SWAG��Ƶ

The SWAG��Ƶ, College of Osteopathic Medicine (SWAG��Ƶ COM) fosters health care leaders across the continuum in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education to advance exceptional osteopathic healthcare locally and globally through education, research, scholarship, practice, and community health.

Vision

The SWAG��Ƶ, College of Osteopathic Medicine will become a recognized leader in educating primary care physicians for Maine, New England, and the nation by developing into:

• A medical school that offers a state-of-the-art curriculum, dynamic clinical rotations, and supports distinctive graduate medical education.
• A major contributor in clearly defined, and well-focused medical research.
• An organization that offers leadership to our profession and our community.
• A catalyst for interprofessional education and service.
• A trusted partner in health care for our community.

Core Values

• Foster a state of wellness across our community.
• Creatively shape the future while preserving our heritage.
• Advance our commitment to the heritage and principles of osteopathic medicine.
• Promote a diverse, innovative, interprofessional, and entrepreneurial culture.
• Maintain our caring, collegial environment.
• Foster integrity and accountability through a strong ethical base.
• Utilize evidence-based methods, practice-focused research, scholarship, critical thinking, and a variety of learning modalities to improve medical education and healthcare outcomes.
• Actively seek internal and external collaborations to further our mission.

The degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), granted to graduates of osteopathic medical schools, demonstrates to the public that these physicians have received a complete medical education grounded in the general principles of osteopathic medicine, the interrelatedness of mind, body, and spirit, as articulated by its founder, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, and the American Osteopathic Association.

Consistent with osteopathic philosophy and training, the majority of osteopathic physicians practice in primary care specialties or with underserved populations. Osteopathic physicians provide both preventive and curative services to patients on a comprehensive and continuing basis. Recognizing the interrelatedness of mind, body, and spirit to each individual’s state of health, osteopathic medicine, with its patient-centered focus, embodies both conventional and complementary approaches to patient care.

In addition to the primary care specialties (e.g., Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine), many osteopathic physicians choose residency training in other medical and surgical specialties, and in settings such as active military practice, hospitalist care, and academic health centers. All 50 states in the USA and more than 60 countries offer unlimited medical licensure to qualified osteopathic physicians.

Curriculum Overview

Medical education is continuously evolving in alignment with best practices for learning and teaching. To maintain the most up-to-date, productive learning environment for our students, SWAG��Ƶ COM reserves the right to revise and amend as appropriate the policies and practices described in this catalog.

The SWAG��Ƶ COM curriculum is designed to provide the student with a strong foundation in medical skills and knowledge; to foster osteopathic physicians who are skilled in health promotion, illness prevention, and care of patients with acute and chronic conditions. To that end, SWAG��Ƶ COM provides an innovative, interdisciplinary and interprofessional, patient-focused curriculum that cultivates life-long, self-directed, evidence-based learning and professional development in our graduates.

Our progressive, integrated four-year curriculum aligns educational activities with the principles of adult learning to maximize the attainment and retention of knowledge, skills, and attitudes crucial to the delivery of health care in the 21st century.

Pre-Clerkship Education

SWAG��Ƶ COM students spend the first two years of the program on the SWAG��Ƶ campus in Biddeford, Maine. Designed with a strong emphasis on teamwork and the application of knowledge and skills, the curriculum is delivered through a series of large and small group learning activities combined with team-based and independent experiential learning in physicians’ offices, hospitals, extended care facilities, and health centers. Scheduled learning sessions include traditional didactic lectures, interactive problem-solving sessions, facilitated case-based learning, patient case study discussions, hands-on laboratory exercises, panel discussions, demonstrations, simulation experiences, and clinically focused encounters with standardized and real patients. Medical students work closely with students from SWAG��Ƶ’s other health professions programs including dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, physician’s assistant, and social work to engage in interprofessional education and collaboration in simulations labs, conferences, panel discussions, and other activities. Learning activities are constructed to provide students with opportunities to develop and demonstrate strong foundations in clinical skills, basic biomedical, and social sciences, which are applicable to the rapidly changing practice of medicine. A thorough grounding in the manual skills of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) is provided in the first two years, and supplemented, reinforced, and expanded in years 3 and 4.

Student preparation before class and active participation in class, are consistent elements in the learning dynamic throughout the curriculum. An open, free-flowing dialogue between faculty and students is valued and encouraged.

Progressive, level-appropriate mastery of the seven Core Competencies identified by the American Osteopathic Association serves as the educational outcome of the curriculum. The competencies include:

1. Osteopathic Principles and Practice: The student will understand and apply osteopathic principles to patient care.
2. Medical Knowledge: The student will demonstrate knowledge of established biomedical, epidemiological, social, and behavioral sciences and their application to patient care.
3. Patient Care: The student will have the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to provide compassionate, appropriate and effective patient care.
4. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: The student will demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in respectful and effective interactions with patients, families, and colleagues.
5. Professionalism: The student will demonstrate a commitment to conducting themselves in an ethical and sensitive manner.
6. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: The student will demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate patient care practices using scientific evidence and apply these to patient care.
7. Systems-Based Practice: The student will demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and systems of health care, to provide care of optimal value.

High-quality laboratory and educational facilities provide a stimulating venue for learning activities /com/about/facilities. The specially constructed Leonard Hall redefines the typical medical school teaching and learning environment by creating an intentional space that fosters group dialogue, case-based study, and interactive connection using emerging technologies. The Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences houses laboratories, lecture halls, and clinical skills training spaces that place SWAG��Ƶ COM at the national forefront of health and life sciences education. The Donor Lab (including cadaveric dissection) is an advanced facility where students work in teams and engage with clinical and anatomy faculty as they learn from their “first patients.” The Manipulative Medicine and Clinical Skills Lab is spacious and well designed with the latest technological support. The Clinical Performance Center is an interactive clinical skills teaching, testing and learning facility with a well-established Standardized Patient Program. The Clinical Simulation Center is a state-of-the-art facility designed for interprofessional learning opportunities, team-based interactions, meaningful debriefing, and student reflection.

Clerkship Education

The last two years of predoctoral training focuses on experiential learning in a clinical setting to further develop individual learning, interprofessional and team skills, and expand clinical acumen.

