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Master of Public Health

MPH Faculty: Academic Policies

Attendance

Below is the MPH Program’s policy on student absences; the course instructor may make adjustments to suit his/her individual course:

  • 4 credit hour courses: 1-2 absences may be permitted with prior instructor notification and approval. The course instructor may determine if additional absences will be allowed.
  • 3 credit hour courses: 1-2 absences may be permitted with prior instructor notification and approval. The course instructor may determine if additional absences will be allowed.
  • 2 credit hour courses: 1 absence may be permitted with prior instructor notification and approval. The course instructor may determine if additional absences will be allowed.
  • 1 credit hour courses: For courses that meet 4-6 times during a semester, attendance is required in every class (unless specific arrangements have been made prior to the start of the course). The course instructor may determine if additional absences will be allowed.

Students are responsible for contacting the course instructor prior to any planned absences.

FERPA

​​The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate and misleading data through informal and formal hearings.

We ask MPH course instructors to complete the 15-minute online FERPA tutorial through the Learning Exchange once per academic year.

Grading

Final course grades are typically due a week after the end of the academic term, after Rebecca has confirmed with the instructor that all course evaluations have been completed.

Click here for instructions on submitting final course grades. If you have any trouble submitting grades online, if you miss the deadline to submit grades online, or if you need to change a grade once it has been submitted, please contact Annie or Rebecca.

Grades and other sensitive information related to student educational records may be sent securely through Box for Vanderbilt or Secure File Transfer. They should not be sent by email.

Grading Scale

Course letter grades will be determined based on the following School of Medicine Grading Scale (see VUSM Course Catalog).

The minimum passing letter grade for most courses is C. Academic credit hours are not awarded for grades of C- or below (quality hours and quality points only).

The grade “I” (Incomplete) may be used at the discretion of the instructor in those cases in which the student is not able to complete the course requirements before the end of the academic term. A grade of “Incomplete” does not affect grade point average. An “Incomplete” that is not replaced by a letter grade within one year may be changed to an “F” at the discretion of the instructor. Otherwise, the “I” will remain on the transcript and the student will not receive academic credit for the course.

Honor Code

All incoming students in the Master of Public Health Program have reviewed the School of Medicine Honor Code and signed the Honor Code pledge.

The Vanderbilt University Honor Statement

Vanderbilt University students pursue all academic endeavors with integrity. They conduct themselves honorably, professionally, and respectfully in all realms of their studies in order to promote and secure an atmosphere of dignity and trust. The keystone of our honor system is self-regulation, which requires cooperation and support from each member of the University community.

The School of Medicine Honor System

The Honor System at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is conducted by students for the benefit of students, faculty, staff, and patients. The Honor System, as delineated by the Honor Code, requires students to conduct themselves with honor in all aspects of their lives as physicians-in-training. By demanding great responsibility, the Honor System fosters an environment of freedom and trust that benefits the entire Medical School. In signing this statement upon enrollment, each student agrees to participate in the Honor System and abide by its code. As representatives of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the medical professions, students pledge to conduct themselves with honor and integrity at all times. The Promotion Committees and the Honor Council serve to protect the environment of trust created by this Honor System. The Promotion Committees periodically evaluate each student’s performance with special attention to work and conduct appropriate for professional practice. The Honor Council serves to educate members of the student body about their responsibilities as outlined in the written code; to conduct investigations and hearings regarding reported violations of the code; and to decide the nature of penalties deemed appropriate for such violations. Decisions reached by the Honor Council do not preclude the discussion of reported violations by the Promotion Committee, as the Committee may examine these incidents in the larger context of a student’s general performance.

The School of Medicine Honor Code

All students pledge to conduct themselves honorably, professionally, and respectfully in all realms of the Medical Center and in all aspects of medical education and patient care. Under the Honor System, the student pledges that he or she neither gives nor receives unauthorized aid nor leaves unreported any knowledge of such aid given or received by any other student. Unauthorized aid includes the use of any examinations from previous semesters that have not been pre-approved by the course director and made readily available to all other students taking the course. This pledge applies to all coursework, examinations, presentations, or any other activities required for the awarding of any of the graduate degrees offered by the School. This pledge encompasses all clinical work involving patient care and representations of patient care information. Any student taking a course in the School of Medicine, regardless of where registered, is under the jurisdiction of the Honor Council of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) and subject to the penalties it may impose.

Inclement Weather

The MPH Program follows the School of Medicine’s procedures for inclement weather. If classes are cancelled, an announcement will be sent from the Office of Health Sciences Education or Bonnie Miller, M.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Senior Associate Dean for Health Sciences Education. The program will then forward this message to all students and faculty who might be affected.

Safety is our primary concern. Winter weather may make road conditions unsafe, even if classes are not cancelled by the School of Medicine. Faculty members may cancel class sessions if they feel that it is appropriate. The MPH Program will assistance faculty in scheduling make-up classes for all canceled class sessions.

If a student is unable to get to campus due to weather, he or she should notify the course instructor before class and make arrangements with the instructor to make up any missed work.Students taking courses in a department or program outside the School of Medicine should contact the instructor for inclement weather plans and procedures.

Personal Technology in the Classroom

Below is the MPH Program’s policy on personal technology (cell phones, tablets, laptops); the course instructor may make adjustments to suit his/her individual course:

  • It is expected that, as adult learners, MPH students will refrain from using electronic devices for non-course-related activities.
  • Laptops may be used for course purposes only such as taking notes, identifying supplemental information pertinent to a discussion, or for accessing class readings.
  • Cell phones should be turned off during the entire class session, unless the course director indicates otherwise.