Policy Statement
Resident/Fellow Standing
A trainee whose performance conforms to established evaluation criteria in a consistent and satisfactory manner will be considered to be in “good standing” with the program and institution. Misconduct, failure to comply with the policies and procedures governing the program or unsatisfactory performance based on one or more evaluations may adversely affect the trainees standing in the program. In these cases, the program will make an effort at remediation as outlined in the Discipline, Dismissal, Failure to Advance Policy & Procedure.
Reason for Policy
Graduate Medical Education (GME) training is structured as a progressive competency-based educational experience where trainees assume increasing levels of responsibility commensurate with their individual progress in skill, knowledge, and professional judgment.
The University of Minnesota Resident/Fellow Agreement is executed for the full duration of the trainee’s specific program. While the contract covers the entire training period, advancement to each successive level is not automatic; it is contingent upon the trainee maintaining satisfactory standing and meeting the competency-based requirements of their program. This policy outlines the criteria for promotion and the institutional expectations for successful program completion.
Promotion
After satisfactory completion of each level of Graduate Medical Education experience, as attested to by the program director, a resident/fellow in good standing will be promoted to the next level of training subject to the terms, limitations and conditions described in this document and the Resident/Fellow Agreement.
Promotion to the next level of training is determined by the program and the Sponsoring Institution. The decision to promote is dependent on several factors, which include, but are not limited to:
- satisfactory completion of all training requirements
- satisfactory trainee performance
- documented competence commensurate with level of training
- successful completion and passing of the USMLE Step 3, COMLEX, etc. prior to entering the PGY-3 level
- full compliance with all terms of the Resident/Fellow Agreement
- continuation of the Sponsoring Institution and program ACGME accreditation
A trainee who is on probation may be promoted at the discretion of the program director. If the decision to promote is made, the probationary status remains in effect until the terms of the remediation agreement are met.