Students spend the entire third-year at one of our affiliated Clinical Campuses. The SWAG��Ƶ COM Clinical Campuses form a consortium of community-based education sites, to provide students with a strong foundation in general medicine. Each clinical campus consists of one or more healthcare facilities within a specific geographic region, that allows coordinated delivery of the core clinical training experiences in varied care level settings. The College’s Clinical Campuses base their training programs in community hospitals, private physician offices, and community health centers throughout the Northeast, representing the environments in which many SWAG��Ƶ COM graduates will eventually practice. Ambulatory care programs train students in office practice and familiarize them with the collaborative roles and skills of non­-physician health care providers.

Illustrative of its primary care and general medicine focus, SWAG��Ƶ COM’s third-year curriculum provides clinical training in family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and psychiatry. Each clinical campus provides the patient base, didactic and experiential learning opportunities, supervisory infrastructure, and longitudinal evaluation necessary for the accomplishment of the educational goals of core clerkships. Standardization of curriculum and learning objectives provides a consistent experience across the different locations within the clinical campus system. Each student is also engaged in interprofessional activities, as well as exposure to learning activities with residents in various residency programs. The College’s Clinical Campuses are located in the New England states, New York, and New Jersey.

Completion of the third-year curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in general medicine as they enter their final year of medical school. Year 4 students continue their learning with selective and elective clinical rotations at SWAG��Ƶ COM-approved programs of their choice. While community hospitals form the core of the Year 3 clinical rotations, affiliations with specialty-focused facilities allow fourth-year students to pursue a range of clinical experiences. Many of these hospitals also provide Graduate Medical Education (GME) and are often members of SWAG��Ƶ’s educational collaborative, the Northeast Osteopathic Medical Education Network (NEOMEN). Please see the Core predoctoral clinical clerkship affiliates for more information. The list of Clinical Campuses is subject to change and may vary from year to year.

Postgraduate Education

SWAG��Ƶ COM enjoys an educational affiliation with a number of postgraduate residency programs, through partnerships in the Northeast Osteopathic Medical Education Network (NEOMEN). The college and NEOMEN serve as a liaison with the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to promote residency training, advise and assist with residency development, and partner with affiliated programs for training in Osteopathic Principles and Practices. SWAG��Ƶ COM graduates apply to these and other programs for residency training.

Concurrent Graduate Degree Program

SWAG��Ƶ COM offers medical students the opportunity of pursuing a concurrent graduate degree in Public Health while pursuing the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine is an academic program at the SWAG��Ƶ. SWAG��Ƶ is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), whose mission is to establish and maintain high standards of education through the doctoral level. Accreditation by NECHE signifies that SWAG��Ƶ meets or exceeds those high standards.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine receives accreditation through the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOA COCA), the only national accrediting agency for predoctoral osteopathic medical education in the United States. In the spring of 2018, SWAG��Ƶ COM earned COCA’s highest level of re-accreditation; 10 years with exceptional outcomes.  Being granted this level of accreditation signifies that SWAG��Ƶ COM has exceeded the COCA standards for educational quality and is deemed to have the credentials to confer the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine to its graduates.

Postdoctoral Medical Education

The College advises and assists with accreditation and osteopathic recognition of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) programs. SWAG��Ƶ COM graduates may apply to these and other postgraduate programs for residency training.

Continuing Medical Education

SWAG��Ƶ COM’s Office of Continuing Medical Education (CME) is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Maine Medical Association and provides postdoctoral medical education to both osteopathic (D.O.) and allopathic (M.D.) physicians through the AOA and Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Each agency grants accreditation based on the demonstrated ability to plan and implement CME activities in accordance with accreditation requirements. SWAG��Ƶ COM is one of a handful of providers to hold the distinction of maintaining this dual accreditation and sponsor collaborative CME activities for these two physician groups.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine maintains its accreditations with continued adherence to required sets of criteria and its commitment to continual quality review and improvement of its programs and services.

Articulation Agreements

The College of Osteopathic Medicine has established articulation agreements with both undergraduate institutions and post-baccalaureate programs.

Qualified students enrolled in the Early Assurance Pre-Medicine track at the SWAG��Ƶ College of Arts and Sciences (SWAG��Ƶ CAS) may apply for early admission to the College of Osteopathic Medicine following their junior year. The Early Assurance Pre-Medicine COM 44 provides the opportunity for mature, qualified SWAG��Ƶ CAS students to complete an undergraduate degree and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree in seven years.

SWAG��Ƶ COM has established agreements enabling qualified students from the following institutions to have preferential consideration in applying to SWAG��Ƶ COM. They are:

• University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut
• Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
• University of Maine, Orono, Maine

In addition, SWAG��Ƶ COM and the following institutions have entered into agreements whereby qualified individuals who have previously completed a baccalaureate degree can fulfill the required prerequisite courses at their post-baccalaureate institution and be considered for admission:

• Tufts University Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program, Medford, Massachusetts
• University of Vermont Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program, Burlington, Vermont

SWAG��Ƶ’s integrated interdisciplinary curriculum is delivered over the first two years through semester-long longitudinal courses titled Osteopathic Medical Knowledge (OMK) and Osteopathic Clinical Skills (OCS). The courses run in parallel within common clinical frameworks with frequent integration between the courses.

Year 1 Courses

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IA – 14 Credits

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge (OMK) IA occurs in the first semester of year 1. It is a one-semester course with a multidisciplinary design to introduce medical science knowledge in a clinical framework that underpins the practice of osteopathic medicine. The OMK IA curriculum integrates the biomedical and clinical sciences, focusing on a different patient presentation each week. The overall aim is to introduce the student to critical thinking and allow the first-year osteopathic medical student to integrate and apply this knowledge in the solution of clinical problems. Additionally, the student develops collaborative and team-based skills and attitudes that support continual acquisition of medical knowledge.

Osteopathic Clinical Skills IA — 14 credits

Osteopathic Clinical Skills (OCS) IA also occurs in the first semester of year 1. It is a one-semester course that integrates physician skills, and imaging with gross and microscopic anatomy. Learners begin the transformation into student physicians who demonstrate superior clinical skills, medical professionalism, and embody empathetic, patient-centered medical care in preparation for clinical clerkship training. OCS IA provides students with a solid knowledge of clinical anatomy as the basis for competent and safe performance of physical examination and osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM); instructs learners in the art and skill of medical history taking; provides an understanding of human structure and function; allows students to begin to acquire a knowledge base leading to skilled differential diagnosis; and represents the foundation of osteopathic knowledge and skills that will be developed longitudinally throughout the learner’s medical education and practice.

