Osteopathic Medicine

The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine fosters health care leaders across the continuum, including undergraduate, predoctoral, graduate and continuing medical education participants, to advance exceptional osteopathic healthcare locally and globally through practice, scholarship, education and community health.

The degree of doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.), granted to graduates of osteopathic medical schools, demonstrates to the public that these physicians received a unique and distinctive education based upon the general principles articulated by its founder, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, and by the American Osteopathic Association.

Consistent with the philosophy and training programs of the osteopathic profession, the majority of osteopathic physicians practice in primary care specialties. Their focus on holistic medicine, one of the basic tenets of their osteopathic heritage, directs them to provide both preventive and curative services to their patients on a comprehensive and continuing basis.

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

Curriculum Overview

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

The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) curriculum is designed to develop osteopathic primary care and other specialized physicians who are skilled in health promotion and illness prevention as well as the delivery of health care to the ill. To that end, UNECOM provides an innovative, contemporary, patient-focused curriculum that fosters life-long, self-directed, evidence-based learning and professional development.

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

Pre-Clerkship Education

UNECOM students spend the first two years of the program on the UNE campus in Biddeford, Maine. The curriculum consists of a series of large and small group learning activities, combined with independent experiential learning in physicians’ offices, hospitals, extended care facilities and health centers. Scheduled facilitated learning sessions include traditional didactic lectures, interactive problem solving sessions, patient case study discussions, hands-on laboratory exercises, panel discussions, demonstrations, and clinically focused encounters with standardized and real patients. Learning activities are constructed to provide a strong foundation in the basic biomedical and social sciences as well as clinical skills as they apply to the rapidly changing practice of medicine in the 21st century. A thorough grounding in the manual skills characteristic of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) is provided in the first two years, and supplemented, reinforced, and expanded in Years 3 and 4.

Student preparation before class and active participation in class is a consistent element in the learning dynamic throughout the curriculum.  An open, free-flowing dialog between faculty and students is characteristically valued and encouraged. 

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

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

High quality laboratory and educational facilities provide a stimulating venue for the mastery of the seven AOA competencies. The recently constructed Leonard Hall redefines the teaching and learning environment by creating an intentional space that fosters group dialogue, case-based study, and interactive connection using emerging technologies. The Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences houses laboratories and lecture halls that place UNECOM at the national forefront of health and life sciences education. The human structure (including cadaveric dissection) lab is among the most advanced facilities in the world. The Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OP&P) lab is spacious and well designed with the latest technological support. The Clinical Performance Center is an interactive clinical skills teaching, testing and evaluation facility with well established Standardized Patient and Patient Simulator Programs.

Capitalizing on the University’s support of multiple degree programs in the health and allied health professions, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant and social work, the college endorses and promotes interprofessional education and collaboration.

Clerkship Education

The last two years of pre-doctoral training focuses on experiential learning in a clinical setting to further develop individual and team learning and to expand clinical acumen. The entire third year curriculum is conducted at one of the designated Clinical Campuses over a twelve month period.

The UNECOM Clinical Campuses form a consortium of community-based education sites, each consisting of one or more training institutions within a specific geographic region that allows coordinated delivery of the core academic training experience. Each campus provides the patient base, didactic and experiential learning opportunities, supervisory infrastructure and longitudinal evaluation necessary for the accomplishment of the educational goals of core clerkships. The College's Clinical Campuses are located in the New England states, as well as in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania..

Year 3 students are assigned to clerkships in the six core disciplines at one of the College’s Clinical Campuses.. Reflecting its focus on primary care,  UNECOM clinical campus training programs are based in community hospitals, private physician offices, and community health centers throughout the northeast that represent environments in which many of UNECOM graduates will eventually practice. Ambulatory care programs train students in office practice and familiarize students with the collaborative roles and skills of non-physician health care providers. While community hospitals form the core of the Year 3 and Year 4 clinical rotations, affiliations with specialty-focused facilities allow students to pursue a range of clinical experiences. Many of these hospitals also provide Graduate Medical Education (GME) as members of the Northeast Osteopathic Medical Education Network (NEOMEN) (see below). Year 4 students continue their learning with selective and elective clinical rotations at UNECOM-approved programs of their choice.

