Student Consumer Information

Information about the bodies that accredit, approve, and license the institution, with documents available for review on request.

https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/why-stmatthews/accreditation-and-approvals

Documents describing the institution’s accreditation, approval, or licensing may be reviewed by any enrolled or prospective student upon request to the Office of Admissions.

How the MD program prepares graduates for licensure, USMLE eligibility, and the institution’s ACCM accreditation and approvals, with documents available for review on request.

The SMU MD program prepares graduates for medical licensure. SMU is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirements, which allows students to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). SMU students who fulfill their academic requirements are eligible to sit for USMLE Step 1 (after Basic Science) and Step 2 CK (after Clinical Medicine rotations). Graduates who successfully complete the requisite licensing examinations and all applicable requirements are eligible to pursue licensure to practice medicine in the United States and Canada, subject to each jurisdiction’s requirements. Licensure requirements vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change; students are strongly encouraged to verify the current requirements of the state or jurisdiction in which they intend to practice. Information regarding the institution’s approvals and recognitions, including its accreditation by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), the accrediting body for the Cayman Islands, whose standards are reviewed by the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA), and its state approvals, is available at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/why-stmatthews/accreditation-and-approvals.

Where to find information about the degree program, campus facilities, faculty, and academic calendar.

In accordance with 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5), information about the academic programs of the institution, including the current degree programs and other educational and training programs, the instructional, laboratory, and other physical facilities that relate to the academic program, and the institution’s faculty and other instructional personnel, is available at the following locations:

• Academic programs: https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics and https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/programs/md-program
• Facilities: https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/facilities
• Faculty and administration: https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/stmatthews-faculty-and-administration
• Academic calendar and catalog: https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/academic-calendar-and-catalog

Any plans by the institution for improving its academic programs are described in the academic catalog and institutional publications.

The services and accommodations available to students with disabilities and how to request them.

In accordance with 34 CFR 668.43(a)(7), SMU provides a description of the services and facilities available to students with disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities. Students seeking reasonable accommodations should contact Student Support at (407) 488-1718 or via https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/student-support. Information on student support services, including academic support and counseling resources, is available at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/student-support. Requests for accommodations are reviewed on an individualized basis, and supporting documentation may be required. Information on the institution’s technical standards for admission and continued enrollment is available at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/technical-standards.

Clinical rotations are completed at affiliated teaching hospitals; the published affiliate information is linked in this section.

In accordance with 34 CFR 668.43(a)(12), SMU discloses that portions of the Clinical Medicine curriculum are delivered through written arrangements with affiliated teaching hospitals and clinical training sites in the United States (core and elective rotations) and in Canada (select elective rotations). Clinical clerkships are completed at these affiliated sites under the oversight of the Office of the Associate Dean, Clinical Medicine. A list of current clinical affiliates, including the portion of the educational program provided at each site and the method of delivery, is available upon request from the Office of the Associate Dean, Clinical Medicine, and at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/academics/programs/md-program/clinical-medicine. Estimated additional costs associated with clinical training, including elective clerkship surcharges, are described in Section B.

How enrollment in an approved study abroad program is treated for federal student aid purposes.

In accordance with 34 CFR 668.43(a)(9), a student’s enrollment in a study abroad program approved for credit by the home institution may be treated as enrollment at the home institution for purposes of applying for assistance under the Title IV, HEA programs. SMU does not currently operate a separate study abroad program; the MD program is delivered on the institution’s campus and at affiliated clinical training sites, as described in Section L.

The estimated cost of attendance for 2026-2027, semester by semester, for new students and for continuing students eligible for the federal interim exception. The COA sets the maximum financial aid a student may receive.

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of a student’s educational expenses for the period of enrollment and is developed in accordance with section 472 of the HEA. Components include tuition and fees; books, course materials, supplies, and equipment; housing and food; transportation; miscellaneous personal expenses; and federal loan fees. The COA establishes the maximum amount of financial aid, from all sources combined, that a student may receive for the award year. The following tables reflect the estimated COA for the 2026-2027 award year. The published tuition and fee schedule effective September 2026 applies to all enrolled MD students. The first table applies to new students subject to the new professional-student loan limits, and the second table applies to continuing students eligible for the federal interim exception, whose estimated loan fees reflect Graduate PLUS borrowing. Current tuition and fee schedules are available at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/tuition-and-fees.

*Estimated federal loan fees are based on Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan borrowing at a 1.057 percent origination fee. Borrowers eligible for the federal interim exception who borrow Graduate PLUS Loan funds incur a 4.228 percent origination fee on those funds. Actual amounts vary by borrower. Bracketed amounts are carried forward from the 2025-2026 budget and must be confirmed or updated using approved 2026-2027 figures before publication.

Note:

• While Cost of Attendance budgets include an estimate for the surcharges, the actual charge may exceed these estimates, depending on the elective rotations selected by students, and thus not be included in financial aid budgets.
• Students may incur additional surcharges for elective clinical clerkships as part of the Clinical Medicine portion of the program. Elective clerkships at certain hospitals may require a surcharge to be paid by the student. While many elective clinical clerkship sites do not require a surcharge, those that do currently charge between $50 and $550 per week.
• Before students choose clinical sites for their clinical rotations, they will be provided with a list detailing all surcharges for each hospital, to ensure that all students can make informed decisions. This list is also available to all students upon request from the Office of the Associate Dean, Clinical Medicine.

