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Professionalism Policy

I.  Background & Rationale: 

Medical doctors are held to the highest standards of professionalism due to the significant impact their actions have on the health and well-being of patients, families, and communities who put their faith in their physician’s care. Because SJV PRIME+ students are entering a patient-facing field, they are expected to develop, practice, and uphold high standards of professionalism from the earliest stages of their education. This foundation will enable students to maintain and practice these standards throughout their training and career. 

The importance of professionalism is framed by the values of educational and professional communities, including the following: 

Cultivating professional behaviors prepares students for the practices they need in medical school and beyond. 

II. Overview of Expectations 

All SJV PRIME+ students are expected to demonstrate high standards of professionalism in all settings1 when representing SJV PRIME+ or the UC Merced campus. The co-creation of an optimal learning climate in SJV PRIME+ depends upon all members of the SJV PRIME+ community upholding the following professional expectations: 

  1. Timely completion of pathway requirements and procedural expectations

  2. Professional behavior in all settings 
  3. Full participation in all pathway activities 
  4. Timely and appropriate communications 
  5. Punctuality & Preparedness 
  6. Honoring commitments 
  7. Appropriate use of digital platforms 
  8. Maintaining confidentiality 

These expectations are in addition to the UCM Student Code of Conduct. Upholding these standards demonstrates respect for the pathway, faculty, mentors, peers, invited guests, and partnering  organizations. Students with any questions or uncertainty about how to proceed in relation to any of these expectations are strongly encouraged to contact the SJV PRIME+ Student Affairs Manager. A comprehensive list of student expectations follows in Section III. 

III. Student Professionalism Expectations 

Requirement 1 – Timely completion of pathway requirements and procedural expectations 

  • Expectation – Fulfill SJV PRIME+ pathway and UC Merced academic expectations by completing requirements and meeting deadlines. 
  • Rationale – Meeting requirements in a timely manner helps ensure the necessary knowledge and skills are acquired to promote success in medical school, develop strong habits around punctuality and accountability, and highlight a commitment to medicine. 

Requirement 2 – Professional behavior in all settings 

  • Expectation – Support peers, patients, faculty, staff, and community partners by adhering to professional behavior codes expected by community partners and health sites (professional language, respectful conduct, etc.). 
  • Rationale – Respectful behavior is essential for building trusting relationships with peers, faculty, future patients, and team members. 

Requirement 3 – Full participation in all program pathway activities 

  • Expectation – Provide advanced notice of anticipated absences to course instructors, pathway staff, or community organizations whenever possible. 
  • Rationale – Due to the small cohort size, all pathway classes (e.g., Intro to Medical Learning) and activities (e.g., Community Engagement) are designed for a high level of student participation. Thus, attendance is required at all pathway sessions and events. See the Tardiness and Absence Policy. 

Requirement 4 – Timely and appropriate communications (oral and written) 

  • Expectation – Respond to and act upon emails and communications2 related to the SJV PRIME+ Pathway within two (2) business days. All emails and communications related to the SJV PRIME+ Pathway must be professional and personally written by the student, not AI generated tools. 
  • Rationale – Timely responses to emails, messages, and other communications demonstrate reliability, maturity, and respect for others time. Taking the time to write your own responses develops your communication and critical thinking skills. All of which are essential skills for health professionals. 

Requirement 5 – Punctuality & Preparedness 

  • Expectation – Be prepared and on time for all SJV PRIME+ related activities to demonstrate respect for one another, our invited guests, and community hosts. A pattern of late arrival will result in referral to the SJV PRIME+ Student Affairs Manager (see Professionalism Lapses and Violations Policy). To prevent disruption, students may not leave class early without the advanced permission of the instructor. 
  • Rationale – Every member of the learning community impacts the learning climate for all. Active and timely participation supports learning and demonstrates responsibility, professionalism, and the ability to manage time effectively – all essential skills for the demanding academic and professional life ahead. Being prepared and on time conveys respect for instructors and classmates. Late arrival and/or early departure disrupts everyone’s engagement and learning. 

Requirement 6 – Honoring commitments 

  • Expectation – Follow the community agreements agreed upon by your class and the SJV PRIME+ team. 
  • Rationale – Medicine is a profession that requires a high degree of trust, accountability, and follow-through. Honoring commitments builds the foundation for the integrity expected of physicians. 

Requirement 7 – Appropriate use of digital platforms 

  • Expectation – Appropriate use of digital devices and platforms that are in line with educational and professional expectations. This includes limiting the use of digital devices during SJV PRIME+ activities to notetaking only, as well as responsible use of social media and artificial intelligence (AI). 
  • Rationale – Learning without digital distractions supports active engagement which is important due to the depth and complexity of the material. Avoiding digital distractions forms habits and critical thinking skills foundational to succeeding in medicine, both academically and professionally. Additionally, using social media and AI responsibly reflects ethical behavior, protects confidentiality, and prepares students for the standards expected in academic and healthcare settings. 

Requirement 8 – Maintaining confidentiality 

  • Expectation – Respect patient and classmate confidentiality and privacy in all settings, including classrooms and clinical sites (abide by HIPAA rules and regulations). 
  • Rationale – Respecting confidentiality demonstrates maturity, ethical awareness, and an understanding of the importance of upholding these standards of professionalism expected in medicine. Violating confidentiality, even accidentally, can harm patients and erode trust. 

 

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1This includes classrooms, laboratories, community engagement events, experiential learning environments, extracurricular settings, clinical sites, professional organizations, etc.

2This includes responding to program pathway emails, completing the program pathway and procedural requirements by the stated deadline, scheduling required appointments with advisors and faculty, signing up for required program pathway activities, and completing required paperwork (e.g., for community engagement or experiential learning). 

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