Please see Core predoctoral clinical clerkship affiliates for more information. The list of Clinical Campuses is subject to change.

Post-Graduate Education

UNECOM enjoys an educational affiliation with a number of postgraduate internship and residency programs through its Osteopathic Postgraduate Training Institute (OPTI) known as the Northeast Osteopathic Medical Education Network (NEOMEN).  As sponsor of these independent programs, the college serves as a liaison with the American Osteopathic Association to assure compliance with accreditation criteria required for AOA approval of the training programs. UNECOM graduates apply to these and other postgraduate programs for internship and residency training. These affiliations exemplify the breadth and depth that these collaborative arrangements offer our graduates for postgraduate training.

Please see postgraduate affiliates for more information on the Northeast Osteopathic Medical Education Network (NEOMEN).

UNECOM offers medical students the opportunity to also complete a Master’s in Public Health or a Master’s in Medical Education Leadership while they are pursuing their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.

The University of New England is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOA COCA).

Additionally, UNECOM has been accredited by the Maine Medical Association’s Council on Continuing Medical Education and Accreditation (CCMEA) to provide continuing medical education for physicians, including both D.O.s and M.D.s.

Articulation Agreements

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

Qualified students in the University of New England College of Arts and Sciences (UNECAS) may apply for early admission to the College of Osteopathic Medicine following their junior year. The 3 Plus 4 Graduate Pathway to Success (GPS) Program allows mature, qualified UNECAS students to complete an undergraduate degree and doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degree in seven years. The 3 Plus 4 GPS Program is for students admitted to UNECAS Medical Biology - Medical Sciences Track.

UNECOM has established agreements enabling qualified students from the following institutions to complete an undergraduate degree and D.O. degree in seven years:

• University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut,
• Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts,
• University of Maine, Orono, Maine, and
• Utica College in Utica, New York.

In addition, UNECOM and the following institutions have entered into agreements whereby qualified individuals who have previously completed a baccalaureate degree can fulfill the required pre-requisite courses at their baccalaureate institution:

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

UNECOM Courses - Year1

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IA - 14 Credits

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IA is a multidisciplinary course designed to introduce medical science knowledge that undergirds the practice of osteopathic medicine. The medical science knowledge includes biological disciplines such as histology, physiology, immunology, microbiology, biochemistry, etc., as well as more clinical disciplines such as pathology and evidence-based medicine.  The overall aim is to allow the first year osteopathic medical student to integrate and apply this knowledge in the solution of clinical problems. Additionally, the student develops cognitive skills and attitudes that support continual acquisition of medical knowledge.

Osteopathic Clinical Skills IA - 14 credits

The aim of Osteopathic Clinical Skills IA is to transform learners into student physicians who demonstrate superior clinical skills and medical professionalism, and embody empathetic, patient centered medical care in preparation for clinical clerkship training. The purpose of the Osteopathic Clinical Skills IA course is to provide the students with a solid knowledge of clinical anatomy as the basis for competent and safe performance of physical examination and osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM); to instruct learners in the art and skill of medical history taking; to provide an understanding of human structure and function in order to formulate a clinical temporal profile leading to a differential diagnosis; and to represent the foundation of osteopathic knowledge and skills that will be developed longitudinally throughout the learner’s medical education and practice.

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IB 13 credits

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IB is a continuation of Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IA and builds on the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed by the medical scholar in the earlier course.

Osteopathic Clinical Skills IB 13 credits

The aim of Osteopathic Clinical Skills IB is to continue the transformation of learners into student physicians who demonstrate superior clinical skills and medical professionalism, and embody empathetic, patient centered care. Osteopathic Clinical Skills IB is a continuation of Osteopathic Clinical Skills IA and builds on the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed by the medical scholar in that course.

