SWAG��Ƶ

The mission of the SWAG��Ƶ College of Dental Medicine is to improve the health of Northern New England as well as rural and underserved areas while shaping the future of dentistry through excellence in education, discovery, and service.

The College offers the Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) as the professional degree that prepares students for careers as dentists in a variety of practice settings. Students will matriculate with an undergraduate education (minimum 3 years, Bachelor's degree preferred). The D.M.D degree is awarded after successful completion of four years of professional study in the College of Dental Medicine.

The first two years of the program focus on integrated biomedical sciences and dental sciences including extensive utilization of dental simulation and early clinical experiences. Students will work closely with faculty and peers while attaining foundational biomedical knowledge and its relationship to patient care. Students commence dental patient simulation in the first term of the program in order to attain, practice, and eventually demonstrate competency in all of the clinical disciplines of dentistry. 

Students engage in clinical experiences across all four years of the program, commencing during the first semester of the program primarily through peer-to-peer experiences. During the second year, students begin to provide limited patient care and then progress to providing comprehensive patient care in the University-based dental clinic in Portland, Maine with continued didactic and seminar studies. As their clinical education continues, students will be responsible for providing comprehensive general dental care to their family of patients. Throughout their clinical experiences, students will practice as associates in a group practice led by clinical faculty mentors and will provide patient care commensurate with their individual level of education and training.

The College of Dental Medicine has also established a robust community-based education program that encompasses extramural experiences throughout all four years of the D.M.D. program. Students are introduced to service learning in their first year and enter into community-based dental education venues in their second year. Their community-based experiences, which emphasize the development of communication skills through direct patient contact, take place in a variety of settings, and students interact with many at-risk populations (e.g., pregnant mothers, infants/toddlers/children from lower socio-economic backgrounds, special needs patients, and senior citizens who are housed in long-term care facilities). As dental students progress through the D.M.D. curriculum, they transition into providing more comprehensive patient care at these extramural sites.

The fourth year of the program focuses on clinical practice in a distributed, community-based clinical network across Northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont) and beyond. Specifically, students participate in up to three clinical externships across the region in federally qualified community health centers, Veteran’s Administration dental clinics, other non-profit clinics, etc. The College of Dental Medicine shares SWAG��Ƶ's global initiatives and philosophy to strengthen our students' competencies in the global economy and prepare them to work successfully in a demographically changing United States by embedding their education and training in a variety of diverse cultural environments. International practice and research opportunities allow our students to find common solutions to diverse access to care issues.

In addition to the experiences in the biomedical sciences, dental sciences, and clinical sciences, students will develop knowledge and skills in the areas of professionalism, practice management, public health, and research and scholarship. Students become sophisticated consumers of science through the hands-on, application-oriented professional academic program in which faculty serve as facilitators of knowledge and students are engaged in learning.

The College is committed to providing a safe and effective environment in which students can learn; apply knowledge; develop skills and values; provide patient and community-centered, evidence-based care in an interprofessional practice model; and develop to the level of an independent, competent oral health care provider.

The College of Dental Medicine is fully accredited by CODA, the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Academic Program Standards

Complete confidence in the honor and integrity of the health professions student and health care professional is essential. Such confidence depends entirely on the exemplary behavior of the individual health care provider in his/her relations with patients, faculty, and colleagues. Strict honesty as a personal way of life should be nurtured during the period of education for professional service. The dental student shall conduct all aspects of his/her life with honor and integrity. This includes accountability to oneself and to relationships with fellow students, future colleagues, faculty, and patients who come under the student’s care or contribute to his/her training and growth, as well as members of the general public. This applies to personal conduct that reflects on the student’s honesty and integrity in both academic and non-academic settings, whether or not involving a University-sponsored activity. Upon accepting admission to the University, each student subscribes to and pledges complete observance to the University Conduct Policies as outlined in the SWAG��Ƶ Student Handbook program. A violation of these standards is an abuse of the trust placed in every student and could lead to suspension or dismissal.

Technical Standards

Abilities and Skills

Candidates for the Doctor of Dental Medicine program must have the intellectual, emotional, and physical abilities, with or without accommodations, to acquire the knowledge, technical, and clinical skills needed to successfully complete the curriculum in order to pursue a career in dentistry. The essential academic standards presented in this document are pre-requisite for matriculation, subsequent promotion from year to year, and ultimately graduation from the SWAG��Ƶ College of Dental Medicine. These standards pertain to all matriculated students. All required courses in the curriculum are necessary in order to develop essential skills required to become a competent Dentist.

Students, including students with disabilities, must have the capacity to manage their lives and anticipate their own needs. Students must be able to demonstrate the following abilities and skills with or without reasonable accommodation(s):

Observation

A student must be able to observe a patient accurately, at a distance and close up, interpreting non-verbal communications while performing dental operations or administering medications. A student must be able to perform dental examinations and treatments that require the use of sight and touch. He or she must be able to see fine detail, focus at a variety of distances, and discern differences and variations in color, shape, and texture that are necessary to differentiate normal and abnormal soft and hard tissues. He or she must be able to use tactile senses to diagnose directly by palpation and indirectly by sensations transmitted through instruments. A student must also possess the visual acuity to read charts, records, radiographs, small print, and handwritten notation.

Communication

A student must be able to: communicate effectively and sensitively with patients; convey and exchange information at a level allowing development of a health history; identify problems; explain alternative solutions; and give directions during treatment and post-treatment. A student must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the healthcare team. A student must have sufficient facility with English to: retrieve information from texts and lectures and communicate concepts on written exams and patient charts; elicit patient backgrounds; describe patient changes in moods, activity, and posture; and coordinate patient care with all members of the health care team. A student must be able to communicate in lay language so that patients and their families can understand the patient’s conditions and, thereby, be more likely to comply with treatment and preventative regimes.

