St. Matthew's University School of Medicine (SMUSOM) is an accredited medical school originally founded in Belize in 1997. The school moved its location to the Cayman Islands in 2002. Dr. Michael Harris became the president of St. Matthew's University School of Medicine in 2003, and the Medical University gained full accreditation at that time. Offices for SMUSOM in the United States are located in Orlando, Florida.
The school's location on the lovely and international Caribbean Island of Grand Cayman is an ideal setting for a rigorous medical school program that includes five semesters of Basic Science and Five Semesters of Clinical rotation.
SMUSOM has a small teacher-student ratio of 7 to 1. In 2022-2023, SMUSOM had an impressive 100% residency placement rate for their Medical School graduates. The standards for academic excellence are high at SMUSOM, and the demands on a student to perform well can be rigorous. If you find that you have experienced academic or other professional conduct issues at SMUSOM, reach out to resolve your issues with the help of legal professionals who are trained in Caribbean medical school dismissal and appeal proceedings.
Get help today with your dismissal proceeding or appeal at St. Matthew's University School of Medicine and contact the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team at 888.535.3686.
SMUSOM Student Policies and Procedures
SMUSOM does have an official Student Handbook that outlines all its official policies and procedures, including disciplinary procedures, That handbook is not available to the general public, but there is an available online Official Catalog.
St. Matthew's University has established a professional dress code that is applicable to all its Basic Science students to maintain a sense of respect and professional decorum. Students wear white shirrs with tan or khaki pants which are knee length or longer. Female students may also opt to wear tan or khaki skirts of a tasteful length. The Office of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs oversees the handling of any dress code violations.
All students at SMUSOM are expected to maintain high standards of professional, ethical, and honest conduct. Behaviors that are not consistent with such conduct or that threaten or endanger others may be subject to discipline.
Common Reasons for Dismissal at SMUSOM
All the specific policies for disciplinary procedures are contained in the Student Handbook. The standard for students at SMUSOM is complete honesty and integrity in and out of the classroom, and dishonesty in any of its forms related to academic work will be investigated for disciplinary action. Specific policies in regard to “cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collusion, and abuse of resource materials can be found in the Student Handbook.” The Official Catalog mentions that SMUSOM has a strict anti-hazing policy and confirmed evidence of hazing can result in discipline that can include dismissal. Substance abuse and abuse of alcohol may also be dealt with strictly, although the school places a high priority on counseling and rehabilitation services in these instances. All disciplinary reports are referred to, and managed by, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
Failure to progress academically at SMUSOM is another ground for probation or dismissal. A student who receives a failed grade in any course may be put on academic probation, and a student who does not pass a failed course on the second attempt may be subject to dismissal. Since classes are small at SMUSOM, there is a mandatory attendance rate of 80%. Students who are not in attendance for more than 20 % of a class are eligible for dismissal. A student must further maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0 to maintain satisfactory academic progress as outlined in the Student Consumer Information bulletin at SMUSOM,
Grievance Policies and Adjudication Procedures
The Dean of Student Affairs is the final arbiter of all grievances filed against a student. A grievance may be initiated through a Professional Behavior Documentation Form that includes the reporter's name, title, and a specific description of the negative incident, including its date and time. This report is signed and submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean, Basic Sciences or the Office of the Associate Dean, Clinical Education.
The Associate Dean of Student Affairs then manages disciplinary referrals. The dean will conduct an initial investigation into the grievance and may decide on appropriate remedies or decide to refer the matter to the Disciplinary Committee of the University. The Disciplinary Committee will then hold a more extensive investigation and a judicial hearing. If a determination is made that a disciplinary violation has occurred, then the committee may recommend sanctions that can run the gamut from verbal or written warnings to suspension or dismissal. The procedures, policies, and range of sanctions are all found in the Student Handbook.
Appeals Process
Any decisions reached by the Dean of Student Affairs are considered final decisions and appealable. In an appeal from a determination of unsatisfactory academic progress, a student can file a written appeal to the Director of the school, giving an explanation as to why academic progress was not met and any changed circumstances that will now allow the student to meet the requirements for satisfactory academic progress. Special mitigating circumstances can include injury, illness, and death in the family. If the appeal is granted, the student will be allowed to continue in school or be given a probation period to show satisfactory academic progress. The decision of the Director is considered a final decision.
The pursuit of a medical degree is a long and arduous process. If the satisfactory completion of your medical degree is endangered by a possible dismissal from St Matthew's University School of Medicine, then preserve your rights and remedies by consulting with our experienced legal professionals. Contact the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team at 888.535.3686.
