Pre-Matriculation Policies

The Pre-Matriculation Policies are guidelines to help navigate pre-matriculation.

Student Background Check Policy 

Scope

Medical students are entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of patients, have access to controlled substances and confidential information, and operate in settings that require the exercise of sound, professional judgment and ethical behavior. Thus, an assessment of a medical student’s suitability to function in such a setting is imperative to promote the highest level of integrity in health care services, the safety interests of patients, to maintain a professional workplace, and the medical student’s ability to obtain licensure.

Additionally, clinical healthcare facilities are required by accreditation agencies to conduct background checks for security purposes on individuals who provide services within the facility and especially those individuals who supervise care and render treatment. The University of Texas at Austin is obligated to meet the contractual requirements contained in affiliation agreements between the university and its clinical healthcare partners. Thus, the Dell Medical School requires background checks for all accepted applicants and medical students, as described below.

Applicants for admission who would not be able to participate in clinical rotations due to a criminal record or other activities revealed in a background check are unable to fulfill the requirements of the program and will not be admitted to the Dell Medical School. Enrolled students who cannot participate in clinical rotations due to a criminal record or other activities that are revealed in a background check are unable to fulfill the requirements of the program and may not be guaranteed continued enrollment in the educational program or be eligible for graduation with the MD degree.

Policy

All persons accepted for admission to the Dell Medical School must complete a background check with a result deemed favorable prior to matriculation. A background check will be honored for the duration of enrollment if the student is continuously enrolled and there is no change in the favorable results of the student’s background check. Any student who temporarily leaves the academic process for greater than 6 months will be required to attest that there has been no change in his or her criminal background check prior to re-entry into the program and may be required to complete a new background check at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Any student who temporarily leaves the academic process for greater than 1 year will be required to complete a new background check, prior to re-entry. Any visiting student applying to complete an elective at the Dell Medical School shall supply evidence from his or her home institution of the visiting student’s successful and current completion of a background check of a comparable nature.

An offer of admission will not be final until the completion of the applicant’s background check with a result deemed favorable. Admission may be denied or rescinded based on a review of the background check. Any activity identified on the background check that was not reported on the TMDSAS application will be viewed as potential misconduct and grounds for rescinding an offer of admission. All students are required to immediately notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs of being charged with any criminal act. Failure to do so will be viewed as an act of misconduct. Any falsification or omission of pertinent information may result in the denial of admission or dismissal from the Dell Medical School.

The expenses related to background checks are borne by the applicant or student. Background check results will remain separate from the academic record.

Drug Screen Policy 

Scope

Medical students are entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of patients, have access to controlled substances and confidential information, and operate in settings that require the exercise of sound, professional judgment and ethical behavior. The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School has a responsibility to assure that patients are not under the care of impaired persons. Thus, an assessment of a medical student’s suitability to function in such a setting is imperative to promote the highest level of integrity in health care services, the safety interests of patients, a professional workplace, and the medical student’s ability to obtain licensure.

Additionally, The University of Texas at Austin is obligated to meet the contractual requirements contained in affiliation agreements between the university and its clinical healthcare partners. To facilitate these requirements, the Dell Medical School will require urine drug screens for all accepted applicants and enrolled students.

Applicants and enrolled students must maintain a negative urine drug screen to fulfill the requirements of the program. Applicants or students with a positive test may not be guaranteed admission, continued enrollment in the educational program, allowed on clinical rotations or remain eligible for graduation with the MD degree.

Policy

All accepted applicants and persons accepted for admission to the Dell Medical School must complete a urine drug screen testing. All persons accepted for admission to the Dell Medical School must have a negative result prior to matriculation. Students may be required to complete additional re-screening at any point, if there is reason to believe a student may be using or misusing drugs or other substances or if there is an extended absence from the education program.

All test results are reviewed by a Medical Review Officer to confirm a negative result or determine whether a positive result is due to a legally prescribed medication. A positive test will result in a report to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for intervention and/or possible disciplinary action as authorized by policies, rules and regulations imposed by the university or The University of Texas System. A positive test may result in the withdrawal of an offer of acceptance, or, if after matriculation, dismissal from the program.

The expenses related to drug testing are borne by the accepted applicant or enrolled student. Drug test results will remain separate from the academic record.

Health Insurance Policy

Scope

All students enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School are required to obtain and maintain health insurance coverage for the duration of his or her enrollment.

Policy

The State of Texas has contracted with Academic Health Plans to provide an affordable insurance option for Texas students. However, students may choose any private insurance company to meet the above health insurance requirements. Students should be knowledgeable of the terms and conditions of their individual health insurance plans.

Confirmation of active, current health insurance coverage is required at the time of registration each term.