Motor, Strength, and Mobility

A student must possess sufficient motor functioning to execute movements essential to providing oral health care to patients. A student must possess the motor skills to perform palpation, auscultation, and other diagnostic maneuvers; basic laboratory tests; and diagnostic and restorative procedures. Such actions require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional uses of the senses of touch and vision. A student must be able to perform basic life support including CPR, to transfer and position patients with disabilities, to physically restrain himself or herself around the patient and chair in a sitting or standing position. A student must promote and support the ability of coworkers to perform prompt care. A student must be able to operate controls, use high-speed or low-speed dental handpieces for tooth preparation, and use hand instrumentation including scalpels for surgical procedures. A student must be able to maintain strength and posture and to reach and manipulate equipment to all positions in order to control the operating environment.

Sensory

A student must be able to acquire a predetermined level of required information through demonstrations and experiences in basic and dental science courses. Such information includes, but is not limited to, information conveyed through: a) physiologic and pharmacologic demonstrations, b) microscopic images of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states; and c) demonstration of techniques using dental models. A student must be able to acquire information from written documents, and to evaluate information presented as images from paper, films, slides, or video. A student must be able to benefit from electronic and other instrumentation that enhances visual, auditory, and somatic sensations needed for examination or treatment.

Cognitive

A student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate, and synthesize. A student must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Problem solving requires all of these intellectual abilities. A student must be able to perform these problem-solving skills in a timely manner.

Behavioral and Social

A student must possess the emotional health required for full use of his or her intellectual skills, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. A student must be able to endure physically-taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. He or she must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interests, and motivations are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and educational processes. A student must be able to manage apprehensive patients with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful, congenial, personal manner so as not to alienate or antagonize them. A student must be able to interrelate among colleagues, staff, and patients with honesty, integrity, respect, and nondiscrimination.

Disabilities

Graduates of the D.M.D. program must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical, administrative, and leadership situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient cares.

The SWAG��Ƶ College of Dental Medicine acknowledges and complies with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990, as amended, and requires minimum technical standards be present in students accepted into the Doctor of Dental Medicine program. The college will engage in an interactive process with applicants with disabilities, but the College reserves the right not to matriculate any applicant who cannot meet the technical standards set forth in this section, with reasonable accommodations.

Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but a student in the Doctor of Dental Medicine program must be able to perform in an independent manner. Every applicant is considered without regard to disability. Once accepted, students must complete all elements of the curriculum with or without reasonable accommodations. In the case of a documented disability, the College must be fully satisfied that the applicant can make progress throughout the curriculum.

Throughout the D.M.D. program, a student will be expected to maintain the technical standards and demonstrate them through their coursework, interaction with peers and faculty, and in their professional experiences. Students who fail to demonstrate the technical standards while in the program will be evaluated and appropriate action (e.g., remediation, counseling, or dismissal) will be taken. Because this expectation is separate from the academic achievement, simply maintaining a passing grade is not sufficient. Additionally, individuals who would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of others are not considered suitable candidates for continued matriculation.

Applicants are not required to disclose the nature of their disability(ies), if any, to the Admissions Committee. However, any applicant with questions about these technical standards is strongly encouraged to discuss his/her specific issues(s) with the Student Access Center prior to the interview process. If appropriate, and only upon the request of the applicant, reasonable accommodations will be provided.

When a letter of acceptance to the D.M.D. Program is mailed, a detailed copy of the technical standards for completion of the curriculum will be included. The applicant will be asked to respond in writing either he/she can meet the standards with or without accommodation. The provision of or request for an accommodation for a disability is always voluntary for the student. An applicant should be able to evaluate him or herself for compliance with these technical standards. In the event that accommodation is requested, the student must submit documentation of disability with the proposed accommodation from a certified specialist to SWAG��Ƶ’s Student Access Center. A continuing student who develops a disability should request accommodations based on the limitations of the disability through the Student Access Center. Individuals unable to meet the technical standards for the D.M.D. program may be unable to progress and/or complete the D.M.D. program.

The College’s Admissions Committee will consider the applicant based on the criteria for admission of all applicants. An applicant who discloses a disability and requests accommodation in the admission process may be required to submit, in writing, the request for accommodation and pertinent supporting documentation. The pertinent information may include a history of accommodations granted previously in other education programs. Request for accommodation may be initiated with SWAG��Ƶ’s Student Access Center.

For more information on disabilities and accommodations, please contact the SWAG��Ƶ Student Access Center.

(Academic policies have been revised for the Class of 2025, entering in the fall of 2021. Students who are remediating Year 1 (D1) will re-enter Year 1 under these new policies.)

Academic and Professional Standards Committee

The College of Dental Medicine’s Academic and Professional Standards Committee (APSC) is charged with the development, distribution, and implementation of policies to aid in the evaluation of dental student academic, clinical, and professional development. The APSC is responsible for overall review of student progress and making decisions regarding promotion, potential disciplinary and corrective actions, and completion of graduation requirements for each student. The APSC will convene to evaluate student progress at the conclusion of each academic term, generally within 15 business days. Students who have not successfully maintained academic, clinical, ethical, technical, and/or professional standards will be invited to meet with the APSC to offer additional information for the committee to consider before it makes a decision regarding an appropriate course of action. The APSC shall follow guidelines in full accord with the rules of the SWAG��Ƶ and the requirements of due process. The Dean of the SWAG��Ƶ CDM will appoint faculty and staff to the APSC and designate a chair of the committee.

The APSC may also be convened to address a student’s alleged violation(s) of an ethical and/or professional standard, University Conduct Code, or for other circumstances that the Dean (or designee) deems appropriate. The review of the matter by the committee will be afforded due consideration and process as governed by University policy.