How tuition is refunded on withdrawal, including the refund available before the first day of the semester, the seat deposit rules, and the refund schedule after classes begin.

All refunds will be issued within thirty (30) days of the withdrawal date. Before any refund can be initiated, a withdrawal form must be completed and submitted to the Dean of Basic Science. Any new applicant to St. Matthew’s University who withdraws within three days of paying the seat deposit shall receive a full refund of all tuition and fees paid. All fees, including the first-semester seat deposit fee of $500, are excluded from this refund policy and are not refundable after the three-day exemption described above. Basic Science tuition will be refunded according to the following schedule:

• Prior to the first day of the semester: 100%
• During the first week of the semester: 93%
• During the second week of the semester: 87%
• During the third week of the semester: 80%
• During the fourth week of the semester and thereafter: No refund

Any student withdrawing from a clinical rotation, subsequent to assignment and acceptance, will not be subject to a refund on tuition for that semester of rotation. Current tuition payment and refund policies are published at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/tuition-and-fees.

When a student withdraws during a semester, federal law determines how much federal aid has been earned and how much must be returned.

Federal law and 34 CFR 668.22 specify how St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine (“SMU”) must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance a student earns if the student withdraws from school. See Section E for specific information on leaves of absence and the withdrawal process. The Office of Financial Aid calculates R2T4, and the Business Office transfers the funds. The Office of Financial Aid uses worksheets and software provided by the U.S. Department of Education to calculate R2T4 amounts. All unearned funds must be returned within 45 days of the date the institution determines that the student withdrew. If you have questions about your Title IV program funds, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). TTY users may call 1-800-730-8913. Information is also available at https://studentaid.gov.

When a student withdraws during a payment period, the amount of Title IV program assistance earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. The date of withdrawal is the earlier of the date the student notified the Registrar or Program Director of the intent to withdraw and the date the student submitted the withdrawal form. If the student received (or the school received on the student’s behalf) less assistance than the amount earned, the student may be able to receive the additional funds. If the student received more assistance than was earned, the excess funds must be returned by the school and/or the student.

The SMU attendance policy is outlined in the university catalog and the student handbooks. All Basic Science courses require at least 90% attendance (some courses may require more), and full attendance is required during clinical clerkships. Students who do not meet attendance requirements are reported to the university’s Registrar, who notifies the student’s Program Director of the lack of attendance. The Program Director will consult with the student’s faculty to verify the last date of attendance. Without an official Withdrawal Form, the university will use the last date of attendance to compute the R2T4 formula.

When a student notifies the Program Director or a faculty member of the intent to withdraw, the student must be informed of the need to complete the Official Withdrawal Form. The Program Director or faculty member must document the date the student provided notification and share that information with the university Registrar. If the student fails to file the Withdrawal Form, or if there is a delay between the notification and the filing of the form, the earlier date of notification will be used in calculating the R2T4 formula. If a student receives all failing grades for a semester, the Program Director will contact the faculty members to determine whether the failing grades were earned or reflect a lack of attendance. If it is determined that those grades were the result of lack of attendance, the Program Director and faculty will attempt to determine the last day of attendance and use that date in the R2T4 calculation. If the exact date cannot be determined, the university will assume 50% attendance and use the midpoint of the payment period as the last date of attendance. Students who do not attend even one class are ineligible for Title IV funds, and all loan proceeds will be returned.

The amount of assistance earned is determined on a pro rata basis. The payment period is the semester for which the loan was certified, and the percentage earned is calculated by dividing the number of calendar days attended by the total number of calendar days in that period. For example, if the student completes 30% of the payment period, the student has earned 30% of the assistance originally scheduled to be received. Once the student has completed more than 60% of the payment period, all assistance scheduled for that period is considered earned. If the student did not receive all of the funds that were earned, the student may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. If the post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, the student may decline those funds to avoid additional debt. The Office of Financial Aid will use the R2T4 worksheets provided by the U.S. Department of Education to determine how much of the loan may be retained and how much must be returned.

SMU may automatically apply all or part of a post-withdrawal disbursement (including loan funds, if the student accepts them) to tuition, fees, and institutionally contracted housing and food charges. For all other school charges, the school needs the student’s permission to apply the post-withdrawal disbursement. If the student does not give permission, the student will not be offered the funds. However, it may be in the student’s best interest to allow the school to retain the funds to reduce the debt owed to the school.

Some Title IV funds a student may have been scheduled to receive cannot be disbursed once the student withdraws because of other eligibility requirements. If the student receives, or the school receives on the student’s behalf, excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, the school must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of:

• The institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of the funds, or
• The entire amount of excess funds.

The school must return this amount even if it did not retain this amount of Title IV program funds. If the school is not required to return all of the excess funds, the student must return the remaining amount. Any loan funds that the student must return are repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note; that is, scheduled payments are made to the loan holder over a period of time. Students who have received a refund of their loan proceeds before withdrawing may be required to return part or all of those funds.

