Skip to main content Skip to main menu
UF Health University of Florida
College of Dentistry UNIVERSITY of FLORIDA
hire a gator dentist
Education Overview

Course Policies

COVID-19 Update

Face-to-face Instructional Guidelines

We will have face-to-face instructional sessions to accomplish the student learning objectives in SimLab, Labs, Clinic, and some small group learning seminars. In response to COVID-19, the following policies and requirements are in place to maintain your learning environment and to enhance the safety of our in-classroom interactions.

  • You are required to wear approved face coverings at all times during class and within buildings. Following and enforcing these policies and requirements are all of our responsibility. Failure to do so will lead to a report to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution.
  • This course has been assigned a physical classroom with enough capacity to maintain physical distancing (6 feet between individuals) requirements. Please utilize designated seats and maintain appropriate spacing between students. Please do not move desks or stations.
  • Sanitizing supplies are available in the classroom if you wish to wipe down your desks prior to sitting down and at the end of the class.
  • Follow your instructor’s guidance on how to enter and exit the classroom.  Practice physical distancing to the extent possible when entering and exiting the classroom.
  • If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html), please use the UF Health screening system (https://coronavirus.ufhealth.org/screen-test-protect/covid-19-exposure-and-symptoms-who-do-i-call-if/) and follow the instructions on whether you are able to attend class.

Students are allowed to record video or audio of class lectures. However, the purposes for which these recordings may be used are strictly controlled. The only allowable purposes are (1) for personal educational use, (2) in connection with a complaint to the university, or (3) as evidence in, or in preparation for, a criminal or civil proceeding. All other purposes are prohibited. Specifically, students may not publish recorded lectures without the written consent of the instructor.
A “class lecture” is an educational presentation intended to inform or teach enrolled students about a particular subject, including any instructor-led discussions that form part of the presentation, and delivered by any instructor hired or appointed by the University, or by a guest instructor, as part of a University of Florida course. A class lecture does not include lab sessions, student presentations, clinical presentations such as patient history, academic exercises involving solely student participation, assessments (quizzes, tests, exams), field trips, private conversations between students in the class or between a student and the faculty or lecturer during a class session.

Publication without permission of the instructor is prohibited. To “publish” means to share, transmit, circulate, distribute, or provide access to a recording, regardless of format or medium, to another person (or persons), including but not limited to another student within the same class section. Additionally, a recording, or transcript of a recording, is considered published if it is posted on or uploaded to, in whole or in part, any media platform, including but not limited to social media, book, magazine, newspaper, leaflet, or third party note/tutoring services. A student who publishes a recording without written consent may be subject to a civil cause of action instituted by a person injured by the publication and/or discipline under UF Regulation 4.040 Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code.

Online Instructional Guidelines:

Our class sessions may be audio visually recorded for students in the class to refer back and for enrolled students who are unable to attend live. Students who participate with their camera engaged or utilize a profile image are agreeing to have their video or image recorded.  If you are unwilling to consent to have your profile or video image recorded, be sure to keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Likewise, students who un-mute during class and participate orally are agreeing to have their voices recorded.  If you are not willing to consent to have your voice recorded during class, you will need to keep your mute button activated and communicate exclusively using the “chat” feature, which allows students to type questions and comments live. As in all courses, unauthorized recording and unauthorized sharing of recorded materials is prohibited.
College of Dentistry Anti-discrimination Statement
The University of Florida and the University of Florida College of Dentistry are firmly committed to fostering an environment free from discrimination. The college values human dignity, racial, ethnic and cultural diversity, and equality of opportunity. The University is committed to nondiscrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
For further information, visit:
UF’s Proposed RegulationsUF Human Resources Options for Reporting ConcernsUFCD Code of Conduct

UFCD Internal process:

If you feel you are a target of discrimination or harassment:

  • Document the occurrence- include details (dates, times, and statements or acts).
  • Consult one of the resources listed below:
    • Notify your supervisor of your concern. They can provide information on the appropriate actions to resolve the situation.
    • In addition, the resources below can recommend formal or informal ways to address concerns and can help you discuss your situation in a confidential setting.

