Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine GENERAL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016-2017 FAIRNESS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PCOM policy prohibits discrimination...
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Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

GENERAL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016-2017

FAIRNESS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PCOM policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, disability, or marital status. This policy applies in recruitment and admission of students, employment of faculty and staff, and scholarship and loan programs. This policy is also followed in the operation of all other programs, activities, and services of the college. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine subscribes to the principles and adheres to the requirements of state and federal law pertaining to civil rights and equal opportunity, in accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended. Evidence of practices inconsistent with this policy should be reported to the Director of Human Resources, who is the designated coordinator of PCOM's nondiscrimination program. Inquiries regarding compliance with the sex discrimination provisions of Title IX may also be directed to the Assistant for Civil Rights, Department of Education, and Washington, D.C.

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OVERVIEW The PCOM General Student Handbook contains policies pertinent to student enrollment. The handbook is published once a year. All policies in the current student handbook supersede all policies published elsewhere. Policies published in the PCOM General Student Handbook and in each Academic Program Policy Handbook supersede all other publications. The College reserves the right to change policies as needed between annual revisions. Changes made between the annual review will be updated to the electronic handbook posted in the Handbook Channel on the Resources-for-Students Tab on Nucleus. The PCOM General Student Handbook and each Academic Program Policy Handbook are posted on the Handbook Channel on the Resources for students tab on Nucleus.

EDUCATIONAL GOALS PCOM is committed to maintaining a campus environment that enables all students to meet their educational goals. The College’s educational goals focus on presenting high-quality, comprehensive programs of study that embrace the following expectations of student learning:  Students will demonstrate a central core of biomedical or behavioral science knowledge in their field of study, including theory, foundations, clinical skills and applied clinical/practical application as appropriate to the specific academic program.  Students will demonstrate communication skills through clinical assessments, group discussion and/or written or oral presentation in their respective fields.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry by designing, conducting, presenting or interpreting research in their field of study and appropriate to their academic program.  Students will identify, retrieve, understand, analyze, synthesize and apply information collected from various sources and in varied formats, including those requiring skills in the use of information technology.  Students will develop recognition of their legal and ethical obligations as professionals and will be able to apply an understanding of public policy and the social, cultural and economic factors that impact their field of study.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CONDUCT POLICIES ........................................................................................... 1 PCOM Standards of Conduct .............................................................................................. 3 The Code of Conduct ........................................................................................................... 3 Policy Statement on Harassment ......................................................................................... 4 The Ethics Code................................................................................................................... 4 Non-Discrimination Policy .................................................................................................. 5 College Disciplinary Policy ................................................................................................. 5 The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) ................................................... 6 College Policy on Drug and Alcohol Abuse ....................................................................... 6 Policies on the Possession of Dangerous Articles ............................................................... 8 Student Records Policy........................................................................................................ 8 Intellectual Property Policies ............................................................................................. 10 Use of Digital Library............................................................................................. 10 Copyright Policy ..................................................................................................... 11 Academic Integrity Policy ...................................................................................... 12 Computer Systems, PCOM Network and Email Policies.................................................. 14 PCOM Network Password, Changing Password .................................................... 15 Social Media Policy ........................................................................................................... 15 Media Policy ...................................................................................................................... 16 Conflict of Interest and Disclosure .................................................................................... 17 Legal Limitations on Professional Practice ....................................................................... 18

STUDENT RIGHTS AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES .............................. 19 Student Complaints/Grievances ........................................................................................ 21 Non-Discrimination Grievance Policy .............................................................................. 21 FERPA Complaints ........................................................................................................... 23 State Departments of Education Information .................................................................... 23

VIOLATION OF COLLEGE POLICIES/ DISCIPLINARY PROCESSES 25 Breach of College Policies ................................................................................................ 27 College’s Right to Separate Students ................................................................................ 27 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Violations ................................................................................. 27 Violation of the Policy on Possession of Dangerous Articles ........................................... 32 Academic Integrity Violations and Sanctions ................................................................... 32 College Disciplinary Process ............................................................................................. 36

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ENROLLMENT POLICIES/LEAVE OF ABSENCE PROCEDURES .......... 39 Enrollment Status .............................................................................................................. 41 Verification of Enrollment/Good Standing ....................................................................... 41 Change of Enrollment Status ............................................................................................. 41 Student-Requested Leave of Absence ............................................................................... 42

ACADEMIC STANDING .................................................................................... 45 Academic Standing ........................................................................................................... 47 Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy ...................................................... 47 Academic Probation .......................................................................................................... 48 Academic Dismissal .......................................................................................................... 48 Continued Conditional Enrollment in Lieu of Dismissal .................................................. 48 Appealing an Academic Dismissal Decision..................................................................... 48 Appeals Hearing ................................................................................................................ 49 Appeals Decision ............................................................................................................... 49 Re-Applying to PCOM After Dismissal ........................................................................... 49

TUITION PAYMENT AND REFUND POLICIES ........................................... 51 The Tuition Bill ................................................................................................................. 53 Tuition Payment Policy ..................................................................................................... 53 Tuition Refund Policy and Refund Schedule .................................................................... 54 Removal from Class for Non-Payment ............................................................................. 55 Financial Leave of Absence .............................................................................................. 55 Outstanding Balances and Graduation Policies ................................................................. 55 Late Fees. ........................................................................................................................... 56 Disbursements of Refunds ................................................................................................. 56

ACCOMMODATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ................................ 57 Learning and Physical Disability Accommodation Policies .............................. 59 Disability Accommodation Request Process ..................................................................... 59 Policy and Procedures for Requesting Absences and Modification for Religious Reasons.................................................................................................. 60

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SAFETY AND SECURITY .................................................................................. 63 Your Safety ........................................................................................................................ 65 PCOM's Emergency Notification System (PENS) ............................................................ 65 Emergency Closing............................................................................................................ 65 Emergency Phones, Video Cameras and Escort ................................................................ 65 Campus Emergency Exit Plans.......................................................................................... 67

ADDITIONAL COLLEGE PROCEDURES and POLICIES .......................... 69 Alcoholic Beverages Policy............................................................................................... 71 Background Check Policy ................................................................................................. 71 Building Hours .................................................................................................................. 71 Cell Phone Policy .............................................................................................................. 71 Health Insurance Policy ..................................................................................................... 71 Health Services Policy ....................................................................................................... 71 ID Badge Policy................................................................................................................. 72 Injury During Training Assignments ................................................................................. 72 Parking Policies ................................................................................................................. 72 Printing and Copying Policies ........................................................................................... 73 Smoking Policy.................................................................................................................. 73 Solicitation Policy.............................................................................................................. 74 Study Space Policy ............................................................................................................ 74 Campus Visitor and Guest Policy...................................................................................... 74 Library Visitor and Guest Policy ....................................................................................... 75 Name and Address Changes .............................................................................................. 76 Transcript Requests ........................................................................................................... 76 International Students ........................................................................................................ 76 Veterans Services .............................................................................................................. 76

APPENDIX ............................................................................................................ 77 Important Campus Phone Numbers ................................................................................... 79 PCOM Social Media Policy .............................................................................................. 81

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CONDUCT POLICIES

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PCOM STANDARDS OF CONDUCT Beyond teaching the core curriculum required for students to acquire the competencies needed for their chosen profession, PCOM places a high value on professionalism and personal conduct. The college believes it is the right of every student to feel safe and respected on the campuses and subscribes to the principles of the Fairness and Equal Opportunity policy, stated on the title page of the General Student Handbook. PCOM adheres to the requirements of state and federal law pertaining to civil rights and equal opportunity.

The CODE OF CONDUCT PCOM’s ethical and legal obligations run to many constituents. As a leading academic institution, PCOM must uphold the tenets of honesty and integrity in learning, in serving its students and other members of the academic community. As a provider of medical service through its healthcare centers, the College strives to attain the highest standards of patient care. As a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, the College is prohibited from engaging in any activity, the primary purpose of which is to financially benefit any individual. As a member of the business community, the College must foster honest business practices that do not unfairly favor one vendor or purveyor over another. And finally, as an employer, PCOM must provide broad guidance to its officers, employees, staff, and faculty regarding the standards of conduct to which they are expected to adhere in performing their job responsibilities at PCOM, including guidance regarding the avoidance of conflicts of interest that might jeopardize the outstanding reputation of the College. PCOM is committed to upholding all legal requirements and the highest standards of ethical behavior. This Code of Conduct applies to all PCOM Trustees, officers, faculty, students and employees, including PCOM-affiliated physicians, physicians-in-training, physician assistants, pharmacists, psychologists, and other individuals involved in the provision of health care services (herein, “Health Care Professionals), (collectively, the “PCOM Community”, or, individually a “PCOM Community Member”), unless otherwise indicated. The Code of Conduct outlines the principles which guide our interactions with patients, suppliers, vendors, regulatory agencies, the surrounding community, and each other. The Code represents a summary of the principles underlying the policies, procedures, and practices that govern PCOM’s operations. It is not meant to detract from or otherwise amend any faculty by-laws or the Faculty Handbook, the Student Handbook, or to replace any of PCOM’s more detailed policies and procedures. It is the duty of each PCOM Community Member to read this Code of Conduct carefully and to understand and comply with all laws, rules, and regulations, as well as PCOM’s standards, policies and procedures, which apply to their individual positions and duties. Additional advice as to compliance with legal requirements and ethical standards may be found in other policies, procedures and guidance issued by PCOM, and PCOM Community Members are expected to comply with such guidance as well.

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POLICY STATEMENT ON HARASSMENT PCOM is committed to providing a work and learning environment that is safe, healthy and comfortable, and is free from any type of discrimination or harassment. This policy statement is meant to ensure all of our students that, under no circumstances, will the College tolerate any form of harassment of or by students, faculty or employees, which includes, but is not limited to: hazing; threatening, offensive or intimidating behavior or remarks; demands for sexual favors; or behavior which creates a hostile or intimidating atmosphere, because of someone’s age, race, color, gender, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, creed, disability or marital status. This includes misuse of social media. Harassment of another person will result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the College, against any person who is found, upon investigation, to have engaged in such conduct. Harassment may result in immediate separation in accordance with the college's Disciplinary Policies and Procedures explained in detail in this handbook. This policy applies to all members of the College community, who are encouraged to report promptly complaints of harassment. The complete version of PCOM’s Policy on Harassment, including definitions, examples and corrective measures, is available from the Office of Student Affairs or from the Office of Human Resources. Any concern regarding personal safety or a perceived threat should be communicated immediately to the Director of Security and Public Safety on the student’s campus. Concerns regarding possible instances of harassment should be directed to the Chief Student Affairs Officer on the Philadelphia campus or to the Director of the Center for Student Affairs on the Georgia campus. Formal complaints of sexual harassment at the Philadelphia campus must be filed with the Director of Human Resources, who will take action as described in the full policy. Formal complaints of sexual harassment at the Georgia campus must be filed with the Human Resources Representative. Unless the College believes that it is necessary to suspend the disciplinary procedures set forth in the College’s policies, action against student violators will be taken in accordance with those procedures.

THE ETHICS CODE PCOM students pledge to neither give nor receive unauthorized aid in academic matters or leave unreported, any knowledge of such aid given or received by any other student. This pledge applies to all tests, papers, reports, examinations or any other activities required for awarding of an academic degree. In clinical work involving patient care, falsifying information or deceitful representation of patient care information is included in those actions, which are considered violations of the PCOM Ethics Code.

Additionally, all students at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine are expected to: 1. 2.

Respect the right of their fellow students to pursue their studies in a professional environment conducive to study. Maintain professional interpersonal relationships by civility and respect. 4

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Uphold the highest standard of academic honesty and integrity. Show respect for the diversity that exists among all persons of the college community of age, disability or handicap (physical and/or mental), medical condition, ancestry, ethnic heritage, gender, gender identity or expression, creed, race, religion, marital status sexual orientation or HIV/AIDS status. Fulfill their responsibilities to their peers, clients and patients in-group work, including clinical clerkships and outside training assignments. Adhere to all of the policies of PCOM, including those prohibiting discrimination or harassment.

All PCOM students are expected to adhere to the Ethics Code and policies on intellectual property and academic integrity. The code is intended as a preliminary step in mediating or, if necessary, adjudicating incidents of unacceptable behavior as stated in PCOM's Disciplinary Policy. In addition, academic programs may adhere to an ethical code of conduct in alignment with professionalism standards. These expectations are included in the academic program handbook.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY PCOM policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability or handicap (physical and/or mental), medical condition, ancestry, ethnic heritage, gender, gender identity or expression, creed, race, religion, marital status sexual orientation or HIV/AIDS status. This policy applies in recruitment and admission of students, employment of faculty and staff, and scholarship and loan programs. This policy is also followed in the operation of all other programs, activities, and services of the college. If a student believes that they have been the victim of discriminate n at PCOM, as stated above, the student is encouraged to follow the process described in the Student Rights and Grievance Procedures section of this handbook.

COLLEGE DISCIPLINARY POLICY PCOM adheres to a disciplinary policy designed to ensure the safety, integrity and security of all members of the PCOM community and the individuals PCOM students serve in clinical settings. PCOM mandates compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and with the stated rules and regulations of PCOM. While it is not possible to enumerate all forms of behavior which would constitute a violation of the code of conduct and ethics code, the following are some examples of unacceptable behaviors, which would raise serious questions concerning a student's ability to continue to study at the College, and/or in such student's ability to practice as a professional after graduation: 1) Assault or battery, threat of force or violence or any other action or omission which would jeopardize the health or welfare of any member of the College or personnel at a training site, including, without limitation, members of the faculty, administrative or professional staff, students, employees, patients or visitors; 2) Violation of any local, state or federal law; 3) Academic dishonesty in any form; 4) Knowingly furnishing false information to the College; 5) Breaches of confidentiality in the course of patient care; 5

6) Drug or alcohol abuse; 7) Forgery, alteration or misuse of College or training site documents, records or identification; 8) Abuse, malicious misuse, damage or destruction of College or training site property; 9) Abusive or disrespectful conduct toward members of the faculty, administrative or professional staff, employees, students, patients or visitors to PCOM; 10) Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, patient care or any other College or training activities; 11) Unauthorized entry into prohibited areas; 12) Violation of any other duly established rules and regulations of the College, affiliated hospitals or any affiliated institution. 13) Violation of the school’s social media policy.