Title IV funds will be returned in the following order:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Graduate PLUS, for borrowers eligible under the federal interim exception)

The requirements for Title IV program funds when students withdraw are separate from any refund policy the school may have. Therefore, the student may still owe the school for unpaid institutional charges. The school may also charge the student for any Title IV program funds the school was required to return. Students may obtain a copy of the refund policy from the Business Office.

The institution grants academic leaves of absence, which are treated as withdrawals for federal aid purposes. Meet with the Office of Financial Aid before requesting a leave.

Important notice for Title IV loan recipients: SMU grants academic leaves of absence. An academic leave of absence does not meet the conditions of an approved leave of absence for Title IV purposes under 34 CFR 668.22(d). Accordingly, any leave of absence granted by SMU is treated as a withdrawal for Title IV purposes as of the date the leave begins, is reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) as a withdrawal, and requires a Return of Title IV Funds calculation. A leave of absence also ends a borrower’s eligibility for the federal interim exception described in Section G. Students considering a leave of absence should meet with the Office of Financial Aid before submitting a request so that they fully recognize the consequences for loan repayment, grace period exhaustion, and future borrowing eligibility.

Definitions:

Approved Leaves of Absence (LOA)

For Title IV purposes, an approved LOA is a temporary interruption in a student’s program of study during which the student is not in attendance and will return to complete the program. Students returning from an LOA are not required to re-apply for admission but must re-register for their courses.

Unapproved Leaves of Absence

A school may grant a student an LOA that does not meet the conditions to be an approved LOA for Title IV purposes (for example, for academic reasons). Any LOA that does not meet all of the conditions for an approved LOA is considered a withdrawal for Title IV purposes. As stated above, all leaves of absence granted by SMU are academic leaves and are treated as withdrawals for Title IV purposes.

Official Withdrawal

A withdrawal refers to a student’s intent to completely terminate studies at an institution with no expectation of return. Students who subsequently decide to return to their studies must re-apply for admission through the university’s Office of Admissions.

Unofficial Withdrawal

An unofficial withdrawal is one where the school has not received notice from the student that the student has ceased or will cease attending the school. When SMU determines that a student has unofficially withdrawn, the institution will determine the withdrawal date in accordance with 34 CFR 668.22 and complete the required R2T4 calculation.

Note: Students who withdraw from courses or the program receive a grade of “W” on their transcript. The grade is considered the same as an “F” grade in calculating the quantitative component of the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and may affect the student’s future eligibility for financial aid.

LOA and Withdrawal Request Forms

The form required by SMU to request an LOA or a withdrawal is available on the campus website and from the Registrar. The institution’s Leave of Absence policy and request form are available from the Office of the Registrar and the Office of Financial Aid.

Conditions for an Approved LOA Under Title IV

For general reference, federal regulations provide that an LOA qualifies as an approved LOA for Title IV purposes only if all of the following conditions are met:

• All requests for LOAs must be submitted in writing to the Program Director and include the reason for the student’s request. The form must be signed and dated by the student and specify the dates the student wants the LOA to begin and end.
• Students must apply in advance for an LOA unless unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from doing so.
• The reason for the LOA must be generally non-academic in nature and must be one that leads to a reasonable expectation that the student will return from the LOA within the allowed time frame.
• The LOA, together with any additional leaves of absence, must not exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period, including days in which school is not in session.

All requests for LOAs will be reviewed by the Program Director, the university Registrar, and the Director of Financial Aid. The student will be notified in writing by the Program Director of the university’s decision. Because SMU grants only academic leaves of absence, every approved leave request is processed as a withdrawal for Title IV purposes.

During any leave, the institution will not assess the student any additional institutional charges, the student’s financial need will not increase, and the student will not be eligible for any additional disbursements of federal student aid.

Consequences of Withdrawal for Loan Recipients

Because a leave of absence at SMU is reported as a withdrawal, the institution must report the student’s change in enrollment status to NSLDS as of the withdrawal date. The student’s grace period begins on the withdrawal date, and a student who is away from the program for longer than the grace period will enter repayment. Prior to granting a leave of absence, SMU will inform a student who is a Title IV loan recipient of the possible consequences a withdrawal may have on the student’s loan repayment terms, including the exhaustion of the student’s grace period.

Student Who Fail to Return From LOA’s

If a student does not return to the school at the expiration of a leave, the student’s withdrawal date remains the date the student began the leave, and the student must re-apply for admission in accordance with institutional policy.

As a foreign institution, SMU participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Eligible U.S. students in the MD program may borrow Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Graduate PLUS Loans are available only to borrowers who qualify for the federal interim exception described below. Students attending a foreign institution are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Direct Subsidized Loans, or Federal Work-Study. Canadian students are not eligible for U.S. Title IV assistance and are routed to Canadian federal and provincial student aid processes through the Financial Aid Canada office; see https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/financial-aid/canada. Information about institutional scholarships is available at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/scholarships. Complete information about U.S. federal financial aid at SMU is available at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/financial-aid/united-states. Whenever SMU provides information about the availability of federal student loans, it also includes materials published by the U.S. Department of Education, including federal student aid publications and tools available at https://studentaid.gov.

