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Policies

The Office of Student Affairs continuously seeks ways to improve the lines of communication between the various College of Medicine offices/departments, including our own, and medical students. Upon acceptance to the College of Medicine each student is assigned an email account which enables the College of Medicine to send official electronic correspondence. Each student is responsible for checking and maintaining his/her email account as it is where he/she will receive official College communications.

The format of an official University email address is: NETID@uthsc.edu. Students can forward email from their official University email account to any email account he/she chooses. Please note, however, that if a student elects to forward his/her e-mail and that process fails, the student will still be responsible for reading and responding to any official information sent to their official University email account.

For more information, please point your browser to https://portal.office.com/

Reporting Procedure

Policy

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) strives to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and that strongly discourages any behavior that is incompatible with a positive and supportive learning environment. Accordingly, UTHSC has articulated the following standards of behavior relating to student interactions that are expected of all UTHSC faculty and staff and developed a process for addressing incidents of student mistreatment.

Rationale

UTHSC has a responsibility to foster in students, postgraduate trainees, faculty, preceptors and other staff the development of professional and collegial attitudes needed to provide caring and compassionate health care. To nurture these attitudes and promote an effective learning environment, an atmosphere of mutual respect and collegiality among teachers and students is essential. While such an environment is extremely important to the educational mission of UTHSC, negative interactions with students sometimes occur due to misunderstandings, lack of appreciation of, or sensitivity to, student perspectives/experience, miscommunication, and, in some instances clinical imperatives that preclude/complicate effective explanation of expectations.

These negative interactions may include: sexual harassment; discrimination based on race, gender, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation, disabilities, or age [1]; or purposeful humiliation, verbal abuse, threats, or other psychological punishment. In practice, mistreatment of students may involve incidents in which a faculty or staff member:

  1. speaks insultingly or unjustifiably harshly;
  2. belittles or humiliates;
  3. threatens physical harm;
  4. physically attacks (e.g., hits, slaps, kicks);
  5. demands personal services (e.g., shopping, baby-sitting);
  6. threatens to lower the student’s grade for reasons other than course/clinical performance.

Such actions are unprofessional, contrary to the spirit of learning, and violate the trust between teacher and learner.

Process for Addressing Incidents of Mistreatment

When interactions are such that a student feels mistreated, several options are available:

  1. If he/she feels comfortable addressing the matter directly, the student should attempt to explain his/her concerns to the offending individual.
  2. If he/she is reluctant to approach the accuser directly, the student should report his/her concerns to a faculty member or to a college official.
  3. If warranted, college officials may request further investigation by the Office of Equity and Diversity, who will interview all parties and make a recommendation to the college as to possible resolution.

Confidentiality and Protection from Retaliation

Every effort will be made to protect alleged victims of mistreatment from retaliation if they seek redress. Although it is impossible to guarantee freedom from retaliation, it is possible to take steps to try to prevent it and to set up a process for responding to it. To help prevent retaliation, those who are accused of mistreatment will be informed that retaliation is regarded as a form of mistreatment. Accusations that retaliation has occurred will be handled in the same manner as accusations concerning other forms of mistreatment.

Dental Insurance

Provider: Delta Dental
Tel: 1-800-223-3104 | URL: https://www.uthsc.edu/student-health-services/insurance.php

Delta Dental brochure | Summary of Benefits

NOTE: To enroll in dental insurance for the Spring term, please fill out the enrollment form and submit it by January 18. The effective date of the insurance will be January 1. The completed form can be brought to the One Stop Shop in the 910 Madison building or emailed to onestop@uthsc.edu using the secure email system, UTK Vault. Do not send the form through your regular email as it contains confidential information.

Disability Insurance

HSAC
Insurance and Risk Management
2477 Stickney Point Rd #207B
Sarasota, FL   34231-21927

Toll Free: 888-978-8355
Phone 941-925-2828 | Fax: 941-925-2001

Health Insurance

AGENT: Gerald Holland Insurance
Tel: 393-9474 | 1-888-393-9500

NOTE: Insurance changes may be done through banner.

Malpractice Insurance

AGENT: Ellen Murphee
State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company
Tel: 1-800-342-2239 | 1-615-377-1999 
2018-2019 Certificate of Student Malpractice Insurance

The University of Tennessee policy on travel requires all travel to be preapproved, including student travel. Supplemental funding for medical students wishing to travel abroad (for service only; not for credit) can be obtained by submitting an application to the UTHSC CIAO Program.