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IB — 14 credits

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge (OMK) IB occurs in the second semester of year 1 and is a one-semester course that is a continuation of OMK IA and builds on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes developed by the medical scholar in the earlier course.

Osteopathic Clinical Skills IB — 14 credits

Osteopathic Clinical Skills (OCS) IB occurs in the second semester of year 1 and is a one-semester course that continues the transformation of learners into student physicians who demonstrate superior clinical skills, medical professionalism, and embody empathetic, patient-centered care. OCS IB is a continuation of OCS IA and builds on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes developed by the medical scholar in that course.

Year 2 Courses

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IIA — 16 credits

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge (OMK) IIA occurs in the first semester of year 2 and is a one-semester course that integrates foundational underlying biomedical scientific principles with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to address most common and/or important patient presentations. This course uses structured learning activities including interactive and didactic presentations, case study discussions, laboratory sessions, panel discussions, and ‘grand rounds’ conferences in order to reinforce and expand the student’s understanding of critical biomedical and clinical elements of health care explored in previous courses. The osteopathic principles of body­-mind­-spirit integration, structure­-function relationship, and the body's inherent ability to self-­regulate, heal, and maintain health, are prominent themes in the course content.

Osteopathic Clinical Skills IIA — 12 credits

Osteopathic Clinical Skills (OCS) IIA occurs in the first semester of year 2 and is a one-semester course that serves as a continuation of OCS IB. The course is designed to reinforce and expand the student’s knowledge and osteopathic clinical skills to ensure safe and competent practice during clinical training rotations in Years 3 and 4. OCS IIA introduces the student to more advanced methods of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and advances the integration of key concepts into the clinical practice of primary care. Learning activities parallel topics and areas of focus of the OMK II series of courses and include standardized patient experiences, osteopathic manual medicine skills sessions, geriatrics education mentorship, clinical skills assessment, and differential diagnosis.

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IIB — 16 credits

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge (OMK) IIB occurs in the second semester of year 2 and is a one-semester course that continues the integration of the prior OMK courses. OMK IIB expands and advances foundational underlying biomedical scientific principles with the most common and/or important patient presentations related to a variety of body systems.

Osteopathic Clinical Skills IIB — 12 credits

Osteopathic Clinical Skills (OCS) IIB occurs in the second semester of year 2 and is a one-semester course that builds on knowledge, skills, and attitudes obtained in previous courses while applying more advanced concepts in clinical diagnostic, therapeutic, and treatment regimens. This course completes students’ pre-clinical training and facilitates their development into exceptional third-year medical students.

The following tables provide a more detailed view of the SWAG��Ƶ COM courses in years 1 and 2:

SWAG��Ƶ COM Courses — Years 3 and 4

The student is required to complete 82 weeks of clinical training in years 3 and 4. SWAG��Ƶ COM defines three categories of clinical requirements:

• Core: Required Discipline — The student is assigned by the SWAG��Ƶ COM Office of Clinical Education; Core rotations are typically referred to as “clerkships.”
• Selective: Required Discipline — Site selected by the student, subject to approval by the Office of Clinical Education.
• Elective: Discipline and Site selected by the student, subject to approval by the Office of Clinical Education.

The following table shows the distribution of requirements.

Family Medicine

Core Family Medicine is a hospital and/or ambulatory experience that enhances the student’s understanding of patient and family dynamics in illness and health, the physician/patient relationship, and the careful and economical use of medical therapeutics, technological and laboratory investigation, and hospitalization. Special attention is given to the patient interview, directed physical examination, and patient education.

Internal Medicine

Core Internal Medicine is 12 weeks (general or mix of general plus subspecialty) and may complete one or more additional rotations in Internal Medicine subspecialties, typically in a hospital setting. Applying principles learned in the preclinical years, and working within a multi­disciplinary team, the student learns to formulate a differential diagnosis based on the history and physical, prioritize a problem list, identify appropriate diagnostic tests, develop a treatment plan, and present patients to supervising physicians and in team meetings. Of critical importance is further developing and refining the ability to communicate effectively with patients and members of the treatment team.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Core Obstetrics and Gynecology is intended to provide practical clinical exposure in the diagnosis and management of the female patient with normal and pathologic obstetric and gynecologic processes. Gynecologic procedures, surgery, labor and delivery, fetal evaluation and monitoring, pre-­operative evaluations, and post­-operative care are emphasized.

Pediatrics

Core Pediatrics places an emphasis on primary care of the newborn to the adolescent. In hospital and/or ambulatory settings, the student gains a greater understanding of the continuum of child development, including physical, social, and emotional aspects, as well as the role of family dynamics. The student develops communication skills with both the pediatric patient and the family and, as appropriate, refines his/her skill at educating the child, parents, and other caregivers in health promotion.

Psychiatry

Core Psychiatry encourages the student to recognize, screen for, and assess key symptoms of common mental illnesses, using the mental status examination as the basis for differential diagnosis and therapy. Additional content areas include cognitive, psychomotor, and affective development, risk assessment, substance abuse issues, and the impact of mental illness on patients and families.

Surgery

Core General Surgery and one selective in General Surgery or a surgical subspecialty must be completed by each student. This clerkship is an introduction to the principles and practice of surgery. The student will experience the totality of care from the patient’s pre­-surgical visit through the surgical encounter and post­-operative recovery.

Community Health

Community Health is a primary care rotation focused on medically underserved populations in the U.S., either urban or rural. Expanding on the Family Medicine experience under the supervision of medical personnel, the student will diagnose and treat patients, often in the absence of sophisticated diagnostic tools. The student also will participate in health screening, preventive care, and patient education.

Emergency Medicine

Emergency Medicine selective represents where knowledge and skills gained by the student in Core rotations come together in the fast-­paced emergency department. In conjunction with Emergency Department personnel, the student will evaluate and treat patients of all ages who are experiencing medical, surgical, or psychiatric emergencies.