A student under review by the APSC will be notified in writing of the reason and given the opportunity to meet with the committee at a specified date, time, and location. The student will inform the chair at least one day before the meeting if he or she wishes to be present at the APSC meeting. The student will be afforded at least 15 minutes, though time allotted may be increased at the discretion of the committee chair. The student may request that the committee consider other sources of information, such as witness testimony or other supporting documents. The student may ask a SWAG��Ƶ faculty representative to accompany him or her to the meeting. The faculty representative cannot address the APSC in any way during the student’s comments, though they may confer with the student. If available, a designee from Graduate and Student Affairs will be present at the meeting should the student need additional consultation. The student and faculty representative will not be present for deliberations; however, the Graduate and Student Affairs designee will participate in the deliberations. The APSC will have an opportunity to review the additional information, if presented, and will then make a final decision and inform the student in writing. The Dean, or designee, will review the decision with the student.

Grading Policies

All courses within the curriculum are evaluated as Pass/Fail. Students should refer to the course syllabus for the grading policy specific to each course.

The grade designations on the transcript are:

• Pass (P): Student earned an overall grade of 69.50 and above and met all requirements stated in the course syllabus
• Fail (F): Student earned an overall grade of 69.49 or below or did not meet all requirements stated in the course syllabus
• Incomplete (I): Student has completed a majority of the work in a course but extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control have resulted in the student being unable to finish all required work for issuance of a final grade. Examples of valid extenuating circumstances may include illness, family emergency, or other non-academic and urgent matters. University policy states that all grades of "I" will automatically convert to an "F" after four to six weeks, depending on the duration of the academic term in question.
• Pass (P) with notation “F grade remediated” beneath the course title: Student has completed a course remediation (see Course Remediation)

Letters of Commendation (LOC) are awarded to students achieving superior performance in a course, as determined by the Course Director and outlined in the course syllabus. A student will not be eligible for an LOC in a course they have to remediate or retake. LOCs are not noted on the official transcript.

If a course will permit a student to retake assessments and/or redo assignments while the course is in progress, the syllabus must outline the assessments retake and/or assignments redo criteria and plan.

Official grades are submitted to the Registrar by Course Directors, at which time the online student records system is updated. Official grade reports and unofficial transcripts will be available on the student records system throughout the academic year. Class rank is not reported on transcripts.

Students must earn a grade of "Pass" in all courses. Students who receive a "Fail" in a course will be reviewed by the APSC. The APSC, after consultation with the Course Director and review of the student’s overall performance in all other SWAG��Ƶ CDM courses (concurrent and previous), may decide on one of the following courses of action for the student:

1. Remediate the course
2. Repeat the course
3. Repeat the academic year
4. Dismissal from the program

The student will be notified of the decision in writing by the Dean (or designee). Notification must be either sent by USPS mail or hand-delivered to the student.

Promotion

Promotion is defined as academic and professional progression from one academic year to the next. The APSC will review student progress and make decisions regarding promotion of each student. Students may be ineligible for progression from one academic year to the next if any of the following apply:

• The student has a grade of "I" or "F" in a required course without an approved course remediation plan
• The student has a grade of "I" or "F" in the remediation of a previously failed course
• The student needs to repeat one or more courses
• Failure to meet or maintain ethical and/or professional standards as outlined in the Code of Professional Conduct found in the Student Handbook
• Failure to meet or maintain technical standards
• Unpaid tuition and fees
• Failure to meet the National Board Dental Examinations Policy found in the Student Handbook

An essential element of the academic program is professionalism. Professionalism will be emphasized throughout the curriculum and is a stand-alone element in determining academic advancement and achievement. Students may be ineligible for progression from one academic year to the next if the student has unprofessional conduct violations.

The end-of-academic-year promotion process does not preclude the APSC from deciding on an adverse action (e.g., dismissal, repeat the year, etc.) as a result of a student review at any other APSC meeting (e.g., mid-year, etc.) if the student has failed to meet or maintain the academic, clinical, technical, ethical, and/or professional standards deemed appropriate by the APSC.

Course Remediation

Remediation is the process for addressing deficiencies in a student’s knowledge, skills, and/or professional behavior. The educational objectives that underlie remedial teaching and evaluation should be the same as the educational objectives that underlie regular courses in the curriculum. Students receiving an “F” grade in a course may be offered a formal course remediation plan developed by the Course Director and approved by the APSC. Alternatively, the course director may determine that a student is “not remediable.”

Decisions to allow a student to proceed with remediation of a failed course will be made by the APSC on an individual basis after considering all pertinent circumstances. The APSC will base its decision on the student’s overall performance in all other SWAG��Ƶ CDM courses (concurrent and previous) and other considerations after consultation with the student’s faculty advisor/Group Practice Leader, Course Director, Dean (or designee), clinical preceptor, and the student involved, as is appropriate.

Students who are offered the opportunity to remediate a course failure may have a modified academic or clinical schedule, which can lead to a delayed graduation and additional tuition and fees.

Upon the student’s successful completion of a course remediation, a “Pass” will be reported to the Registrar’s Office and become part of the official student transcript, along with the notation “F grade remediated.”

Students will be offered no more than one attempt to remediate a failed course. Failure to earn a passing grade on the course remediation will result in one of the following courses of action for the student:

1. Repeat the course
2. Repeat the academic year
3. Dismissal from the program

The APSC will base its decision on the student’s overall performance in all other SWAG��Ƶ CDM courses (concurrent and previous) and other considerations. Grades earned during an attempted remediation of a course will be reviewed critically by the APSC. The student will be notified of the decision in writing by the Dean (or designee). Notification must be either sent by USPS mail or hand-delivered to the student.