UNECOM Courses - Year 2

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IIA – 14 credits

This semester long course integrates foundational underlying biomedical scientific principles with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to address most common and/or important patient presentations. Using a combination of interactive, didactic presentations, case study discussions, laboratory sessions, panel discussions, and “grand rounds” conferences, the structured learning activities reinforce and expand the student’s understanding of critical biomedical and clinical elements of health care explored in the first year UNECOM courses. The Osteopathic principles of body-mind-spirit integration, structure-function relationship and the body's inherent ability to self-regulate, heal, and maintain health is prominent themes in the course content.

Osteopathic Clinical Skills IIA – 14 credits

This course is a continuation of the two-year longitudinal Osteopathic Clinical Skills I course that begins in Year 1. The course is designed to reinforce and expand the student’s knowledge and osteopathic clinical skills to ensure safe and competent practice during core clinical training rotations in Years 3 and 4.  Osteopathic Clinical Skills IIA introduces the student to more advanced methods of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and extends the integration of key concepts into the clinical practice of primary care. Learning activities parallel topics and areas of focus of the Osteopathic Medical Knowledge II series of courses and include standardized patient experiences, osteopathic manual medicine skills sessions, clinical skills assessment, and differential diagnosis.

Osteopathic Medical Knowledge IIB – 13 credits

This semester long course continues the integration – begun in previous OMK courses) – of the foundational underlying biomedical scientific principles with the most common and/or important patient presentations related to a variety of body systems.

Osteopathic Clinical Skills IIB – 13 credits 

This course continues the two-year longitudinal Osteopathic Clinical Skills course that begins in year 1 and builds on the knowledge, skills and attitudes explored in the first semester of Year 2. The course is designed to reinforce and expand the student’s knowledge and osteopathic clinical skills to ensure safe and competent practice during core clinical training rotations in Years 3 and 4. 

UNECOM Courses – Years 3 & 4

The student is required to complete 82 weeks of clinical training in Years 3 and 4.  UNECOM defines three categories of clinical requirements:

CORE – Required Discipline; Student is assigned by UNECOM Clinical Education Office; Core rotations are typically referred to as “clerkships.”

SELECTIVE – Required Discipline; Site selected by the student, subject to approval by Clinical Education Office.

ELECTIVE – Discipline and Site selected by the student, subject to approval by Clinical Education Office.

The following table shows the distribution of requirements:

Family Medicine

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

Internal Medicine

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

Obstetrics and Gynecology

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

Pediatrics

A Core clerkship in Pediatrics is required.  The student may complete one or more additional rotations.  Emphasis is on primary care of the newborn to the adolescent.  In both hospital and ambulatory settings, the student gains greater understanding of the continuum of child development, including physical, social, and emotional aspects, as well as the role of family dynamics.  The student develops communication skills with both the pediatric patient and the family and, as appropriate, refines his/her skill at educating the child, parents and caregivers in health promotion.   

Psychiatry

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

Surgery

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

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Osteopathic philosophy and principles are intrinsic to the entire curriculum and are incorporated throughout the clinical portion of the student’s education.  In the fourth year, the student completes a 4-week Selective in order to gain in-depth experience by working with a practitioner who is well versed in these principles and utilizes them in the clinical care environment.

Community Health

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

Emergency Medicine

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

Graduation Requirements

The Board of Trustees of the University of New England confers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree upon those students who have satisfactorily completed the requirements for graduation and who have been recommended for graduation by the faculty of the College.

Every candidate for the degree of doctor of osteopathic medicine must:

1. Be of good moral character.
2. Have met the academic requirements of the College for the awarding of the degree and have been enrolled at this College for the last two years.
3. Be free of indebtedness to this College, the University, and their affiliates.
4. Have demonstrated the ethical, personal, and professional qualities deemed necessary for the successful and continuing study and practice of osteopathic medicine.
5. Have been recommended by the faculty for graduation.
6. Be present at the UNE commencement and the COM Physicians Hooding Ceremony of his/her class at the time the degree is conferred, unless otherwise excused by the Dean.