Effective July 1, 2026, federal student loan rules changed under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, formerly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3/OBBBA, P.L. 119-21). These changes affect federal borrowing limits and the availability of Graduate PLUS Loans for students in professional degree programs, including the MD program. Two federal borrower categories apply:

• Borrower eligible for the federal interim exception: As of June 30, 2026, the student was enrolled in the SMU MD program and had a Federal Direct Loan disbursed for that program before July 1, 2026. These borrowers may remain eligible for the prior loan limits and Graduate PLUS Loans during their applicable expected time to credential, subject to all federal eligibility requirements.
• Borrower subject to the new professional-student loan limits: The student does not qualify for the federal interim exception. This includes students who were not enrolled in the SMU MD program as of June 30, 2026, or who did not receive a Federal Direct Loan disbursement for that program before July 1, 2026. Borrowers in this category may borrow Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans up to $50,000 per year and $200,000 in the professional aggregate, subject to a $257,500 lifetime limit on total federal student loan borrowing. Borrowers in this category are not eligible for Graduate PLUS Loans.

For borrowers eligible for the federal interim exception, the prior loan limits apply: a Direct Unsubsidized Loan annual limit of $20,500; Graduate PLUS Loan eligibility up to the Cost of Attendance minus other financial assistance; and a Direct Loan aggregate limit of $138,500, which includes undergraduate borrowing. The new lifetime limit does not apply during the exception period. The interim exception lasts through the earlier of three academic years (ending no later than June 30, 2029) or the borrower’s remaining expected time to credential, and it requires continuous enrollment at least half-time in the same program. The $257,500 lifetime limit applicable to borrowers under the new professional-student limits includes prior Graduate PLUS borrowing. Undergraduate loans do not count toward the $200,000 professional aggregate but do count toward the $257,500 lifetime limit.

Eligibility for the federal interim exception is not automatic; the Office of Financial Aid must review and confirm each student’s borrower category, with enrollment history certified by the Office of the Registrar. A withdrawal, a break in at-least-half-time enrollment, or a leave of absence (which SMU reports as a withdrawal; see Section E) ends a borrower’s eligibility for the federal interim exception. For full details, including the borrower comparison chart, eligibility requirements, transition rules, and frequently asked questions, see https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/financial-aid/united-states.

Terms and Conditions of Federal Direct Loans

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) is a professional degree. There is no requirement to demonstrate financial need for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and the borrower is responsible for interest at all times. For loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, and before July 1, 2027, the interest rate for Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate and professional students is 8.07%, and the interest rate for Graduate PLUS Loans for eligible interim-exception borrowers is 9.07%. Interest accrues during all periods, including while the student is enrolled at least half-time, in deferment, or in forbearance. In certain instances, interest is capitalized. Borrowers may pay interest as it accrues, even when payments are not required.

For loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020, and before October 1, 2027, the origination fee for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan is 1.057%, and the origination fee for a Graduate PLUS Loan is 4.228%. The applicable origination fee is deducted proportionally from each loan disbursement; as a result, the amount credited to the student’s account will be less than the amount borrowed.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans typically offer a six-month grace period after the borrower graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment. Principal payments are not required during the grace period, but interest continues to accrue and remains the borrower’s responsibility. Graduate PLUS Loans do not have a grace period; however, an eligible graduate or professional student borrower generally receives an automatic deferment while enrolled at least half-time and for six months after graduating, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment.

Repayment plan eligibility depends on the borrower’s loan types and whether the borrower receives a new Federal Direct Loan or obtains a Direct Consolidation Loan on or after July 1, 2026. Borrowers who receive a new Direct Loan or a consolidation loan on or after that date generally must repay their eligible Direct Loans under either the Repayment Assistance Plan or the Tiered Standard Repayment Plan. Borrowers may review available federal repayment plans at https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment and compare estimated payments using the Loan Simulator at https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/. The borrower’s federal loan servicer handles billing, payment processing, and questions about individual loans. A borrower participating in a qualifying medical or dental internship or residency program may qualify for mandatory forbearance and should contact the federal loan servicer.

Borrowers may qualify for deferment of repayment under conditions established by federal law, including enrollment at least half-time at an eligible institution, active-duty military service, unemployment, economic hardship, and service in the Peace Corps or under a comparable full-time volunteer service program. Borrowers may also qualify for discretionary or mandatory forbearance under conditions established by federal law. Deferment and forbearance are requested through the borrower’s federal loan servicer, and complete information on eligibility conditions is available at https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/lower-payments/get-temporary-relief.