As used in the above examples, the College premises and College property shall include the premises and property of any affiliated institution or training sites where PCOM students pursue activities for academic credit. Also included is conduct related to participation in any activities under the auspices of the College or its student organizations.

THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS & PRIVACY ACT The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) places certain limitations on the disclosure of personally identifiable information. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, with respect to students, limits access to academic records and gives students certain rights with respect to educational records. This includes the right to access, the right to seek correction of such records through informal and formal internal procedures, and the right to place a statement in such educational records explaining any information that he or she believes to be inaccurate or misleading.

COLLEGE POLICY ON DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE It is the policy of PCOM to maintain an environment that is free of substance abuse by students, faculty and employees. The policy includes the following: a. Prohibition Against Unlawful Presence of Controlled Substances on Campus (refer to campus policy section of this handbook). b. Prohibition Against the Unauthorized Presence of Alcoholic Beverages (refer to campus policy section of this handbook). c. Prohibition Against Being Under the Influence of any Alcohol or Controlled Substance at any college activity or function. 6

When a student is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, that student will be reported to the Chief Student Affairs Officer on the Philadelphia campus or to the Director of the Center for Student Affairs on the Georgia campus. Appropriate actions will be taken. This may include referral to counseling support programs, suspension or termination of enrollment.

SUPPORT AVAILABLE Graduate and professional education can be a time of great stress. It may become difficult for a student to successfully adapt to these stresses, which may lead to the student engaging in potentially harmful coping mechanisms, such as alcohol or drug abuse. The College Policy on Drug and Alcohol Abuse represents the intent of the College to enable students to resolve substance abuse problems by requesting and receiving compassionate, confidential professional assistance. In an effort to help our students and to protect patients and others from the harm that an impaired student may cause, PCOM's goals include: 1. Providing effective and compassionate assistance to the impaired student before irreversible harm is done to his/her health, educational process, eligibility for licensure, or ability to function competently upon graduation. 2. Providing a means by which the impaired student may request and receive confidential professional assistance without stigma or penalty, and thereby encourage self-reporting and personal responsibility. 3. Enabling the impaired student to confront his/her problem and, where feasible, receive effective therapy with minimal disruption of the student's education. 4. Establishing a process that focuses on counseling and therapy as a front-line approach before disciplinary action is necessary.

SEEKING ASSISTANCE Students on the Philadelphia Campus concerned about substance abuse should contact the Chief Student Affairs Officer or Carebridge, the confidential student counseling services resource PCOM provides to all students, at 1-800-437-0911 (www.myliferesource.com). Additional information about Carebridge services is provided on the Resources-for-Students Tab on Nucleus. Students on the Georgia Campus concerned about their own potential substance abuse should contact the Director for the Center for Student Affairs at 678-225-7534 or Carebridge, the confidential student counseling services resource at 1-800-437-0911 (www.myliferesource.com). Reports by Concerned Individuals If a student suspects impairment of another student, Philadelphia Campus students should seek guidance from the Chief Student Affairs Officer. Students on the Georgia Campus should seek guidance from the Director for the Center for Student Affairs.

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At the discretion of the Provost, a student may be required to submit to psychological assessment and/or a urine and/or blood screening to detect alcohol abuse or the presence of illegal drugs based on reasonable suspicion of impairment. Medical professionals will perform such assessments and toxicology tests with reports sent in confidence to the Provost, at no cost to the student. If such screening measures detect impairment, the Provost may remand the matter to the Student Professional Conduct Committee. Students who have declined an assessment and/or recovery plan will automatically be remanded to the Student Professional Conduct Committee for dismissal proceedings. In accordance with the College Disciplinary Policy, any student found guilty of the use, sale or distribution of illegal drugs, either on-campus or off-campus will be subject to permanent termination of enrollment.

POLICY ON THE POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS ARTICLES It is the policy of PCOM to provide a safe work environment for our students and employees. We are committed to providing a work and learning environment free from dangerous articles of any kind. Possession of firearms on the PCOM campus is strictly forbidden. Faculty, students, employees or visitors may not possess or use firearms, ammunition, knives and other weapons, gunpowder, fireworks, explosives, gasoline and other dangerous articles and substances on college property. Normal laboratory materials are excluded from this policy when used in a laboratory setting. This policy applies regardless of any permits the student or employee may own. An individual who violates this policy should be reported to the Security Department. Violators will be subject to immediate dismissal and/or civil or criminal action.

STUDENT RECORDS POLICY DIRECTORY INFORMATION Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine considers certain information to be “Directory Information” under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and, therefore, subject to disclosure without prior consent of the student. Unless written objection is received by the Office of the Registrar within 20 days of the date of the notice, the College will treat the following as directory information to be released at the discretion of the Registrar’s Office: Student name, address, telephone number, email address, place of birth, dates of attendance, major field of study, degrees and awards received, and previous institutions attended.

RIGHT TO WITHHOLD DISCLOSURE Under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of directory information. To prevent disclosure, the Registrar’s office must receive written notification from a student indicating the information to be withheld. Should a student decide to inform the institution not to release certain information, any future requests for such information from non-institutional persons or organizations will be refused. Decisions about withholding any information should be made very carefully. 8

PCOM will honor each request to withhold any of the categories of information indicated by a student. However we cannot assume responsibility to contact a student for subsequent permission to release them should requests be received. PCOM assumes that failure to request the withholding of directory information indicates approval for disclosure.

MAINTENANCE OF STUDENT RECORDS There is one Admissions file for each applicant and each program for which he or she applies. This file is kept in the Office of Admissions until the point of matriculation. When the student matriculates, the following materials are retained in the Office of the Registrar:  Current Application  AACOMAS Profile (for D.O. Students)  CASPA Profile (for PA Students)  PHARMCAS Profile (for PharmD Students)  Transcripts  Standardized Test Scores (i.e. MCAT, GRE, MAT)  Letters of Acceptance and Prepayment  Completed Technical Standards Form  Previous Applications and Decision-related correspondence  Criminal Background Check A student can request to review the information in his/her file with a 10 day written notice to the Office of the Registrar. All other materials in the applicant file are purged in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. Other data accrued during the student’s tenure at the College including, but not limited to, transcripts, board scores, academic status letters (i.e. probation, warning, dismissal), course related forms (i.e. withdrawal), name change and change of status documentation will be placed in the student’s file. Transcripts or grade reports from other institutions, criminal background check, copies of scores from National Tests (MCAT, National Boards, Praxis etc.) and/or any other third party material will NOT be released by PCOM. Students must contact the institution that issued these documents to obtain copies.

ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS Access to student’s record may be granted to school officials determined to have a legitimate educational interest. The custodian of the records must determine the legitimacy of each request. A school official is determined to have a legitimate educational interest if the information requested is required for that official to: --Perform appropriate tasks that are specified in his/her position/description or contract/agreement  

Perform a task related to the student’s education Provide a service or benefit relating to the student or student’s family such as health care, counseling, job placement or financial aid

The school official is not authorized to share this information with a third party without the 9

student’s written permission. Such information, when it has fulfilled its original purpose, should be returned to the originating office. All other access to a student’s record is granted in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICIES The rights of an individual in regard to his or her own oral presentations, visual productions, computer programs, graphics, etc. must be honored. Faculty, fellow students, and other presenters are under no obligation to permit the recording or duplication of their presentations or academic material. Video cameras are not permitted in any classroom or lab without the expressed written consent of the Campus Dean’s Office and the instructor.

TERMS OF USE: DIGITAL LIBRARY and EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE MATERIALS All PCOM students have access to the e-resources in the Digital Library both on and off campus. Users must login using the PCOM Network ID and password. Electronic resources provided by the Library are governed by license agreements with our publishers and vendors. Sharing access is strictly forbidden. The following restrictions and responsibilities apply. All educational “materials” and intellectual property provided by the Library and PCOM, its faculty, and other employees are protected by U.S. Copyright law including without limitation PowerPoints slides, PDF, lectures, handouts, digital materials and test forms are provided to students for personal use only. 1. Your digital library account is for your personal use and may not be shared with others whether part of or outside of the institution. 2. Copyright restrictions apply to both print and electronic formats of the “Materials”. 3. Downloading excessive portions of databases, e-books, or electronic journals or any portion beyond the terms associated with the “Materials” is prohibited. 4. Posting “Materials”, including without limitation downloaded “Materials” on any website, including but not limited to Facebook or other social media sites, or to an email list is prohibited. 5. Use of “Materials” for commercial purposes is prohibited. 6. “Materials” may not be modified or altered. 7. Publishers’ copyright statements, logos and any other proprietary notice may not be removed from the “Materials”. 8. Illegal or unethical file sharing of “Materials”, video, audio or data is prohibited. 9. “Materials” may not be reused, documented, recorded or distributed in any way including but not limited to download to any modality, photography and screen capture without the written permission of the author or copyright holder of the Materials. 10. Any reproduction, distribution, performance, display, or preparation of derivative works based upon, any “Materials” or any other proprietary information of the Downloading excessive portions of databases or electronic journals is prohibited.

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Additional restrictions may apply to select electronic resources.

COPYRIGHT POLICY It is the policy of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine to comply with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. All PCOM faculty, staff, students are expected to act as responsible users of the copyrighted works of others which includes making informed decisions based on the fair use exemptions to the copyright laws. Student violations of copyright policy are also subject to sanctions imposed by the Committee on Student Professional Conduct. U.S. laws protect the rights of individuals regarding their own works. The penalties for violation of copyright law can range from college sanctions to civil and criminal prosecution. Persons who copy and distribute copyrighted material without legal permission may be found liable for civil or criminal copyright infringement. Civil penalties for federal copyright infringement provide for significant financial compensation for damages such as $150,000 for each willful act. Criminal penalties can be up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. The College cannot protect students, faculty or staff from a copyright complaint, and the college may also be required by law to disclose information to a complainant for use in pursuing legal action. Copyright infringement may also result in college-imposed sanctions for misconduct. Federal copyright law protects “original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium,” which includes works of literature, music, drama, film, sculpture, visual art, architecture, and other creative media. (Title 17, U.S.Code, Section 101.) Most works published after 1923 (except those authored by the U.S. Government) should be presumed to be copyright protected, unless there is information or notice from the copyright holder that the work is in the public domain Works published prior to March 1, 1989, generally require a copyright notice to be protected, but those published on or after March 1, 1989 are not required for copyright protection. Copyright Office Circular 22 explains how to determine the copyright status of a work. The doctrine of "Fair Use" (section 107 of the U.S. copyright law) in limited situations permits the use of a copyrighted work, including reproducing portions of that work, without the copyright owner's permission. Section 107 of the Copyright Act establishes four basic factors to be examined in determining whether a use constitutes a "Fair Use" under the copyright law. These factors are: a) The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; b) The nature of the copyrighted work; c) The amount and substantiality of the portion of the work used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and d) The effect of the use in question upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. No single factor is determinative of a person's right to use a copyrighted work without permission. Educational use alone is not sufficient to make the use in question a fair one. Photocopies or other reproductions can be furnished only under certain conditions, if they will be 11

used solely for private individual study, scholarship, or research. Use of the reproduction for other purposes may make the user liable for copyright infringement. PCOM reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying request, if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. (17 U.S.C. 207, and under title 17 of the U.S. Code as amended by Pub. Law 94-553: 108, 702. Dated August 9, 1977).

POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Academic integrity is essential to the success of the educational enterprise and breaches of academic integrity constitute serious offenses against the academic community. Every member of that community bears a responsibility for ensuring that the highest standards of academic integrity are upheld. Only through a genuine partnership among students, faculty, staff, and administrators will the College be able to maintain the necessary commitment to academic integrity. Students are responsible for understanding the principles of academic integrity fully and abiding by them in all their work at the College. Students are also encouraged to report alleged violations of academic integrity to the faculty member teaching the course in which the violation is alleged to have occurred. Various ways in which academic integrity can be violated are described below. The comments and examples within each section provide explanations and illustrative material, but do not exhaust the scope of possible violations. 1. Cheating Cheating is defined as not giving or receiving unauthorized aid. 2. Fabrication Fabrication is the falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic work. "Invented" information may not be used in any laboratory report or other academic work without authorization from the instructor. It is improper, for example, to analyze one sample in an experiment and "invent" data based on that single experiment for several more required analyses. Students must also acknowledge the actual source from which cited information was obtained. A student should not, for example, reproduce a quotation from a book review and claim that the quotation was obtained from the book itself. 3. Plagiarism Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic work. To avoid plagiarism, every direct quotation must be identified by quotation marks, or by appropriate indentation, and must be cited properly according to the accepted format for the particular discipline. Acknowledgment is also required when material from any source is paraphrased or summarized in whole or in part in one's own words. To acknowledge a paraphrase properly, one might state: to paraphrase Plato's comment... and conclude with a footnote or appropriate citation to identify the exact reference. A footnote acknowledging only a directly quoted statement does not suffice to notify the reader of any preceding or succeeding paraphrased material. Information that is common knowledge, such as names of leaders of prominent nations, basic scientific laws, etc, need not be cited; however, the sources of all facts or information obtained in reading or research that are not common knowledge among students in the course must be acknowledged. In addition to materials specifically cited in the text, other materials that 12

contribute to one's general understanding of the subject may be acknowledged in the bibliography. Sometimes, plagiarism can be a subtle issue. Students should be encouraged to discuss any questions about what constitutes plagiarism with the faculty member teaching the course. 4. Facilitating Violations of Academic Integrity It is a violation of academic integrity for a student to aid others in violating academic integrity. A student who knowingly or negligently facilitates a violation of academic integrity is as culpable as the student who receives the impermissible aid, even if the former student does not benefit from the violation.

*Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is acknowledged for the work of its faculty in forming the foundation of the policy above (http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml) as adapted by PCOM.

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COMPUTER SYSTEMS, NETWORK AND EMAIL POLICIES The College email system supports communication between all College users, including students, faculty, staff and administration. All administrative and financial information distributed electronically will be transmitted primarily via PCOM email. The College’s Information Technology Services (ITS) resources are provided to students to enhance their learning experience. Utilization of these resources for personal gain, illegal or obscene activities is prohibited. [See “Computer Policies and Procedures” under ITS on the Web Page.] The following are examples of prohibited activity:  Use of a computer system attached to the College resources to capture data packets (e.g. “sniffer”);  Accessing (e.g. read, write, modify, delete, copy, move) another user's files or electronic mail without the owner's written permission.  Abuse of networks or computers at other sites through the use of the College’s resources;  Attempts to circumvent information technology protection schemes or exploit security loopholes.

COMPUTER NETWORK POLICIES Use of the PCOM computer network is for educational and informational purposes. Abuse or frivolous use of PCOM Network will be subject to disciplinary action. All students are responsible for using the PCOM Computer Lab in a professional, efficient, ethical and lawful manner. The use of this system is a privilege, not a right, which may be revoked at any time for misuse PCOM Information Systems are to be used only for the purpose for which they are assigned and are not to be used for commercial purposes or non-college related activities. Fraudulent, harassing or obscene messages and/or materials are not to be sent, printed, requested or stored. Chain letters and other forms of mass mailings are not allowed. Violations of the Computer Usage Policy will result in disciplinary action. All software is licensed to PCOM and may not be copied or distributed. In special circumstances the Management Information Systems Department may distribute software necessary for the support of special projects. Contact the PCOM ITS Department at 215-871-6110 if you have any questions about PCOM’s Computer policies.

EMAIL POLICIES It is the responsibility of all students to check their campus email every day - students will be held responsible for all notices or announcements sent to them in this manner. PCOM will never send information to a student’s outside email account. Students may not use the PCOM group email functions without the permission of the Office of 14

Student Affairs on their respective campus. Any inappropriate email, examples of which are described below, is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action:       

The creation and exchange of messages that are harassing, obscene or threatening, including messages containing offensive comments about race, gender, age, sexual orientation, pornography, religious or political beliefs, national origin or disability The unauthorized exchange of proprietary information or any other privileged, confidential sensitive information. The exchange of advertisements, solicitations, chain letters and other unofficial, unsolicited email. The creation and exchange of information in violation of any laws, including copyright laws, or College policies. The misrepresentation of the identity of the sender of an email. The use or attempt to use the accounts for political appeals, editorializing, religious messaging or partisan (including issue-partisan) lobbying; The use or attempt to use the accounts for personal financial gain in connection with outside (non-College) consulting, business or employment, except as authorized and approved by the College administration.

PCOM NETWORK PASSWORDS PCOM advises all students to change their PCOM Network Password, frequently. When first using the Nucleus portal, login using the network username and current password that you received via email from [email protected]. Then click 'Set Recovery Info' to define your recovery email address. Once you have set up a recovery email address, you can reset your password by clicking 'Reset/Recover', or by going to www.pcom.edu and clicking on Nucleus. You will see the change password link just below the login boxes'. If you have not yet set up your recovery email, and you don't know your password, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 215-871-6110 for assistance. This portal will only change your PCOM network password. It does not affect your PCOM Gmail password.

PCOM SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY When using any social media channel, students should assume at all times that they are representing PCOM and should therefore exercise discretion, thoughtfulness and respect for the PCOM community. Students are expected to use their best judgment at all times while engaging in social media activities. Students are reminded of the “PCOM Policies on Academic Integrity and Intellectual Property” which are included in this handbook. As stated in the PCOM Social Media Policy, "media is inherently “Open.” You have no reasonable expectation of privacy when you engage in social media activities using PCOM’s equipment. Any posted material is subject to review in accordance with PCOM’s faculty/staff and student policies 15

and the use of social media in any context does not guarantee the privacy of any content. Information, including pictures or videos, that a user posts to social media sites, including your own sites, may be reviewed by PCOM. PCOM reserves the right to monitor comments or discussions about the College, its faculty, staff, employees, students, vendors, and the industry, posted on the Internet by anyone, including faculty, staff and students (whether part-time or fulltime). PCOM may use search tools and software to monitor social media activity such as blogs, social networking sites, postings, and other types of personal journals, diaries, and personal and business discussion forums. For reference, a “posting” may include any type of online communication, whether written, pictures, video or otherwise, whether posted by you or on your behalf. You are reminded that You do not have the right of privacy with respect to any messages or information created or maintained on PCOM’s systems, regardless of whether that information has been deleted or erased. PCOM has a social media team, responsible for the school’s official social media policy and presence. Members include individuals from the Offices of Marketing & Communications, Admissions, Student Affairs, Educational Media and ITS. The complete Social Media Policy is provided in the appendix of this handbook.

MEDIA POLICY The public relations manager is responsible for handling all media contact regarding Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, its faculty, staff and student body. When a member of the media contacts PCOM to request information or an interview, the public relations manager contacts the appropriate individual and makes arrangements to meet the needs of the media. Please be aware that using any official rendition of the PCOM logo or speaking on behalf of PCOM requires prior approval: To speak on behalf of PCOM, you must obtain verbal or written approval from the PCOM public relations manager or the director of marketing and communications; they can be reached at extension 6300 or at [email protected]. You should limit your contributions to topics related to your area of expertise and ensure that all statements are truthful. Your relationship with PCOM must be disclosed in a “clear and conspicuous” manner, such as “I am a PCOM student.” If students have an idea that they would like to pitch to the media, they should work with the public relations manager. It’s essential that the marketing and communications department be made aware of all media contact. To use the official PCOM logo in any form, students must request authorization by contacting the PCOM Office of Marketing and Communications on their campus for permission. When using social media, please be aware that even with PCOM’s approval, you may be liable for your actions online. 16

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND DISCLOSURE PCOM has developed a disclosure program to assist in the effective implementation of its compliance objectives, by encouraging individuals to raise compliance concerns for internal investigation. The Medical Compliance Committee and Health Care Compliance Officer oversee PCOM’s compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to its health carerelated operations, as well as with PCOM’s internal written standards of conduct. All PCOM community members are required to promptly report any conduct which a reasonable person would, in good faith, suspect to be fraudulent, unlawful, improper or erroneous, or in violation of the PCOM Code of Conduct, or other PCOM Standards of Conduct.

The Institutional Compliance Committee and Institutional Compliance Officer implement and oversee PCOM’s compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to its institutional operations, as well as with PCOM’s internal written standards of conduct related to compliance. REPORTING HOTLINE PCOM has established an anonymous Reporting Hotline for receiving compliance reports. The Reporting Hotline number is (877) 874-8416. The Reporting Hotline is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for any individual wishing to report a concern. The Reporting Hotline number is posted in conspicuous locations throughout the PCOM campus and in the Healthcare Centers. Concerns reported on the Reporting Hotline will be received and documented by the Compliance Officer with oversight responsibility for the operational area(s) involved, and presented to the Audit Committee, in accordance with the Disclosure Policy. Anonymous complaints may be made in writing to either Compliance Officer at: [Health Care] or [Institutional] Compliance Officer Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine 4190 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19131

LEGAL LIMITATIONS ON PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE It is a violation of the laws of the states of Georgia and Pennsylvania, and contrary to the policy of the college, for any unlicensed person to attempt to engage in the professional practice of health care. Please remember that, as a student, you are NOT an independently licensed health care provider and until you graduate, you cannot engage in the independent or unsupervised practice of health care. *NO STUDENT IS AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE OR TO COLLECT ANY FEE OR GRATUITY FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FOR HIMSELF/HERSELF, OR FOR ANY OTHER PERSON.

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STUDENT RIGHTS AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

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STUDENT COMPLAINTS/GRIEVANCES There are processes for students to use when seeking to resolve a complaint. Because each academic program may have specific steps to resolve grade or course related concerns, students should consult their academic program handbook for any additional processes specific to courses and complaints specific to their program. For general advice and guidance, students can contact the Chief Student Affairs Officer on the Philadelphia campus or the Director of the Center for Student Affairs on the Georgia campus.

NON-DISCRIMINATION GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES The student grievance procedure assures institutional compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other laws applicable to institutions receiving federal funding which provide protections to students from discriminatory practices. The procedure to review all grievances arising from a student’s complaint related to any adverse action which is discriminatory or otherwise in violation of the law, affecting his/her education, or that a practice or policy has been identified which is discriminatory, is stipulated below.

Student complaints under Title IX, Education Amendments and Section 504, Rehabilitation Act Section 1. Purpose of Grievance Procedure The procedure provided herein shall be utilized to review all grievances arising from a student’s complaint that an adverse action by the College, which the student believes is discriminatory or otherwise in violation of the law, has been taken affecting his/her education, or that a practice or policy has been identified which is discriminatory. This procedure shall not govern actions taken by other students, which are governed by the procedures discussed in other relevant policies. This student grievance procedure is to assure institutional compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other laws applicable to institutions receiving federal funding that provide protections to students from discriminatory practices. All documentation/evidence that is gathered pursuant to the procedures of either an informal or formal review shall be kept in a confidential file separate from permanent student files, and released upon request only to the student and members of the administration involved in the procedure and the Grievance Committee or pursuant to a subpoena or order of a court of competent jurisdiction or by statutory authority vested in government agencies. All persons named in the documents of this confidential file shall have the right to read the parts in which they are named along with relevant contexts and to make a written response that shall be included in the file. The Nondiscrimination Officer shall notify those named in the file of their right to read and respond. The College’s designated Nondiscrimination Officer is the Chief Diversity Officer. The alleged adverse action shall be effective while it is being grieved, unless otherwise agreed to by the Nondiscrimination Officer. In the event of the absence of the Nondiscrimination Officer, or other person responsible for implementing the grievance procedure, the person authorized to assume that person’s responsibilities, should also act under the grievance procedure. 21

Section 2. Informal Grievance Procedure A student (Grievant) shall advise the Chief Student Affairs Officer (Philadelphia) or the Director of the Center for Student Affairs (Georgia) of his/her grievance within five working days of when the student becomes aware of the alleged violation. If the student fails to do so without good cause, the grievance shall be considered waived. When the grievance is brought to the attention of the Chief Student Affairs Officer (Philadelphia) or the Director of the Center for Student Affairs (Georgia), it shall be his/her responsibility to promptly schedule a meeting (i.e. a meeting will be scheduled to take place) with the Grievant within ten working days of being advised of the grievance, and s Chief Student Affairs Officer (Philadelphia) or the Director of the Center for Student Affairs (Georgia) shall listen, analyze and explain applicable policy, investigate the facts and take other actions necessary in an attempt to promptly resolve the grievance. If this process does not resolve the grievance within seven working days of the meeting, or if the Chief Student Affairs Officer (Philadelphia) or the Director of the center for Student Affairs (Georgia) fails to timely schedule a meeting, the student may initiate the formal grievance procedure. The Office of Student Affairs will advise the student on the Formal Grievance Procedure and will identify the person serving as Nondiscrimination Officer, as described in Section 3. Section 3. Formal Grievance Procedure The formal procedure begins when the student presents a request for formal review in writing to the College’s Nondiscrimination Officer. The request for formal review shall be submitted within five working days after the student has received a proposed resolution from the Chief Student Affairs Officer (Philadelphia) or the Director of the Center for Student Affairs (Georgia) or when he/she has failed to schedule a meeting, as described above. The Nondiscrimination Officer shall convene an ad-hoc grievance committee, appoint a Chairperson, and submit the complaint for formal review to the Chairperson of the Grievance Committee within ten working days of receipt of such request. Although the request for formal review requires no particular format, the student shall include the following information in the written request:

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FERPA COMPLAINTS Complaints regarding alleged violations of rights accorded by students by FERPA or the regulations promulgated there under may be directed in writing to: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-5901 For more information, go to http://www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco/index.html

STATE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION INFORMATION Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Georgia Nonpublic Education Commission. These state education agencies have a formal process for complaints regarding noncompliance with state regulations. In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the following contact information is provided for both agencies:

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Bureau of Postsecondary and Adult Education 333 Market Street, 12th floor Harrisburg, Pa 17126-0333 Fax: 717-772-3622

STATE OF GEORGIA Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Suite 220 Tucker, Georgia 30084-5305 770-414-3300 Fax: 770-414-3309

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VIOLATION OF COLLEGE POLICIES AND THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS

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BREACH OF COLLEGE POLICIES Disciplinary consequences of a confirmed breach are explained in the Violation of College Policies and The Disciplinary Process section of this handbook. Students on the Philadelphia campus should notify the Chief Student Affairs Officer of any suspected violation of conduct policies. Georgia campus students should notify the Director of the Center for Student Affairs of any suspected breach of conduct policies.

COLLEGE’S RIGHT TO SEPARATE STUDENTS The College reserves the right, and the student, by the act of matriculation concedes to the College the right, to separate a student from the College at any time deemed necessary to safeguard PCOM standards of scholarship, safety, conduct and compliance with regulations, or for such other reasons deemed appropriate by the College. Any member of the College faculty or any administrative supervisor or manager may exercise this right on behalf of the College and require a student to leave a College facility (or a facility where a College program is being conducted). Any faculty member or administrative supervisor or manager who takes such action shall immediately report the action and the reasons therefore to the President and/or the Provost. If the President or Provost determines that the presence of a student would be disruptive to the College or represents a possible threat to the safety of faculty, students, staff, patients, clients or others, the President or Provost may immediately withdraw the student from all activities, placing the student on disciplinary suspension pending investigation and/or action by the Student Professional Conduct Committee, by placing the student on indefinite leave of absence, pending documentation of treatment and/or physical or mental fitness to return to studies or by permanently terminating the student’s enrollment.

