FYI to those applying/interviewing this cycle from a current UNC MS1:
Look up the attendance policy.
⛳Those on the panel have been told to avoid revealing the attendance policy when interviewees ask.
⛳The attendance policy is extremely strict, and they make no exceptions for extenuating circumstances (disability, funerals, etc.)
I've attached the posted attendance policy for the new curriculum at UNC SOM. But here is an excerpt for convenience:
"Excused half days are intended to allow a student to miss scheduled class time for illness, delay of transportation (such as car breakdowns), family emergencies, urgent medical care (i.e., not 2 routine doctor’s appointments) or other similar needs. Students are not required to submit documentation, doctors’ notes, or other justification for taking an excused half day.
• Students are allotted four excused half days per semester for unplanned health/wellbeing needs or personal/family matters.
• A half day is defined as 8 AM to 1 PM or 12 PM to 5 PM.
• If a student takes time away from class that spans the morning and afternoon (e.g., 10 AM – 3 PM), the use of two excused half days is required.
• A student cannot take more than two half days during any course (including 6-week medical sciences courses, the semester-long Patient Centered Care (PCC) course, and the semester-long Social and Health Systems (SHS) course).
• A student cannot take a half day during an exam or major assignment in any course or during resource-intensive sessions such as patient encounters and labs. The only exception to this rule is for Peer Accelerated Learning (PALS) quizzes, which may be made up if they are missed during an excused half day.
• Half days do not carry over to the next semester.
• Half days cannot be taken the day before or after a university holiday."
"Students with approved religious observance accommodations will not need to deduct excused half days from their semester allotment."
"OMSE has the discretion to grant additional excused days for extenuating circumstances and/or to engage students in discussion of longer leaves as needed."