Application Procedures and Student Eligibility Requirements

To apply for a Federal Direct Loan, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov for the applicable award year. SMU’s FAFSA school code is 037643. Students who do not already have an FSA ID will need one to sign the FAFSA and loan documents. The information provided on the FAFSA is used by SMU to determine the aid the student is eligible to receive. Students should submit the FAFSA and all required documents as early as possible, and no later than the start of the payment period, to ensure aid is in place when the semester begins. To be considered for Federal Direct Loan funds, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or eligible noncitizen who is eligible to receive Federal Direct Loans;
• Have a valid Social Security number;
• Be admitted to or enrolled in the eligible SMU MD program as a regular student;
• Be enrolled at least half-time, as defined by SMU, to receive Federal Direct Loan funds;
• Complete the FAFSA for the applicable award year and provide all required consent and approval for the retrieval and use of federal tax information;
• Not be in default on a federal student loan and not owe an unresolved overpayment on a federal grant or loan; and
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress under SMU’s federally compliant SAP policy (see Section F).

As a foreign institution, SMU is exempt from the verification requirements of 34 CFR Part 668, Subpart E; however, the Office of Financial Aid may request documentation as needed to resolve conflicting information before certifying or disbursing aid.

Award Determination, Disbursement and Title IV Credit Balances

Loan eligibility is determined based on the student’s Cost of Attendance for the loan period, less other estimated financial assistance, up to the applicable annual, aggregate, and lifetime loan limits. Effective July 1, 2026, annual loan limits are prorated for students enrolled less than full-time, in proportion to the student’s enrollment intensity. For students enrolled less than full time, all Cost of Attendance components, direct and indirect alike, are likewise adjusted proportionally to the credits (Basic Science) or clinical weeks (Clinical Medicine) in which the student is enrolled. Financial aid is awarded and disbursed by payment period; at SMU, the payment period is the semester. After the applicable semester begins, once SMU confirms that all required financial aid documents have been completed, and while the student remains eligible and enrolled at least half-time, eligible Federal Direct Loan funds will be credited to the student’s account. The student will receive an electronic notification when a loan disbursement is posted. A student has the right to cancel or reduce all or a portion of a loan disbursement; a student who wishes to do so should notify the Office of Financial Aid within 14 days of the disbursement notification.

Title IV funds are applied to tuition, fees, and institutionally contracted housing and food charges. SMU obtains the student’s written authorization before applying Title IV funds to any other charges on the student’s account, and the student may rescind that authorization at any time.

If Title IV funds credited to the student’s account exceed allowable institutional charges, a Title IV credit balance is created. SMU will pay the credit balance as soon as possible and within the federally required timeframe: if the credit balance is created on or before the first day of classes, it will be paid no later than 14 calendar days after that date; if it is created after the first day of classes, it will be paid no later than 14 calendar days after the credit balance is created. Refunds are issued by check unless the student has enrolled in direct deposit with the Office of Student Accounts.

Entrance Counseling, Master Promissory Notes, and Exit Counseling

Before receiving the first Direct Loan disbursement, a first-time student Direct Loan borrower must complete Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/ and have the appropriate valid Master Promissory Note (MPN) on file. A student borrowing a Direct Unsubsidized Loan must complete the Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan MPN. A student eligible to borrow a Graduate PLUS Loan must also complete a separate Graduate PLUS Loan MPN. A valid MPN must be on file for the applicable loan type before funds are disbursed; SMU will notify the student when a new MPN is required.

When a borrower graduates, withdraws, or drops below half-time enrollment, the borrower must complete Exit Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/. Exit Counseling reviews repayment obligations, available repayment plans, deferment and forbearance options, and other borrower rights and responsibilities. Personal information collected during exit counseling is provided to the borrower’s federal loan servicer within 60 days of separation; no additional permission is needed, as borrowers granted authorization when they signed the Master Promissory Note.

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Disclosure

Loans borrowed under the Federal Direct Loan Program will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible to guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions designated as authorized users of the data system. Borrowers may review their federal loan history at any time by logging in to https://studentaid.gov.

Private Education Loans

Federal Direct Loans should generally be considered before private education loans. Before applying for a private education loan, students should complete the FAFSA and carefully review any federal aid offered. A student may qualify for assistance under Title IV of the HEA, and the terms and conditions of federal student loans may be more favorable than the provisions of private education loans. Private education loans generally lack the protections available with federal student loans, which may include access to income-driven repayment, deferment or forbearance, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and discharge in cases of death or total and permanent disability. The Office of Financial Aid does not recommend, promote, or endorse any lender. Students may compare private loan offers, including interest rates, fees, repayment terms, and the cost examples required to be disclosed under the Truth in Lending Act, through an independent third-party marketplace operated separately from SMU. Students are free to apply for a private education loan from any lender they choose, even if the lender does not appear in the marketplace. SMU will not deny, impede, or unnecessarily delay loan certification because a student selects a particular lender. If a student decides to apply for a private loan, the Office of Financial Aid will provide the Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification Form and the information needed to complete it, including the student’s Cost of Attendance for the loan period and estimated financial assistance. Upon request, the Office of Financial Aid will review the federal aid available to the student before the student commits to private loans.

The academic standards students must meet to remain eligible for federal aid, how progress is measured each semester, and how to appeal or re-establish eligibility.

The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions of higher education to establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving federal aid. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) means the student is making satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements. SAP includes two standards: qualitative and quantitative. Students must meet both standards to continue receiving financial aid.

