Students are allotted the following breaks: Thanksgiving and a winter break (see the academic calendar for details). Thanksgiving break starts at the conclusion of clinical/academic responsibilities on Wednesday, and ends at the beginning of clinical/academic responsibilities on Monday. Third and fourth year students on scheduled clerkships and electives are NOT automatically off on official one day holidays listed on the academic calendar.
Clerkship directors, at their discretion may permit students a holiday (example: on Labor Day, outpatient clinics are closed, and a clerkship director may give the students assigned there the day off).
Religious Holidays
The COM recognizes that there are other holidays, both religious and secular, which are of importance to some individuals and groups. Students who wish to observe these holidays must inform the director before the course or clerkship begins, if applicable. The director may provide the student with an alternative arrangement to make-up the day(s) missed, on-call assignments, and examinations and other projects. The timing of make-up work is at the discretion of the course/clerkship director and may fall during vacation periods. Missed days which cannot be completed before the course end date will result in a grade of “Incomplete”. Students shall not be penalized due to absence from class or other scheduled academic activity because of religious observances.
If a faculty member is informed of, or is aware, that a significant number of students are likely to be absent from class because of a religious observance, a major examination or other academic event should not be scheduled at that time.
A student who is to be excused from class for a religious holy day is not required to provide a second party certification of the reasons for the absence. A student who believes that he or she has been unreasonably denied an education benefit due to religious beliefs or practices may seek redress through the student grievance procedure, see http://regulations.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/4012.pdf.
Unexpected Absences
Students must notify the supervising attending and clerkship coordinator (Kathy Pipkins 265-0230) of absences. If a student is unable to contact the clerkship coordinator, they should notify the staff in COMCEC and the clerkship director. If the absence is of greater duration than a single day (including missed days that are not back to back), the staff in COMCEC (352-273-8573) must be notified in addition to the clerkship director or supervising attending and clerkship coordinator. If the absence occurs while in Jacksonville on a clinical rotation, the Office of Educational Affairs (904-549-5128) in Jacksonville must be notified in addition to COMCEC and the clerkship director.
Planned Absences
In the case of planned absences to attend meetings or family events such as a wedding or funeral, the student must contact the Course/Clerkship Administrator as far in advance as possible to discuss the requests and obtain the permission of the Course/Clerkship Director to be absent from assigned responsibilities. If permission is obtained for the planned absence, the student must notify the Office of Medical Education (UFMedEd@ahc.ufl.edu) of the approved dates for the absence.
Please note that on the Internal Medicine clerkship we consider you an integral member of the team with real patient care responsibilities. Thus, when you are away someone else covers these responsibilities. Unlike an undergraduate course, you cannot “make-up” assignments. For this reason, on this clerkship planned absences are strongly discouraged.
Absences for Health Services
Students are encouraged to maintain their own personal health throughout medical school. This includes their dental, mental and/or physical health. Ideally, students will make every effort to schedule these appointments at dates/times that do not conflict with required education activities. When this is not possible, students must submit their request for an excused absence to the relevant course/clerkship director(s). Upon approval, the director will notify the student of makeup requirements and due date, if appropriate. Additionally, students will not be penalized for absence from class or other scheduled academic activities for medical reasons. This applies to absences for acute illnesses as well as to absences due to regularly scheduled ongoing treatment for dental, mental or physical health. For any questions and/or concerns regarding this policy, students are to consult the Associate Dean for Medical Education or Student Affairs.
Absences during Jacksonville Clinical Rotation
If the absence occurs while in Jacksonville on a clinical rotation, the Office of Education Affairs (904-549-5128) in Jacksonville MUST be notified in addition to the OME in Gainesville and the clerkship administrator in Jacksonville (904-244-5626).
* Repeated unexcused absences will result in a professional concern notation in the MSPE, or additional disciplinary action.
Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work within the UF COM are consistent with the university policies that can be found at https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx.
Student Emergency Preparedness
During emergency conditions student safety is a priority.
- College of Medicine educational programs follow the University of Florida policies and procedures regarding the scheduling/cancelling of classes and operations. Adjustments in curriculum delivery will be made depending on the nature and extent of the emergency.
- Students on clinical rotations will be contacted by the clerkship directors regarding clinical operations. If clinical operations are open, students are expected to contact their faculty supervisor to confirm their attendance on inpatient clinical services and outpatient clinics to support patient care.
Students should check e-mail for safety announcement updates from the College of Medicine and University of Florida.
Additional information regarding UF emergency preparedness can be found at the following links.