The purpose of SPCs is to ensure that every graduate of LMU-DCOM has the skills, knowledge, and judgment to assume the responsibilities of an osteopathic physician. The SPCs monitor student progress and ensure that all students meet the academic and professional requirements necessary for advancement in the curriculum and graduation. The role of the SPCs is not to approve all students for promotion into the next academic year, which is the job of the Faculty Assembly. The SPCs, appointed by the CAO/Dean of LMU-DCOM, are composed of faculty members and Deans with the requisite skill and knowledge necessary for each committee. All SPCs make recommendations to the LMU-DCOM CAO/Dean who makes the final decision.
There are three specific SPCs for LMU-DCOM, each assigned to provide recommendations for specific groups of students. The three SPCs are as follows:
- SPC – I: This committee addresses academic and professionalism issues for students from the date of matriculation into LMU-DCOM through the completion of their OMS-I curriculum.
- SPC – II: This committee addresses academic and professionalism issues for students from the beginning of their OMS-II year - through the completion of their OMS-II curriculum including achievement of any required benchmarks for COMLEX Level I and failures of COMLEX Level I.
- SPC-III: This committee addresses academic and professionalism issues for students including achievement of board readiness benchmarks for COMLEX level II-CE and failures of COMLEX Level II-CE, COMATS, and all other curricular activities from the beginning of their OMS- III year through graduation from LMU-DCOM.