Qualitative

In order to maintain eligibility for financial aid under the qualitative standard, a student must maintain the academic standing necessary to remain at St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine (“SMU”). The Office of Financial Aid will conduct a review at the end of each semester (i.e., payment period) to determine the student’s successful progress toward obtaining a degree by comparing cumulative grade average to hours earned. A student must maintain satisfactory academic performance as outlined below to remain enrolled in the program or to continue receiving aid. A student must also maintain an overall grade point average of at least 2.0 (as determined taking into account grades for repeated courses in the manner defined in the Repeating Courses section below) to continue in the program beyond the basic science portion of the program. Additionally, in order to meet the university’s requirements for graduation, a student must meet all graduation requirements specified in the catalog.

Students may be dismissed by the university at the end of any semester if they have not made sufficient academic progress to warrant continuance of study. Students who fail to maintain sufficient academic progress will be dismissed from the program. Termination of students will follow policies and procedures adopted by the university.

Quantitative

To assess students’ academic progress, the medical school program is divided into increments of Academic Years. An Academic Year is comprised of two semesters. Therefore, the SMU curriculum encompasses one and one half Academic Years in a calendar year. The SMU curriculum is comprised of five Academic Years (ten semesters): 2.5 Academic Years (five semesters) of Basic Science and 2.5 Academic Years (five semesters) of Clinical Medicine. The maximum time frame for completing the entire program of study (including both the Basic Science and Clinical Medicine portions of the program) is 7.5 Academic Years, or 15 semesters.

1. Basic Science students may take up to 4 Academic Years (8 semesters of enrollment) to complete the Basic Science portion of the medical school curriculum. During the Basic Science portion of the program, the following outlines the university’s SAP requirements:

Pace of Completion

The maximum timeframe for completing the entire program of study, including both the Basic Science and Clinical Medicine portions, is 7.5 Academic Years, or 15 semesters, where an Academic Year is comprised of two semesters. Basic Science students may take up to 4 Academic Years (8 semesters of enrollment) to complete the Basic Science portion of the curriculum, and Clinical Medicine students may take up to 3.5 Academic Years (7 semesters) to complete the Clinical Medicine portion.

Pace of completion, Basic Science (159 total credit hours):

• By the end of the 1st semester of enrollment: a minimum of 9% of total credit hours (14 credit hours)
• By the end of the 2nd semester of enrollment: a minimum of 18% of total credit hours (29 credit hours)
• By the end of the 3rd semester of enrollment: a minimum of 35% of total credit hours (56 credit hours)
• By the end of the 4th semester of enrollment: a minimum of 48% of total credit hours (76 credit hours)
• By the end of the 5th semester of enrollment: a minimum of 62% of total credit hours (99 credit hours)
• By the end of the 6th semester of enrollment: a minimum of 75% of total credit hours (119 credit hours)
• By the end of the 7th semester of enrollment: 90% of total credit hours (143 credit hours)
• By the end of the 8th semester of enrollment: 100% of total credit hours (159 credit hours)

Pace of completion, Clinical Medicine (SAP is checked at the end of each semester of clinical enrollment):

• 11 weeks of Clinical Medicine rotations by the end of the first semester of clinical enrollment
• 22 weeks by the end of the second semester
• 33 weeks by the end of the third semester
• 44 weeks by the end of the fourth semester
• 55 weeks by the end of the fifth semester
• 66 weeks by the end of the sixth semester
• 72 weeks by the end of the seventh semester

2. Clinical students may take up to 3.5 Academic Years (7 semesters) to complete the Clinical Medicine portion of the medical school curriculum. During the Clinical Medicine portion of the program, the following outlines the university’s satisfactory academic progress requirements. SAP is checked at the end of each term of clinical enrollment (i.e., payment period). To meet the university’s requirements for satisfactory progress, students must have completed a minimum of:

If the student does not meet the SAP requirements at the end of a semester, the student will be placed on financial aid warning for the next semester. The student is still considered to be making SAP while on warning and is eligible for Title IV aid.

If, at the end of the warning period, the student does not achieve the SAP requirements, the student may be placed on financial aid probation and remain eligible for Title IV aid if: (a) the student appeals the determination; and (b) the school determines that the student should be able to meet the SAP standards by the end of the subsequent payment period, or the school develops an academic plan for the student that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet the SAP standards by a specific point in time. Students placed on financial aid probation will not be eligible to receive Title IV aid for the subsequent payment period unless the student makes SAP or the school determines that the student met the requirements specified in the academic plan.

If, at the end of the warning period, the student does not achieve the SAP requirements and the student is not placed on financial aid probation, all Title IV aid will be terminated. The student may also be terminated from the school. If the student is not terminated, the student may continue in school as a self-pay student.

SMU evaluates SAP at the end of each semester (i.e., payment period). Withdrawals and incompletes are not included in the overall grade average. Students must complete all required courses by the end of the degree. Students who fail a required course must repeat the course and obtain a passing grade before completion of their degree. There are no noncredit remedial courses. Scheduled awards for the next academic year for students who are not making SAP will be canceled.