VIOLATION OF THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY LEGAL SANCTIONS PCOM is in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local drug and alcohol laws, and vehicle codes. Any student convicted of a drug-related offense will be suspended which includes immediate termination of all forms of financial aid. All students should be aware of the legal sanctions under state, local, and federal law for the unlawful possession or distribution of prescription or illicit drugs and alcohol, as well as the health risks associated with abuse of controlled substances or alcohol. The following is a review of the legal sanctions under local, state, and federal law for the unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol:

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DRUGS PENNSYLVANIA STATE LAW: 1. The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, 35 Pa. C.S.A. 780-101 et seq., sets up five schedules of controlled substances based on dangerousness and medical uses. It prohibits the manufacture, distribution, sale or acquisition by misrepresentation or forgery of controlled substances except in accordance with the Act as well as the knowing possession of controlled substances unlawfully acquired. Penalties for first-time violators of the Act range from thirty days imprisonment, $500 fine, or both for possession or distribution of a small amount of marijuana or hashish, not for sale, to fifteen years or $250,000 or both for the manufacture or delivery of a Schedule I or II narcotic. A person over eighteen years of age who is convicted for violating The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, shall be sentenced to a minimum of at least one year total confinement if the delivery or possession with intent to deliver of the controlled substance was to a minor. If the offense is committed within 1,000 feet of the real property on which a university is located, the person shall be sentenced to an additional minimum sentence of at least two years total confinement. 2. The Pharmacy Act of 1961, 63 Pa. C.S.A. 390-8 makes it unlawful to procure or attempt to procure drugs by fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or subterfuge or by forgery or alteration of a prescription. The first offense is a misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of one year's imprisonment, a $5,000 fine, or both. 3. The Vehicle Code, 75 PA, C.S.A. 3101 et seq., which was amended effective July 1,1977, prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, or both, if the driver thereby is rendered incapable of safe driving. A police officer is empowered to arrest without a warrant any person whom he or she has probable cause to believe has committed a violation, even though the officer may not have been present when the violation was committed. A person so arrested is deemed to have consented to a test of breath or blood for the purpose of determining alcoholic content, and if a violation is found it carries the penalties of a misdemeanor of the second degree, which includes imprisonment for a maximum of thirty days.

GEORGIA STATE LAW: "Controlled Substances" This broad category of illegal substance is defined in Drug schedules I-V, Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), Sections 16-13-25 to 16- 1329.1, including a long list of chemical compounds, opiates, hallucinogens, derivatives, isomers and other materials. The State Board of Pharmacy may add new materials to the list as required. "Dangerous Drugs" This is an even broader category of illegal substance and is defined in O.C.G.A. 16-13-71, describing hundreds of chemicals and other compounds. The Georgia General Assembly may add drugs to the list as required.

A summary of the criminal penalties is listed below. Criminal Punishment 28

a. "First offender" treatment for mere possession of minor amounts of a controlled substance or dangerous drug. A person never before convicted of possession of a small amount of the above material may, at the judge's sole discretion, be afforded first-offender treatment, resulting in no entry of a plea of guilty and no record of any conviction, if the defendant successfully completes a court-monitored comprehensive rehabilitative program (O.C.G.A. 16-13-2(a)). b. Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. Imprisonment for 12 months or less and/or a fine not to exceed $1,000, or "public works" (community services) not to exceed 12 months (O.C.G.A. 16-13-2(b)). c. Possession, manufacture or distribution of controlled substances. This is punishable by confinement of up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $1 million, depending on the schedule sequence of the controlled substance involved, as well as the amount (See O.C.G.A. Section 1613-30 and Section 16-13-31). The manufacture, distribution or possession with intent to distribute any controlled substance or marijuana within 1,000 feet of an elementary or secondary school, park, playground, recreation center, housing project or drug-free commercial zone can result in up to 40 years in prison with a fine of up to $40,000 (See O.C.G.A. Section 16-13-32.4, 16-13-32.5 and 16-13-32.6). A detailed chart outlining the state penalties for crimes involving various controlled substances is available in the Student Affairs office.

FEDERAL LAWS: 1. The Federal drug laws, The Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq., are similar to the Pennsylvania Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act, but contain, for the most part, more severe penalties. Schedules of controlled substance are established, and it is made unlawful knowingly or intentionally to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or possess with intent to distribute or dispense a controlled substance. If the quantity of controlled substance is large (e.g. 1,000 kg of a mixture or substance containing marijuana), the maximum penalties are life imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, or both. Lesser quantities of controlled substance (e.g. 100 kg of a mixture or substance containing marijuana) result in maximum penalties of life imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, or both. The distribution of small amounts of marijuana for no remuneration or simple possession of a controlled substance carries a maximum of one year's imprisonment, a $5,000 fine, or both, with the penalties for the second offense doubling. Probation without conviction is possible for first offenders. Distribution to persons under the age of twenty-one by persons eighteen or older carries double or triple penalties. Double penalties also apply to the distribution or manufacture of a controlled substance in or on or within 1,000 feet of the property of a school or college. 2. Students who have been convicted under state or federal law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance, are ineligible for federal student aid for specific periods (ranging from one year to an indefinite period depending on the nature of the offense and whether the student is a repeat offender).

ALCOHOL 1. The Pennsylvania Liquor Code, 47 Pa., C.S.A., 1-101 et seq., controls the possession and sale of alcoholic beverages within the Commonwealth. The Code as well as portions of the Pennsylvania Statutes pertaining to crimes and offenses involving minors, 18 Pa., C.S.A. 6307 et seq., provide the following:

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2. It is a summary offense for a person under the age of twenty-one to attempt to purchase, consume, possess or knowingly and intentionally transport any liquor or malt or brewed beverages. Penalty for a first offense is suspension of driving privileges for 90 days, a fine up to $300 and imprisonment for up to 90 days; for a second offense, suspension of driving privileges for one year, a fine up to $500, and imprisonment for up to one year; for subsequent offense, suspension of driving privileges for two years, a fine up to $500 and imprisonment for up to one year. Multiple sentences involving suspension of driving privileges must be served consecutively. 3. It is a crime intentionally and knowingly to sell or intentionally and knowingly to furnish or to purchase with the intent to sell or furnish, any liquor or malt or brewed beverages to any minor (under the age of twenty-one). "Furnish" means to supply, give or provide to, or allow a minor to possess on premises or property owned or controlled by the person charged. Penalty for a first violation is $1,000; $2,500 for each subsequent violation; imprisonment for up to one year for any violation. 4. It is a crime for any person under twenty-one years of age to possess an identification card falsely identifying that person as being twenty-one years of age or older, or to obtain or attempt to obtain liquor or malt or brewed beverages by using a false identification card. Penalties are stated in (2) above. 5. It is a crime intentionally, knowingly or recklessly to manufacture, make, alter, sell or attempt to sell an identification card falsely representing the identity, birth date, or age of another. Minimum fine is $1,000 for first violation; $2,500 for subsequent violations; imprisonment for up to one year for any violation. 6. It is a crime to misrepresent one's age knowingly and falsely to obtain liquor or malt or brewed beverages. Penalties are as stated in (1) above. 7. It is a crime knowingly, willfully and falsely to represent that another is of legal age to obtain liquor or malt or brewed beverages. Penalty is a minimum fine of $300 and imprisonment for up to one year. 8. It is a crime to hire, request or induce any minor to purchase liquor or malt or beverages. Penalty is a minimum fine of $300 and imprisonment for up to one year. 9. Sales without a license or purchases from an unlicensed source of liquor or malt or brewed beverages are prohibited. 10. It is unlawful to possess or transport liquor or alcohol within the Commonwealth unless it has been purchased from a State Store or in accordance with Liquor Control Board regulations. The University will cooperate with the appropriate law enforcement authorities for violations of any of the above-mentioned laws by an employee in the workplace or student. 11. The use in any advertisement of alcoholic beverages of any subject matter, language or slogan directed to minors to promote consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. 12. No advertisement of alcoholic beverages shall be permitted, either directly or indirectly, in any booklet, program, book, yearbook, magazine, newspaper, periodical, brochure, circular, or other similar publication, published by, for, or on behalf of any educational institution.

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FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY AND DRUG CONVICTIONS Substance Abuse Question on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Question 23 on the FAFSA form asks if the student has ever been convicted of a drug related offense. Failure to answer this question will automatically disqualify the student from receiving Federal aid. Falsely answering this question, if discovered, could result in fines up to $20,000, imprisonment, or both. Under the Higher Education Act, a student may become ineligible for federal student aid upon conviction of any offense involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs while receiving Title IV federal financial aid. Federal aid includes Federal Direct Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal ACG Grants, Federal SMART Grants, Federal TEACH Grants, Federal Work Study, and Perkins Loans.

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID PENALTIES FOR DRUG CONVICTIONS Possession of Illegal Drugs: First Offense: 1 year ineligibility from the date of conviction Second Offense: 2 years ineligibility from the date of conviction Third and Subsequent Offenses: Indefinite ineligibility from the date of conviction Sale of Illegal Drugs: First Offense: 2 years ineligibility from the date of conviction Second and Subsequent Offenses: Indefinite ineligibility from the date of conviction

CONVICTIONS DURING ENROLLMENT According to the United States Department of Education, if a student is convicted of a drug offense after receiving Federal aid, he or she must notify the Financial Aid Department immediately and that student will be ineligible for further aid and required to pay back all aid received after the conviction.

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REGAINING FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY A student can regain eligibility for federal student aid funds by successfully completing a drug rehabilitation program. To be sufficient to reinstate financial aid eligibility, the program must: include at least 2 unannounced drug tests AND be recognized as a Federal, State, or local government agency program. A student will regain eligibility on the date of successfully completing the program.

VIOLATION OF THE POLICY ON POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS ARTICLES An individual who violates this policy should be reported to the security department on either campus. Violators will be subject to immediate dismissal and/or civil or criminal action.

VIOLATION OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICIES LEVELS OF VIOLATION AND RECOMMENDED SANCTIONS Any violation of academic integrity is a serious offense and is therefore subject to an appropriate penalty or sanction. Academic integrity violations at PCOM are classified into four levels according to the nature of the violation. The Program Director will determine the level of violation. For each level of violation a corresponding set of sanctions is recommended. Levels One and Two are administered by the faculty in the academic program. Level Three and Level Four violations are administered by the Student Professional Conduct Committee., because the possible sanctions may result in temporary or permanent separation from the College. Please note that separation is a possible sanction for repeat violations at Level One or Level Two. The recommended sanctions at each level are not binding, but are intended as general guidelines for the academic community. Moreover, due to mitigating circumstances, a standard sanction is not always imposed, even when a student is found responsible for a given violation. Culpability may be assessed and sanctions imposed differentially for those with more or with less experience as members of the academic community.

Examples are cited below for each level of violation. These examples are meant to be illustrations and should not be considered all inclusive.

LEVEL 1 VIOLATIONS: Level One violations may occur because of inexperience or lack of knowledge of the principles of academic integrity and are often characterized by the absence of dishonest intent on the part of the student committing the violation. These violations generally are quite limited in extent (e.g., 1 - 2 sentences), occur on a minor assignment, and represent a small fraction of the total course work. 32

Examples include: 1. Working with another student on a minor laboratory exercise or homework assignment when such collaboration is prohibited. 2. Failure to footnote or give proper acknowledgment in a very limited section of an assignment.

Sanctions for Level 1 Violations: May include one or more of the following, although this list is not all inclusive: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Required participation in a noncredit workshop or seminar on ethics or academic integrity. An assigned paper or research project related to ethics or academic integrity. A make-up assignment that is more difficult than the original assignment. No credit for the original assignment Disciplinary warning.

LEVEL 2 VIOLATIONS Level Two violations are breaches of academic integrity that are more serious or that affect a more significant aspect or portion of the course work compared with Level One violations (e.g., more than a few sentences). Examples include: 1. Quoting directly or paraphrasing, to a moderate extent, without acknowledging the source. 2. Submitting the same work, or major portions thereof, to satisfy the requirements of more than one course without permission from the instructor to whom the work is submitted for the second or subsequent time. 3. Using data or interpretative material for a laboratory report without acknowledging the sources or the collaborators. All contributors to the acquisition of data and/or to the writing of the report must be acknowledged.

SANCTIONS FOR LEVEL 2 VIOLATIONS: May be referred to the Student Professional Conduct Committee and may include one or more of the following: 1. A failing grade on the assignment. 2. A failing grade for the course.

LEVEL 3 VIOLATIONS Level Three violations are breaches of academic integrity that are more serious in nature or that affect a more significant aspect or portion of the course work compared with Level Two violations.

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Examples include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Repeat Level Two violations. Presenting the work of another as one's own. Copying work on exams. Plagiarizing portions of a written assignment. Acting to facilitate copying during an exam. Using prohibited materials, such as books, notes, or calculators during an examination. Conspiring before an exam to develop methods of illicitly exchanging information during the exam. 8. Altering examinations for the purposes of re-grading. 9. Acquiring or distributing copies of an examination from an unauthorized source prior to the examination period. 10. Submitting purchased materials such as a term paper. 11. Fabricating data by inventing or deliberately altering material. Fabrication includes citing "sources" that are not, in fact, sources. 12. Falsifying information to receive an extension or other modification for an exam adjustment.

SANCTIONS FOR LEVEL 3 VIOLATIONS: May include an F for the course and probation for one or more terms or permanent dismissal, depending on the seriousness of the violation

LEVEL 4 VIOLATIONS Level Four violations represent the most serious breaches of academic integrity. Examples include: 1. Committing a violation of academic integrity after returning from suspension for a previous violation of academic integrity. 2. Committing a violation of academic integrity that breaks the law or resembles criminal activity (such as forging a grade form, stealing an examination from a professor or from a College office, buying a stolen examination, falsifying a transcript to gain access to the College or its resources, or altering the record of work done at the College). 3. Having a substitute take an examination or taking an examination for someone else. 4. Fabricating evidence, falsifying data, quoting directly or paraphrasing without acknowledging the source, and/or presenting the ideas of another as one's own in a senior thesis, a master's thesis, a doctoral dissertation, a scholarly article submitted for publication, or any other work represented as his or her own by a graduate or professional student. 5. Sabotaging another student's work through actions designed to prevent the student from successfully completing an assignment.

