Programs/Partnerships Fostering Diversity
Programs/Partnerships Fostering Diversity
MDCOM diversity efforts will include outreach to post-baccalaureate programs designed to prepare educationally and economically disadvantaged students for entry into medical school; a summer scholars’ program for high school students interested in a medical career, and a 6-week pre-matriculation program for students who have been conditionally accepted into MDCOM.
MDCOM has established BS/DO program that enables qualified students to earn an undergraduate degree and DO degree in seven, rather than eight years. Program participants spend three years in a core curriculum of biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and cell and molecular biology, while working alongside professors on active research projects. They can also take advantage of symposia and courses sponsored by MDCOM before applying to transition into the four-year medical school.
Our recruitment strategy for the BS/DO program is to target diverse undergraduate institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), rural colleges/universities, and minority-serving schools or those with diversity initiatives. We will track our application data and program outcomes to better evaluate and revise the program. Morgan State University, an HBCU, has agreed to sign an articulation agreement that establishes a BS/DO program in partnership with MDCOM.
Model Articulation Agreement:
AGREEMENT dated the day of , 2024, between The Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine (MDCOM) and XXX University (the “Undergraduate Institution”). This Agreement establishes a pathway in which pre-med undergraduate students at the Undergraduate Institution may obtain both a bachelor’s degree from the Undergraduate Institution and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from MDCOM in seven years (the “Pathway”).
1. The Pathway
As described in greater detail below, students in the Pathway complete three years of premedical education at the Undergraduate Institution, and, provided they meet the admissions standards and are admitted to MDCOM and complete the four-year D.O. program at MDCOM. After successful completion of the first year in the D.O. program, the Undergraduate Institution will accept graduate credits taken at MDCOM for the completion of the undergraduate degree, and will grant the student an undergraduate degree. Upon successful completion of the D.O. program, MDCOM will grant the student a D.O. degree. The student will receive a separate diploma from each institution.
2. Admissions
A. Admission to the Pathway at the Undergraduate Institution
The Undergraduate Institution will be responsible in its sole discretion for the admission of first-year undergraduate students into the Pathway and will admit no more than ten students into the Pathway per year. The students admitted to the Pathway must satisfy the following minimum qualifications:
• A combined SAT score of at least 1200 or ACT composite score of at least 28
• A high school grade point average of at least 90%.
Admission to the Pathway is not an admission to MDCOM.
B. Admission to MDCOM
MDCOM will be responsible in its sole discretion for the admission of students in the Pathway to the D.O. program. To be considered for admission to the D.O. program, the Pathway student must:
• Earn an overall science grade point average of 3.5 each semester with a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
(The Undergraduate Institution may approve a onetime waiver for a semester GPA less than 3.5.)
• Declare their intention to apply for admission at MDCOM by the end of their second year.
Requests for a change of campus after the second year will be addressed by the Admissions
Committee on a case-by-case basis.
• Obtain an MCAT score (on the MCAT taken between August and January of the third undergraduate year)
at least equal to the mean MCAT score of the applicable MDCOM campus first year class of the
year the student began undergraduate study. MDCOM will notify the Undergraduate Institution
of the minimum required MCAT scores for each campus in August of each year.
o If the student fails to meet the required MCAT score between August and January,
the student may retake the exam up until April with a possibility of being on the
priority waitlist if they achieve the minimum score.
• Complete a minimum of 8 hours of biology (course/lab), 8 hours each of inorganic and
organic chemistry (course/lab), 8 hours of physics (course/lab), and 6 hours of English, with no
grade below C in any of these courses or labs. Students are encouraged to enroll in additional
courses such as calculus, anatomy, genetics, physical chemistry, biochemistry, behavioral
sciences and neurosciences.
• Obtain a favorable recommendation by the Undergraduate Institution Premedical Committee.
• Pass a personal interview conducted by MDCOM faculty.
Enrollment in the Pathway is not a guarantee of admission to the D.O. program. MDCOM retains the sole and absolute discretion to make admissions decisions. Students enrolled in the Program who do not meet or exceed the admissions criteria set forth herein may apply for admission to MDCOM through the regular channels or procedures. All applicants must meet MDCOM admission standards at the time of their enrollment into MDCOM. Without limiting the foregoing, MDCOM reserves the right to deny admission to students who, in the opinion of MDCOM, may have difficulty obtaining a medical license.
3. Curriculum and Advisement
• Pathway students shall pursue a curriculum approved by both the Undergraduate Institution and MDCOM.
• The Undergraduate Institution will provide full counseling, advising and programming resources to assist with student success.
• MDCOM will provide support in evaluating and interpreting pre-medical curriculum requirements at the request of the
Undergraduate Institution.
4. Tuition and Financial Aid
A. Tuition
Pathway students will pay tuition and fees to the Undergraduate Institution, at the Undergraduate Institution’s prevailing rates, for the three years they pursue their undergraduate studies at the Undergraduate Institution. Upon admission and enrollment in the D.O. program, students will pay tuition and fees to MDCOM, at the prevailing MDCOM rates, for the four years they pursue their D.O. program studies at MDCOM.
