NEOMED has made changes and improvements to better support students’ growth as future transformational health care leaders while ensuring that everyone can live, work and learn in a safe and supportive environment!
A Behavioral Concern reporting form replaces the Professionalism Concern Note. The new form better reflects the purpose of the process: to address behaviors that impact the safety of our community or that don’t align with the expectations of the profession. The goal of the Behavioral Concern form is to change behavior, not to punish or limit opportunities. Our hope in Student Conduct and the college student support teams is to work to support our students’ development as they prepare to enter their professional roles in health care.
Second, and in response to students’ feedback as part of the Exceptional Student Experience (ESE) project, individuals who submit the form are now required to provide their names so that we can seek additional information, if needed, to properly investigate the concern. Students shared with us during the ESE focus groups that, while there has always been an option to include your name, many reporters failed to do so. Students were concerned that the anonymity of the form was destructive to their sense of community and connection with their peers.
With the elimination of the option for anonymity, we encourage students who are not comfortable reporting their name to either speak with a faculty or staff member about their concern so that the faculty or staff member might advocate for and submit the form on behalf of the student. Student can also meet with a student affairs professional to discuss and facilitate the submission of the form: Sandra MacPherson, Ed.D., in the Office of Student Services (University student conduct officer, College of Graduate Studies), Jaclyn Boyle, Pharm.D. (College of Pharmacy) or Corrie Stofcho, M.D. (College of Medicine). Names of submitters will be kept confidential from the person who is the subject of the report. Only if the process requires the submitter to serve as a witness at a conduct hearing for serious allegations would the Student Conduct Officer ask for the submitter to become involved. And only then would the submitter’s name be released as part of the formal hearing board process.
Next, we have revised the new Behavioral Concern reporting form to be easier to complete and to be received immediately by the Student Conduct Officer and the appointed college representative. The new form is available on student services website and on the professionalism and conduct page.
Finally, NEOMED wants to reiterate and support the philosophy of the Behavioral Concern process by reminding students that:
- Behavioral Concerns are NOT included in the student’s academic record. Only if the matter reaches an egregious level and progresses to the Committee on Academic and Professional Progress (CAPP) (professional concerns) or leads to a dismissal (for conduct concerns) would the matter become part of an academic record.
- Submitter’s names are not included in the communications with the person who is the subject of the report. This information is kept private unless approved by the submitter to be shared if part of a formal hearing.
- There is no formula (e.g., “3 strikes and you’re out”) for behavioral concerns. The goal is always to improve ourselves and our communities and we will support students’ journeys and growth as long as we can maintain a safe educational environment.
- The goal of this process is NOT punitive. It is intended to focus on behavioral change to prepare students to serve in professions that require high levels of moral and ethical judgement, trust, confidentiality and social justice.
- You will always be given a chance to respond to any allegation. You will always be considered “not responsible” until NEOMED identifies evidence to the contrary, and even then, we will always work to provide you with opportunities to change the behavior, provide you with support and advice, and get you ready for your professional destination.
If you have questions about the new form or changes to the process, let us know. Reach out to Dr. Sandra MacPherson at semerick@neomed.edu. And thank you in advance for supporting and sustaining a safe and supportive campus environment.
Submitted by:
Sandra MacPherson, Ed.D., University Student Conduct Officer
Jackie Boyle, Pharm.D., Office of Student Success, College of Pharmacy
Corrie Stofcho, M.D., Office of Student Affairs, College of Medicine