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SANCTION FOR LEVEL 4 VIOLATIONS: May result in permanent dismissal from the College.

REPEAT VIOLATIONS .A repeat violation at Level I will ordinarily be treated as a Level II violation, although it may, under certain circumstances, be treated as a Level III violation. A repeat violation at Level II may be treated as a Level III, and hence a separable violation. Any violation committed after completing probation for a Level III violation will be treated as a Level IV violation. Additional Consequences of Violating the Academic Integrity Policy A student who commits a violation of academic integrity not only faces College sanctions, but also runs a risk of harming his or her future educational and employment opportunities. Moreover, prospective employers and other educational institutions frequently use recommendation forms that ask for judgment and comment on an individual's moral or ethical behavior. Since such forms are sent with the permission of the student, who thereby waives any right he or she may have under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to keep disciplinary sanctions confidential, College faculty and administrators with knowledge of academic integrity violations are ethically bound to report such violations. Rutgers, the State University of New jersey is acknowledged for the work of its faculty in forming the foundation of the policy above (http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml, as adapted by PCOM.

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THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS CATEGORIES OF DISCIPLINE FOR VIOLATION OF CONDUCT POLICIES Breaches of appropriate professional behavior and violations of College policy will be subject to, but not limited to, warning, probation, suspension and dismissal. Violations of these policies may be made by an administrator or the Student Professional Conduct Committee to the Provost. Copies of the violations will be submitted to the Registrar.

Warning:

A written admonition to a student for behavior that is found to have constituted a relatively minor offense

Probation: Disciplinary probation applies when there are findings of unprofessional behavior and/or infractions of the student conduct policy, as indicated by the Student Professional Conduct Committee, and where further infractions or unprofessional behavior will make the student liable for disciplinary dismissal.. The provisions of this probation will be decided by the Student Professional Conduct Committee. Such provisions may include a requirement that the student obtain medical and/or psychiatric consultation and treatment or other terms designed to remedy the behavior being reviewed and to prevent its recurrence.

Suspension: Represents temporary separation from the College. The duration of a suspension shall be determined by the Student Professional Conduct Committee, but shall not exceed one academic year. The Committee may also place conditions on the student's return to College. Such conditions may include being placed on probation, the student's obtaining medical and/or psychiatric consultation and treatment, or other appropriate conditions.

Dismissal: Represents permanent separation from the College.

Where medical or psychiatric consultation and treatment are recommended or required, the confidentiality of the physician/patient relationship shall be preserved and no report shall be made by the consulting physician to the Student Professional Conduct Committee without the consent of the affected student. However, the Student Professional Conduct Committee may condition a student's ability to continue as a PCOM student upon a satisfactory evaluation by a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist appointed by the Committee.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES Upon his own initiative, or at the request of any member of the faculty or administration of the College, the Provost may designate a representative to act on his behalf to conduct an 36

investigation. If a member of the faculty or administration, orally requests that disciplinary proceedings be initiated, the oral request must be confirmed in writing within 72 hours. The Provost will initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student if there is reasonable probability to believe that a violation has occurred based upon the information received. In determining whether disciplinary action is warranted, the Provost or his representative may conduct an informal investigation of the matter, which may include interviewing the affected student(s) or the student(s) against whom disciplinary proceedings have been recommended. The Provost will notify the Chair of the Student Professional Conduct Committee if it is determined that disciplinary actions are warranted. If the Provost determines that the presence of the alleged offender would be disruptive to the College or would endanger the college or affiliated training sites or any involved personnel, he may immediately suspend the student(s) in question from the College.

NOTICE OF THE HEARING The Chair of the Student Professional Conduct Committee shall give written notice of the behavior in question to the alleged offender, at least seven days prior to the date of the proceedings; unless an earlier hearing date is agreed to in writing by the student or an attorney acting on his or her behalf. The notice shall also set forth: 1) The time and date of the hearing. 2) A clear and concise statement of the behavior that is alleged to violate professional standards. 3) A list of witnesses that are expected to appear. The student shall reply to the charges against him/her no later than two days prior to the hearing. He or she must also provide a list of any witnesses he or she plans to call on his or her behalf and a use of an attorney or other advisor.

Please Note: The College has the right to supplement the list of witnesses it expects to appear, up to two days before the hearing. The time for the hearing may be changed for good cause.

CONDUCT OF THE HEARING To ensure a fair process, the protocol is as follows: 1) The hearing shall be conducted by the Chair of the Student Professional Conduct Committee, or in his absence, by a member of the Committee he has designated. The Committee shall have the right, in those instances when it deems it appropriate, to appoint a Hearing Officer to preside over and conduct the hearing. 2) The Committee shall not be bound by strict rules of evidence and may admit such evidence 37

and testimony as the Chair or his designee (or the Hearing Officer) shall deem relevant to the proceedings. 3) Members of the Student Professional Conduct Committee present at the hearing will disclose any information which points to a possible bias against the charged student. Members of the Student Professional Conduct Committee present at the hearing shall disqualify themselves from hearing a case if they believe in good faith that their capacity for making an objective judgment is reasonably impaired. If a member of the Committee does not disqualify him or herself but a majority of the Committee believes such bias exists, the majority may vote to excuse that member from hearing the case. 4) The Committee shall ensure that all those involved have full opportunity to present relevant and material oral or documentary evidence at the hearing. 5) The hearing shall be confidential unless the charged student elects otherwise in writing at least 5 days prior to the hearing. The Provost’s designated representative shall represent the College at the hearing. This individual may be the same one who conducted the informal investigation. 6) The charged student shall have the right to confront any witnesses testifying against him or her, to testify on his/her own behalf (if he/she so chooses) and to present witnesses. Absent exceptional circumstances, affidavits are not an acceptable substitute for testimony. 7) The charged student shall have the right to be represented by an attorney or other advisor of his or her own choosing (who shall be retained at the student's expense). 8) The charged student may remain silent or may testify. The hearing may be conducted in the absence of the charged student but only if the student has been properly notified and fails to appear. 9) Minutes of the proceedings shall be maintained. Only upon the request of the student, the Committee Chair or his designated representative or the Provost, shall a stenographic record of the proceeding be made.

FINDINGS The Committee shall render a written recommendation to the appropriate Dean or Program Director within ten days of the conclusion of the hearing. The Committee may make a recommendation for sanctions. The appropriate Officer will notify the student and/or advisor of the decision.

RIGHT TO APPEAL The student who has been dismissed has a right of appeal to the Provost. The Provost has discretionary power to affirm, modify or remand within ten days from receipt of the appeal. 38

ENROLLMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Note: The policies in this section are general PCOM policies pertaining to all students. Be sure to become familiar with your academic program's handbook, which will provide you with additional policies and procedures specific to your academic program.

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ENROLLMENT Enrollment indicates that a student is registered and actively taking courses in a given term.

VERIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT/GOOD STANDING All requests by students or graduates for verification of their enrollment, academic standing or graduation must be made in writing. The enrollment verification form can be obtained in the Registrar’s Office or downloaded from the Registrar’s website at www.pcom.edu/registrar. Requests are typically processed within five business days of receipt. If the verification letter must be mailed with additional third party forms or any other supporting documentation, those materials should be included with the enrollment verification request. If an account or reference number is required, this must be stated on the request.

CHANGE OF ENROLLMENT STATUS There are four change-of-enrollment status categories at PCOM: 1. Leave of Absence (LOA) 2. Student Requested Withdrawal from PCOM 3. College Mandated Withdrawal or Leave of Absence 4. Dismissal Each change-of-enrollment status category is explained in below with detailed explanations of the process in the following section.

Leave of Absence (LOA) A Leave of Absence indicates a temporary separation from the student’s academic program with the intention to return. There are two Leave of Absence categories: 1. Student- Requested Leave of Absence (LOA): The LOA is granted for a maximum of one year from the date the LOA is approved. This LOA may be granted for military, jury duty, maternity/paternity, or circumstances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. LOA's are also granted for requests associated with personal or health-related issues. Information on the process of requesting an LOA is provided in this section of the handbook. LOA implications that may be specific to an academic program are provided in the academic program handbook. 2. Financial Leave of Absence (LOA): The LOA is mandated by the school based upon a student’s outstanding financial obligations to the college. Information and implications are detailed in the Tuition Payment and Refund Policies section of this handbook.

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Student-Requested Withdrawal from PCOM Students have the right to withdraw from their academic program. For advice on this process, students are advised to meet with their respective program dean, the Chief Student Affairs Officer on the Philadelphia campus or the Director of the Center for Student Affairs on the Georgia campus. If the decision is made to withdraw, the student should contact the Registrar, the Office of Financial Aid and the Bursar to ensure all procedures are followed.

College-Mandated Withdrawal or Leave Of Absence The College reserves the right, and the student, by the act of matriculation concedes to the College the right, to require a leave of absence or withdrawal at any time the College deems it necessary to safeguard PCOM standards of scholarship, conduct and compliance with regulations or for such other reasons deemed appropriate by the College.

Dismissal There are two dismissal categories: Academic Dismissal-- is a separation from the college based upon the student’s failure to fulfill the academic requirements of their program. Information on this process is provided in the Academic Standing section of this handbook. Disciplinary Dismissal-- is a separation from the College based upon the student’s violation of a standard of conduct policy and recommended to the Provost by the Student Professional Conduct Committee. Information on the disciplinary process is provided in the Violation of College Policies and Disciplinary Processes section of this handbook.

STUDENT-REQUESTED LEAVE OF ABSENCE PROCESS A student-requested Leave of Absence indicates a student’s desire to temporarily separate from the student’s academic program with the intention to return. An LOA is granted for a maximum of one year from the date the LOA is approved. The LOA may be granted for military, jury duty, maternity/paternity, or circumstances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. LOA's are also granted for requests associated with personal or health-related issues.

HOW TO REQUEST A LEAVE OF ABSENCE (LOA) Step One: Before making the decision to take an LOA, students should discuss the issues and concerns that are leading them to consider taking an LOA. Philadelphia Campus Students: Schedule a meeting with the Chief Student Affairs Officer, by calling 215-871-6870. Georgia Campus Students: DO, Biomedical Sciences and ODL students should schedule a meeting with the 42

Director of the Center for Student Affairs, by calling 678-225-7539. School of Pharmacy students should schedule a meeting with the Asst. Dean for Professional and Student Affairs for the School of Pharmacy, by calling 678- 225-7336

Step Two: If the decision is made to take a Leave of Absence, the student must complete the PCOM Leave of Absence Form, which includes receiving the appropriate administrative signature confirming that the LOA has been approved. The LOA is not approved without this signature. The form is available on the Registrar’s website. The effective date of the LOA will be discussed at the time the form is signed.

Step Three: The completed form must be returned to the Registrar’s Office on the student’s campus. Upon receipt of the Leave of Absence form, the Office of the Registrar will notify all administrative offices at PCOM/ GA-PCOM, as well as the National Student Loan Clearinghouse of the student's Leave of Absence status.

IMPLICATIONS OF A LEAVE OF ABSENCE In addition to the implications an LOA can have on academic progress, an LOA also impacts financial aid, academic standing and access to campus services. IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AID A student who is on a Leave of Absence, is considered withdrawn from PCOM. Therefore, the student will not be charged tuition or mandatory fees during the LOA period. The student will not receive financial aid disbursements during this time. Please be aware that a financial aid withdrawal status may affect the following:  Financial Aid that was already received for the term of the Leave of Absence.  Disbursements pending in the term of the Leave of Absence.  The grace period and repayment of your student loans IMPACT ON STUDENT SERVICES While on an LOA, the student will be permitted to utilize PCOM network services and use parking facilities, following PCOM parking policies. While on an LOA, the student will not be charged tuition or mandatory fees, receive any financial aid or be covered by Malpractice Insurance IMPACT ON GRADES The impact of an LOA on grades is determined by the amount of time that has passed in a course or a term. Additional information relevant to each academic program may be provided in the academic program handbooks. 43

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR RETURNING FROM A LEAVE of ABSENCE (LOA) A student who is on a Leave of Absence will be allowed to return to PCOM at the end of the LOA and will not be required to apply for re-admission to their program. The student must submit a letter to the Registrar’s Office stating their intention to return, no later than one month prior to their intended date of return. PCOM may require professional documentation of fitness to return from a Leave of Absence.

PLEASE NOTE: A student who does not return at the end of the approved Leave of Absence will be considered as withdrawn and all services will be terminated.

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ACADEMIC STANDING

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ACADEMIC STANDING Each academic program maintains specific policies related to academic standing, promotion and dismissal. The academic standing policies for each degree program are explained in the respective program's academic policy handbook. At the end of each term, student scholastic achievement is first reviewed by each academic program’s Student Progress Evaluation Committee (SPEC), which is a standing committee consisting of program faculty and Student Affairs administrators. Each program’s SPEC makes academic standing recommendations to the Student Academic Progress and Policy Committee (SAPPC) for students who are not meeting the course requirements of their program. SAPPC is the school-wide committee that makes formal academic standing recommendations to the senior academic officer as listed below. The committees may consider prior academic deficiencies/failures when making recommendations on the academic status of any student. The recommendations are based upon the specific academic promotion policies of their academic program. Academic standing recommendations are made to the following senior program administrators:

Philadelphia Campus: Osteopathic Medical Program: Dean and Chief Academic Officer for Osteopathic Medicine Graduate Programs: Vice President Graduate Programs and Planning Georgia Campus: Osteopathic Medical Program: Dean and Chief Academic Officer Osteopathic Medical Program Graduate Programs: Vice President Graduate Programs and Planning School of Pharmacy: Dean and Chief Academic Officer School of Pharmacy

The appropriate senior academic officer, in consultation with the Provost will determine if the recommendation will be accepted, modified, or remanded. The student will receive written notice of the action.