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine focuses on osteopathic philosophy and principles which are intrinsic to the entire curriculum and are incorporated throughout the clinical portion of the student’s education. In the fourth year, the student completes a total of 4 weeks of osteopathic manipulative medicine in order to gain in-depth experience by working with a practitioner who is well versed in these principles and utilizes them in the clinical care environment.

Graduation Requirements

The Board of Trustees of the SWAG��Ƶ confers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree upon those students who have satisfactorily completed the requirements for graduation and who have been recommended for graduation by the faculty of the College.

Every candidate for the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine must:

1. Be of good moral character and meet the standards for professional behavior and conduct as described under academic and technical standards.
2. Have met and completed the academic requirements of the College, including passage of COMLEX-USA Level 1, 2PE and 2CE, within six academic years (or within 150% of the standard time) for the awarding of the degree and have been enrolled at this College for at least the last two years.
3. Be free of indebtedness to this College, the University, and their affiliates.
4. Have demonstrated the ethical, personal, and professional qualities deemed necessary for the successful and continuing study and practice of osteopathic medicine.
5. Have been recommended by the faculty for graduation.
6. Be present at the SWAG��Ƶ COM Physician Hooding Ceremony of his/her class at the time the degree is conferred, unless otherwise excused by the Dean.

All students enrolled in the University are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the scholastic regulations, the general and specific requirements of the academic program, and the operational policies that govern the program of study.

PRINCIPLES

Medical education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of specific skills and professional attitudes and behavior. Medical school faculties have a responsibility to society to train and graduate the best possible physicians who are competent for safe practice appropriate to their level of training, and thus admission to medical school has been offered to those who present the highest qualifications for the study and practice of medicine. Successful completion of all required courses in the curriculum is necessary in order to develop the essential skills required to become a competent physician and to enter residency.

The essential technical standards presented in this document are pre-requisites for matriculation, subsequent promotion from year to year, and ultimately graduation from the SWAG��Ƶ College of Osteopathic Medicine. These standards pertain to all students enrolled in SWAG��Ƶ COM.

The faculty is committed to fostering relationships with its students that encourage human and professional growth. Its policies and procedures attempt to reflect this commitment to proactive and supportive communication. At the same time, it is imperative that all students recognize that the primary responsibility for a successful medical school education, both in and outside the classroom, rests with the individual student.

The college’s obligation and mission is to produce effective and competent osteopathic primary care physicians and to seek candidates and graduate physicians who will be best able to serve the needs of society. Therefore, all applicants will be held to the same admission standards, and all enrolled students will be held to the same academic standards.

All students must be able to demonstrate competency for patient safety appropriate to the learner’s level of training. Demonstration of fluency of skills and knowledge appropriate to the level of training is a requirement for progression through the curriculum. Most assessments are designed to simulate activities in the clinical training and clinical practice settings and are tied to the learner’s demonstration of competency for patient safety. These assessments may be performed in a timed and structured environment and are designed to evaluate the learner’s ability to demonstrate appropriate fluency of skills and knowledge under specific conditions.

All students, including students with disabilities, must have the capacity to manage their lives and anticipate their own needs.

Policies

1. No otherwise qualified individual will be denied admission to SWAG��Ƶ COM based solely upon a disabling condition.
2. Enrollment in SWAG��Ƶ COM assumes that admitted students will possess certain levels of cognitive, emotional, and technical skill. All osteopathic medical students are held to the same fundamental standards. Academic and clinical requirements that are essential to graduation from SWAG��Ƶ COM or directly related to licensing requirements will not be eliminated for any student. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to assist the student in learning, performing and satisfying the fundamental standards, so long as the student applies properly for the accommodation/s and they are approved. 
3. The college is obligated to provide reasonable accommodations that are necessary to afford students with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in the SWAG��Ƶ COM program. Accommodations are not reasonable if they would fundamentally alter the program or the assessment, impose an undue burden to the college, or pose a direct health or safety risk to any other individual, including patients.

Abilities and Skills

A candidate for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree must have abilities and skills of five varieties: (1) observation skills; (2) communication skills; (3) fine and gross motor skills; (4) conceptual, integrative and quantitative, cognitive skills and (5) behavioral and social/emotional skills.

1. Observation Skills
   The student must be able to acquire a defined level of required information as presented through demonstrations and experiences in the basic sciences, including, but not limited to, information conveyed through physiologic and pharmacological demonstrations in animals, dissection of cadavers, examination of specimens in anatomy, pathology, and neuroanatomy laboratories, microbiologic cultures, microscopic study of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states. Furthermore, a candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately, at a distance, and close at hand, acquire information from written documents, and visualize information as presented in images from paper, films, radiographs, computer screens, slides, or video. The student must be capable of using instruments such as, but not limited to, a stethoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a microscope, an otoscope, and a sphygmomanometer. Such observation and information acquisition necessitate the functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensation while being enhanced by the functional use of other sensory modalities. An intact sense of smell is necessary to assist in the clinical setting. 
   In any case where a candidate’s ability to observe or acquire information through these sensory modalities is compromised, (i.e. physical disabilities or chemical sensitivities/allergies) the student must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to acquire and demonstrate the essential information without reliance upon another person’s interpretation of the information.
2. Communication Skills
   The student must be able to effectively, efficiently, and respectfully communicate in English using verbal, written, and reading skills, in a manner that demonstrates sensitivity to patients, their families, and all members of the health care team.
   A student must be able to accurately elicit information, describe a patient’s change in mood, thought, activity and posture. Students must demonstrate established communication skills using traditional or alternative reasonable means that do not fundamentally modify this standard. Assistive devices may be used, if appropriate under these standards
3. Motor Skills
   The student must be able to, with or without the use of assistive devices, but without reliance on another person, interpret x-ray and other graphic images and digital or analog representations of physiologic phenomenon (such as EKGs).
   The ability to participate in basic diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers and procedures, including but not limited to palpation, percussion, and auscultation is required. Students must have sufficient motor function to safely execute movements required to provide osteopathic manipulative medical care to patients. Students must be able to negotiate patient care environments and must be able to maneuver between settings, such as clinic, classroom building, and hospital. Physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study is required. Long periods of sitting, standing, and moving are required in classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences.
   It is also essential for a student to be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general and emergency diagnosis, osteopathic manipulative care, and medical care such as airway management, placement of intravenous catheters, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and suturing of wounds. At all times the ability to administer care to patients in a safe manner is paramount.
4. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Skills
   The student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize information in a timely fashion. In addition, the student must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structure. Problem-solving, the critical skill demanded of physicians, requires all of these intellectual abilities. These problem-solving skills must be able to be performed in the precisely limited time demanded by each specific clinical setting.
5. Behavioral and Social/Emotional Skills
   Every student must behave in a manner exhibiting high moral and behavioral standards reflecting the position and status of an osteopathic physician.  Students need to show respect for individuals and groups without regard for age, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, including gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. Students must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, 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.
   Students must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of the uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of patients. They must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize information effectively in a precisely limited time demanded by each specific clinical setting, while under stress, and in an environment in which other distractions may be present. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and educational processes.
6. Students demonstrate their ability to meet these technical standards via their participation in mandatory curricular activities.