B. Financial Aid
1. During their three years of undergraduate studies at the Undergraduate Institution, Pathway students will be matriculated
as full-time students at the Undergraduate Institution, which shall be the student’s “Home” institution for purposes
of financial aid. The Undergraduate Institution will be responsible for disbursing aid and monitoring student aid eligibility,
including the procedures for calculating awards, Title IV refund calculations, monitoring satisfactory academic progress,
and maintaining all records related to student aid eligibility and all other student aid eligibility requirements.
2. Commencing with their enrollment at MDCOM and for each year thereafter until graduation, MDCOM shall be the student’s
“Home” institution for purposes of financial aid. MDCOM shall be responsible for disbursing aid and monitoring student aid
eligibility, including the procedures for calculating awards, Title IV refund calculations, monitoring satisfactory academic
progress, and maintaining all records related to student aid eligibility and all other student aid eligibility requirements.
3. MDCOM shall report all Undergraduate Institution students registered for coursework at MDCOM to the NSLDS.
4. During the Pathway student’s fourth year (i.e. the first year at MDCOM) and each year thereafter until graduation, the
student will be charged and responsible for the payment of the prevailing MDCOM program tuition and fees.
5. Pathway students will be informed that any Undergraduate Institution funded grants, endowments and/or academic
scholarships received while a student at the Undergraduate Institution will cease once studies commence at MDCOM.
Pathway students will be treated as graduate students upon acceptance and enrollment in the MDCOM D.O. program.
5. Compliance and Liability
1. The parties acknowledge and agree that:
a. They are subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act, as
amended (the “Acts”). Both institutions will comply with the provisions of the Acts in respect to any of their students,
staff or researchers connected to this agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, pursuant to FERPA, both parties
are designated as school officials with a legitimate educational interest in the education records of current and/or
former Program students.
b. Their respective systems of compliance and compensation of their respective employees or other persons who
will perform any student recruitment or admission activities under this Agreement will be in compliance with
Section 487(a) (20) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. § 1094(a) (20)),
and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Department of Education at 34 C.F.R. § 668.14(b) (22).
c. Each party must preapprove (in writing) all advertising and marketing materials related to the Program. Neither
party shall describe this arrangement as a “joint”, “combined” or “dual degree” program, or indicate that this
arrangement has been registered or approved as a program by the State of Maryland.
d. No person shall on the grounds of race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, gender identity
or expression, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship status, disability,
genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable law, be
excluded from participation in the Program.
2. MDCOM and the Undergraduate Institution agree to indemnify and hold each other harmless, as well as their trustees,
officers, employees, agents, and representatives from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, settlements,
or judgments, including attorney’s fees and litigation expenses, based upon or arising out of the activities described in this
Agreement to the extent that such claims, demands, actions, settlements or judgments are occasioned by the negligence,
actions or omissions of MDCOM or the Undergraduate University, their agents, servants, employees or students, and vice versa.
3. It is understood that this Agreement is not intended to and shall not be construed to create the relationship of agent,
servant, employee, partnership, joint venture or association between the Undergraduate Institution and MDCOM, but rather
is an agreement by and between independent contractors. Neither party will have the authority to bind the other.
4. Each party represents and warrants that:
a. It presently holds, and shall continue to hold during the term of this Agreement, all authorizations required under
applicable laws and regulations to operate as an institution of higher education, enroll postsecondary students and to
award academic degrees as contemplated under this Agreement.
b. No person or entity with substantial control over the institution, including any officers or board members, have been
debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible or voluntarily withdrew from participation in any U.S. or
the State or Maryland governmental assistance program.
6. Terms and Miscellaneous
1.This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first set forth above and shall remain in force for a period of 5 (five) years,
unless terminated as set forth below, or extended by written agreement of the parties.
2. Either party may terminate this Agreement by written notice to the other party by October 1 st of any academic year, with
termination effective at the end of that academic year. All students who are enrolled in the Pathway at the time of such notification
shall be continued in the Pathway and shall be eligible for acceptance by MDCOM under the terms of this Agreement.
3. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland. Any disputes
regarding this Agreement may only be brought in a state or Federal court located in Baltimore City in the State of Maryland.
4.This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties. Any prior understanding or representation of any kind
preceding the date of this Agreement shall not be binding upon either party except to the extent incorporated in this Agreement.
Any modification of this Agreement or additional obligation assumed by either party in connection with this Agreement shall be
binding only if evidenced in a writing signed by an authorized representative of each party.
[Signatures on next page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and each party will accept fax or pdf signatures.
Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine XXX Institution
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
Signature Date Signature Date
Name:_________________________________ Name:_________________________________
Title:__________________________________ Title:___________________________________
Affiliation Agreement
for the
Pre-Med/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Pathway
between
The Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine
and
XXX University