Academic Policies and Procedures 2011-12

The Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine is the critical reference source for important information for all predoctoral students. Matters of Academic progress, ethics, attendance, evaluation, and more are delineated in this handbook. The College Code of Conduct, modeled after the American Dental Association Code, is contained here. By registering for classes, all students agree to review and abide by these policies and the Code of Conduct. Familiarity with these policies and procedures is expected of all students. The manual does not constitute an "Express or Implied Contract." The College may amend the enclosed policies and procedures at its discretion. The College may deviate from these policies and procedures at its own discretion.

Technical Standards for Admission and Receipt of Degree

This document describes essential functions and non-academic skills which students must be able to demonstrate in order to be accepted into and receive a degree from the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in the pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, and residency settings.

Admissions Policy for Diversity

The College of Dental Medicine seeks a diverse student body reflecting not only the many faces of the patients who will be treated by the graduates of the school, but also for the creation of a diverse body of thought and interest within this community of scholars. Our definition of diversity includes race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and more, but is certainly not limited to those considerations. The candidate’s background in the sciences, future career intentions, unique abilities, personality, and general accomplishments also are carefully reviewed in seeking to have a diverse student body. For instance, a student who has demonstrated unique talents and skills in research, or who has a unique life mission in public health service, brings to our student body another important measure of diversity.

The college sets no quotas nor has set asides; regardless of race or ethnicity, all applicants are considered in the same competitive pool using the same policies and procedures and Admissions Committee members. Our Admissions Committee protocols insure that all applicants receive individualized consideration using a flexible policy in which race/ethnicity is one of a number of diversity related considerations or factors taken into account.

Historically, the college has made a good faith consideration of workable race neutral alternatives to race conscious policies. Such alternatives have proven inadequate in creating the desired nature of the student body. In dentistry in particular with the very small national applicant pools for those groups who are under-represented in dentistry, race neutral alternatives are particularly limited.

In summary, it is the intent of these “narrowly tailored” policies to assure a “critical mass” of under-represented in dentistry students, as well as a student body which is diverse in many respects. Such a student body is best prepared to meet the health care needs of our local community and society at large. As part of the institutional outcomes annual review, these policies and the results of their implementation are carefully reviewed and subject to future modification.

Transfer of Credit Policies

The educational programs that lead to a DDS or DMD degree generally are 4-year residency-based, not credit point-based.
The College of Dental Medicine will, on rare occasions, accept a transfer student from another accredited dental school in the United States or Canada. Such transfer students may be accepted at the end of the first year, or in exceptional cases, at the end of the second year of their four-year study toward the dental degree.

It is the responsibility of the academic dean of the College of Dental Medicine to review the contents of the courses that have been completed by a student prior to the requested transfer. If these contents match those of the courses offered by the College, transfer credits are granted and the student is permitted to continue his/her studies at Columbia without delay. If there is a close, but not complete match, partial transfer credits may be granted and the student will be directed to make up any existing deficiencies. In some instances this may lead to a delay in the graduation date.

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine currently has no articulation agreements with any institutions of higher education.

Columbia University's College of Dental Medicine provides quality instruction leading to the DDS degree, plus postdoctoral specialty training in general dentistry and in seven of the eight recognized specialties of dentistry.

In addition, CDM offers numerous opportunities for visiting students to take courses on a non-degree basis. Qualified students may also participate in residency and fellowship programs as part of the post-doctoral curriculum.