Immunization Policy

Scope

Medical students are entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of patients and operate in settings that require the exercise of sound, professional judgment and ethical behavior. A student’s suitability to function in such a setting is imperative to promote the highest level of integrity in health care services and to protect the safety interests of the patients and the workplace. The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School has a responsibility for the health and safety of its students and the community to prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Additionally, The University of Texas at Austin is obligated to meet the contractual requirements contained in affiliation agreements between the university and its clinical healthcare partners. To facilitate these requirements, the Dell Medical School requires certain immunizations for its students.

Applicants and enrolled students must receive certain immunizations and maintain up-to-date documentation of such immunizations for the duration of the program and in order to be in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and Texas State law.

Applicants or students who are not current on their immunizations or who do not maintain current documentation regarding the same may not be guaranteed admission, continued enrollment in the educational program or eligibility for graduation with the MD degree.

Policy

All persons accepted for admission to the Dell Medical School must provide documentation of current immunization and screening. Unless otherwise specified below, the following vaccinations and screening must be documented at the time of matriculation and maintained in current status while enrolled:

TETANUS/DIPHTHERIA/ACELLULAR PERTUSSIS: Documentation of one dose of Tdap vaccine. Td vaccine every 10 years thereafter;

MEASLES (RUBEOLA): Documentation of two doses of measles or MMR vaccine, or a positive titer confirming immunity (must include a copy of the laboratory report); first dose must be on or after the first birthday and doses must be at least 28 days apart;

MUMPS: Documentation of two doses of mumps or MMR vaccine, or a positive titer confirming immunity (must include a copy of the laboratory report); first dose must be on or after the first birthday and doses must be at least 28 day sapart;

RUBELLA: Documentation of one dose of rubella or MMR vaccine administered on or after the first birthday, or a positive titer confirming immunity (must include a copy of the laboratory report);

VARICELLA: Documentation of 2 doses of varicella vaccine given at least 28 days apart, laboratory evidence of immunity, laboratory confirmation of disease (must include a copy of the laboratory report), or diagnosis or verification of a history of varicella or herpes zoster (shingles) by a healthcare provider;

HEPATITIS B: A complete hepatitis B vaccine series (3 doses of Engerix-B or Recombivax HB, or 2 doses of     Heplisav-B) AND a positive antibody titer (quantitative hepatitis B surface antibody–lab report required) If  the titer is negative or equivocal, receive one dose of the vaccine (as a booster) and repeat the titer 1 to 2 months later.  If the second titer is negative or equivocal, finish the series and repeat the titer 1 to 2 months after the final dose.   If the titer is still negative after a second vaccine series, test for HBsAg and total anti-HBc to determine HBV infection status.

MENINGOCOCCAL: All students under the age of 22 who are entering a public, private, or independent institution of higher education in Texas must provide documentation that they have had a meningococcal (bacterial meningitis) vaccine or “booster” dose during the five year period prior to but no later than ten days before the first day of the first semester they will enter that institution;

INFLUENZA: An influenza vaccine is required annually (Compliance is not required at point of matriculation, but is required annually thereafter); and

TUBERCULOSIS: Documentation of 2 negative TB skin tests (PPD) within two months of matriculation or, negative IGRA blood test (must include laboratory report), or if history of a positive TB test (IGRA or PPD), documentation of a negative chest X-ray within two months of enrollment (must send radiology report of chest X-ray).

Students may be exempted by means permitted within Texas and Federal Law. However, even if exempted, a student may be denied the opportunity to participate in training or patient care in certain health care facilities in accordance with the policies of those facilities.

All immunization records are reviewed by a Medical Review Officer within UT Austin’s University Health Services to determine compliance. The UHS office will notify the student when not in compliance, and block registration from the next semester until the student is compliant. The Student Affairs office will be not be informed of immunization or any other health information, but will be notified that an applicant or student is compliant or non-compliant. Applicants or students who fail to comply with this policy may be subject to withdrawal of an offer of acceptance or disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

The expenses related to immunizations are borne by the student. Immunization records will remain separate from the academic record.

Transcript Policy

Scope 

Students accepted into The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School must submit official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended in accordance with accreditation standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and as described below.

Policy

The Dell Medical School requires all accepted students to submit official transcripts from every regionally accredited college or university attended by the student. This includes:

• All colleges/universities at which students took a course, even if transfer credit was later accepted by another school.
• College-level courses taken while in high school, even if such courses did not count toward a degree at any college or university.
• Final transcripts that denote any certificate or degree earned from that institution along with the date during which this credential was earned.

The Dell Medical School will only accept official transcripts that are printed on the institution’s transcript security paper and transmitted to the Dell Medical School in an official, sealed envelope from the institution’s Office of the Registrar (or similar, official department of the institution), or through a secure electronic transmission.

Failure of an accepted student to submit all official transcripts to the Dell Medical School, or submission of transcripts that are materially different than what the student self-reported on his or her application relevant to academic performance and/or courses completed or expected to complete prior to matriculation, can result in the offer of admission being rescinded, or the student’s being prevented from registering for future classes.