This type travel is not considered official UT travel; however, students traveling abroad using funds awarded by the CIAO Program must be preapproved by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs prior to departure .

All other forms of student travel (e.g., OSR meetings, AAMC student conferences, etc.) must be in accordance with official UT travel policies.

Travel Abroad

The Office of Student Affairs is now requiring that all students traveling abroad, including those using supplemental funds awarded by the CIAO Committee, must complete and return the following forms to the Office of Student Affairs, 910 Madison Avenue, at least 2 weeks prior to travel departure date. If you need assistance completing these forms please contact Debbey Hester at 901.448.5684.

FOR CIAO TRAVEL (For service only; Not for Credit) ONLY

To apply for supplemental funding for your medical service activities through CIAO, you must first complete and return a CIAO Award application. The CIAO Committee meets twice a year (early spring/late summer) to review all potential CIAO awards. After reviewing all applications, the CIAO Committee will select applications to present to the COM Medical Student Public Service Committee for final approval. Approved applications will receive an award notification letter from the Office of Student Affairs within 3-5 days following the approval of the application.

If you have been selected to receive a CIAO award, Congratulations! To receive your CIAO award, however, you must complete and return a Travel Packet and Checklist (included with the award notification letter) to Debbey Hester, 910 Plaza Room 1043, within two (2) weeks of receiving the notification letter.

NOTE: Students not completing the CIAO Travel Packet and Checklist as required will be subject to forfeiture of funds awarded through CIAO. In most cases, award checks can be picked up from the Office of Student Affairs within three (3) days prior to travel. Students will be notified by the Office of Student Affairs when the award check is available for pick-up.

Upon return from your CIAO supported adventure, students must return the following documentation to the Office of Student Affairs (910 Plaza, Suite 1043):

Airline Reservations

To ensure full reimbursement of travel, students traveling on official UT business which requires air travel, must make air travel reservations through the University's travel agency WOrld Travel Service, inc. The Office of Student Affairs will assist with the travel reservations or provide the telephone number for the student to call directly. The air travel may be charged to the student's credit card and will be reimbursed through the University following completion of travel. If the student does not wish to charge the airfare to a personal credit card, the Office of Student Affairs can provide a written request to the campus Business Office before the travel dates and the Business Office will issue a transportation request authorization number to the travel agency. The student must book airline reservations as far in advance as possible to take advantage of reduced airfares. Students must take advantage of reduced round-trip rates when available. Travel must be by the most direct route possible. Individuals traveling by an indirect route must bear any additional expenses. One receipt per student will be accepted. Receipt required for reimbursement.

Automobile Rental

Students should take advantage of taxis or hotel provided transportation whenever possible. If the student requires a rental car, prior approval must be received. A student must be 25 years of age to be eligible for a rental car. One receipt per student will be accepted. Receipt required for reimbursement.

Use of Personal Automobile

If a student uses a personal automobile for travel, a travel itinerary must be provided to include the odometer/trip meter reading. If an indirect route is used, mileage as indicated in the Rand McNally Road Atlas or a comparable mileage table will be considered official. One receipt per student will be accepted. Receipt required for reimbursement.

Taxi Fares

If an individual travels by common carrier, reasonable taxi, bus or hotel limousine charges to and from airports can be reimbursed. Reasonable taxi fares will also be allowed for travel between lodging and meeting sites. Taxi fares for personal use will not be reimbursed (entertainment purposes). One receipt per student will be accepted. Receipt required for reimbursement.

Airport Parking

When possible, students should take advantage of reduced parking rates at facilities nearby the airport. One receipt per student will be accepted. Receipt required for reimbursement.

Lodging

Lodging expenses will be reimbursed at the rate of $60.00 per night in state and $80.00 out-of-state. Students attending an official meeting will be reimbursed up to the maximum for the official convention lodging rate. The rate plus applicable taxes will be reimbursed provided the documentation confirming the rate is attached to the travel authorization request. One room per receipt per student will be accepted. Receipt required for reimbursement.

Tips

A $5.00 check-in expense may be claimed without a receipt to help defray the cost of tips.

Registration Fees

The Office of Student Affairs will prepare a request form to pay registration fees in advance.One receipt per student will be accepted. Receipt required for reimbursement.

Travel with Spouse

The University does not reimburse expenses for guest travelers.

Reimbursement of Travel

Upon return from travel, all students must provide receipts to the Office of Student Affairs in order to receive reimbursement. The Office of Student Affairs will prepare a travel reimbursement request for the student's signature. Reimbursement takes approximately 10 days.