Participation in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and Clinical Skills Laboratories 

Active participation in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and Clinical Skills Laboratories is an admission, matriculation, and graduation requirement. The development of manipulative medicine palpatory skills is taught in all four years of the curriculum. This learning requires active participation in all laboratory sessions. During the first two years, each student will palpate, in the laboratory setting, a variety of people representing both genders and individuals with different body types to simulate the diversity of patients expected in a practice setting. Being palpated by other students and faculty helps the student appreciate how palpation feels from the patients’ perspective, and enables students to provide feedback to their laboratory partners, thus, enhancing their palpatory skills. Reading and observation, although helpful, do not develop the skills required to perform palpatory diagnosis and manipulative treatment. Each student is required to actively participate as both an active learner and recipient in all skills development laboratory sessions.

General Health

The student must have sufficient physical stamina to perform strenuous workloads for long periods. They should be free of chronic or reoccurring debilitating diseases that would interfere with or require a fundamental alteration of the program or preclude successful completion of the curriculum.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

As part of its review, the SWAG��Ƶ COM Committee on Admissions evaluates each applicant in the areas of personal and academic integrity and personal values. An invitation to join the SWAG��Ƶ COM community indicates that the institution believes that the applicant has a well-developed set of values and a high level of integrity. The faculty and administration are committed to fostering this integrity and to developing students' increasing awareness of the multifaceted demands of professionalism ­as student physicians who are ultimately responsible for their own learning, as people who need to reflect and reappraise themselves consistently and honestly, and as future physicians who must learn to cope with an ever-­evolving set of demands.

Student physicians are expected to behave professionally and ethically with respect and integrity, to face new situations and people with open minds, to maintain their intellectual and personal curiosity, and to meet their obligations. These expectations form the basis of student responsibilities.

Likewise, student rights are based on the premise of reciprocity. Students should expect to be met with the same sense of integrity, respect, and openness.

Standards for Professional Behavior and Conduct

In order to evaluate acceptable demonstration of professional behavior and conduct for graduation, the SWAG��Ƶ COM faculty has adopted the following standards.

Each student enrolled in the SWAG��Ƶ College of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to:

1. Behave in a responsible, reliable and dependable manner (e.g., manage time well; be on time for assignments, meetings, and appointments; plan ahead and follow through with commitments; cooperate with person(s) in charge of programs; and take responsibility for absences or missed assignments).
2. Demonstrate personal integrity, honesty, and self-discipline (e.g., be consistent and truthful, to show appropriate personal control; take on tasks that he/she can manage; be honest in reports and self-evaluations).
3. Project a professional image in manner, dress, grooming, speech, and interpersonal relationships that is consistent with the medical profession's accepted contemporary community standards (e.g., maintain awareness of personal hygiene; wear a white coat and name tag, if expected; notify preceptor or other leader in case of emergency absence or calls; apologize if unable to notify in advance; be respectful of other students and patients when performing or practicing physical diagnosis or treatment).
4. Recognize his/her personal limitations and biases, whether they are intellectual, physical or emotional and to strive to correct them (e.g., overcome negative behaviors such as procrastination; learn to be a team member; adapt to new situations; and avoid discriminatory conduct or speech).
5. Demonstrate the professional and emotional maturity to manage tensions and conflicts which occur among professional, personal, and family responsibilities, seeking professional help if necessary (e.g., meet with supposed antagonists to resolve misunderstandings; get needed help from faculty advisors, tutors, counselors, learning assistance professionals and other qualified persons; show ability to prioritize appropriately one’s personal, professional, and academic expectations and activities).
6. Demonstrate the ability to exercise sound judgment and to function under pressure (e.g., request help when needed and avoid endangering others); respect the difference between physician and physician-­in-­training (i.e., doctor and student doctor); remain focused on the task at hand; remember that as a student doctor he/she represents SWAG��Ƶ COM and the osteopathic profession to the greater community at large.
7. Demonstrate the ability to learn from mistakes and failures and to heed admonitions and warnings from officers of SWAG��Ƶ COM and of clinical supervisors (e.g., be responsive to feedback and constructive criticism regarding professional behavior and attitude, and understand the seriousness of academic and disciplinary warnings).
8. Demonstrate compassion and respect toward others (e.g., work cooperatively with differences and diversity in personalities and in cultural backgrounds as well as with differences in social and economic status); and respect the privacy and individual choice of others.
9. Demonstrate consistent respect for administrators, faculty, staff, and fellow students of the University.

These standards are taken very seriously and evaluated regularly. Failure to abide by these standards may result in academic warning, probation, or dismissal.

Registration

The University conducts an annual registration for students during the start of each academic year. The Office of the University Registrar handles registration for students in Years 1 and 2 with information regarding student status and courses from the COM Office of Academic Affairs. The Office of the University Registrar enrolls medical students in Years 3 and 4 using information on student status from the Office of Clinical Education. Students are required to confirm their enrollments as classes/educational activities begin through U-­Online. The Registrar sends directions for this process to all students as each semester begins.

