Who to contact with questions or concerns:
UFCD Office of Academic Affairs at 352-273-5950 or dmd-support@dental.ufl.edu
Overview
Professionalism is a fundamental aspect of academic promotion at the University of Florida College of Dentistry (the “College”). Demonstrating professionalism is essential (1) to the academic instruction being pursued by each student at the College, and (2) to the student’s future licensing requirements.1 Because the College confers a professional degree, it serves a gate-keeping function to graduate only those students who will make competent, professional practitioners. The College’s curriculum includes a professionalism stream in its curriculum as a part of its academic performance requirements, in furtherance of this function.
In conferring a degree from the College, the College certifies that the student has achieved competency in knowledge and skill. Additionally, the College’s faculty and administrators agree that the graduating student possesses the personal traits and communication abilities essential to the profession. These traits include, but are not limited to, respect, honesty, empathy, humility, conscientiousness, courtesy, civility, and decency in their interactions with others. Professionalism also requires that students appropriately manage mental and physical health related issues, including any involving alcohol or drug use, and that they are fit for duty in their respective profession.
Demonstrating professionalism is therefore a fundamental and essential academic aspect of the College’s curriculum for every student. A student’s behavior, while enrolled in the College, (1) will demonstrate the student’s ability to become a competent professional, and (2) will be evaluated during all applicable settings.
The College reserves the right to dismiss a student, at any time in accordance with its prescribed due process procedures, from its program if the College determines the student lacks the professionalism required for their field of practice.
Professionalism as a Technical Standard
At the College, professionalism standards are included in the College’s technical standards that every student must meet,2 with or without reasonable accommodations,3 in order to timely progress academically and graduate. Embedded in the professionalism requirement is a student’s fitness for duty. If a student is failing to meet professionalism standards and the College reasonably suspects the failure is related to a substance abuse issue, or a mental or physical health related issue, the College may determine the student is not fit for duty and then move towards an academic dismissal. The College bears a responsibility to the public to ensure a student is fit for duty in their chosen profession and ready for professional licensure.
Fitness for Duty
The College has a reasonable suspicion that a student is not fit for duty, the student will not be permitted to attend classes in-person, or attend any labs or clinics, unless and until the College has cleared the student to return. The College may move towards an academic dismissal for the student’s failure to meet the professionalism standards. Once the College calls a student’s fitness for duty into question, the burden shifts to the student to demonstrate they are fit for duty. In an effort to assist the student in resolving the underlying issue causing them to become unfit, the College may request that the student submit to a drug or alcohol test, self-refer to the Professional Resource Network (“PRN”), accept a referral to the PRN or be evaluated by a medical provider approved by the College. All costs associated with evaluation and treatment shall be solely the student’s responsibility. If the student agrees to submit to the requested test or evaluation and comply with any recommended treatment, the College may pause the academic dismissal process to afford the student time to become fit for duty and comply with the professionalism standards.4 In certain circumstances, the student may be afforded a medical leave to receive care.
Professional Resource Network
The PRN will provide evaluations upon self-referral by the student or referral by the College and provide a treatment plan, if warranted, to address substance abuse and mental health related issues. The student is solely responsible for any cost associated with the PRN.
For a student to demonstrate they are fit for duty, that student must comply with all PRN recommendations and, upon request, must provide unabridged and unredacted documentation of compliance to the College. The PRN treatment plan recommendations may include participation in medical treatment programs, periodic drug screen testing, and/or professional counseling. Participation in PRN does not guarantee continued enrollment (or re-enrollment) and may not necessarily prevent adverse academic action, including dismissal, or disciplinary action for violations of University of Florida Regulations or Policies. Whether to allow the student to continue (or re-enroll) in their program at the College shall in all cases remain at the sole discretion of the College and be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Professionalism in the Classroom
A student’s behavior in the classroom, whether online, on campus, or off-campus, directly reflects that student’s professionalism toward their peers, faculty, staff and visitors. The College expects and requires every student to demonstrate professionalism in the classroom including preclinical laboratories which includes, but is not limited to:
- Adhering to the College’s attendance policy, dress code and any other applicable rules or policies
- Communicating in a civil, respectful and courteous manner
- Refraining from any classroom disruptions
The College always supports and encourages civil academic debate and discourse, but personal attacks have no place in the classroom.
Professionalism in Clinical Settings
A student is expected to meet the College professionalism standards and act appropriately and professionally in all clinical settings. Clinical practice is an essential part of the academic instruction that a student receives from the College. Moreover, the clinical setting demands professional behavior and directly reflects a student’s ability to become a competent professional. Therefore, the College expects and requires every student to demonstrate professionalism in all clinical settings and during all clinical activities, which includes, but is not limited to all professionalism expectations for the classroom setting as noted above, and all clinical site rules and policies.
Professionalism Outside of the Classroom and Clinical Settings
While not all aspects of a student’s life are academic in nature, professionalism extends well beyond the classroom and into other College-related activities. These include activities like participating in internships and externships, joining study groups, visiting faculty office hours, corresponding with other students and faculty, as well as participating in student organizations. The College expects and requires a student to demonstrate professionalism in these and all other College-related activities which includes, but is not limited to, the professionalism expectations for the classroom setting as noted above.
Professionalism and Social Media
The College recognizes that social media (such as Facebook, GroupMe, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), can be an important and timely means of communication and expression. However, a student who uses social media must be aware that posting certain information may be unprofessional and, in some rare instances, a violation of this Professionalism Policy or University Regulation 4.040 Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code or HIPAA. Individuals are encouraged to present themselves in a mature, responsible, and professional manner, adhering to all applicable codes, rules, policies, laws and regulations governing the academic program and the profession. Nothing contained within this Policy shall be interpreted to limit the constitutional or statutory rights of any student, including but not limited to expressive rights protected by the First Amendment.
Threat of Harm to Others
In some circumstances, a student may pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others. The University may, at its sole discretion, invoke UF Regulation 4.036 for Involuntary Medical Withdrawal. Under UF Regulation 4.036, a student who poses a significant danger of serious harm to the health or safety of others at the University will be involuntarily withdrawn from the University by the Dean of Students or designee. Such action will be taken only after appropriate consultation with the Director of the Student Health Care Center or the Director of the University Counseling Center, in accordance with said Regulation.
1Complying with applicable licensure requirements is a technical standard which every student at the College must meet.
2Having a disability does not excuse a student from meeting professionalism standards.
3A student with a disability who seeks reasonable academic accommodations must register with the University of Florida’s Disability Resource Center (“DRC”) @ https://disability.ufl.edu/. The DRC will engage in an interactive process with the student and the College when accommodations are requested by a student. The DRC makes all final decisions regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations by the College for the benefit of the student.
4A student’s participation in the requested test or evaluation and subsequent recommended treatment may not prevent an academic dismissal.