Required Receipts

Upon return, the student must provide original itemized receipts for the following:

  • Registration Fees
  • Lodging
  • Airline Ticket
  • Rental Car
  • Ground travel expenses (e.g., gas for personal vehicles, taxi fare, bus fare, shuttle fairs, etc.)
  • Any other allowable expenses over $50, except ground transportation
  • When in doubt, request a receipt

 

Policy

It is the policy of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine (COM) to foster the development of professional behavior in students, and to have procedures in place to monitor and report progress in this regard.

Rationale and Procedure

  1. As students in a healthcare professional school, medical students have the responsibility to behave in a manner consistent with this status, and are expected to adhere to the standards of personal diligence and integrity applicable to their future profession. These are embodied in the Hippocratic Oath, the Tennessee State Medical Board standards of professionalism, the Rules of Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners (Chapter 0880-02), the Principles of Medical Ethics, the AMA professionalism standards (JAMA, AMA Journal of Ethics, AMA Professionalism in the Use of Social Media – Ethics Opinion 2.3.2, etc.), the UTHSC Catalog topic “Professionalism” and guidelines for Professional Behavior and Conduct – Additional guidelines, both general and specific, are provided in Appendix 1, as well as in the materials on professionalism presented at orientation, in class, and conveyed while on clinical training.
  2. Feedback regarding professionalism, both positive and negative, will be assessed by a Professionalism Committee (PC) consisting of a Chair and one faculty member representing each In addition, the PC will include one M3 and one M4 student selected by their peers to serve on the committee. However, if the student under investigation elects not to have student representatives present, they may request that students be excluded from the proceedings.
  3. Information concerning professionalism is collected and reported to the PC using a designated form (example shown in Appendix 2). Faculty, residents, staff and students themselves can report professionalism
    1. For professionalism issues identified during academic work, faculty and residents must identify themselves when submitting a Professionalism form. In addition, faculty and residents must document this behavior in the student’s clinical evaluation as
    2. Staff and students may either submit a form or report anonymously via Maxient, which is the system used by the UTHSC Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards to manage student behavioral
    3. Professionalism representatives from each class may also submit a
    4. Forms may be submitted directly to a PC member or Chair, or to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs who will forward them to the PC. Anonymous submission via Maxient is emailed to the Associate
    5. All reports, whether submitted by form or anonymously, will be housed in
    6. Documentation of exemplary positive behavior will be retained for evaluation by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for inclusion in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) under the Professionalism section. The submitted forms will be stored in Note that positive Professionalism forms cannot be submitted anonymously.
  1. Upon receipt of a negative professionalism form the actions of the PC will proceed as follows:
    1. The PC Chair will review the complaint, after which the Chair or a member of the PC will interview the student. If the complaint occurs during a course or in a clerkship, the chair will contact the course or clerkship director to discuss the situation.
    2. If no action is deemed necessary the form will be stored in Maxient. It will not impact the student’s MSPE unless a subsequent professionalism complaint were to be
    3. If the concern is determined to warrant action:
      1. OME will be notified any time a student is brought before the PC, then notified of the proceedings, then of the
      2. The chair will convene the PC to consider four recommendations: no action, warning, remediation, or referral to the appropriate Progress and Promotions (P&P) committee. Repeated complaints with no evidence of improvement, or even a single sufficiently serious complaint, could trigger referral to the COM P&P committee, which may result in further actions including course failure, academic warning, probation or
    4. The findings of the PC will be forwarded within 5 days of its meeting to the student and to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
    5. In case of an adverse recommendation by the PC, excluding the recommendation of referral to the P&P committee, the student has a right to appeal the decision. If the recommendation is for transfer to the P&P, no appeal of the PC recommendation is The student will have 5 business days to appeal the PC’s recommendation. Appeals should be submitted in writing (via email) to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. If the Assoc. Dean of Student Affairs concurs in the adverse recommendation, the student may appeal to the Executive Dean of the COM within 5 business days of notification from the Assoc. Dean of Student Affairs of concurrence with the PC recommendation.
    6. If an appeal is not submitted within 5 business days the Associate Dean of Student Affairs will submit the recommendation to the Executive Dean and also to the Sr. Asst. Deans of the Basic Science and/or Clinical Curriculum who will forward the information to relevant course and/or clerkship

 

 

 

Jun 22, 2022