FINANCIAL AID SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY The United States Department of education requires every post secondary institution receiving Title IV federal funds to have an academic progress policy that is used to determine eligibility for and continued receipt of federal funds. A review of each student’s satisfactory academic progress will be conducted annually at the end of the spring term, regardless of when a student enrolls. Full policy is available in the PCOM college catalogue.

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ACADEMIC PROBATION A student may be placed on probationary status by action of the Student Academic Progress and Policy Committee. Academic probation applies to students who have demonstrated a marginal level of performance to the degree that any additional academic deficiencies, as indicated by the committee, will make the student liable for dismissal. The duration and conditions of probation will be specified by the committee.

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL By action of the Student Academic Progress and Policy Committee, students may be dismissed from PCOM for academic deficiency in accordance with criteria set forth in their program's student handbook. Written notice of the dismissal action will be sent to the student, which will include information about eligibility to appeal the dismissal (see Appealing an Academic Dismissal Decision, below). Dismissal for reasons other than academic deficiency is governed by policies and procedures for non-academic dismissals set forth elsewhere in this handbook and individual program student handbooks. Examples include but are not limited to violation of College’s Standards of Conduct, violations of local, state or federal law, unprofessional behavior, and criminal activity, or other reasons as set forth in the College Standards of Conduct and Ethics Code which appear in this handbook.

CONTINUED CONDITIONAL ENROLLMENT IN LIEU OF DISMISSAL Students who are liable for academic dismissal may be offered the privilege of continued enrollment at the discretion of their program’s SPEC and the SAPPC. Such students continue under probation and are subject to conditions such as restart of the academic year, repeat of courses, return following leave of absence, or other provisions. Students who accept an offer of continued conditional enrollment in lieu of dismissal and who fail to satisfy its conditions are liable for dismissal without opportunity for appeal. When the conditions of a specific offer of reenrollment are satisfied, the student regains the right of appeal for future dismissal actions.

APPEALING AN ACADEMIC DISMISSAL DECISION Students who are dismissed for academic deficiency may be eligible to appeal the decision. The request for appeal must be made to the Office of Academic Affairs within fifteen (15) business days after the student has been notified of the dismissal decision. Students may appeal a maximum of one (1) academic dismissal decision. Students who are dismissed due to academic deficiency and permitted to return to school following a successful appeal are not eligible to appeal any subsequent academic dismissal.

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THE APPEALS HEARING Any student appealing a dismissal will be entitled to a hearing before the Faculty Committee on Academic Appeals. The scope of the review shall not include a review of the components of a specific grade or grades. 1. Students may not bring before the Faculty Committee on Academic Appeals any requests other than an appeal of a permanent dismissal action. 2. At the hearing, the student may present evidence on his or her behalf, and/or choose to be represented by an advisor or an attorney. The use of an attorney or other advisor must be disclosed to the Office of Academic Affairs at least 10 days prior to the hearing.

THE APPEALS DECISION The Faculty Committee on Academic Appeals makes their recommendation to the Provost. The student shall be notified in writing by the Provost of the final decision.

RE-APPLYING TO PCOM AFTER DISMISSAL Students who have been dismissed may re-apply to PCOM. Students may not apply for readmission for the academic year immediately following their dismissal. A formal petition by the student must be made in writing to the Provost. A special ad-hoc admissions subcommittee of the appropriate academic program (DO Admissions Committee, Pharmacy Admissions Committee or Graduate Programs Admissions Committee) will convene to consider the request. The student may be required to complete a new application to the program, provide updated information and furnish a personal statement, evidence of additional academic work, and/or medical or psychological care. Where appropriate, the subcommittee may also require a recommendation from the director of the respective professional or graduate program and an interview with the student. All prior college related data is available to the ad-hoc committee. The subcommittee may recommend that conditions be placed on any approval for readmission. All reinstatements are probationary for the re-entry year. The recommendation of the subcommittee is subject to approval by the appropriate senior academic officer in consultation with the Provost.

Please Note: Re-enrollment following a dismissal may affect Federal Financial Aid eligibility.

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TUITION PAYMENT AND REFUND POLICIES

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THE TUITION BILL Tuition at PCOM is billed electronically. An E-bill will be sent to your PCOM e-mail address approximately 30 days prior to the start of the term. Tuition is charged in three or four installments depending on enrollment status. A paper invoice will only be mailed upon a student’s request to the Bursar’s Office.

TUITION PAYMENT POLICY The College expects all tuition bills to be paid by the date stated on the tuition bill. A check which is not honored by the bank on which it is drawn will be subject to a $50 fee. Below is a schedule of important billing milestones from registration to tuition payment: Registration is Open:

50 business days prior to the start of the term.

Registration is Closed:

30 business days prior to the start of the term. The Bursar will send an E-bill.

Tuition is Due:

20 business days prior to the start of the term.

Notice Sent to All Delinquent Accounts: The Bursar will notify all delinquent accounts 5 business days after the tuition due date. Late charges to be assessed, accounts are placed on hold and ID Badge inactivated. Students with Delinquent Accounts are placed on a Financial Leave of Absence: The Bursar will request that students with a delinquent balance for the term be placed on a Financial Leave of Absence at the end of the term that they are delinquent. They will remain on a Financial Leave of Absence until the balance is paid in full.

Deferment of Payment: The College will allow a student to defer payment on those tuition amounts which will be paid from the proceeds of loans to be received by the College. The student: 

Must have completed all paperwork pertinent to those loans and all materials must have been sent to the respective lending agency prior to the due date.



Is expected to endorse loan proceeds (if lender sends a paper check to the college) promptly when received by the college. If a student does not endorse the check(s) within the authorized time period, late fees on the balance payable by the loan will be applied retroactively.

Please Note: Students who have applied for loans to pay part of their obligation and will pay the remaining balance from personal sources must pay that balance as of the tuition due date.

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TUITION REFUND POLICY Refunds are determined based on the proration of tuition and percentage of program completed at withdrawal, up to 50% of the program.

REFUND PROCESS If a student withdraws from classes within seven weeks from the start of the term, a pro-rata refund or tuition credit may be authorized. In the case of full withdrawals, the effective date of the withdrawal is the date on which the student filed with the Provost or Registrar a written notification of withdrawal or a request for a leave of absence. For courses not conducted on a weekly schedule, summer sessions, and for clinical clerkships in the medical, physician assistant and physical therapy programs, the refund is prorated according to the percent of the clerkship, preceptorship or course completed as indicated in parentheses below.

REFUND SCHEDULE Withdrawal Within: 1st week of class (up to 5% of instructional time)

Tuition Owed 0%

Credit 100%

2nd week of class (more than 5% but no more than 10% of instructional time)

10%

90%

3rd & 4th week of class (more than 10% but no more than 25% of instructional time)

25%

75%

5th through 7th week of class (more than 25% but no more than 50% of instructional time)

50%

50%

After 7th week of class

100%

0%

No fee or portion of a fee is refundable. The refund policy is subject to change at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, but in no instance will such a change become retroactive. All federal financial aid funds are credited or returned in compliance with the Federal Return Policy schedule. In special circumstances, including medical/family emergency, military reservist activation, or academic dismissal (or denial of academic appeal) based on a previous term's academic performance, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and/or the Chief Financial Officer may authorize a full refund of tuition or a refund greater than what is applicable according to the refund policy. 54

REMOVAL FROM CLASSES FOR NON PAYMENT The Bursar’s Office is charged with the responsibility of notifying the Registrar’s Office of those students to be dropped from classes or training assignments for non- payment of tuition. The registrar will then drop the student from their current classes if they have not satisfied their financial obligations with the college.

FINANCIAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE Students that have been dropped from classes for non-payment will not be permitted to return to classes or training assignments until their financial obligations with the college have been satisfied. The Bursar will recommend that the student be place that student on a Financial Leave of Absence until the account is satisfied. The Bursar’s Office will recommend to the Provost, those students who should be placed on a Financial Leave of Absence for not remitting the amount which they are obligated to personally pay by the due date or for not endorsing loan proceeds in a timely manner. A Financial Leave of Absence may last for up to one year.

Consequences of Being Placed on a Financial Leave of Absence Students placed on a Financial Leave of Absence will not be permitted to return to classes or training assignments until all personal payments are remitted, all necessary loan applications are completed and sent to the lender, or all proceeds from loans are endorsed for payment. Returning within one year: To return from a financial leave of absence within one year, the student must not only satisfy financial obligations with the Bursar's Office, but must also petition the Provost to return to his/her academic curriculum. Beyond the one-year deadline: The student’s status at the College is terminated. All financial obligations must be satisfied before the student may petition for re-admission to the College.

OUTSTANDING BALANCES AND GRADUATION If for any reason, a graduating student has a balance on his/her account at the end of his/her final class year, that student will not be permitted to graduate and will not receive a diploma. Transcripts will not be sent from the Registrar’s Office for that student until the tuition account is satisfied. Any other exceptions to this policy must be discussed with the Director of Financial Operations. Students must also comply with any other fees, deadlines, or financial policies required by their specific program.

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LATE FEES The Registrar’s Office will charge a late fee to those students who have not completed their registration by the published deadline. The Bursar's Office will charge a late fee to those students who have not completed their financial obligations. A late fee of $100 will be placed on each delinquent account 5 business days prior to the start of the term and each month for which the account remains delinquent. If proceeds from loans are received by the Bursar and a student does not appear to endorse the check(s) within the authorized time period, a late fee on the balance payable by the loan will be applied retroactively. In the event that a student receives and accepts a late admission to the first year of study, an exception to the above policy will be considered if the appropriate loan applications are filed immediately in the expectation of making full tuition payment. This exception is for the first payment period of the first year of study only. Any exceptions beyond the first payment period must be discussed with the Director of Financial Operations.

DISBURSEMENT OF REFUNDS Refund checks or direct deposits will be produced every Monday and Thursday. Cut-off times for processing refunds are end of day Wednesday for processing Thursday and end of day Friday for processing on Monday. The exceptions to the refund schedule are the following:   

Banking or school holidays: refunds will be process the next business day. Philadelphia Campus is closed: refunds will be processed the business day the campus reopens. First disbursement date of each term: refunds will be processed once accounting verifies that the loans have been funded by the lending institution.

It is strongly recommended that students sign up for direct deposit for their refunds. This process is safer and a more convenient way for students to receive funds. Direct deposit of student refunds is available by completing an authorization form. The initial set up for direct deposit will take approximately one week. The funds will be electronically posted to your bank account within two days after the above mentioned days. For example, if your refund is processed for availability on Monday, then the funds will be posted to your bank account on Tuesday or Wednesday.

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ACCOMMODATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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LEARNING AND PHYSICAL DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION POLICIES Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is committed to complying with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended interpreted and strengthened by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA), by meeting the needs of students who have disabilities under the law. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and accompanying regulations define a person with a disability as someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as walking, seeing, hearing, or learning as compared to most people in the general population. Functional limitation refers to the behavioral manifestations of the disability that impede the individual’s ability to function, i.e. what someone cannot do on a regular and continuing basis as a result of the disability. It is the college’s policy to provide reasonable accommodation for students who, through a documented assessment performed within three (3) years of requesting the accommodation at PCOM, qualify for an accommodation(s) under the ADA. As per the ADA, the documentation must confirm that the student “has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,” and that the disability supports the accommodation(s) requested. Please Note: Problems such as test anxiety, English as a second language (in and of itself), slow reading without an identified underlying cognitive deficit or failure to achieve a desired academic outcome are not learning disabilities and therefore are not covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, or the PHRA. Accommodations for Licensing Examinations: Students should note that many licensing agencies do not accommodate for disabilities on licensing exams, regardless of whether or not accommodations were requested and received in the educational setting. Students should check with the licensing agency affiliated with their intended graduate or professional school program.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION REQUEST PROCESS A student with a documented disability may request reasonable accommodations. This request must be accompanied by appropriate documentation that establishes that the student has a specific disability that supports the accommodation(s) requested. All requests for information should be emailed to the Coordinator of Disability Services at [email protected]. The Coordinator will provide the student with the PCOM Guide to Disability Services as well as instructions for the accommodation request process. Once all required documentation is submitted, the review process will begin. The Coordinator of Disability Services will notify the student of the outcome of the accommodation request, and a plan for implementing any approved accommodations will be set in motion. Accommodations requested and approved after the academic year begins are not retroactive.

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POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING ABSENCES AND MODIFICATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS Policy statement PCOM does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or familial status, national origin or ethnic identity (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. PCOM respects the religious diversity of its students and will attempt to grant absences and make reasonable modifications that honor the primacy of a commitment to patient care and do not unduly burden faculty, students, or others involved in the affected educational activity.

Purpose of policy The purpose of this policy is to acknowledge respect for the religious diversity of PCOM students by providing, where possible, excused absences and reasonable modifications in cases where genuine conflicts exist between students’ religious beliefs/practices and educational activities. Such modifications must honor the primacy of a commitment to patient care, not unduly burden faculty, staff, students, or others, and must not significantly alter the prescribed curriculum requirements.

Procedures for Requesting Absences and/or Reasonable Modifications during the Didactic Portion(s) of the Curriculum 1. The request must be made in writing by completing the Request for Absence/ Modification form no later than by the end of the first week of each academic term. Students can request the form by emailing the Office of Student Affairs on their campus: Philadelphia campus:[email protected] Georgia campus: [email protected] 2 .Philadelphia campus students must submit the form to the Chief Student Affairs Officer. Georgia campus students must submit the form to the Director of Center for Student Affairs. Additional information may be requested. 3. A decision on the student’s request will be made by the end of the second week of each academic term. 4..If the request is approved, the Chief Student Affairs Officer or the Director of the Center for Student Affairs will notify the student and set-up a plan of action.

