Clinical Site Placement and Transportation Policy

It is the policy of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (COM-P) that students rotate through clinical sites at placements as assigned. A student who would experience significant hardship or specific educational need with site placement must follow the defined processes below for consideration of an exception.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from, and parking fees at clinical sites. A one-time stipend, per course*, is available for rotations located more than 35 miles from the COM-P campus. This benefit is coordinated in conjunction with your financial aid award, please consult with the manager, rural health programs, and the Office of Financial Aid for further information.

This policy pertains to placement at available sites and does not include placement changes due to religious accommodations (see Religious Accommodations Policy).

For site reassignment due to a conflict of interest, see Conflict of Interest - Physician-Student Personal Relationship Policy or Conflict of Interest - Physician-Student Health Services Relationship Policy.
 

Process

MS1 and MS2 Requesting a Site Change
Community Clinical Experience and Capstone courses will include information on requesting alternate site placement in the syllabus. 

MS3 Requesting a Schedule/Site Change⁺
Students must follow the change of schedule request process reviewed during Year 3 annual scheduling. All schedule change requests will be processed through the manager, 3rd Year clinical curriculum. Requests for a change of site will be reviewed and approved by dean, student affairs and dean, clinical curriculum, or their respective designees under special circumstances.

MS4 Requesting a Schedule/Site Change⁺
A Year 4 change of schedule request can be submitted for students requesting changes in line with credentialing timelines dictated by clinical sites, provided in Student Resources. Students must request schedule changes according to site scheduling preferences and submit within the stated timeline. Students may review Student Resources, 4th Year Change of Schedule (COS) and review the Course Catalog to identify site scheduling preferences. Exceptions to this policy may be considered as defined in Student Resources. Requests for a change of site will be reviewed and approved by dean, student affairs or dean, clinical curriculum, or their respective designees under special circumstances.

⁺The dean, student affairs and dean, clinical curriculum, or their respective designees will approve schedule changes requested outside the change of schedule process, as outlined in Student Resources. Student circumstances will be considered during this approval process. 

Course* = Any component of the curriculum where a grade is earned.