All students enrolled in the University are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the scholastic regulations, the general and specific requirements of the academic program, and the operational policies that govern the program of study. Additional information may be found in the Student Handbook Supplement for the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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

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

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

Standards for Professional Behavior and Conduct

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

A student enrolled in the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to:

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

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

Registration

The University conducts an annual registration for students during the start of the each academic year. The Office of the University Registrar handles registration for students in Years 1 and 2 with information regarding student status and courses from the COM staff. The Office of the University Registrar registers medical students in Years 3 and 4 using information on student status from the Office of Clinical Education.  Each student is registered in a “place holder” course until the Registrar receives graded rotations. As the completed rotations are processed, the “place holder” is removed and the actual rotation and grade are entered to the academic record. Students are required to confirm their enrollments as classes begin through U-Online.  The Registrar sends directions for this process to all students as each semester begins.

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

Academic Records

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

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

Student Access and Annual Notification

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

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

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

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

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

Student Enrollment Status

The University of New England classifies student credit load status for the purposes of financial aid loan deferments.  Enrollment classifications.

Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examinations

The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examinations (COMLEX-USA) are administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and are divided into three levels. Levels 1 and 2 (which consists of 2 parts) are completed during the pre-doctoral years and Level 3 is given to qualified graduates during their first year of postgraduate (residency) training.  In particular, the Level 2 examination consists of two independent components – a Cognitive Evaluation (Level 2-CE) and a Performance Evaluation (Level 2-PE). The former tests predominantly a student’s knowledge base, and the latter predominantly his/her clinical skills. Students are eligible for the Level 1 examination upon successful completion of Year 2 and approval from the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) in which they are enrolled. Students become eligible for the Level 2 examinations in Year 3 after approval from their COM. Students must have received a passing score on COMLEX -USA Level 1 in order to begin clinical rotations. Students must take and pass both components of the Level 2 examination as a condition of graduation.

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

Note: Registration and scheduling of the exams is the responsibility of the student. Students should also plan to register and take the COMLEX-USA Level 1 and 2 (PE and CE) with sufficient time allowed to receive exam results and be able to comply with any deadlines for clinical rotations or graduation. Graduating Year 4 students are advised to schedule a date for their COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE (clinical skills examination) no later than December 31 of the year preceding their anticipated graduation date in order to receive scores in time to meet graduation requirements. This may require registration and scheduling with NBOME up to 12 months in advance.

Laptop Requirement

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

Course Grade Reporting

• The process of determining grades and the criteria for passing a course are described explicitly in each course syllabus that is ratified by the Committee on Educational Programs (CEP) and posted prior to the beginning of the course.  
• A final grade in a course is determined by the course director and must comply with the standards and principles endorsed by the Committee on Educational Programs.  

Attendance

The University expects the student to attend specific scheduled lectures, discussions, case-based learning sessions, laboratories and clinical assignments unless appropriate permission has been secured prior to the absence.  Any student who misses a class is NOT exempt  from completing the assignment covered during the absence. For further information, students should consult the Excused Absence Policy as found in the Student Handbook Supplement for the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Academic Standing

The Committee on Student Progress (CSP) is responsible for making recommendations to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA) on matters related to student performance, including disciplinary and academic matters. As it deems necessary, the CSP may identify students experiencing academic difficulties and inform appropriate faculty and administrative personnel of such to initiate corrective or remedial action which needs to be taken.  Annually, CSP makes recommendations to the Dean on the promotion of students to the next class. Also, each year CSP recommends to the faculty, through the Dean, the awarding of the degree of doctor of osteopathic medicine to those students who have satisfied all graduation requirements.

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

1. Unexcused absence(s) from class, laboratory, or clinical experience.
2.  Failure to obtain a satisfactory grade in every unit of study such as a course, preceptorship, or clinical rotation (clerkship).
3.  Failure to abide by the Standards for Professional Behavior and Conduct or to exhibit the behavior, ethics, or professional manner deemed necessary – in the judgment of the Committee on Student Progress – for the continued study and later practice of osteopathic medicine.
4.  Personal or medical reasons; in assessing personal growth, such factors as morals, emotional stability, integrity, general conduct, reliability, judgment, and rapport with patients is considered.