Financial aid will be disbursed each semester. Students who withdraw after disbursement will have their eligibility to retain part of their financial aid calculated on the percentage of the semester attended. Students who attend more than 60% of the term may retain all of their aid. See Section D, Return of Title IV Funds, above.

Transfer Students

Transfer students’ transcripts will be evaluated by the Program Director. Those courses which are applicable to the degree requirements will be accepted and will be used to measure the quantitative SAP requirement. Only those grades earned at SMU will be used to compute the qualitative requirement.

Change of Program or Degree

Not applicable.

Concurrent Degrees

Not applicable.

Additional Degrees

Not applicable.

Notification

Students will be notified of any Satisfactory Academic Progress evaluation that impacts the student’s eligibility for Title IV, HEA program funds.

Appeal Process

A student may appeal a determination of unsatisfactory progress by submitting a written appeal to the school Director explaining why the student did not meet SAP and what has changed that will allow the student to meet SAP if the appeal is approved. The decision of the Director shall be final. Special consideration will be made only for mitigating circumstances, such as illness, injury, or death in the family. If the appeal is approved, a student will be allowed to reenter or continue in school under a probation period and will be considered to be making SAP and eligible for Title IV funding.

Incompletes

Students receiving an incomplete (I) grade have one marking period to submit the required work to their instructor and receive a final grade. Failure to do so will result in a grade change to an (F).

Repeating Courses

A failed grade may be repeated and replace the current grade. All credits attempted are considered when calculating maximum time frame. A student’s enrollment status may include repeating any coursework previously taken in the program but may not include more than one repetition of a previously passed course or any repetition of a previously passed course due to the student’s failing other coursework.

Remedial and Non Remedial

Remedial and non-credit remedial courses do not apply and have no effect on satisfactory progress.

Elective Courses

Elective Basic Science courses do not apply and have no effect on satisfactory progress.

Withdrawals

A “W” is issued for a dropped class and does not affect the CGPA, but the credits are counted as credits attempted and will affect the maximum time frame.

Re-Establishing Satisfactory Progress for Federal Funds

If a student wants to return to school but has been terminated for unsatisfactory progress and is still within the maximum time frame, the student must re-establish eligibility for Title IV funding by completing one semester meeting the satisfactory academic progress requirements.

How full-time, half-time, and less-than-half-time enrollment are determined in Basic Science and Clinical Medicine, and how enrollment status affects aid.

Enrollment status for Title IV purposes is determined in accordance with 34 CFR 668.2 and the institution’s enrollment status policy, and is certified each payment period. During the Basic Science portion of the program, enrollment status is measured by credit hours: full-time enrollment is 8 credit hours per semester, and half-time enrollment is at least 4 credit hours per semester.

During the Clinical Medicine portion of the program, enrollment status is determined by billing and active rotation placement rather than by credit-hour counting. A student who is actively enrolled in an approved clinical rotation and has tuition billed in full for the payment period is enrolled full-time. Scheduled gaps between individual rotations that fall within a billed Clinical Medicine payment period do not alter the student’s enrollment status, and a student in an active, documented rotation remains enrolled even if a billing gap exists. Financial aid is processed by payment period, not by individual rotation or module.

Periods of required examination preparation between the Basic Science and Clinical Medicine portions of the program are reported as less-than-half-time enrollment. A drop to less than half-time enrollment is not automatically a withdrawal. Instead, less-than-half-time enrollment triggers a proportional reduction: annual loan limits are prorated and all Cost of Attendance components are adjusted in proportion to the student’s enrollment intensity, as described in Section M. Because Federal Direct Loan funds may only be disbursed to students enrolled at least half time, a student who drops below half-time enrollment is not eligible for further disbursements for that period, must complete exit counseling, and begins the applicable grace period. A student’s enrollment status is reported to NSLDS each reporting cycle. Students with questions about how a schedule change affects enrollment status and aid eligibility should contact the Office of Financial Aid before making the change.

Financial Aid Code of Conduct

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires educational institutions to develop and comply with a code of conduct that prohibits conflicts of interest for financial aid personnel [HEOA Section 487(a)(25)]. Any St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine (“SMU”) officer, employee, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to student educational loans must comply with this code of conduct.

Any employee who is employed in the financial aid office, who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or other student financial aid, and who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.

Neither SMU as an institution nor any individual officer, employee, or agent shall enter into any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender. A revenue-sharing arrangement means an arrangement between SMU and a lender under which the lender provides or issues loans to students attending SMU or to the families of such students, and SMU recommends the lender or the loan products of the lender and, in exchange, the lender pays a fee or provides other material benefits, including revenue or profit sharing, to SMU or its agent.

No officer or employee of SMU who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or any of their family members, shall solicit or accept anything of value (of more than a de minimis amount) in exchange for any advantage sought by the lender in making educational loans available to enrolled or prospective students of SMU.

An SMU officer or employee who is employed in the financial aid office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or an agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, shall not accept from any lender or affiliate of any lender any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.

SMU shall not: (a) for any first-time borrower, assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower’s loan to a particular lender; or (b) refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.