During the registration process, students must finalize payment of tuition and related fees, as delineated in the section entitled Tuition and Fees, including filing appropriate documents with Registration Services, Financial Aid, Business Affairs, and the Office of Recruitment, Student and Alumni Services. In addition, all new incoming students are required to undergo a complete physical examination, meet SWAG��Ƶ COM immunization requirements, and complete the medical questionnaire provided by the University, plus complete a satisfactory background check as a prerequisite to enrollment. Failure to comply with meeting immunization requirements may result in the inability to register for courses, receive course grades or proceed with clinical assignments.

Academic Records

Complete records and related documents are maintained in Registration Services, Decary Hall. Under the terms of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students have the right to review and inspect all education records pertaining to their academic enrollment. However, letters of recommendation submitted on the basis of a pledge of confidentiality prior to January 1, 1975 need not be shown to students, and a student may be allowed but not required to waive his/her right of access to letters of recommendation received after that date. FERPA requires post-­secondary institutions to provide students not only access to official records directly related to them, but also an opportunity for a hearing to challenge such records on the grounds that they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise inappropriate. It is the right of students to file a complaint with the Department of Education concerning an alleged failure by an educational agency or institution to comply with Section 438 of the Act that guarantees such rights.

University students wishing to review their records may do so by providing a written request to Registration Services.

Student Access and Annual Notification

FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records, specifically the right to:

1. Inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. The student should submit to Registration Services a written request that identifies the records s/he wishes to inspect. The office will notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. Request the University to amend the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. The student should write to the University Registrar, clearly identifying the part of the record s/he wishes to be changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If it is determined not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of the right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding hearing procedures will accompany this notification.
3. Consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff) ; a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as attorney, auditor, or collection agent) ; a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her task; or the Veterans Administration for students registered for various GI Bill programs. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
4. File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failure(s) by the SWAG��Ƶ to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
   • Family Policy Compliance Office
     U.S. Department of Education
     600 Independence Avenue, SW
     Washington, DC 20202­4605

FERPA permits the University to disclose "directory information" without a student's consent. Directory information is defined as: name, address, e­mail address, telephone listing, photograph, date and place of birth, level of education, academic major, degrees, honors and awards received, and educational institutions in which a student was enrolled.

Active students who wish to have directory information withheld from release must do so in writing on a ‘per­-academic­-year’ basis. Request forms are available in Registration Services or Office of Recruitment, Student, and Alumni Services. Requests must be submitted prior to September 30 (if first-time enrollment for academic year is fall semester) or January 30 (if first-time enrollment for academic year is spring semester) to affect a "withhold" status.

Student Enrollment Status

The SWAG��Ƶ classifies student credit load status for the purposes of financial aid loan deferments. See enrollment classifications.

Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examinations

The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examinations (COMLEX-­USA) are administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and are divided into three levels. Levels 1 and 2 (which consists of 2 parts) are completed during the predoctoral years and Level 3 is given to qualified graduates during their first year of postgraduate (residency) training. The Level 2 examination consists of two independent components — a Cognitive Evaluation (Level 2-­CE) and a Performance Evaluation (Level 2-­PE). The former predominantly tests a student’s knowledge base and the latter predominantly his/her clinical skills.

Details of student eligibility for the Level 1 examination is described in the COM Student Handbook Supplement. Students must be in good academic standing and achieve a minimum score of 500 in a SWAG��Ƶ COM administered, proctored, and timed COMSAE Phase 1 exam. Students become eligible for the Level 2 examinations after successfully passing COMLEX Level 1, achieving a minimum COMSAE Phase 2 score of 500, having advanced to Year 3, and after approval from the COM. Students must have a passing score on COMLEX-USA Level 1 in order to begin rotations at clinical campus sites. Students must take and pass both components of the Level 2 examination as a condition of graduation.

Students are allowed a maximum of three attempts to pass COMLEX-­USA Level 1 and each component of COMLEX­-USA Level 2. Any student who fails to pass any individual component of the COMLEX-USA examination series after three attempts will be recommended for dismissal from the college.

Students are allowed a maximum of six years to complete all of the College of Osteopathic Medicine curriculum, including passage of COMLEX-USA Level 1, and Level 2 PE and CE. At the conclusion of six years, students who have not met all requirements will be recommended for dismissal from the College.

Note: Registration and scheduling of the exams is the responsibility of the student. Students should also plan to register and take the COMLEX-­USA Level 1 and 2 (PE and CE) with sufficient time allowed to receive exam results and be able to comply with any deadlines for clinical rotations or graduation. Students applying for residency should have registered for and taken COMLEX –USA Level 2 PE and CE prior to the start of residency interviews.  Students should plan on taking COMLEX-USA Level 2 PE no later than May 31st of their third year and COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE no later than July 31 of their fourth year. This timing should allow sufficient time to receive scores for residency interviews and allow time to meet graduation requirements. Students are responsible for being current in their knowledge of residency application guidelines and graduation requirements and take steps to ensure they meet all requirements in a timely manner. This may require registration and scheduling with NBOME up to 12 months in advance. It is recommended that these exams be taken early enough in order to ensure that the exams are passed with sufficient time to allow for any necessary retesting.

Laptop Requirement

The College has instituted a mandatory laptop computer requirement. Specifics regarding the minimum configuration are updated and made available annually.

Course Grade Reporting

The process of determining grades and the criteria for passing a course are described explicitly in each course syllabus ratified by the Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC) and posted prior to the beginning of the course.

A final course grade is determined by the course director and must comply with the standards and principles endorsed by the Curriculum Advisory Committee.

Attendance

The SWAG��Ƶ College of Osteopathic Medicine creates a variety of venues to support high-quality learning and teaching, which the attendance policy strives to support by honoring students' varied learning styles and by allowing faculty and course directors to maintain the integrity of the curriculum. In the first- and second-year courses, the course director(s) will specify which educational sessions are mandatory, or optional and post this information in the course syllabus or student calendar well in advance of the session. All activities in years three and four are mandatory unless otherwise specified by the clerkship site.

Academic Standing

The Committee on Student Progress (CSP) is responsible for making recommendations to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA) or the Associate Dean for Clinical Education (ADCE) on matters related to student performance, including disciplinary, professional conduct, and academic. As it deems necessary, the CSP may identify students experiencing academic, behavioral and or professional difficulties, and inform appropriate faculty and administrative personnel of such, to initiate any necessary corrective or remedial action to be taken. Annually, CSP makes recommendations to the Dean on the promotion of students to the next academic year. Each year CSP recommends to the faculty, through the Dean, the awarding of the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine to those students who have satisfied all graduation requirements.