Course Repeat

Decisions to allow a student to proceed with repeating a failed course will be made by the APSC on an individual basis after considering all pertinent circumstances. Courses in the CDM program are offered once per year, therefore, the student must wait until the next time the course is offered to repeat the course and will be responsible for all tuition and fees. The APSC will base its decision on the student’s overall performance in all other SWAG��Ƶ CDM courses (concurrent and previous) and other considerations after consultation with the student’s faculty advisor/Group Practice Leader, Course Director, Dean (or designee), clinical preceptor, and the student involved, as is appropriate.

Students who are offered the opportunity to repeat a failed course may have a modified academic or clinical schedule, which can lead to a delayed graduation and additional tuition and fees.

Upon completion of a repeated course, a new listing and assigned grade are placed on the student's transcript. The original course listing and grade remain on the student's transcript.

Students will be offered no more than one attempt to repeat a failed course. Failure to earn a passing grade on the course repeat will result in one of the following courses of action for the student:

1. Repeat the academic year
2. Dismissal from the program

The APSC will base its decision on the student’s overall performance in all other SWAG��Ƶ CDM courses (concurrent and previous) and other considerations. Grades earned during an attempted repeat of a course will be reviewed critically by the APSC. The student will be notified of the decision in writing by the Dean (or designee). Notification must be either sent by USPS mail or hand-delivered to the student.

Academic Year Repeat

Students who are required to repeat an academic year must repeat all courses in their entirety. Failure of any course in a repeat year may result in dismissal from the program. A student may not repeat the same academic year more than once.

D.M.D. Program Duration

The D.M.D. program must be completed in a maximum of 6 years total (1.5 times the expected completion period). This is inclusive of leaves of absence and repeating an academic year.

Probation or Academic Suspension

Probation is a serious warning that student’s academic performance or professional conduct must improve in order for the student to continue enrollment at the College of Dental Medicine.

Students may be placed on Probation or Academic Suspension for the following reasons:

1. Inadequate academic progress as determined by the Academic and Professional Standards Committee. This includes, but is not limited to, receiving an "F" in any course.
2. When required to repeat an academic year for academic reasons.
3. Violating the Code of Professional Conduct as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Students on probation are expected to remove themselves from all elected officer responsibilities and leadership roles in co-curricular activities associated with the University and/or with professional associations. Students on probation must meet with a faculty member designated by the APSC at least once per month. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the faculty member to arrange these meetings.

The APSC will review all students on academic probation at each end-of-term APSC meeting to consider removal of probation status for those students that have successfully remediated a course failure or improved academic, clinical, or professional performance. Probation status for students found responsible for behavioral, ethical, and/or professional standard violations will be for a specified period of time (up to one academic year per incident). In those cases, probation will expire at the specified date identified in the letter from the Dean (or designee) that specified probationary status.

Students on academic suspension are not registered as an active matriculate and should use this time to remediate the deficiency for which the academic suspension was levied.

Dismissal

The University may require withdrawal at any time it deems necessary to safeguard its standards of scholarship, conduct, and orderly operations. The Dean of the CDM (or designee), after due consideration and process, may dismiss a student at any time before graduation if circumstances of legal, moral, behavior, ethical, professional, health, or academic nature justify such an action. The APSC is charged with reviewing student academic, clinical, ethical, and professional performance. The APSC may decide to dismiss a student in order to satisfy its obligation to maintain student performance standards. A student may be considered for dismissal when, but not limited to, any one or more of the following circumstances apply:

• Received a grade of “Fail” in one or more course(s)
• Received a grade of “Fail” in a remediated course, or for a failure to remediate a course
• Violating the Code of Professional Conduct as outlined in the Student Handbook
• Failure to meet or maintain Technical Standards as outlined in the Student Handbook
• Failure to meet the National Board Dental Examinations Policy found in the Student Handbook
• Received a grade of “Fail” in any course during a repeat year

Graduation

To be eligible for graduation, a student must:

• Not be on academic suspension or probation
• Have earned a grade of “Pass” in all required coursework and have no outstanding grades of "I" or "F"
• Meet the National Board Dental Examinations Policy found in the Student Handbook
• Have successfully completed all prescribed academic requirements, including:
  • All courses/modules (including clinical externship)
  • Final Student Progress Review meeting with Group Practice Leader
  • Have demonstrated competency for all SWAG��Ƶ CDM Competency Statements
  • Have completed the SWAG��Ƶ CDM Graduate Exit Survey
  • Completed and submitted a SWAG��Ƶ CDM D.M.D. Graduation Sign-Out Sheet
• Have demonstrated appropriate ethical, professional, and personal conduct, as defined in the SWAG��Ƶ Student Handbook and the College of Dental Medicine Academic Standards, thus making it appropriate to award the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine
• March with his/her class in the graduation ceremony, unless the Dean (or designee) has granted an exception due to unique circumstances
• Have complied with all the legal and financial requirements of the University and College

Extended, Returning, or Repeating Fourth-Year Students

Students who are deficient in meeting expectations at the time of review for graduation will be categorized as follows:

1. Extended Fourth-Year Students: Students who will complete all expectations by mid-August of the following academic year and are expected to graduate in August.
2. Returning Fourth-Year Students: Students who will complete all expectations by mid-December of the following academic year and are expected to graduate in December.
3. Repeating Fourth-Year Students: Students who will complete all expectations within one year of the original graduation date and are expected to graduate in May of the following academic year.

Students with these designations will be responsible for applicable tuition and registration fees. It will be the student’s responsibility to complete the application to graduate. Please consult the SWAG��Ƶ Registrar’s website.