If you are a supervisor:

  • If someone reports a concern to you, you must speak with the person who reported the complaint and seek assistance immediately. You must consult one of the resources below immediately.
  • If you see or suspect discrimination, take the initiative and consult first. If you see something, say something.
  • Remember: You are a role model for everyone around you. Treat everyone with respect and dignity.

If you are a peer or colleague who sees offensive behavior:

  • Document the occurrence- include details (dates, times, and statements or acts).
  • Share with your peer or colleague the resources on the list below, which provide both formal and informal ways to discuss concerns.
  • People who are discriminated against but do not speak up, for whatever reason, often report feeling upset with themselves as well as the situation. You can help by supporting others.

UF Complaint process:

Complaints and Appeal Procedures. Any employee or student who believes that he or she is the target of discrimination or harassment, including without limitation sexual harassment as defined by UF regulations or retaliation for filing a claim of discrimination, may pursue informal resolution of the complaint or may file a formal written complaint in accordance with University of Florida Regulations 1.0063 and 4.012. Employees and students may contact the Office of Title IX Compliance to report sexual harassment; supervisors are required to report any allegations or concerns to the Office of Title IX Compliance. Other complaints of harassment or discrimination may be reported to UF Human Resources-Employee Relations. For further information, visit: https://regulations.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/1006.pdf

Student attendance during school hours (7:25 am – 4:55 pm) is required on all days officially scheduled on the annual school calendar.

In general, acceptable reasons for absence from or failure to participate in class include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements (e.g., professional conferences), military obligation, severe weather conditions and religious holidays. Absences from class for court-imposed legal obligations (e.g., jury duty or subpoena) must be excused. Other reasons may also be approved with advance notice. For any deviation from this policy, the procedures described in the UFCD Student Handbook must be followed. Leaves of absence will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Students must obtain signed approval from each course director for any non-emergency absence. Students with an absence must report to the course director within 48 hours of their return to arrange for any necessary make-up. While some course directors will not mandate attendance for lectures, attendance is mandatory for all preclinical (lecture & laboratory) sessions, clinical sessions, all intramural and extramural rotations, special education events, testing sessions, and lectures/seminars mandated by the course director. Student reporting an absence to an extramural clinic rotation must contact the Office of Academic Affairs and the designated clinic through the contact number in the syllabus. Third and fourth year students must use personal days for all other absences. UF Attendance Policies Information, https://catalog.ufl.edu/UGRD/academic-regulations/attendance-policies/

The dress code shall apply to all students while in the Health Science Center during usual business hours, from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The dress code will apply to all usual academic activities, including didactic lectures and exams, preclinical simulation classes, and clinical patient care activities during the four-year curriculum, and includes wearing their UFID badge. For special events and invited presentations by nationally recognized experts, the event organizer may require that students wear business attire

Within the College of Dentistry, email is the primary mode of communication between faculty, administration, staff, and students. Students are required to check their email daily, on all scheduled school days. A Gatorlink account is required as each student’s primary email address.

The College of Dentistry expects all dental students to be professionals in their dealings with patients, colleagues, faculty and staff and to exhibit caring and compassionate attitudes. Professionalism encompasses altruism, accountability, compassion, duty, excellence and respect for others. Attitudes and behaviors inconsistent with compassionate care, refusal by or inability of the student to participate constructively in learning or patient care, derogatory attitudes or inappropriate behavior directed at patient groups, peers, faculty or staff, or other unprofessional conduct can be grounds for dismissal.

  1. It is both the responsibility of the students and faculty to ensure the focus for learning in the class is maintained at all times. Students who cannot conduct themselves appropriately should be asked, by the teacher, to the leave the room.
  2. All audible communication devices, i.e. cell phones should be turned off before entering the classroom.
  3. Students are expected to complete all assigned readings before class and be prepared to answer questions related to the assigned material.
  4. Learning is an active behavior. Accordingly, students are expected to participate in all discussion.
  5. Laptop computers may be used for note-taking or accessing course-related materials during lectures and class sessions. Violations of this policy, such as sending or reading emails or text messages, accessing websites unrelated to the course, or use of the computer for purposes other than for the class in progress will result in students being asked to leave the class.
  6. Students must request permission of each faculty member prior to tape recording a class session.

UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code.” On all work submitted for credit by students at the University, the following pledge is either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.” The Honor Code (sccr.dso.ufl.edu/process/student-conduct-code/) specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. Furthermore, you are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor or TAs in this class.

