Advancement
The Faculty will determine the student's fitness for promotion at the end of each session (see the Faculty of Dentistry Academic Policies and Procedures Manual). No student with deficient standing will be promoted.
A student whose academic standing is unsatisfactory may be required either to withdraw from the Faculty or to repeat the entire work of the year.
If the progress of a student has been unsatisfactory in any given session, the Faculty may permit a supplemental examination in the subject(s) failed provided an average of at least 60% in the work of the year, including the failed courses, has been attained. The Module Coordinator(s)/Course Director(s) concerned may direct such work as will be necessary to prepare for the supplemental examination. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the Module Coordinator(s)/Course Director(s) concerned about such arrangements. A student who satisfies the requirements of the modules/courses concerned and passes each supplemental examination with a mark of at least 65% will be promoted. All supplemental examinations must be taken at the University.
A student in the first year who fails to be promoted will not normally be permitted to repeat the year except under special circumstances.
Although satisfactory academic performance is prerequisite to advancement, it is not the sole criterion in consideration of the suitability of a student for promotion or graduation. The Faculty reserves the right to require a student to withdraw from the Faculty if considered to be unsuited to proceed with the study, or enter the practice, of dentistry and dental hygiene.
Attendance
Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars and clinics). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability must report this to the Dean's Office through the Student Services Office and to their instructors as soon as is practicable.
Students who, because of illness, are absent from an end-of-term examination, must inform the Manager of Academic Progress and then submit a physician's certificate to the Associate Dean Academic Affairs as promptly as possible.
All unavoidable absences for reasons other than sickness must be reported and explained to the Dean's Office through the Student Services Office and to the instructor(s) concerned when the student returns to classes.
A student planning to be absent from classes for any reason must obtain prior permission from the Associate Dean Academic Affairs.
For a detailed description of the Faculty's Excused Absence Policy, see the Dentistry Academic Policies and Procedures Manual.
Examinations
Examinations in the Faculty of Dentistry may be held at various times throughout the year. These examinations are obligatory for all students.
Should students find that they will be unavoidably absent from a sessional examination, they, or someone familiar with the situation, must notify the Dean's Office through the Student Services Office of the facts in the case before the end of the period during which the examination is scheduled. Non-observance of this rule may result in a failing grade for the course.
When a sessional examination has been missed through illness or some other justifiable cause, application for deferred examination or special consideration must be made in writing to the Associate Dean Academic Affairs as soon as possible. If the absence was for reasons of health, a physician's certificate indicating the nature and duration of the illness must be submitted to the Dean's Office through the Student Services Office.
Students may be denied the privilege of writing a sessional examination in any subject because of unsatisfactory work or attendance, and in this case they will be considered to have failed in the course.
In any module/course which involves assessment of professionalism and/or clinical skills and/or knowledge, a student is required to achieve satisfactory standing in each part. If the module/course is repeated, no exemption will ordinarily be granted from the work in any part.
Term essays and examination papers may be refused a passing mark if they are illegible or noticeably deficient in English.
The passing mark in the Faculty of Dentistry is 60%. (See Grading Practices.)
All final module/course grades will be reviewed by the Dentistry Academic Progress Committee. Examination results may be posted at the discretion of the Module/Course Coordinator. Grades are not final until received by the Academic Progress Committee. Release of module/course grades will be done by the Dean's Office; final Course grades will be released by Enrolment Services. Final module/course grades will not be communicated through any other channel.
Graduation
A candidate for the Doctor of Dental Medicine or Bachelor of Dental Science (Dental Hygiene) must have fulfilled all the requirements for entrance to the Faculty of Dentistry and have attended the courses of instruction which comprise the dental curriculum. No one will be admitted to candidacy for the Doctor of Dental Medicine or Bachelor of Dental Science (Dental Hygiene) who has not been in attendance for at least two years in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of British Columbia.
Each candidate for graduation must have passed all examinations in subjects comprising the dental modules/courses or must have received satisfactory standing in modules/courses where specific marks are not assigned.
The Faculty will recommend to Senate the granting of the Doctor of Dental Medicine or Bachelor of Dental Science (Dental Hygiene) to a student who has completed satisfactorily the academic requirements and who, in addition, is recommended by the Faculty to be a suitable person to practice dentistry or dental hygiene.
Every candidate for the Doctor of Dental Medicine or Bachelor of Dental Science (Dental Hygiene) must make formal application for graduation. Candidates planning to graduate in May must apply by the February deadline and candidates planning to graduate in November must apply by the August deadline. See the Academic Year. Special forms for this purpose are provided by Enrolment Services.