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

1.  No significant deficiency exists, and the student is promoted, with such oral or written caution to the student as may be recommended.
2. A significant deficiency exists and one or several of the following actions must be taken according to the severity of the deficiency, the student's overall achievement and circumstances surrounding the deficiency (illness, family emergency, etc.):

• Student is to take remedial examination(s) after an appropriate interval recommended by the course director(s) and approved by a majority vote of the Committee on Student Progress.
• Student is to undertake special projects or studies required to address the perceived deficiency.
• Student is placed on academic or disciplinary probation for a stated period of time.
• Student is required to repeat the course(s), preceptorship(s), or clerkship(s) in which there is a deficiency.
• Student is required to repeat the academic year.
• Student is suspended from the College.
• Student is dismissed from the College.

Withdrawal/Dismissal

A student who is required to repeat an academic year or is suspended or dismissed from the College may appeal this decision to the Dean within ten (10) working days of his/her notification of the decision to repeat, suspend or dismiss. The Dean may, at his discretion, convene a five-member Faculty Appeals Committee for a review of the decision. The charge of the Faculty Appeals Committee will not be to repeat the deliberations of the Committee on Student Progress, but rather to determine whether or not the following conditions apply to the original decision:

1.  New information is available at this time that was not available to the original recommending committee (CSP), OR
2. Evidence exists that the decision that the recommending committee reached was capricious or arbitrary, OR
3. Consequence of the deliberation (e.g.. dismissal, etc.) is unusually harsh or unfair.

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

Placement of a student on academic probation or disciplinary probation indicates the faculty's extreme dissatisfaction with the student's academic or behavioral performance. While on probation, the student will not represent the college at outside events and will be asked to curtail elected office responsibilities until their academic performance improves. In addition, a student on academic probation must pass all units of study; a student on disciplinary probation must discontinue the behavior leading to probation and maintain a record of exemplary behavior. Students who violate the conditions of probation as listed above will be reviewed again by CSP, which will make such recommendations to the Dean as it sees fit.

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

Academic Progress Policy

A. Course Failures

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

B. Course Remediation Policy

• The syllabus of the original course, which requires CEP approval, will specify the dates and duration of any allowable remedial activity.
• All courses that allow for remedial activity and reassessment prior to issuing a final course grade following unsuccessful achievement of criteria for passing must develop, describe and publish in the course syllabus a plan for re-assessment and/or remediation.
• With permission of CSP, a UNECOM student who is assigned a final grade of Failure (F) in a course that allows remediation may enroll in a formal remediation activity approved by the Committee on Educational Programs (CEP) and the course director.
• Permission to pursue remedial activity will be based upon:
•  the criteria for eligibility published in the course syllabus and
• the student’s overall performance in all other UNECOM courses (concurrent and previous).
• The remediation activity will:
•  be constructed and monitored by the original course director, OR, if it is conducted at a remote site, monitored by the original course director;
•  be listed with the Registrar as a separate course; and,
• carry a tuition charge.
• The syllabus of the original course, which requires CEP approval, will specify the dates and duration of the remedial activity.
•  Upon successful completion of the remedial activity, the student will be given a grade of Pass (P) for the remedial course.
• Failure on the assessment following the completion of a remediation activity will result in the student being considered for one of the following actions:
• repeat the course when it is next offered, OR
• repeat the academic year, OR
•  dismissal from the college.

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

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

Applicants to the University of New England's College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) are judged on their demonstration of scholastic abilities, motivation to practice osteopathic medicine in New England, and the emotional stability necessary to study and practice osteopathic medicine. Admission will be denied to applicants who fail to maintain a good scholastic record and personal conduct during the period between their acceptance and matriculation.