For didactic courses students have access to tutoring services upon request to the Office of Advocacy and Inclusion. For psychomotor courses, the Course Director must recommend students to the tutoring program and notify the Office of Advocacy and Inclusion through email. Once a peer student is assigned, the requesting student has the responsibility to contact the tutor, develop a schedule and an activity plan that is reported to the Office of Advocacy and Inclusion.

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations should first register with the Disability Resource Center by providing appropriate documentation. Once registered, students will receive an accommodation letter which must be presented to the Assistant Dean of Student Advocacy and Inclusion when requesting accommodations. Students with disabilities should follow this procedure as early as possible in the semester.

To facilitate and reinforce effective learning, dental students are encouraged to review any omission in knowledge through an exam review immediately following the exam (unless the Course Director indicates otherwise). Following thorough analysis of the test items and adjustment for any identified aberrant items, the individual examination scores are posted in the grade book.

Student performance in academic coursework and clinical requirements is evaluated by letter grades (A to E). The S/U grading system is used for select courses so designated by the College and for all elective courses. Grade point averages will be derived from the numerical equivalents of the letter grade. For example, a grade of A for a three-hour course yields 12 grade points.

Passing Grades – Grade points:

Letter Grade Grade Point
A 4.00
A- 3.67
B+ 3.33
B 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.33
C 2.00
D 1.00
S None

A grade of S is equal to a C or better grade, but is not calculated in the grade point system.

Failing Grades:

E Failure A failing grade awarded in any course will remain on the permanent record if the student fails to successfully remediate the course and is equivalent to 0.0 grade points. Any grade achieved after re-enrollment in the course will be listed separately.
U Unsatisfactory A failing grade assigned only when an entire course is graded S/U. No grade points are calculated and course credit is not awarded.

Non-Punitive Grades (no grade point value):

W:Withdrew: Assigned for any course dropped when the student was in good academic standing. This grade requires College approval and is assigned to students withdrawing enrollment due to personal and/or medical problems resulting in an excused extended leave of absence.

WF: Withdrew Failing: Assigned to any course dropped when the student was not in good academic standing.

I:Incomplete: Assigned to a student who is capable of achieving a passing grade in the course but who could not complete the course requirements because of extenuating circumstances. Arrangements must be made with the course director to complete the work by the end of the next semester or earlier. This grade must be rectified by the end of the next semester. An I grade may be assigned at the discretion of the course instructor as an interim grade for a course in which the student has (1) completed a major portion of the course with a passing grade, (2) been unable to complete course requirements prior to the end of the term because of extenuating circumstances, and (3) obtained written agreement from the instructor as to the arrangements for resolution of the incomplete grade. Instructors are not required to assign I grades.

More information on UF Grading policies can be found at Grades and Grading Policies.

Students failing any course will be awarded an “E” grade, referred to the Student Performance Evaluation Committee (SPEC), and automatically placed on academic probation. The student must meet with the course director to develop a remediation plan within one week of notification of the failing final grade. The remediation activities are at the discretion of the course director and may consist of a comprehensive examination with emphasis on those areas in which the student failed to achieve a grade of “C” or better. Faculty are available to assist students preparing for this examination, but the responsibility for learning the material resides with the student. The remedial activity will include no formal instruction. The time and place of the remediation examination will be arranged individually. Please note that if the course director determines that the student failed the coursework to such an extent that remedial activities would be inadequate to attain an acceptable level of academic achievement in the course material, the course director can recommend that the student repeat the course in lieu of remedial activity.

The passing grade in the remediation program is a “C”; however, the highest grade attainable in a remediated course is a “D”. Students failing to satisfactorily complete the remediation program will maintain the “E” grade and be referred to SPEC for consideration for dismissal or retracking. Re-enrollment will be as soon as deemed feasible by the course director in concert with the Associate Dean for Education and the SPEC. The highest final grade attainable when repeating a course in its entirety is an “A.” Students failing to satisfactorily complete a course at the second offering will be referred to SPEC for further evaluation and possible action. A failing grade awarded in any course will remain on the permanent record. Any grade achieved after re-enrollment will be listed separately.

