In graduate school, grades and assessments serve as vital diagnostic tools rather than mere metrics of achievement. They are designed to ensure rigorous academic standards and foster continuous professional development while evaluating mastery in the field, ultimately preparing students for excellence in innovation and discovery.
The UF COM BMS PhD Program has five types of assessment which serve to independently and cooperatively assess whether satisfactory progress towards the degree is being achieved. Failure to meet the standards outlined below are considered a lack of progress towards the degree and thus grounds for dismissal from the program and termination of graduate assistantship (GA) appointment.
Grade Point Average
A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by multiplying each course’s credit value by the numerical equivalent of its letter grade (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) to find the total grade points, and then dividing that sum by the total number of attempted credits. All core courses, advanced courses and elective courses within the program are assessed with letter grades. Research credits and some courses are assessed with a satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U) designation and do not contribute to a GPA calculation. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout their graduate career. In addition, students must obtain a GPA of 3.0 or better in each semester of their first year, regardless of overall GPA. Failure to meet this standard is considered a lack of progress towards the degree and is subject to review by the GSC and dismissal from the program.
Students who fall below a GPA of 3.0 may request that the Assistant Dean of Biomedical Sciences petition the Graduate School for exemption from this policy only once during their tenure in the BMS. If the petition is approved but the student fails to improve their cumulative GPA to 3.0 during that semester, or if they fall below 3.0 in any subsequent semester, they will be subject to is subject to review by the GSC and dismissal from the program.
GMS6090 Laboratory Rotations
All research activities are assessed with a satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U). For each rotation, the PI of the laboratory in which the rotation was performed provides an assessment and completes a standardized rotation evaluation. If a U in any research rotation is received, students will receive a counseling meeting which includes the Concentration Directors, Assistant Dean for Biomedical Sciences, and a representative of the UF COM Office of Graduate Student Affairs. Receiving a U in a rotation will result in a U for the GMS6090 section grade corresponding with that rotation. A section grade of U in GMS6090 will be referred to the Graduate Studies committee for review and is considered a lack of progress towards the degree and is subject to review by the GSC and dismissal from the program. .
Students are expected to have a successful mentor-mentee match by the end of the third research rotation. If there is a failure to identify a mentor that is not due to unsatisfactory academic progress, a student may request to participate in a fourth rotation which would occur at the end of the Spring semester. Although rare, a student may request to do an additional fifth which would occur during the summer term. If a mentor-mentee match is not accomplished by the end of a fifth semester, this will be considered a lack of progress towards degree and is grounds for dismissal from the program.
Students and mentors can review the standardized Rotation Evaluation form here.
GMS7979/GMS7980 Research Semester Grades
All research activities in GMS7979 and GMS7980 are assessed with a satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U). If a U in any semester of GMS7979 or GMS7980, students will receive a counseling meeting which includes the student, mentor, Concentration Directors, Assistant Dean for Biomedical Sciences, and a representative of the UF COM Office of Graduate Student Affairs. Receiving a U in a research course in >2 semesters will be referred to the Graduate Studies committee for review and is considered a lack of progress towards to the degree and thus is subject to review by the GSC and dismissal from the program.
Supervisory Committee Meeting Evaluations
Beginning in the Fall of the second year, students will be required to have a supervisory committee meeting twice a year (usually in the Fall and Spring) where whether the student is making acceptable progress towards the degree is determined. Although up to the discretion of the research mentor, it would be anticipated that if the committee indicates that the progress towards degree is unacceptable the semester grade for GMS7979 or GMS7980 would be a U. Regardless, if a unacceptable progress is indicated on a committee meeting evaluation, the student will receive a counseling meeting which includes the student, mentor, Concentration Directors, Assistant Dean for Biomedical Sciences, and a representative of the UF COM Office of Graduate Student Affairs. Receiving unacceptable progress towards degree in >2 committee meeting evaluations will be referred to the Graduate Studies committee for review and is considered a lack of progress towards the degree and thus grounds for dismissal from the program.
Students and mentors can review the Supervisory Committee Meeting Evaluation here and the Supervisory Committee Meeting Best Practices here.
Qualifying Exam
Students should have a Qualifying Exam (QE) no later than the end of the Fall semester of the third year. Exceptions to this deadline will need to be approved by the Concentration Directors and Assistant Dean for Biomedical Sciences. There are four potential outcomes of a QE: Pass, Conditional Pass, Fail with the option for retake, or Fail with no option for a retake which are outlined in the handbook. In the unusual case that a student fails the QE without an option for a retake or does not successfully remediate a Conditional Pass or retake, the student will be provided the opportunity to withdraw from the program at the end of the semester in which the QE was held. If the student does not withdraw, they will be dismissed from the program. Students have the option to appeal any of the outcomes of the QE through the Graduate Studies Committee.
Students and mentors can review the Qualifying Exam Evaluation form here and the Qualifying Exam Best Practices here.