PREREQUISITE COURSES

**Courses in Genetics, Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, Math/Statistics, Cell/Molecular Biology, Anatomy, or Physiology are recommended

• UNECOM will accept the online science courses offered through UNE's Online Science Prerequisites, as well as many other courses, as fulfilling the prerequisites.
• All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better; “C-“grades are not acceptable.
• All pre-requisite coursework (excluding a pre-enrollment requirement of Biochemistry) must be completed by January 1 of the matriculation year.  Please include any in-progress or planned coursework in your AACOMAS application. 
• Applicants with Advanced Placement credit may use 3 credits of English toward the fulfillment of the English requirement.  No other AP credits will fulfill prerequisites.

ACADEMIC/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Applicants who meet minimum requirements for application should understand that the average GPA and test scores for students accepted into the program are well above the minimum requirements. Just meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or acceptance.

• A minimum of 90 semester hours or 75 percent credit towards a baccalaureate degree from a US regionally accredited university or international equivalent
• A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale as calculated by AACOMAS
• Satisfactory completion of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) taken within two (2) years of application.  MCAT scores must be sent directly from the testing service to AACOMAS (number 600).

Note:  Before matriculation, accepted applicants will be expected to obtain a physical examination with proof of up-to-date immunization status to meet all health immunization requirements.  Please visit Student Health Care  for details.

As required by the College and clinical training sites, students will be subject to criminal background checks and drug screens prior to matriculation, and periodically throughout the COM program.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

• UNE's College of Osteopathic Medicine participates with other osteopathic colleges in the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). All applicants must submit applications through AACOMAS.
• AACOMAS will send your completed and verified application to UNE and other schools you have selected.  UNE will notify you via email when your application is received.
• Upon receipt of the verified AACOMAS application the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions will conduct a preliminary review of your application and offer applicants meeting the minimum requirements an opportunity to submit a supplemental application. The supplemental must be returned electronically to UNE's Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions with an application fee of fifty-five dollars ($55.00)
• UNECOM Admissions Committee reviews applications as they are completed (with submission of the supplemental application).  Applicants are urged to complete their AACOMAS applications as early as possible in the admissions cycle order to ensure early consideration for an invitation to interview.
• On-campus interviews are granted to qualified applicants by invitation of the Admissions Committee, and are required for admission. Admissions offers are made on a rolling basis after interview.
• International applicants and applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited US institution. See International Admissions.
• All applicants to UNE must be able to understand and communicate in English to be admitted to the university. UNE accepts several methods of English Proficiency (see International Admissions). If applicable, the TOEFL requirement must be completed and score received by the application deadline. 

For additional information on the admissions process and requirements, please access the COM Website.

POLICY EXCEPTIONS
The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program and the COM Admissions Committee in collaboration with the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions reserve the right to make exceptions to the admissions criteria and to make changes or exceptions to policies and procedures, on a case by case basis, when it deems such a decision is necessary and appropriate.

TRANSFER CREDIT
Students in good standing at other colleges of osteopathic medicine may apply for transfer admission into the third year of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at UNECOM. Acceptance of a transfer student will be dependent upon the student's qualifications, academic compatibility, and available space. Credits may be transferred only from colleges accredited by the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOA COCA).  Transfer application requests should be sent to the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME, 04005, not to AACOMAS. The transfer candidate must provide:

• Letter of application.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, including the current college of osteopathic medicine.
• Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores.
• Official scores for the Complex I
• Letter from the Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine in which the student is enrolled, stating that the student is in satisfactory academic and social standing.
• Letters of recommendation from two faculty members at the osteopathic college where the student is enrolled.

ADVANCED STANDING
No advanced standing is available.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
No credit will be awarded to students for experiential learning.

Tuition and Fees

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

Medical Student Performance Review (MSPR)/ Dean's Letter

The college provides institutional letters of reference, the Medical Student Performance Review (MSPR), for graduating students for prospective postgraduate programs, such as internships, residencies, and fellowships. There is no cost for this service.

Special Examination Fee

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

Leave of Absence Tuition Credit

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

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

Notes

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

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office at the University of New England is committed to providing students with information about the different education financing options available. This information is available on the Financial Aid website. The website describes the aid application process, the types of financial assistance available, and other important information.