Professionalism Assessment Policy

1. Purpose 

It is the policy of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix that assessment of students in behaviors associated with professionalism be provided to assist in guidance and coaching contributing to students’ professional identity formation.  This policy outlines the process for documenting, reviewing, remediating, and responding to student behaviors which do not meet the professional expectations, which are further described in the College of Medicine-Phoenix's Educational Program Objectives (EPOs) and the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) Code of Conduct. 

2. Definitions  

• Formative Assessment: Measures developmental learning and occurs at multiple instances within a given period of time.
• On-the-Fly Assessment: A formative assessment report submitted by any faculty member to document observed professionalism concerns in real-time; this can also be submitted as part of a student’s mid-term assessment. 
• Summative Assessment: Measures if a student is demonstrating the expected behaviors at the end of a given period of time. This constitutes a final report of student performance, which may include professionalism concerns.   
• Professionalism Council: A multidisciplinary body responsible for reviewing professionalism assessment concerns and determining appropriate action.  

3. Reporting Process

3.1 On-the-Fly Assessment

• Any faculty member may submit an on-the-fly professionalism assessment report by completing the relevant form in a timely fashion.  
• Although an on-the-fly professionalism assessment is typically formative, egregious or repeated behaviors documented by the on-the-fly assessment may be reflected in the final summative assessment at the discretion of the course* director. 
• On-the-Fly assessments are reviewed periodically by the Professionalism Council and when elevated by faculty.

3.2 Summative Assessment

• All summative assessment reports indicating unmet professionalism expectations, as described in the EPOs policy, are automatically elevated to the Professionalism Council.. 
• A summative assessment is included as part of each course, and may affect a student’s final grade for the course*, as described in the course* syllabus. 

3.3 Report Submission

• To submit a professionalism report, faculty are instructed to provide objective and specific information regarding the behavior which was observed by providing feedback directly to the student and completing the relevant form. 
• Reporting faculty may choose to elevate the concern to the Professionalism Council immediately when appropriate. 
• Professionalism reports will be monitored by the Office of Assessment and Evaluation and shared with the chair of the Professionalism Council. 

4. Council review and outcomes

The Professionalism Council reviews all reports quarterly and as needed for elevated reports.  The Council will discuss and decide upon further action for all elevated reports as well as any students for whom multiple reports indicate a concerning pattern that should be addressed.  The Council may recommend any of the following actions based upon the details of the report and any patterns identified in prior reports for the same student:  

• No further action (tracked) 
• Referral to house advisor or curricular dean for coaching or education 
• Council meeting with student, followed by: 
  • No further action (tracked) 
  • Referral to Student Progress Committee (may result in disciplinary action) 
  • Referral to Honor Code Committee (may result in disciplinary action)
  • Report added to student’s academic history/MSPE 

Outcomes are documented and communicated back to the reporting faculty in a FERPA-compliant manner. Associate deans receive quarterly summaries.
 

5. Appeal Process 

• Students have the ability to appeal summative level 1s through the relevant appeals process (see the Level 1 Competency Appeal Policy). 
• Students have the ability to appeal disciplinary actions which result in dismissal through the student appeals committee (see the Student Appeals Committee Procedures and Policy). 
• Students may not appeal outcomes that are formative in nature. 

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