Failure to follow the procedures set forth in this policy with regard to a request for an absence will result in an unexcused absence. The consequences of unexcused absences will be determined by each Course Director. 60

* Students should be aware of the requirements for particular classes and programs in which they are enrolled that may restrict or otherwise limit PCOM’s ability to grant absences and modifications

Decisions Regarding Requests Decisions regarding requests for absences or modifications during the didactic component of the curriculm will be coordinated by the Chief Student Affairs Officer in Philadelphia or Director of the Center for Student Affairs in Georgia will be made within one week of receipt of the Request for Absence or Modification form. and will be communicated to the student in writing. Factors being considered will include but not be limited to: •Sincerely held religious belief; •Whether granting the absence or modification will unduly burden faculty, staff, or others •Whether granting the absence or modification will unacceptably compromise the nature and/or rigor of the educational requirements.

Appealing a Decision When a request for an absence or modification during the didactic portion of the curriculum is denied, the student may submit a written appeal of the decision to the Provost

Procedures for Requesting Absences and/or Reasonable Modifications during the Clinical/Experiential Portion(s) of the Curriculum Students should consult their program handbook for questions related to absence requests during the clinical portion of their curriculum.

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SAFETY AND SECURITY

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YOUR SAFETY The safety of members of the PCOM community is a priority. Security personnel ensure the safety and security of each campus by regulating building access and monitoring parking areas. Emergency call phones are accessible on each campus. PCOM students should request a security escort if there is a concern about walking to one's car in the evening. In compliance with the Clery Act, the Department of Security and Public Safety maintains a daily log of all crimes reported to Public Safety, whether occurring on campus, on a non-campus building or property, on public property or within the patrol jurisdiction of the Security and Public Safety Department. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Security and Public Safety maintains a daily crime log that contains specific information pertaining to any and all crimes that occur within the college jurisdiction that are reported. The daily crime log may be viewed Philadelphia Campus at Rowland Hall, Suite #232 or Georgia Campus Security front desk. Certain information may be withheld from the crime log under specified circumstances, primarily information that would be jeopardizing the success of an investigation or the safety of a person in the investigation. Security and Public Safety Department makes the crime log for the most recent 60-day period open to public inspection during normal business hours, while crime logs containing material more than 60 days old are retained for seven years for public inspection upon two days' notice. More information is posted on PCOM web Security link.

PCOM EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM (P.E.N.S.) PCOM has implemented an emergency notification system (P.E.N.S.) that will inform students, faculty and staff in the event of an emergency through phone text-messaging or e-mail. The system uses e2Campus, a web-based, mass notification system that allows College administrators to send alerts instantly and simultaneously to students’, faculty and staff's cell phone or e-mail simultaneously. Providing this information is the best way to ensure that you will be reached in the event of an emergency. All students, faculty and staff are required to enroll in the P.E.N.S. system. Please contact the HELP DESK at 215-871-6110 if you have any questions.

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EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING PHILADELPHIA CAMPUS: Day Students: Emergency closings and delayed openings are posted on the PCOM website home page, PENS and on the sign-in page on Nucleus. Closings and delayed openings are also announced on the radio (KYW 1060AM). The PCOM code number is 224. Students can also call the PCOM Weather Hotline at 215- 871-6699. Please do not call PCOM’s main number. Evening Students: Emergency closings and delayed openings are announced on the radio (KYW 1060AM). PCOM’s evening class code number is 2224.

GEORGIA CAMPUS In the event of an emergency closing of the Georgia campus, announcements will be made on PENS, WSB radio (750am) and WSB TV. Students can also call the Georgia campus hotline at 678-225-7555 for tape-recorded emergency closing information. Announcements will also be placed on the Nucleus home page, below the log-in box. Do not call the main switchboard for closing information.

STUDENTS ON CLINICAL ROTATIONS OR INTERNSHIPS: If either PCOM campus is closed or delayed, this does NOT mean that your site is closed or delayed. Contact the site directly to see if there are any delays or cancellations.

EMERGENCY PHONES AND SECURITY ESCORT Emergency telephone units are installed in strategic locations throughout each campus. Students should familiarize themselves with these locations. Each phone has an emergency button that when pressed automatically dials the security desk. An open line on any emergency phone will activate a priority response and a security officer will be sent to check on the user of the phone even if nothing is communicated to the dispatcher. Cooperation is essential to help maintain the integrity of the emergency phone systems, which should be used only for emergency situations. In addition, security can provide an escort or transport when requested at the Security Desk for late night safety when walking to vehicles parked in remote lots, or for handicapped transport. There may be some time lag in the escort arriving in that only one roaming vehicle operates on campus for this purpose.

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SECURITY CAMERAS An extensive network of video cameras covers most locations on the campuses and in parking facilities. Security personnel monitor these cameras and a taped record is maintained of all activity should the need arise for future investigatory purposes. Philadelphia Campus: Emergency telephone units, identified with a blue light, are installed in strategic locations throughout the campus, including on the PCOM property that borders Stout Road, and in the student parking lot on Monument Road. Students should familiarize themselves with these locations. Georgia Campus: Emergency telephone units, identified with a blue light, are installed in strategic locations throughout the parking lot. The emergency telephones will contact the PCOM Security Desk when the building is open, after hours the emergency telephones will contact the Gwinnett County Police “911” Dispatcher.

CAMPUS EMERGENCY EXIT PLANS Exit plans are clearly marked on signs posted on each campus. Students should acquaint themselves with posted evacuation procedures.

FIRE DRILLS As a part of our continuing safety program, fire drills are held at regular intervals. All students are expected to cooperate fully during fire drills. When the fire alarm is sounded, exit quickly and calmly using the nearest emergency escape routes and marked exits. Proceed to the designated evacuation areas; always leave immediately. Everyone must remain outside until signaled to return. No one is to congregate in the lobby areas or in the area outside of the doors to the buildings. Assist persons requiring evacuation assistance to get to designated areas. Be alert for trapped, injured, or other persons needing assistance. Philadelphia campus: Elevators are not to be used. Fire stairs are fire-rated for several hours and may be used as a temporary safe haven for anyone trapped on an upper floor.

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ADDITIONAL COLLEGE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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ADDITIONAL POLICIES ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Alcoholic beverages may not be served or consumed on the campuses of PCOM.

BACKGROUND CHECK POLICIES The college requires a criminal background check for all entering students. The results of the criminal background check may affect the student’s enrollment status. It is the student's responsibility to determine the effect of an entry on their licensure or potential to practice.

BUILDING HOURS Building hours are subject to change at any time. All changes will be announced in advance, unless required by unforeseen circumstances. Security Officers will begin clearing buildings 15 minutes prior to closing time. All students must leave the building at closing time. Philadelphia Campus: Evans Hall is open daily from 6am to 11pm. All PCOM students are required to sign in and out at the Security Desk, Monday through Friday from 8pm to 6am and all day on the weekends and holidays. Rowland Hall is open daily from 7am to 11pm Monday through Saturday. The building is on Sunday. All PCOM students are required to sign in from 6pm to 7am Monday through Saturday. Georgia Campus: The College is open daily from 6am to 11pm. All PCOM students are required to sign in and out at the Security Desk, Monday through Friday from 8pm to 6am and all day on the weekends and holidays.

CELL PHONE POLICY Cell phones are not to be turned on and used while in any classroom, lecture hall, laboratory or library. Hallways outside of classrooms and the library are also cell phone non-use zones.

HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY PCOM requires all students to be covered by health insurance. PCOM does not offer access to an insurance program.

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HEALTH SERVICES Students choosing to use any of PCOM’s affiliated health care services (either located on or off campus) must follow the same payment- for- service policies that are required of patients from the external community who utilize PCOM health care services. The medical practices accept most major insurance plans but must follow each plan equally for all patients. Please be sure to understand completely the specifics of your individual health insurance plan.

ID BADGE POLICY All students are issued a photo identification badge. This badge must be worn at all times when on campus. The ID badge is required to borrow books from the Library. Replacing a Lost ID Badge: A $10 fee is charged to replace a lost ID Badge. Philadelphia Campus: Obtain a form from the Registrar’s office and submit it to the Bursar’s office (2nd floor of Rowland Hall). Georgia Campus: The ITS Department can assist you with replacing your ID.

INJURY DURING TRAINING ASSIGNMENTS In the event of an accident, injury, or other incident during a training assignment, the accident report procedure for the institution where the student is training must be followed. Without this record keeping, the student’s own health insurance coverage and/or PCOM's professional liability could be placed in jeopardy. In the event of an injury in a clinical or other training setting, such as a needle stick or splash, the student should report the incident to the supervisor of the clerkship and also to the Office of Student Wellness immediately by calling 215-871-6420. The student is responsible for the cost of evaluating and treating the injury. The student’s personal health insurance plan will be billed by the provider. Students are responsible for all additional co-pays. Information about procedures relating to radiation and hazardous material exposures at training sites is contained on the PCOM website and in the institutional Health and Safety Manual.

PARKING POLICIES PHILADELPHIA CAMPUS: A yearly parking fee is charged to park in the Monument Road Lot or in the PCOM Garage, weekdays from 7:00 AM until 5:00PM. The fee runs from August 1 through July 31. Payment is due on a per term basis and may be charged to the tuition account. Parking fees and payment of fees will be posted on the Bursar's website. There is no charge for students to park in the Garage or in the Monument Road lot between the hours of 5:00PM and 7:00AM Monday through Friday, and on weekends and holidays. When choosing the parking plan with the Bursar, students will be registering the car(s) they will be driving. This ensures that the student’s ID and car “match”. 72

How To Access Parking Lots: Students access the parking areas by swiping their own ID badge at the entrance to the garage or lot, both at the time of entry AND upon exiting. *Following another car out of the lot or garage without having used your own ID is a violation of PCOM’s parking policy and may result in the loss of parking privileges. Parking on Campus During Rotations, Clinical Experiences Students may apply for garage parking privilege that coincide with their clerkship schedule. The charge is $25 per clerkship, which must be paid directly to the Bursar at the time of application. Students can also elect to pay a $5 per day usage fee, payable upon exiting from the garage.

GEORGIA CAMPUS There is no charge for students to park in the designated lots. These lots are monitored by Security via camera and by a roving security patrol, and there are emergency phones around the grounds of the campus. Do not park in any spot that is “Reserved”.

Parking During Internships, Rotations, Clinical Experiences During the course of study at PCOM, students may be asked to visit, work and/or reside at locations off campus. PCOM has no control over the safety and security procedures at these off-site locations. Be mindful of your safety and security and become familiar with the parking policies, practices and procedures regarding safety and security at these off-site locations. Please Note: If you require special parking accommodations due to a disability or short-term injury, please contact the Office of Student Affairs on your campus..

PRINTING POLICY Students at both campuses are allocated 1,000 pages for printing for the academic year. Printing usage is calculated automatically each time the student prints. A technician in the student computer lab on each campus can provide information about a student’s printing account balance and with instructions for purchasing additional printing.

SMOKING POLICY Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine maintains smoke-free campuses.

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SOLICITATION POLICY Students (either as individuals or through club affiliation) are not permitted to bring any for-profit organization onto PCOM campuses. Please contact the Student Affairs department on your campus with any questions regarding this policy.

STUDY SPACE POLICY Student study areas on PCOM campuses, including study carrel rooms and rooms for group study, are available for use by students during normal operating hours of the college. Students are expected to use study space on a “transient” basis - personal items left in a study carrel or on a study table when not accompanied by the owner may be removed to allow another student to utilize the area. Study space cannot be reserved.

Georgia Campus: In addition to the policy stated above, small group rooms utilized by the School of Pharmacy are available when they are not being used by the PharmD faculty for small group sessions. The dates and times of these sessions will be posted outside the room. Additional information is available through the Center for Student Affairs.

VISITOR AND GUEST POLICY Adult Visitors Visitors and guests are permitted on campus weekdays from 8am to 6pm. Visitors and guests are not permitted on campus on weekends and holidays. All visitors must be accompanied by a student and must register at an appropriate security desk. A temporary Visitor's Badge will be issued, which must be returned to the same security desk upon the visitor's departure from campus. Visitors are not permitted to use any PCOM computer facilities. Visitors are not permitted in the Gross Anatomy Labs without written permission from the faculty. Visitors are not permitted in buildings when the buildings are closed.

Child Visitors Child visitors are not permitted on the PCOM campus, workplaces, classrooms, or any other PCOM venue, with the exception of brief, fully supervised and pre-approved visits. All child visits should be preapproved by the appropriate supervisors and/or faculty members. Child visits should be brief (not to exceed 30 minutes). If an exception is made for a child to visit the campus, the visit is only allowed during regular working hours (8am-6pm), Monday through Friday, even if the PCOM student has been granted permission to be on campus when the buildings are closed. . Child visitors are never permitted on campus after regular working hours (8am-6pm), or on weekends or holidays. All child visitors must be accompanied at all times by a PCOM student, faculty or staff member while on campus and must never be left unsupervised while on campus, i.e., grounds, buildings, offices, parking garage. 74

Child visitors are never permitted to enter classrooms, computer labs, laboratories, kitchens, maintenance areas, or other high risk work spaces on campus.

LIBRARY VISITOR POLICY Library study space is reserved for the exclusive use of PCOM, students, faculty, staff and alumni. Individuals with a current PCOM ID may escort guests to tour the Library. Guest may not stay and occupy limited seating; those who do will be asked to leave. Hosts must remain with guests at all times and are responsible for guest’s behavior

ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES 75

NAME AND ADDRESS CHANGES Name Change: notification for a name change must be accompanied by supporting legal documentation (i.e., marriage certificate, divorce decree, legal name change certificate). To officially notify PCOM of your official name change, download the form from the Registrar’s website: www.pcom.edu/registrar. Either mail or fax the completed form and supporting documentation to the Registrar at 215-871-6649 Address Change: address changes must be submitted in writing to the Registrar’s Office. Access the forms through the Administrative Services channel in the Resources for Students Tab on Nucleus or download the form from the Registrar’s website: www.pcom.edu/registrar.

TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS Requests for academic transcripts must be made in writing (signature required) to the Registrar. There is no fee. Official transcripts can be provided directly to student or third party. Official request will be issued in a sealed envelope. Transcript requests may take up to ten (10) business days to process. All currently enrolled students may request transcripts in one of the following ways: --On Nucleus: Visit the registrar’s Information Channel on The resources for Students tab (3rd column) --By downloading the form from the Registrar’s website: www.pcom.edu/registrar If an official transcript must be mailed with other forms or documentation, those materials must be mailed to the Registrar with the documents. Note: Transcripts cannot be faxed.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS International students’ paperwork is processed through the Registrar’s Office. PCOM has been approved to process F-1 Visa’s. International students must maintain good academic standing and full-time status to remain eligible for verification to SEVIS.

VETERANS SERVICES Contact with the Veterans Administration and all issues related to veterans benefits are handled by the Office of the Registrar for the Philadelphia Campus and in the Office of Financial Aid for the Georgia Campus. Application for benefits at PCOM is generally initiated by filing a “Change of Place of Training” form upon leaving your prior institution or upon separation from the Armed Forces.

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APPENDIX

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IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS PHILADELPHIA CAMPUS Activities Center ......................................................................................................... 215-871-6741 Admissions ................................................................................................................ 215-871-6701 Alumni Relations and Development ......................................................................... 215-871-6120 Anatomy Department ............................................................................................... 215-871-6515 Pre-Clinical Education and Research, Senior Associate Dean ................................. 215-871-6782 Barnes and Nobel College Bookstore ......................................................................... 215-871-6594 Biochemistry/Molecular Biology ............................................................................. 215-871-6440 Biomedical Master’s Graduate Program .................................................................... 215-871-6440 Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology ................................................................. 215-871-6880 Bursar/Parking Information ...................................................................................... 215-871-6190 Cambria Health Care Center ..................................................................................... 215-578-3300 Center for Academic Resources and Educational Services (CARES) ....................... 215-871-6507 Center for Brief Therapy ............................................................................................ 215-871-6487 Clinical Education .................................................................................................... 215-871-6652 Clinical Learning & Assessment Center ................................................................... 215-871-6310 College Bookstore ...................................................................................................... 215-871-6594 Computer Lab ............................................................................................................. 215-871-6126 Counseling ................................................................................................................ 215-871-6870 Dean's Office ............................................................................................................ 215-871-6770 Diversity Officer ......................................................................................................... 215-871-6178 Emergency Medicine Course .................................................................................... 215-871-6320 Family Medicine Course (PCS) ................................................................................ 215-871-6391 Family Medicine Practice ........................................................................................... 215-871-6380 Financial Aid ............................................................................................................ 215-871-6170 Geriatrics Division ...................................................................................................... 215-871-6844 Graduate Medical Education .................................................................................... 215-871-6690 Graduate Programs and Academic Planning, Vice Dean ......................................... 215-871-6770 Gynecology Course .................................................................................................... 215-871-6789 Gynecology Practice Plan ........................................................................................... 215-871-6384 Human Resources ....................................................................................................... 215-871-6500 ID Badge Replacement (Bursar’s Office) ................................................................ 215-871-6190 Inter-Med Practice Plan .............................................................................................. 215-871-6337 ITS .............................................................................................................................. 215-871-6110 Lancaster Avenue Health Care Center ..................................................................... 215-662-0119 Library ...................................................................................................................... 215-871-6470 OMM Department ...................................................................................................... 215-871-6425 Organization Development and Leadership Program ................................................ 215-871-6472 Parking Info (Bursar’s Office) ................................................................................... 215-871-6190 Pathology and Microbiology/Immunology Department............................................. 215-871-6850 Physician Assistant Program ...................................................................................... 215-871-6772 Primary Care Skills Course ........................................................................................ 215-871-6391 Psychology Program ................................................................................................. 215-871-6442 79

Risk Management ..................................................................................................... 215-871-6609 Radiology Course ..................................................................................................... 215-871-6161 Registrar...................................................................................................................... 215-871-6704 Roxborough Health Care Center .............................................................................. 215-483-3800 Security & Public Safety .......................................................................................... 215-871-6351 Student Affairs Office .............................................................................................. 215-871-6870 Student Government Association Office .................................................................. 215-871-6797 Student Wellness Services ........................................................................................ 215-871-6420 Philadelphia Campus Main Switchboard ................................................................. 215-871-6100 PCOM Hotline ......................................................................................................... . 215-871-6699 On-campus Security Emergencies ....................................................................... extension 6911

GEORGIA CAMPUS Admissions ................................................................................................................. 678-225-7531 Anatomy ..................................................................................................................... 678-225-7500 Basic Sciences ............................................................................................................ 678-225-7460 Clinical Education ...................................................................................................... 678-225-7480 Diversity Officer ......................................................................................................... 215-871-6178 DO Program Dean’s Office ........................................................................................ 678-225-7505 Library ........................................................................................................................ 678-225-7541 Microbiology .............................................................................................................. 678-225-7465 OMM .......................................................................................................................... 678-225-7481 Pharmacology ............................................................................................................. 678-225-7467 Physiology .................................................................................................................. 678-225-7466 Registrar...................................................................................................................... 678-225-7576 Security ....................................................................................................................... 678-225-7501 School of Pharmacy Dean’s Office ............................................................................ 678-225-7330 Center for Student Affairs .......................................................................................... 678-225-7534 Surgery........................................................................................................................ 678-225-7463 GA-PCOM Main Switchboard ................................................................................. 678-225-7500 GA-PCOM Hotline ..................................................................................................... 678-225-7555 On-campus Security Emergencies ....................................................................... extension 6911

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PCOM Social Media Policy

SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES Social media is an ever-changing, extremely valuable communications tool that creates opportunities for Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) to bring awareness to the College and its campuses, its programs, attract future students, engage in conversation with influencers and reach the broadest possible audience. The following guidelines aim to raise awareness of current best practices and lend support for PCOM community members to effectively manage and participate in social media activities. If you have any questions about these guidelines, or about your online presence for both campuses, please contact the Social Media and Marketing Manager or the Office of Marketing and Communications for assistance.

CREATING A PCOM-AFFILIATED SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE/ACCOUNT Before creating a PCOM-affiliated social media page/account, discuss your intention to do so with your department chair or manager. In the process of determining the need for a social media page/account, the following questions should be taken into consideration: • • • • • •

What social media accounts have already been established by colleagues or the College for this purpose? Answering this question will help you avoid duplicating efforts or mixing messages. What do you hope to accomplish with this social media presence? What communications goals will the social media help you accomplish that other media, such as the College’s website, couldn’t? What content do you want to have contributed on a regular basis to the social site and what audiences are you intending to reach? Which social media channel would be most effective to relay your messaging? Each channel has its own unique purpose and it’s important to determine which is best suited for your content. Who will own this page and update it regularly? This is instrumental to the success of your account.

All College administrative departments and personnel must obtain approval by the Office of Marketing and Communications before starting a college-affiliated social networking page/account. To request approval, please submit an email to [email protected] outlining your intent to begin a social media page/account.

SET UP OF THE PAGE/ACCOUNT Each social media channel has specific instructions for setting up an account. Guidelines for starting your page/account, information to include in your profile and specifications and templates for profile imagery can be found in the list of links below. Please contact the Social Media Manager for assistance or questions regarding set up of accounts:

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• • •

Facebook Twitter Instagram

The primary account holder or manager is required to obtain a profile photo from the Office of Marketing and Communications. PCOM profile photos are a specifically designed version of our logo or word mark which allows us to keep the College’s brand visually consistent across the board. To request a profile photo, please submit a Marketing & Communications Work Request . This form can be found on Nucleus under the Work Tools tab in the Marketing section. When completing the online request, select “social media graphic” under project type. Although profile images must always be designed and provided by the Office of Marketing and Communications, cover photos (Facebook) and header photos (Twitter) are permitted to be chosen by the account holder. Cover photos should be an image that best represents the audience, mission or purpose of your department or organization. For assistance or guidance in choosing a cover photo, please contact the Social Media Manager. You may also request a cover photo when submitting a Marketing & Communications Work Request.

SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY By owning, operating and maintaining a PCOM-affiliated page/account, you are representing PCOM and are ultimately responsible for what you write and post. It’s important to remember that what you post on your social media pages/accounts can be shared with anyone and will be searchable and discoverable for years to come, even after deactivating an account. Maintenance, monitoring and consistency are key components of establishing an effective and impactful social media presence. While your department, program or organization’s use of social media will depend upon a number of factors, such as objectives and time available to dedicate to your page/account, your followers will expect to engage with you via social media once you begin posting. It is considered a best practice to post once per day, but this can vary depending on the outlet and your follower base.

AUDIENCE When crafting and curating your messages and content, it’s important to consider your audience. PCOM speaks to a broad audience comprised of current students, prospective students, parents, alumni, donors, friends and leaders in the academic and higher education community. Although it’s key to speak to your specific audience, posting content that appeals to each of these segments will help extend the reach of your message and will help you to build a more diverse and engaged community.

MESSAGING, CONTENT AND POSTING Planning ahead is an important first step in the development of messaging and content for social media purposes. Before starting to post, create an action plan including clearly defined roles and responsibilities for those handling your account, a strategy for implementation and a calendar outlining when your messages will be executed.

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It’s also important to identify one or more team members who can assist in the development of content on behalf of your department or organization. These team members can serve as social media contributors and can assist in brainstorming new ideas. Choose a responsible team member to serve as an editor, checking messages for accuracy, appropriateness, grammar and punctuation prior to execution. Any team member who will be posting content to your page/account should be a full-time employee of the College, familiar with these guidelines and best practices in social media. Work-study students and interns should not be the primary owners or operators of a PCOM-affiliated social media account, but may assist with social media related tasks if monitored and approved by a supervisor. The key to developing successful content is being honest about who you are, being thoughtful before you post, and respecting the purpose of the community where you are posting. Prior to posting, your messaging and content should be evaluated based on the following factors: •

Is the content representative of PCOM? o







All posts should be thoroughly read and evaluated prior to posting to make sure that the information is consistent with the College’s goals, mission, vision and values. Similarly, any images you plan to share should be evaluated based on those attributes.

Is your message appropriate and accurate? o

Maintain a voice and tone that’s informative, educational and respectful.

o

Messages should take a non-biased, neutral stance and should not convey personal views or sentiments.

o

Topics that may be considered sensitive, such as politics, religion, and controversial events or discussions should be avoided.

o

Determine whether your messages are fact or opinion-based. Double check all of your facts before posting and link to your sources whenever possible.

Is the content too internal-facing? o

Social media is a public-facing platform; therefore, messages and photos need to be evaluated prior to posting to determine whether or not they would be interesting, compelling or informative to an outside source.

o

Communications that are distributed internally to faculty, staff and students should generally not be shared on social media, especially if the nature of the communication is confidential or only applies to internal parties.

o

As an example: It’s good practice to share photos of students participating in community service as this demonstrates the philosophy and mission of the college to both internal and external audiences. It’s generally not good practice to share photos of an employee birthday celebration as this appeals to a smaller, internal audience.

Is proper grammar being utilized?

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o



While certain channels, like Twitter, limit the number of characters you can post, refrain from letting these relaxed rules get in the way of good syntax and proper punctuation. Please reference PCOM’s Editorial Style Guide . This form can be found on Nucleus under the Work Tools tab in the Marketing section. The Editorial Style Guide is a great resource to help employees maintain a unified grammatical and editorial standard of clarity and consistency.

Is privacy being taken into consideration? o

Be conscious of the laws and regulations governing the privacy of student education records, protected health information, personally identifiable information, and private information about colleagues. Do not post confidential or personal information about faculty, students, alumni, or other employees. Be mindful of copyright and trademark protections that may limit what materials you may use online and credit your sources whenever possible. It’s important to obtain consent from individuals featured in photos you take and post. Please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications to obtain a copy of the College’s Photo Release form.

MONITORING ACTIVITY Although social media thrives on interactivity and conversation, you should be prepared to accept and respond – judiciously – to the activity, comments and messages you receive. Owning and operating a social media page/account requires daily monitoring of all activity. Each social media platform is equipped with a tab for alerts and notifications where the account holder can view comments, replies, retweets or direct messages received. Notifications and alerts should be checked often to make sure that those who are engaging with your page/account are doing so in an appropriate manner. If an online commenter posts an inaccurate, accusatory, or negative comment about the college on your page/account or if you find yourself in a position where the communications become antagonistic or deal with sensitive topics, immediately capture a screen shot of the comments and forward via email to the Social Media Manager for guidance prior to responding. Please consider the following best practices when dealing with negative comment or messages: • • •

Often times, not responding to a negative comment is the best tactic. Don’t remove or delete comments just because they are negative or relay a difference in opinion, as this censorship may aggravate the problem further. It’s best to respond to negative comments professionally and by providing any additional information that may help resolve the issue. Offer understanding about the issue and ask for an email address to help direct the conversation offline. Comments containing vulgar language, offensive content, prejudicial statements, false information or those that are obviously spam should be deleted.

If any questions may arise about how to accurately respond to a comment or general online conversation, please contact the Social Media Manager for assistance.

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MEASURING RESULTS To determine the effectiveness of your content, strategy and execution, we encourage account holders to utilize analytics. Facebook and Twitter offer free reporting tools directly within their platforms that allow you to view new followers, engagement, reach and impressions for a specified date range. Recording and reviewing this data on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis can help you determine the success of your page/account and can help to identify areas of improvement. In addition to the free reporting tools offered through Facebook and Twitter, there are a variety of free analytical tools and management platforms available online. For questions related to reporting or measuring success, please contact the Social Media Manager.

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS In the event of a College-wide emergency or urgent situation, all communications related to the situation, including social media postings and outreach, will be solely handled and executed by the official College social media channels.

CONTACTS AND RESOURCES Rachel Eisenmann Social Media and Marketing Manager 215-871-6401 [email protected] The Office of Marketing and Communications 215-871-6300 [email protected]

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