PREREQUISITES

At the discretion of the Dean, in rare circumstances the student may be allowed to enroll in the next level (insert as applicable operative, prosthodontics, etc) course without successful completion of the prerequisite if it is determined to be in the best interest of the student, and with the expectation that the prerequisite will be successfully completed as soon as possible.

Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. “Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. Guidance on how to give feedback in a professional and respectful manner is available at gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/students/. Students will be notified when the evaluation period opens, and can complete evaluations through the email they receive from GatorEvals, in their Canvas course menu under GatorEvals, or via https://ufl.bluera.com/ufl/. Summaries of course evaluation results are available to students at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/public-results/

Complaint Process 

The University of Florida’s DMD program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). If a student, faculty, patient or other individual has any complaints or concerns about the college’s accredited educational programs, those issues and concerns can be directed to the Commission.

CODA will review complaints that relate to the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interred in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.

A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago IL 60611 or by calling 1-800-621-8099 extension 4563.

  1. Informal: UFCD recognizes that health care professionals should learn to address disagreements and conflicts in a mature and responsible manner. Often relational problems may be resolved best informally between the parties involved. Students who wish to make a complaint about an issue related to the College of Dentistry should first contact their class president, vice president, or Student Affairs committee representative. The class officer can advise the student on how to best seek resolution. Oftentimes, the class officer has heard the same complaint from other classmates and will then proceed by advocating for their class as a whole rather than for one individual. Class officers may seek the help of their Class Advisor or TEAM leader. Students who do not feel comfortable discussing their concern with their class officers should discuss the complaint with the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or Associate Dean for Education.
  2. Formal: If the informal procedure has been followed and a student still feels the issue is unresolved the student may initiate a formal complaint. The complaint form may be accessed at:http://dental.ufl.edu/about/college-information/helpful-links/ 

U Matter, We Care: If you or someone you know is in distress, please contact https://umatter.ufl.edu, 352-392-1575, or visit umatter.ufl.edu/ to refer or report a concern and a team member will reach out to the student in distress.

Counseling and Wellness Center: Visit counseling.ufl.edu/ or call 352-392-1575 for information on crisis services as well as non-crisis services.

Student Health Care Center: Call 352-392-1161 for 24/7 information to help you find the care you need, or visit shcc.ufl.edu/.

University Police Department: Visit police.ufl.edu/ or call 352-392-1111 (or 9-1-1 for emergencies).

UF Health Shands Emergency Room / Trauma Center: For immediate medical care call 352-733-0111 or go to the emergency room at 1515 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608; ufhealth.org/emergency-room-trauma-center.

Recordings are for educational use only and are to be considered confidential. No recorded lecture material, university maintained or otherwise, may be shared (e.g., copied, displayed, broadcast or published) with any individual or organization within or outside the UFCD without prior written permission from the lecturer and without giving proper attribution. UFCD will take reasonable measures to prevent the inappropriate use of such recordings by individuals with access to the web site on which the recorded lectures are posted, but cannot guarantee against possible misuse. This prohibition includes placing the recording on any web page or the Internet for use by, or access to, any person, including the student. In addition to any legal ramifications, misuse of recordings will be considered as unprofessional behavior and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken according to UF policy and procedures. Materials contained within lectures may be subject to copyright protection. Please review Copyright Information for more information.

Unauthorized Recordings. A student shall not without express authorization from the faculty member and, if required by law, from other participants, make or receive any recording, including but not limited to audio and video recordings, of any class, co-curricular meeting, organizational meeting, or meeting with a faculty member. Refer to Student Conduct & Honor Code for more information.

Social networks provide fun and exciting ways to connect with others who share common interests. Use of social media, even in a personal capacity, must comply with state and federal law concerning intellectual property, restricted records, and patient information. Text, photos, videos, and other material posted on social media pages, including personal ones, should be in keeping with generally accepted professional and/or ethical standards for one’s field(s) of work and/or study. For example, patient information, even if it has been “de-identified” may not be posted. This includes photos or videos as part of medical, research, or other international humanitarian educational experiences. UF has explicit student guidelines to permit appropriate use of social media, while prohibiting conduct through social media that is illegal or against University of Florida policy or professional standards. Refer to UF Social Media Use, Guidelines and Policy Implications for more information.