Student Appeal Process

Academic Progression Appeal

The APSC is responsible for the review of student academic progress. A student may submit a written appeal of an academic progression decision to the Dean of the College (or designee) within seven (7) business days of the decision according to the guidelines in the University Student Handbook. Please refer to the SWAG��Ƶ Student Handbook for the detailed policy and process information; it is available online at

A written appeal of an academic progression decision must be delivered to the Dean (or designee) in writing and must be based on: 1) new evidence that could not have been presented to the academic review officer or committee at the time of the original decision, or 2) procedural errors in the original review process that had a substantial impact on or otherwise prejudiced the original determination. The Dean (or designee) will make a determination whether grounds are present in the appeal to warrant a review. The appeal is not intended to afford a full rehearing of the case but to serve as a method of reviewing the written content and grounds for appealing as submitted by the student. The Dean (or designee) will inform the student of his/her decision in writing within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the appeal. If the Dean (or designee) deems that the appeal would be better addressed by a committee, an appropriate appeal committee will be convened and a review will be conducted.

Unless deadlines have been extended by the Dean (or designee), the final findings and recommendations of the Appeal Review Committee will be forwarded to the Dean (or designee) no later than thirty (30) business days subsequent to the Committee's first meeting. The Dean (or designee) will make a decision and report it to all parties involved within ten (10) working days of receipt of the Committee’s findings and recommendations. The decision of the Dean (or designee) in response to the appeal is final. If an appeal is upheld by the Appeal Review Committee, the matter may be remanded to the APSC for re-opening of the review and reconsideration of the original finding and/or sanction(s).

Grade or Penalty Appeal (excluding academic progression appeal)

Assignment of Grades

The academic standards for successful completion of a course and assignment of a grade are established by the Course Director and guided by the SWAG��Ƶ CDM Academic Guidelines. The Course Director bears the responsibility of ensuring that written academic standards are outlined in the course syllabus that is provided to each student at the beginning of each course. The Course Director assigns final grades based upon these published academic standards.

Basis for Appeal

Every effort should be made to resolve a difference over a grade (e.g., grade within a course or a final course grade) or penalty (e.g., exclusion from a course, lab, or clinical experience) on an informal basis through a discussion between the student and the Course Director. It is up to the Course Director’s discretion whether or not to change the grade/penalty after discussion with the student and a review of the circumstances.

If the above informal procedure does not resolve a dispute concerning a grade to the student’s satisfaction, the student may submit a written appeal of the grade or penalty. This appeal mechanism is limited to possible errors in calculating or recording a grade/penalty and to allegations of mistakes or arbitrary or capricious grading. “Arbitrary or capricious” grading means (1) the assignment of a grade/penalty to a student on some basis other than performance in the course; (2) the assignment of a grade/penalty to a student by application of standards different from the standards that were applied to other students in that course; or (3) the assignment of a course grade/penalty based on a substantial and unreasonable departure from the written academic standards for that course.

The appeal mechanism is not intended for review of the instructor’s evaluation of the student’s academic performance. If a student feels the course was poorly designed, they received poor instruction, or students were graded too severely (provided that all the students in the class were graded in the same fashion), these concerns are more appropriately communicated on end-of-semester course evaluations. Furthermore, the appeal mechanism is not to be used to dispute the published academic standards for a course, which are the prerogative of the Course Director under which the course is administered.

It is the responsibility of the student to substantiate the assertion that an incorrect final grade has been assigned.

Appeals Process

1. The first level of the appeal is the academic course from which the grade or penalty was issued. Within 5 business days after receipt of the grade or penalty in question, the student must request, in writing, a review by the Course Director. The student should then meet with the Course Director to discuss his or her concerns and to present any evidence that an erroneous or arbitrary or capricious final grade has been assigned. The Course Director should document this meeting and send a follow-up email to the student that outlines the basis for the decision to either uphold or change the grade or penalty.
2. If the student's concerns are not resolved through a meeting with the Course Director, the student may submit a written appeal to the Associate Dean of Curriculum Integration and Analytics (ADCIA; or designee) within 5 business days after the receipt of the grade appeal decision from the Course Director (see Student Grade/Penalty Appeal Form). This written appeal must contain information to substantiate the student’s assertion, including a copy of the course syllabus and other pertinent material to support the argument that a grade/penalty change is warranted. The ADCIA (or designee) will review the appeal to determine if there were errors made or arbitrary or capricious grading/penalties. If the ADCIA believes the aforementioned to be true, s/he will notify the Course Director and solicit a response. The ADCIA (or designee) will then decide to (1) uphold the grade with stated reasons or (2) recommend a change in grade with stated reasons. A written decision will generally be communicated within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the ADCIA (or designee) is final.

Competencies for the New General Dentist

(Adopted from the American Dental Education Association)

(Journal of Dental Education July 2011)

The general dentist is the primary oral health care provider supported by dental specialists, allied dental professionals, and other health care providers. The practice of general dentistry requires a dentist to possess the ability to incorporate understanding, skills, and values in an integrated response to clinical and other professional situations. The competency statements describe the performance of the SWAG��Ƶ College of Dental Medicine graduates as they enter dental practice settings rather than that of students in individual courses. This document is viewed by the College as dynamic; as the practice of dentistry evolves, the College will revisit its competency statements. 

Domains

1. Critical Thinking
2. Professionalism
3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills
4. Health Promotion
5. Practice Management and Informatics
6. Patient Care
   • Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
   • Establishment and Maintenance of Oral Health

1. Critical Thinking

Graduates must be competent to:

1.1. Evaluate and integrate emerging trends in health care as appropriate.
1.2. Utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
1.3. Evaluate and integrate best research outcomes with clinical expertise and patient values for evidence-based practice.

2. Professionalism
Graduates must be competent to:

2.1. Apply ethical and legal standards in the provision of dental care.
2.2. Practice within one’s scope of competence and consult with or refer to professional colleagues when indicated.