The CSP may review the status of a student whenever the student's performance is found to be unsatisfactory in the accumulation of knowledge or skills, professional behaviors, and/or personal growth, which are all considered part of the student’s academic performance. For example, the student’s academic progress may be reviewed for any of the following reasons:

1. Unexcused absence(s) from class, laboratory, or clinical experience.
2. Failure to obtain a satisfactory grade in any unit of study such as a course, preceptorship, clinical rotation (clerkship) or other educational activities.
3. Failure to obtain a satisfactory grade in either the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Examination (COMSAE), or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX).
4. Failure to abide by the Standards for Professional Behavior and Conduct, or to exhibit the behavior, ethics, or professional manner deemed necessary, in the judgment of the Committee on Student Progress, for the continued study and later practice of osteopathic medicine.
5. Personal or medical reasons; in assessing personal growth, such factors as ethics, emotional stability, integrity, general conduct, reliability, judgment, and rapport with faculty, professional staff, peers, supervisors, and patients are considered.

After discussion and deliberation on any matter, CSP may decide by majority vote to make one of the following recommendations to the appropriate Associate Dean:

1. No significant deficiency exists, and the student may continue, or is promoted, with such oral or written caution to the student as may be recommended.
2. A significant deficiency exists and one, or several actions must be taken. The severity of the deficiency, the student's overall achievement and the specific circumstances surrounding the deficiency (illness, family emergency, etc.) are considered in the recommendation. Examples of recommendations include but are not limited to:
   1. Student is to take remedial examination(s) after an appropriate interval as recommended by the course director(s) and approved by a majority vote of the Committee on Student Progress.
   2. Student is to undertake special projects, training, or studies required to address the perceived deficiency.
   3. Student is placed on academic or disciplinary probation for a stated period of time.
   4. Student is required to repeat the course(s), preceptorship(s), clerkship(s), or other educational activity in which there is a deficiency.
   5. Student is required to repeat the academic year or semester.
   6. Student is recommended for a leave of absence or suspension from the College.
   7. Student is recommended for dismissal from the College.

Course Failures Policy

All students are expected to meet the requirements for passing by the end of a course. Any student who is assigned a grade of Failure (F) for a course, including for failure to meet criteria for professional behavior, will meet with CSP. Based upon the student’s overall academic performance, CSP will, in consultation with the Course Director for the failed course, make one of the following recommendations:

• Repeat the course when it is next offered
• Repeat the entire academic year
• Dismissal from the college

Course Retesting or Remediation Policy

The syllabus of the original course, approved by the Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC), will specify the dates, duration, and plan of any allowable retesting, reassessment, competency assurance process (CAP) or remedial activity for any failed assessment, competency, discipline or achievement criteria.

A student who receives a Failure (F) grade upon the completion of a course will be referred to the Committee on Student Progress (CSP) which will make a recommendation to the appropriate Associate Dean, such as:

• Repeat the course when it is next offered
• Repeat the academic year
• Student specific intervention
• Mandatory leave of absence
• Dismissal/withdrawal from the college.

Withdrawal/Dismissal

A student who is required to repeat an academic year, or is suspended or dismissed from the College may appeal this decision to the Dean according to the guidelines in the COM Student Handbook Supplement and the University Student Handbook. The Dean may, at his/her discretion, convene an Academic Appeals Review Committee for a review of the decision. The charge of the Academic Appeals Review Committee will not be to repeat the deliberations of the Committee on Student Progress, but rather to determine whether or not the following conditions apply to the original decision:

1. New information is available that was not available to the original recommending committee (CSP)
2. Procedural errors in the original review process that had a substantial impact on, or otherwise prejudiced the original determination

If the Academic Appeals Review Committee upholds the original recommendation, the decision is final and there is no further appeal. If the Academic Appeals Review Committee does not uphold the requirement to repeat the year, suspension, or dismissal, it will recommend to the Dean such other requirements, as it deems appropriate.

An application for voluntary withdrawal from the College must be submitted in writing to the dean. The dean may grant a leave of absence due to financial difficulties or for personal, medical, or family problems.

Probation

Placement of a student on academic probation or disciplinary probation indicates the faculty’s extreme dissatisfaction with the student’s behavioral performance and the student’s failure to maintain satisfactory academic or behavioral standards. While on probation, the student will not represent the college at outside events and will be asked to curtail elected office responsibilities until their performance improves. In addition, a student on academic probation must pass all units of study; a student on disciplinary probation must discontinue the behavior leading to probation and maintain a record of exemplary behavior, which will be monitored by the College. Students who violate the conditions of probation as listed above will be reviewed again by CSP, which will make such recommendations to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA) or the Associate Dean for Clinical Education (ADCE) as appropriate.

To graduate with the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, students must demonstrate achievement of the AOA COM competencies:

1. Osteopathic Principles and Practice: The student will understand and apply osteopathic principles to patient care.
2. Patient Care: The student will have the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to provide compassionate, appropriate and effective patient care.
3. Medical Knowledge: The student will demonstrate knowledge of established biomedical, epidemiological, social, and behavioral sciences and their application to patient care.
4. Practice­-Based Learning and Improvement: The student will demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate patient care practices using scientific evidence and apply these to patient care.
5. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: The student will demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in respectful and effective interactions with patients, families, and colleagues.
6. Professionalism: The student will demonstrate a commitment to conducting themselves in an ethical and sensitive manner.
7. Systems-­Based Practice: The student will demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and systems of health care, to provide care of optimal value.

Exceptional SWAG��Ƶ undergraduate students aspiring to a career in medicine or dentistry may apply to the SWAG��Ƶ HuMed program which provides the opportunity that spans their junior and senior years as an undergraduate and their four years in SWAG��Ƶ’s College of Osteopathic Medicine or College of Dental Medicine. SWAG��Ƶ HuMed makes it possible to deepen student learning in English, History, or Liberal Studies while they prepare for a career as a dentist or an osteopathic physician. Requirements are described at http://www.une.edu/humed.

