Dean’s Letters of Commendation

Upon completion of each Phase, students who have demonstrated academic excellence in required courses/clerkships receive a Letter of Commendation from the Dean. Courses that count toward eligibility for a Dean’s letter are listed in the table (below). In Phase 1, students who receive greater than or equal to a 89.50% will receive the full 1 point per credit hour.  Students whose class average is greater than 84.50% but less than 89.50% will receive 0.5 points per credit hour. Students earning greater than or equal to 90.00% of the possible points will receive a Letter of Commendation from the Dean. All scores and calculations will be rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. Students who receive an Unsatisfactory grade, who fail their first attempt at USMLE Step 1, or who fail to show sufficient professionalism are ineligible to receive a Dean's Letter of Commendation. 

Phase 1 courses that count toward a Letter of Commendation

In Phases 2 and 3, 1 point per credit hour will be awarded for students who earn honors in required courses and 0.5 points for students who earn high satisfactory.  Electives and required courses that use a pass/fail grading system will not be used to accrue points. For each Phase, students must earn greater than or equal to 90.00% of the available points to qualify for a Letter of Commendation. All scores and calculations will be rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. Students who receive an Unsatisfactory grade, who fail their first attempt at the USMLE Step exam or an NBME subject exam (shelf exam), or who fail to show sufficient professionalism are ineligible to receive a Dean's Letter of Commendation for that Phase.

In the Well Beyond Curriculum, each Phase is considered an equivalent educational experience. Therefore, student standing is cumulative and will be determined by the average percent of points earned in each Phase.