3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Graduates must be competent to:

3.1. Apply appropriate interpersonal and communication skills.
3.2. Apply psychosocial and behavior principles in patient-centered health care.
3.3. Communicate effectively with individuals from diverse populations.

4. Health Promotion
Graduates must be competent to:

4.1. Provide prevention, intervention, and educational strategies.
4.2. Participate with dental team members and other health care professionals in the management and health promotion for all patients.
4.3. Recognize and appreciate the need to contribute to the improvement of oral health beyond those served in traditional practice settings.

5. Practice Management and Informatics
Graduates must be competent to:

5.1. Evaluate and apply contemporary and emerging information including clinical and practice management technology resources.
5.2. Evaluate and manage current models of oral health care management and delivery.
5.3. Apply principles of risk management, including informed consent and appropriate record keeping in patient care.
5.4. Demonstrate effective business, financial management, and human resource skills.
5.5. Apply quality assurance, assessment, and improvement concepts.
5.6. Comply with local, state and federal regulations including OSHA and HIPAA.
5.7. Develop a catastrophe preparedness plan for the dental practice.

6. Patient Care

A. Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning
Graduates must be competent to:

6.1. Manage the oral health care of the infant, child, adolescent, and adult, as well as the unique needs of women, geriatric, and special needs patients.
6.2. Prevent, identify, and manage trauma, oral diseases, and other disorders.
6.3. Obtain and interpret patient/medical data, including a thorough intra/extra oral examination, and use these findings to accurately assess and manage all patients.
6.4. Select, obtain, and interpret diagnostic images for the individual patient.
6.5. Recognize the manifestations of systemic disease and how the disease and its management may affect the delivery of dental care.
6.6. Formulate a comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and / or referral plan for the management of patients.

B. Establishment and Maintenance of Oral Health
Graduates must be competent to:

6.7. Utilize universal infection control guidelines for all clinical procedures.
6.8. Prevent, diagnose, and manage pain and anxiety in the dental patient.
6.9. Prevent, diagnose, and manage temporomandibular disorders.
6.10. Prevent, diagnose and manage periodontal diseases.
6.11. Develop and implement strategies for the clinical assessment and management of caries.
6.12. Manage restorative procedures that preserve tooth structure, replace missing or defective tooth structure, maintain function, are esthetic, and promote soft and hard tissue health.
6.13. Diagnose and manage developmental or acquired occlusal abnormalities.
6.14. Manage the replacement of teeth for the partially or completely edentulous patient.
6.15. Diagnose, identify, and manage pulpal and periradicular diseases.
6.16. Diagnose and manage oral surgical treatment needs.
6.17. Prevent, recognize, and manage medical and dental emergencies.
6.18. Recognize and manage patient abuse and/or neglect.
6.19. Recognize and manage substance abuse.
6.20. Evaluate outcomes of comprehensive dental care.
6.21. Diagnose, identify, and manage oral mucosal and osseous diseases.

Glossary of Terms

Competency: A complex behavior or ability essential for the general dentist to begin independent, unsupervised dental practice; it assumes that all behaviors and skills are performed with a degree of quality consistent with patient well-being and that the general dentist can self-evaluate treatment effectiveness.

Critical thinking: The process of assimilating and analyzing information; this encompasses an interest in finding new solutions, a curiosity with an ability to admit to a lack of understanding, a willingness to examine beliefs and assumptions and to search for evidence to support these beliefs and assumptions, and the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion.

Curriculum guidelines (content): The relevant and fundamental information that is taught for each category of foundation knowledge; these are to be used as curriculum development aids and should not be construed as recommendations for restrictive requirements.

Domain: A broad, critical category of activity for the general dentist.

Emerging technologies: Current and future technologies used in patient care, including technology for biomedical information storage and retrieval, clinical care information, and technologies for use at the point of care.

Evidence-based dentistry: An approach to oral health care that requires the judicious integration of systematic assessments of clinically relevant scientific evidence relating to the patient’s oral and medical condition and history integrated with the dentist’s clinical expertise and the patient’s treatment needs and preferences.

Foundation knowledge and skills: The basic essential knowledge and skills linked to and necessary to support a given competency; these would serve to help guide curriculum in dental schools, assist educators in removing irrelevant, archaic information from current curricula, aid in including important new information, and help test construction committees develop examinations based upon generally accepted, contemporary information.

General dentist: The primary dental care provider for patients in all age groups who is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management, and overall coordination of services related to patients’ oral health needs.

Health promotion: Public health actions to protect or improve oral health and promote oral well-being through behavioral, educational, and enabling socioeconomic, legal, fiscal, environmental, and social measures; it involves the process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health; includes education of the public to prevent chronic oral disease.

Informatics: Applications associated with information¬ and technology used in health care delivery; the data and knowledge needed for problem-solving and decision making; and the administration and man-management of information and technology in support of patient care, education, and research.

Interprofessional health care: The delivery of health care by a variety of health care practitioners in a cooperative, collaborative, and integrative manner to ensure care is continuous and reliable.

Management: Includes all actions performed by a health care provider that are designed to alter the course of a patient’s condition; such actions may include providing education, advice, treatment by the general dentist, treatment by the general dentist after consultation with another health care professional, referral of a patient to another health care professional, and monitoring the treatment provided; it may also include providing no treatment or observation.

Patient-centered care: The ability to identify, respect, and care about patients’ differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs; relieve pain and suffering; coordinate continuous care; listen to, clearly inform, communicate with, and educate patients; share decision making and management; and continuously advocate disease prevention, wellness, and promotion of healthy lifestyles, including a focus on population health.

Problem-solving: The process of answering a question or achieving a goal when the path or answer is not immediately obvious, using an acceptable heuristic or strategy such as the scientific method.

