus.  Students will be required to remediate missed sessions or retake the course when it is offered again.  If an “I” final grade has been earned, upon the successful completion of all course attendance requirements, the grade will be changed to reflect the actual grade earned in the course.

A student who does not participate in a scheduled clinic/simulation activity or seminar will be categorized as follows for the purposes of this policy:

• Approved absence;
• Alternative curricular activity;
• Unapproved absence.

Approved Absences

Any absence from scheduled clinic activities and seminars in the ASDOH clinics for D2, D3, or D4 students must be approved by the Office of Clinical Education following published protocols, including providing documentation as requested.  A student absence will typically be approved for the following reasons:

• Unplanned or unscheduled events
  • Illness and family emergency – Students who are ill or who are involved in a serious personal or family emergency may be approved for absence.  Please note that students should make every effort to schedule non-urgent medical appointments at times that are not in conflict with classes or assigned clinic sessions.  The Office of Clinical Education may require verification from the student’s health care provider to approve an excused absence due to illness or medical appointments.
  • Bereavement – Students may be approved for up to five days absence in the event of a death of a family member.  The number of days will be determined by the Office of Clinical Education based on the specific circumstances of each situation.
• Planned, scheduled events
  • Non-urgent and preventative medical appointments – Students should make every effort to schedule non-urgent medical appointments at times that are not in conflict with scheduled clinic sessions, simulation lab and seminars.
  • Professional meetings and invited scientific or educational presentations – Students who are serving as ASDOH representatives or when an invited presenter at a scientific or educational meeting.  Please note that students choosing to attend a professional meeting will not typically be approved.
  • Religious holidays – ASDOH respects the student’s need for absences due to religious holidays and cooperate in scheduling approved absences.  Please note that the absence will be approved for the actual day of observance only, and that this does not include participation in retreats, meetings, or other activities associated with the student’s religious affiliation.
  • Jury duty, court dates and military duty – Students with legal obligations including jury duty, subpoena and military duty.
  • Post-graduate interviews and student externship programs – Post-graduate education program interviews and related formal student externships.  Please note that this includes reasonable travel time, but does not include study or preparation time.  
• Planned, personal time – Students may request personal time off for reasons other than those listed above up to a maximum of 5 days per semester.  Approval by the Office of Clinical Education will be based on the provider needs of the clinic, the outstanding oral health needs of the student and their dental team’s assigned patient pool, the student’s academic progress, and adequate notice of the request.

Participation Credit for Approved Absences

Students missing seminar, clinic or simulation time due to absence, regardless of whether it is approved, will not receive participation credit for the session.  Students may be given the opportunity to earn participation credit that the discretion of the course director if the absence was approved as noted above.  Please note that neither approved absence nor notification of absence excuses the student from meeting all clinic course requirements.

Alternative Curricular Activities

Alternative curricular activities are not considered as an absence from the clinic, as they are considered part of the ASDOH curriculum.  Students who participate in alternative curricular activities without prior approval from the Office of Clinical Education will be considered to have an unapproved absence.  The following may be approved as alternative curricular activities.

• ASDOH research externships;
• ASDOH elective enrichment courses;
• MPH Practicum;
• Clinical licensure examinations (please note that this does not include information preparation or travel time); and
• NBDE Part 1 or Part 2 (please note that this does not include study time).

Unapproved Absences

Unapproved absences will be considered for disciplinary action by the Academic Progress Committee, with possible actions to include additional clinical assignments, repetition of a term, or dismissal from the program.  Students should also consult the appropriate course syllabus to determine the ramifications of an unapproved absence on their grade and ability to pass the course.

D3 & D4 Students at External Rotation Sites

Attendance is required at external sites during the listed business hours of the site.  Furthermore, students must be in attendance for at least 90% of each rotation unless an excused absence is obtained.  Situations in which a legitimate emergency exists will, of course, always be considered.

Please refer to the current ICSP Student Policy Manual for details on requesting an approval for an absence from an external rotation site.

Immunizations

ASDOH requires all students to provide proof of their immunizations in order to matriculate. This is necessary for the students’ protection, as well as the protection of any individuals with whom they come in contact. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain up-to-date immunization protection.  Failure to maintain year-to-date immunizations may prevent a student from entering the clinical phase of their education.

1. Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis: Students are required to receive either the primary series of Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis or booster dose within ten (10) years prior to the beginning of the academic year and must ensure it is up to date while at ASDOH.
2. Polio: Students are required to provide documentation that they have received the primary series of polio vaccine. If documentation cannot be produced, the student must receive the primary series of inactivated polio vaccine.
3. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella: Students born after 1956 are required to provide documentation of the MMR vaccine prior to matriculation. If the vaccination was given prior to 1975, evidence of a re-booster is recommended. (We require 2 MMR or titer showing POS result.)
4. Hepatitis B: Students are required to complete a series of 3 Hepatitis B vaccinations prior to matriculation. (We require Hep B series OR titer showing POS result.)
5. Tuberculosis Skin Test: Students must have had a tuberculosis skin test within the year prior to matriculation. If the test is positive, the student must have a chest X-ray within the year. Students must update TB each year. (Students documenting with Chest X-ray must do so every 2 years.)
6. Varicella (Chicken Pox): Varicella immunization, serum titer, or physician documentation of date of contraction.

Immunizations must be verified by one of the following ways before matriculation:

1. Submit copies of immunization records from a licensed Physician (DO or MD), Physician Assistant (PA), and/or Nurse Practitioner (NP) OR
2. Have your healthcare provider (DO, MD, NP, or PA) sign the document to verify the information listed on the document.

Exemptions:  Under certain religious or health circumstances, a request for exemption from preventive health requirements may be granted. ASDOH cannot guarantee placement in clinical rotations, however, when this exemption is granted. Consequently, students receiving an exemption from preventive health requirements may take longer to complete the curriculum and graduate, or the student may not be able to complete the curriculum and graduate.

CPR Training

ASDOH requires that all residential students obtain and maintain, at a minimum, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.  American Heart Association or American Red Cross certifications are accepted.  Proof of certification as defined by ASDOH must be on file by July 31st.  Certification must be maintained throughout the duration of enrollment.  Non-compliance at any time during a student’s enrollment may result in disciplinary action.  A random sample of student records will be audited periodically to confirm continuous coverage.  These Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification requirements can be substituted with a Basic Life Support certification.

HIPAA Training

ASDOH requires that all residential students complete Health Information Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) training. Training is offered online by ATSU and must be completed by clinic orientation.

Student Dress Code

Please see the University Student Handbook  for specific dress code expectations or requirements.

Curriculum

The ASDOH Curriculum Committee is comprised of a variety of faculty members representing the seven required domains:  Introduction to Oral & Health Sciences, Integrated Human Systems, Pan System Sciences, Dental Tissues, Dental Disciplines, Integrated Dental Practice, and Clinical Experiences.  The Curriculum Committee is responsible for coordination, integration, and evaluation of all domains and courses across the four-year curriculum.  The Committee is responsible for directing course content and delivery methods.

The curriculum is designed in a linear form; that is, students must successfully complete the schedule of modules offered in sequence.  Following is a summary of the modules and courses required at ASDOH.  Note that the sequence and courses may change from year to year as the science of dentistry changes.

The following is a list of academic criteria necessary for student progression and promotion from one year to the next of the four-year dental school program, culminating in graduation from the program.  This policy applies to all ASDOH DMD students.  Exceptions are made for transfer students only, based on admission status and individualized education plans developed.

Courses