During their years as an undergraduate in SWAG��Ƶ’s College of Arts and Sciences, students complete the requisite coursework in the natural sciences to prepare for their graduate education, while earning a Bachelor of Arts in English, History, or Liberal Studies. As a HuMed student, they are not required to take the DAT or the MCAT.  Instead, the College of Osteopathic Medicine requires individuals to take the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude test (UKCAT). In both programs, students have an assurance of acceptance contingent upon fulfilling the HuMed curricular requirements and passing the interview process.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Application

The SWAG��Ƶ College of Osteopathic Medicine participates in the centralized application service. All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

Degree Requirement

Completion of 90 semester hours or 75% credit progress towards a bachelor’s degree, to be earned at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university, or international equivalent, at time of application. Undergraduate degree must be conferred with official transcripts submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission prior to matriculation.

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

GPA Requirements

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 at the time of application, as calculated by AACOMAS (inclusive of all coursework taken with no forgiveness for retakes)*.
• Minimum science GPA of 2.8 at the time of application, as calculated by AACOMAS (inclusive of all coursework taken with no forgiveness for retakes)*.
• All applicants must meet minimum GPA requirements to be considered for admission.

*The average GPAs for those offered admission to SWAG��Ƶ COM are well above published minimums.

Prerequisite Coursework Requirements

Additional Recommended Courses

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Cell/Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Math/Statistics
• Microbiology
• Behavioral Sciences
• Humanities

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).
• Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test credit can be accepted towards prerequisite requirements. To apply AP or IB test credits towards prerequisite requirements, the credits must be broken down by subject on the undergraduate transcript. An official letter from the registrar, including subject breakdown, is also acceptable.
• Prerequisite courses may be in-progress or planned at the time of application.
• All courses must be completed by January 1, 2023, with an official transcript submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission prior to the start of the program.

*Pass/Fail courses are acceptable for prerequisite courses taken in spring 2020 only.

All planned or in-progress coursework must be listed on the AACOMAS application at the time of application submission; not doing so will result in the applicant not meeting all admissions requirements and therefore will not be eligible for admission review.

Online courses offered through , as well as online courses from other regionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities, are acceptable.

STANDARDIZED TESTS

• Completion of the with a minimum score of 490 is required*.
• Official MCAT score reports must be submitted directly to AACOMAS from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) -
• The MCAT must have been taken between January 2020 and January 2023.

*The average MCAT scores for those offered admission to SWAG��Ƶ COM are well above published minimums.

LETTERS OF EVALUATION

Three (3) letters of evaluation are required* – submitted via AACOMAS

The SWAG��Ƶ COM Committee on Admissions seeks evaluation letters that outline a holistic description of the applicant, including information on student engagement (especially teamwork within academic settings), interpersonal skills, character, and professionalism.

• SWAG��Ƶ COM prefers that all letters of evaluation be submitted directly through AACOMAS.
• Evaluation letters from Interfolio are acceptable, as long as the letter is sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admission by the letter writer.
• Preferred sources of evaluations include: Pre-Health Committee Advisor, Pre-Health Advisor, a faculty member with substantial knowledge of the applicant, a direct supervisor with substantial knowledge of the applicant, or a health care professional with substantial knowledge of the applicant (preferably physicians). Letters from an Osteopathic Physician (D.O.) are recommended but not required.

*Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable

PERSONAL STATEMENT

• Please refer to the AACOMAS application for SWAG��Ƶ COM specific writing prompts and additional instructions.

INTERVIEWS

• Interview sessions will be held from September to March and are conducted by invitation only. Interviews are a required part of the application process.
• Due to the uncertainty around COVID-19, SWAG��Ƶ COM reserves the right to adjust interview dates, modalities, and processes as needed. Applicants will be notified immediately if changes to the format or timing of interviews occur at any point during the cycle.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

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

• Official credential evaluation by , confirming degree and grade equivalency to that of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. The completed credential evaluation should be sent directly to AACOMAS. 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.
• Due to limitations around the AACOMAS application system, all applicants from English-speaking Canadian institutions are still required to obtain a WES evaluation and must submit the evaluation directly to the SWAG��Ƶ Office of Graduate Admission, not AACOMAS. Please feel free to email gradadmissions2@une.edu with questions regarding this requirement.
• 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 AACOMAS application for test score submission instructions.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Prior to matriculation, accepted and deposited students will be required to complete the following 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 SWAG��Ƶ COM and clinical training sites).
• All students must have the ability to meet all Academic and Technical Standards of SWAG��Ƶ COM.
• SWAG��Ƶ follows AACOMAS traffic rules, with notification dates and deadlines structured as such.

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

• Students in good standing at other Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine may apply for transfer admission into the third year of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at SWAG��Ƶ.
• For more information on the transfer process please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.

ADVANCED STANDING

• No advanced standing placement is available.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

• No credit is awarded for experiential learning.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include required background checks, books, and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog. A student may incur additional tuition expenses if their course of study extends beyond four (4) years.

Special Examination Fee

All students are required to take and pass the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX)-USA Level 1, Level 2-CE, and Level 2-PE in order to graduate. All fees are determined by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and are paid directly to the Board by the student.

Leave of Absence Tuition Credit

In the event a student desires to apply for a leave of absence, a Withdrawal/Leave Form must be submitted to the Dean's Office. The form will include the reason for leaving, as well as the expected date of return. An approved leave of absence during the on-campus portion of the curriculum will result in a refund per the Withdrawal Tuition Refund Policy.

A student in the military reserves will be granted full leave of absence tuition credit should the student be called to active duty while attending courses during any given semester.

Financial Aid

The Student Financial Services Office at the SWAG��Ƶ is committed to providing students with information about the different education financing options available. This information is available on the Student Financial Services website. The website describes the financial aid application process, the types of financial assistance available, and other important information for financing your medical education.

Notes

• Students should expect annual increases in the cost of attending SWAG��Ƶ COM since the University is subject to the same inflationary pressures that affect the rest of society.
• SWAG��Ƶ will continue to make every effort to contain costs from the date they are announced through the current academic year. The Board of Trustees, however, reserves the right to make changes in tuition and fees at any time.
• For their own protection while at the University, it is recommended that students carry their own local checking accounts to provide funds for incidental expenses and emergencies.
• The University offers direct deposit to its students. Students with credit balances can have the excess funds directly deposited in the bank of their choice.