Special needs care: An approach to oral health management tailored to the individual needs of people with a variety of medical conditions or physical and mental limitations that require more than routine delivery of oral care; special care encompasses preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Update for the 2021-2022 Application Cycle

The following statements are applicable for coursework taken during the following semesters only: Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, Fall 2021-

• Applicants who have the option of taking a prerequisite course for a letter grade or Pass/Fail must choose the graded option to receive a letter grade for the course. If the applicant did not have the option to choose a letter grade for the prerequisite course, we will consider Pass/Fail grades on a case-by-case basis pending verification from the institution’s Registrar’s Office that a graded option was not available for the prerequisite course.
• Applicants who have the option of taking a non-prerequisite course for a letter grade or Pass/Fail are encouraged to choose the graded option because the course will otherwise not factor into GPA calculations. While graded non-prerequisite courses are preferred, Pass/Fail non-prerequisite courses will also be acceptable.
   

Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) 4-year Degree Program
 

APplication

The SWAG��Ƶ College of Dental Medicine (SWAG��Ƶ CDM) participates in the . All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

DEGREE REQUIREMENT

Completed a minimum of 90 semester (135 quarter) credits at a U.S. regionally accredited institution or international equivalent, at the time of enrollment. However, a baccalaureate degree is preferred.

• All applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Official transcripts should be sent directly to . Please see the application for additional information and instructions.
   

PREREQUISITE COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS

• Science Courses
  • General Biology with lab (4 semester, 6 quarter credits); Zoology acceptable to fulfill requirement.
  • Anatomy with lab (4 semester, 6 quarter credits)
    • This requirement can be satisfied by taking Anatomy w/lab OR Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (4 semester, 6 quarter credits) and Anatomy and Physiology II with lab (4 semester, 6 quarter credits)
  • Microbiology with lab (4 semester, 6 quarter credits)
  • General Chemistry with lab (4 semester, 6 quarter credits)
  • Organic Chemistry with lab (4 semester, 6 quarter credits)
  • Biochemistry (3 semester, 4.5 quarter credits)
  • Additional Biology, Chemistry, Calculus, or Physics (12 semester, 18 quarter credits)
• Other Courses
  • English Composition/Technical Writing (3 semester, 4.5 quarter credits)

Recommended Courses:

• Human Physiology strongly recommended
• Immunology strongly recommended
• Pharmacology
• Histology
• Genetics
• Physics
• Business, Computers
• 3-Dimensional Art (e.g., sculpture)
• Communications
• Ethics
• Public Health

Other Important Prerequisite Coursework Notes:

• All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a grade of "C" or better ("C minus" grades are not acceptable).
• AP credits cannot be applied toward any prerequisite course.
• Upper-level courses in any of the necessary prerequisite subject areas completed with a grade of "C" or better is acceptable.
• Prerequisite courses may be in-progress or planned at the time of application. All courses must be successfully completed with an official transcript submitted to the SWAG��Ƶ Office of Graduate Admissions prior to the start of the program.
• Official transcripts for coursework and/or degrees completed in the summer/fall term should be submitted and verified by ADEA AADSAS during the period.
• Official transcripts for coursework and/or degrees completed after the ADEA AADSAS Academic Update periods should be submitted directly from the University's Registrar to SWAG��Ƶ’s Office of Graduate Admissions prior to the start of the program.

All planned or in-progress coursework should be listed on the ADEA AADSAS application at the time of application submission; not doing so may result in the applicant not meeting all admissions requirements.

Online courses offered through  are acceptable to fulfill prerequisites.

STANDARDIZED TESTS

The   is required to be taken for the first time no later than October 1 of the application year. First attempt exam scores from after the October 1 DAT deadline will not be considered.

• NEW for the 2021-2022 cycle: Applicants may choose to take the DAT a second time after October 1 and have those scores considered.
• All official scores must be submitted directly to ADEA AADSAS.
• The DAT must have been taken within 5 years of the application deadline.
   

LETTERS OF EVALUATION

Two (2) letters of evaluation are required, and must be submitted via ADEA AADSAS*

• One letter must be from a science professor.
• It is recommended that the second letter come from a dentist.
• Committee letters are accepted in place of the two (2) required letters.
• All letters must be submitted electronically via the ADEA AADSAS application and must be dated within the last 3 years.
  *Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable.
   

VOLUNTEER/EXPERIENCE HOURS

Community Service: Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate community service through volunteerism or service-oriented employment.

Clinical Dental Experience: *Required minimum of thirty (30) hours of dental shadowing/experience.

• Applicants who have been unable to meet the 30-hour minimum in-person dental shadowing requirement for the 2021-2022 cycle must respond to the question "How have you engaged with the dental profession during the pandemic?", which will be located in the SWAG��Ƶ College of Dental Medicine section of the AADSAS application. Please refer to the ADEA AADSAS application for additional instructions and recommendations.
• All experiences should be documented in the ADEA AADSAS application.
  
  *Due to ongoing public health and safety concerns with COVID-19, an exception will be made to the 30-hour minimum shadowing requirement for the 2021-2022 application cycle. Applicants who are unable to obtain in-person experiences will still be eligible for admission consideration this application cycle.
   

PERSONAL STATEMENT

• Please refer to the ADEA AADSAS application for all specific writing prompts and additional information.
   

INTERVIEWS

Interviews are a required part of the application process and are by invitation only.

• Applicants are selected for interviews on a rolling basis.
• Interviews are done by invitation only.
• Interviews are typically scheduled between September and November; spring interview sessions will be scheduled as needed.
• Alternate interviewing protocols may be instituted as necessary to address ongoing public health and safety concerns with COVID-19. The Office of Graduate Admissions will inform applicants of any updates, as necessary.

