| 1.9 Financial Responsibilities of Students
1.9.1 Student Debts UT Southwestern is not responsible for debts contracted by individual students or student organizations and will not be involved in collection efforts or in arbitrating disputes between students and creditors. Both individual students and organizations are expected to responsibly discharge their contractual and all other financial obligations. 1.9.2 Penalties for Non-Payment of Debts to UT Southwestern Students who fail to pay debts to UT Southwestern, such as traffic tickets, library fines, and emergency loan repayments, will not be allowed to obtain transcripts or a diploma, or consent to copies of transcripts or diplomas being sent to third parties, and may be subject to other penalties, such as from suspension of specific privileges, until the debt is paid. 1.9.3 Health Care Expenses Students are responsible for their individual health care expenses. At each registration, students will be provided information about health insurance coverage, and while UT Southwestern does not require such insurance, it encourages students to seriously consider this personal need. Part of the planning for educational costs is the consideration of health insurance expenses, or unexpected medical expenses. Students are urged to make responsible decisions regarding their own health care and their finances. The Student Health Services provide selected free routine medical care, but costs of diagnostic tests, charges by specialists or sub-specialists, medications, hospitalization, and rehabilitation, etc. are the sole responsibility of the student. The Student Mental Health Service functions as part of the Student Health Services, for purposes of assisting students to the extent they can, and then referring them to specialists if needed. 1.10 Firearms, Possession Possession of firearms is not allowed anywhere on the UT Southwestern Campus, any property leased by UT Southwestern or at any function anywhere that is sponsored by UT Southwestern under any circumstances whatsoever. The recent law allowing the carrying of concealed weapons excludes public university campuses. 1.11 Fund Raising/Solicitation Solicitation is permitted only under certain circumstances and only with prior approval. Strict guidelines are enforced. Interested persons should contact the Associate Vice President for Student & Alumni Affairs. 1.12 Grades Each respective UT Southwestern school catalogue provides a detailed description of the grading system used by the school. The school catalogue also provides detailed information regarding challenges to the grades. 1.12.1 Posting Grades Posting grades using any method that will reveal the identity of the student is prohibited. 1.12.2 Distributing Grades Final grades will be distributed into student mailboxes by the registrar's office, are available on a secure campus website maintained by the Office of the Registrar, or will be mailed to the student’s local address on record. The specific academic requirements for graduation are listed in the respective UT Southwestern school catalogue, as are the requirements for each year of the curriculum. During the final year, it is the student's responsibility to insure that he/she maintains a schedule that meets or exceeds the minimum graduation. Questions regarding appropriate scheduling of requirements for graduation can be addressed to the coordinating office for the student’s program of study. 1.14 Hazing Hazing in state educational institutions is prohibited both by state law and UT Southwestern policy (see UT Southwestern Medical School catalogue for legal references). AHazing@ is broadly defined to mean an intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purposes of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include students. Hazing with or without the consent of the student is prohibited. Violations are subject to criminal prosecution and disciplinary action by the institution. 1.15 Holidays In the pre-clinical (first and second) years of medical school, students enjoy the official campus holidays as designated on their curriculum schedule. During the clinical years, patient-care responsibilities take precedence, and holidays are at the discretion of the appropriate clinical department. Winter and spring breaks are honored in all four years. 1.16 Student Absences Students who wish to be excused from classes or other required activities for any reason, including religious holy days must file a written request with the course director of all applicable courses to be excused. If the absence is excused by the course director, the student will not be penalized and will be allowed to take examinations or complete assignments from which the student is excused within a reasonable time after the absence. For information on rules and procedures, contact the Office of the Registrar. |