Creighton University School of Medicine is one of the largest and most prestigious private medical schools in the country. Students at either the Omaha or Phoenix campuses enjoy one of the best medical educations in the US. Creighton has a solid reputation, and competition for admission is fierce. This competitive atmosphere only intensifies after admission as students compete for the highest possible class rankings. When the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) moved from a numeric score to a pass/fail, medical school grades and faculty recommendations became critical to the decision-making of most residency programs. Students at Creighton School of Medicine understand the crucial importance of grades to successful residency applications and future job opportunities.
If you have received an unfair or arbitrary grade at Creighton School of Medicine, you undoubtedly have many questions and concerns. Deciding whether to file a grade grievance or appeal and successfully navigating it is challenging, but the experienced attorneys of the LLF National Law Firm Education Law Team can help. The LLF National Law Firm Team is familiar with the grading system at Creighton School of Medicine, and we can advise on the best practices should you decide to challenge a grade. The LLF National Law Firm has a proven track record of representing medical students in grade and academic appeals, and we know how to present your case carefully and effectively. Contact us today at 888-535-3686, or fill out our online form.
Trends in Medical School Grade Appeals
If you are a medical student frustrated with the grading system at Creighton School of Medicine or elsewhere, you are certainly not alone. Medical students are increasingly challenging the sometimes arbitrary nature of medical school grades. Creighton uses a complex grading system, particularly for students in clinical years. As grading systems become more complicated, the risk of grading errors increases significantly. Further, some grading decisions seem arbitrary and guided more by personal preferences than by performance. If you have been affected by a mistake in grading or an unfair or arbitrary grade, you may need to file a grade appeal.
Grading at Creighton School of Medicine
Grading at Creighton School of Medicine in Components I and II allows for the following grades:
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Honors
This rank is given to students who perform “exceptionally well” under the criteria contained in the class syllabus.
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Satisfactory
A grade of satisfactory indicates that the student has completed all requirements for the course in a satisfactory manner. In Components I and II, this means the student scored 70 % or higher on all required assignments.
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Unsatisfactory
An unsatisfactory grade indicates the student has failed to meet the minimum standards for the course. In Components I or II, the student scored less than 65 % overall or had an overall course average of less than 70%. In a later Component, unsatisfactory can mean a failure to pass the national exam or failing a clinical component.
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Withdrawal
A student withdrawing from a course in good standing will have a grade of Withdrawal on their record and will receive no credit.
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Withdrawal While Failing
If a student withdraws from a course while not in good standing, they will receive a Withdrawal While Failing (WF) grade.
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Incomplete
A student may receive a temporary grade of Incomplete where the student is eligible to perform further work in the class. This student will thereafter receive a final grade.
Grading in Clerkships, which make up the majority of Component III and much of Component IV, is as follows:
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Clerkship grades will be done in a Clinical Achievement Bin. The majority of the Clinical Achievement score is from Student Performance Evaluations. This score is a sum of points earned in individual evaluation questions. The score indicates whether the student consistently meets or exceeds expectations. The overall score is a weighted average of student evaluation scores and other activities. Students are awarded clinical achievement points as follows:
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85-100% – 50 points.
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70-84% – 45 points.
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55-69% – 35 points.
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0-54% – 0 points.
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These Clinical Achievement scores play a vital role in residency and other career opportunities.
The Grade Appeal Process at Creighton School of Medicine
Creighton School of Medicine allows students to appeal exam scores or final grades, as follows:
1. Review of Exam Scores
For major exams, students are entitled to review the answer key and submit comments. These comments are secure and are reviewed by elected student representatives (known as Unit Chairs) to determine whether they have merit. The Curriculum Coordinators meet with Unit Chairs and Course Directors and may remove a question from an exam or accept other answers as valid. The challenge to a question must come through this process.
2. Review of Final Grades – Informal Process
A student may dispute a final grade of Unsatisfactory. The student must first attempt to resolve the grade dispute with the Course Director.
If the issue is not solved through informal discussions with the Course Director, the student must then confer with the Component Director. If the Component Director decides to alter the grade, they must consider whether the basis may affect other students’ grades.
If informal discussions with the Course or Component Directors do not solve the issue, the student may begin a formal grade grievance.
3. Formal Grade Grievance
To initiate a formal grade grievance, the student must submit an explanation of why the grade is arbitrary or capricious. This submission must be filed with the Associate Dean for Medical Education within 10 working days of the release of the final grade. (For this reason, informal discussions must be undertaken quickly by the student.) The student must submit any supporting documentation with this grievance document.
The Associate Dean for Medical Education will appoint an ad hoc committee to hear the grievance, composed of four faculty members, two students, and Associate Deans from each campus. The Associate Deans will act as chairs. No person with a conflict of interest (as defined by policy) may serve on the ad hoc committee. No faculty member who has previously taken any academic action against the student may serve on the ad hoc committee. The chair is nonvoting, except to break a tie.
The committee has the power to find the grade fair and consistent or to order the Course Director to correct or change the grade. The Associate Dean for Medical Education will inform the student of the committee’s decision.
What are Typical Grounds of Grade Grievances?
The basis of a grade grievance or appeal will vary from one student and situation to another. Before beginning a grade grievance or appeal, the student should have a clear understanding of the basis for the grievance or appeal. This basis must be articulated clearly in the written statement to the committee, and a student should follow a consistent theory. However, the discovery of new evidence may lead the student to change or expand the basis of the appeal or grievance. The following are some common reasons that a grade might not accurately reflect student performance:
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Errors in Calculating Grades
As difficult as it is to believe, many questionable grades arise from simple math errors on exams or course records.
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Record Keeping Errors
Some errors result from instructors’ record-keeping errors. Some instructors fail to promptly record and grade materials, leading to costly errors for students.
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Discrimination or Personal Animus
Some grading errors result from prejudice in grading decisions, based on discrimination. Other errors may result from personal dislike.
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False and Belated Cheating Allegations
Sometimes an instructor may reveal suspicions of cheating or plagiarism during a grade grievance or appeal. While these allegations are frustrating for the student, the attorneys at the LLF National Law Firm can effectively defend against accusations of academic dishonesty.
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Failure to Follow Syllabus or Grading Rubric
If an instructor fails to follow a course syllabus or grading rubric, it can serve as the basis for a grade appeal.
Whatever the reason for the grade appeal, a savvy medical student will approach it with caution and great care.
The Risks of a Grade Appeal
At Creighton School of Medicine, all medical students rely on faculty recommendations for residency applications and other opportunities. An instructor may respond to challenges to their grading in a defensive manner and retaliate against the student. For this reason, all grade grievances and appeals should be undertaken carefully and thoughtfully by experienced counsel. In many instances, a student may have no choice but to appeal, but they should do so carefully and in a way that produces the least amount of bad feelings or backlash.
Protecting Your Rights
If you are facing a medical student appeal, it is essential to have an experienced attorney from the LLF National Law Firm on your side. The attorneys on our team can help you with the following activities:
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Investigating and gathering evidence.
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Presenting evidence.
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Deciding on a theory or basis of your grievance or appeal.
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Writing an effective grievance statement.
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Preparing you to testify or give evidence to the committee.
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Assisting in informal negotiations.
The LLF National Law Firm Education Law Team has established relationships with numerous medical schools across the US and can work to achieve an early resolution of your appeal. We have a record of success defending medical students in grade and academic appeals nationwide. Call the LLF National Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form, and we will contact you.