Given the normally heavy volume of applications, it is strongly encouraged that candidates submit and complete their applications as early as possible in the cycle to ensure full consideration for an interview.

SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION FEE

• All verified applications will undergo a preliminary admission review, after which select applicants will be invited to submit the SWAG��Ƶ Dental Medicine supplemental application fee of $55 in order to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
• Upon receipt of an invitation to complete the SWAG��Ƶ Dental Medicine supplemental application fee, please be sure to make payment promptly and by the deadline listed in the invitation.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

International applicants and those with foreign degrees and coursework are required to satisfy the following additional requirements:

• Official course-by-course evaluation by or . The completed credential evaluation should be submitted directly to ADEA AADSAS. Please refer to the International Admissions section of the SWAG��Ƶ website for more information on the type of credential evaluation required for admission review.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of a SWAG��Ƶ-approved English language proficiency test.
• Applicants should refer to the English Language Proficiency page on the SWAG��Ƶ website for specific information and minimum score requirements.
• Please refer to the ADEA AADSAS application for test score submission instructions.
   

OTHER REQUIREMENTS/INFORMATION

Prior to matriculation, accepted and deposited students will be required to complete the following additional compliance requirements:

• Completion of physical examination with proof of up-to-date immunization status. Please refer to SWAG��Ƶ’s Student Health Center for detailed information.
• Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen prior to matriculation, as well as periodically throughout the program (as required by clinical affiliations).
• All students must have the ability to meet all Academic and Technical Standards of the Dental Medicine profession.
• SWAG��Ƶ follows the ADEA AADSAS “traffic” rules. Those offered admissions are notified by mail on the designated notification date and will continue until the class is full.
• Only those applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be considered for admission. However, meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or acceptance.

Note: All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of SWAG��Ƶ and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

Due to continuing developments with COVID-19, some application requirements and processes may change during the cycle for the health and safety of the university, its employees, and prospective students/applicants. We appreciate your flexibility and consideration.

POLICY EXCEPTIONS

• Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs
• All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements
• Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates

TRANSFER CREDIT

• No transfer credit granted

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

• No credit awarded for experiential learning

______________________________________________________________________________________________

ADVANCED STANDING DOCTOR OF DENTAL MEDICINE (D.M.D. AST) FOR INTERNATIONAL DENTISTS

The D.M.D. AST is offered on a space-available basis only. Please visit the profile page for current information.

APPLICATION

The SWAG��Ƶ College of Dental Medicine (SWAG��Ƶ CDM) participates in the . All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

DEGREE REQUIREMENT

To be eligible for admission, applicants must have a dentist's degree from a non-U.S./Canadian dental school.

All applicants must provide a notarized, school-issued document confirming the conferred foreign dental degree (B.D.S., D.D.S., D.M.D., Odontology, etc.).

• Submit, through ADEA CAAPID application, original dental school, non-dental school, and all postgraduate program transcripts. For all foreign transcripts, applicants must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation by or .
   

sTANDARDIZED TESTS

English-Language Proficiency Tests:

• Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of an English language proficiency test, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language  or the International English Language Testing System 
• Official score reports are required and must be submitted as a part of the completed application.
• Applicants should refer to the English Language Proficiency page on the SWAG��Ƶ website for specific information and minimum score requirements.

Additional Tests:

• Passage of both NBDE Part I and Part II exams (or INBDE) is mandatory, preferably within the last five (5) years. Official scores must be submitted through ADEA CAAPID.
• Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) results will be accepted if submitted via ADEA CAAPID, but this is not required.
   

LETTERS OF EVALUATION

Three (3) letters of evaluation are required and must be submitted via ADEA CAAPID*

Letters of evaluation should be submitted from the following individuals:

• Dean or chief/senior administrator of the applicant’s dental school (Dean level preferred).
• Dental school clinical instructor who is able to evaluate the applicant’s potential.
• One professional reference who can attest to the applicant’s character, conduct, and professional ability.
• Three (3) letters of evaluation are required, and no more than four (4) will be accepted. Only letters submitted through ADEA CAAPID will be accepted.

All letters must be signed and must have been written within the past two (2) years. They must be written in English, or translated by a certified US translator, at the applicant’s expense. The letters must also include the evaluator’s current contact details.

INTERVIEW and bench test

Interviews are conducted by invitation only. Only candidates with completed ADEA CAAPID and supplemental applications will be considered for an interview.

• Interviews for full consideration to the DMD AST program include an evaluative interview with CDM faculty and staff, a bench test, and a written exam and/or writing sample.
• The fee to complete the interview and bench test will be $500 and must be received by SWAG��Ƶ CDM prior to the interview date.
• Applicants are invited to interview on a rolling basis at the discretion of the SWAG��Ƶ CDM Admissions Committee.
   

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

All applicants must provide proof of US citizenship (US passport, US birth certificate, or Certificate of Naturalization) OR proof of permanent resident status (Green Card), or other appropriate immigration documentation.

• It is the candidate’s responsibility to maintain legal immigration status for the duration of enrollment in the D.M.D. AST program.
   

SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION FEE 

All complete applications will undergo preliminary admission review, after which select applicants will be invited to submit the required, non-refundable SWAG��Ƶ Dental Medicine supplemental application fee of $100 in order to continue moving forward in the application review process.

Note: All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of SWAG��Ƶ and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

Due to continuing developments with COVID-19, some application requirements and processes may change during the cycle for the health and safety of the university, its employees, and prospective students/applicants. We appreciate your flexibility and consideration.

Policy Exceptions

• Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs.
• All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements.
• Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates.

Transfer Credit

• No transfer credit granted

Advanced Standing

(please see application and admissions details in the admissions section of this page above)

Experiential Learning

• No credit awarded for experiential learning

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.