SMU shall not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for the institution providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with: (a) a specified number of private education loans (non-Title IV loans) or loans made, insured, or guaranteed under Title IV; (b) a specified loan volume of such loans; or (c) a preferred lender arrangement for such loans.

SMU shall not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center or financial aid office staffing.

Professional Judgment

Under section 479A of the HEA, the Office of Financial Aid may exercise professional judgment, on a case-by-case basis and with adequate documentation, to adjust the data elements used to determine a student’s federal aid eligibility or the components of the student’s Cost of Attendance to account for special or unusual circumstances. Examples of circumstances that may warrant review include a change in income, unusual medical expenses, or other documented conditions that distinguish the student’s situation. A professional judgment decision does not guarantee an adjustment, and all decisions are final at the institutional level. Students who wish to request a professional judgment review should contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Students’ rights to inspect, amend, and control disclosure of their education records, and how to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights regarding their education records. These rights include:

• The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day SMU receives a written request for access. Students should submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar identifying the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
• The right to request an amendment of an education record the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students should submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If SMU decides not to amend the record as requested, SMU will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing.
• The right to provide written consent before SMU discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception permitting disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by SMU in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position, or a person or company with whom SMU has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using its own employees. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill their professional responsibilities for the institution.
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by SMU to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Complaints may be directed to: Student Privacy Policy Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.

Records that may be released to the student for review include grade and evaluation reports and transcripts that relate to student progress. Student progress notes held by individual faculty are not considered part of the student’s official file and cannot be released. Students who wish to authorize the release of educational records to a third party must complete and sign a release form, available from the Office of the Registrar.

How the institution protects the security and confidentiality of student financial aid records under the federal Safeguards Rule.

Institutions participating in the federal student aid programs are subject to the information security requirements established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for financial institutions under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) Safeguards Rule (16 CFR Part 314). SMU maintains an information security program that includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of student financial aid records and other customer information collected, processed, stored, transmitted, or disposed of by the institution. Questions regarding the institution’s information security program may be directed to the Office of Financial Aid. The institution’s privacy policy is available at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/privacy-policy.

Contact information for filing a complaint with the institution’s accrediting agency and with state agencies.

Federal Program Integrity rules issued by the U.S. Department of Education require institutions to provide to students or prospective students contact information needed to file a complaint with the institution’s accrediting agency and with relevant state agencies. This list includes contact information for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It should not be construed as informative of what agencies regulate St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine or in what states the institution is licensed or required to be licensed. That information, along with contact information for our accreditor, can be found in the academic catalog. Contact information for student complaint processes is available from the Office of Financial Aid upon request and posted with the student consumer information at https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/student-consumer-information. In accordance with 34 CFR 668.43(b), SMU will make available for review to any enrolled or prospective student, upon request, a copy of the documents describing the institution’s accreditation and its approvals or licensing.

This document contains the consumer information disclosures applicable to St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine as a foreign institution participating in the Federal Direct Loan Program, under HEA section 485, 34 CFR 668 Subpart D, 34 CFR 600.55, and the November 2018 Federal Register waiver of certain consumer information requirements for foreign institutions. Last reviewed and updated: September 2026, Office of Financial Aid. This document is reviewed annually and updated as federal regulations and institutional policies change.

Honor Code

The personal and professional integrity standard every student agrees to at matriculation.

Students are required to sign an honor code contract prior to matriculation, stating that he/she will maintain a high degree of personal honor and integrity during their medical training. The Student Honor Code is printed in the Student Handbook.

Student Activities

Where to learn about student life and activities.

https://medicine.stmatthews.edu/student-experience

Health and Safety

Institutional health and safety guidance for medical students, including vaccination requirements and clinical precautions.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy

The use, possession or distribution of illegal drugs carries serious penalties. Abuse of alcohol resulting in impaired performance or legal difficulties will be dealt with stringently. St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine recognizes health care professionals are at risk for substance abuse and will attempt to assist any student with substance abuse problems in a rehabilitative manner. The services of a psychiatrist and psychologist are available for such cases.

Vaccination Policy

Diseases you are exposed to in the Hospital or Office include:

• Needle sticks and Blood and Body Fluid Exposures
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• HIV
• Aerosol and Droplet Exposures
• TB
• Measles
• Chickenpox
• Meningococcus
• Pertussis
• Influenza
• Rubella
• Fecal Transmission
• Salmonella
• Shigella
• Cryptosporidiosis
• Enterovirus
• Adenvirus
• Hepatitis A
• Direct Inoculation
• Herpes Simplex
• S. Aureus
• Group A Streptococcus
• EKC (Pink Eye)
• Syphilis
• Scabies

Diseases You Can Transmit to Patients or Other Healthcare Personnel include:

• Respiratory Route
• TB
• Influenza
• Measles
• Chickenpox
• Rubella
• Direct Contact

1) Herpes Simplex2) EKC

• Enteric Infections
• Gram-Negative Bacilli
• S. Aureus
• Drug Resistant Bacteria
• Hepatitis B
• Grp A Strep, Clostridia

Precautions

Wash Your Hands for at least 15 seconds, more is better!

• Hands washed without using a scrub agent will not significantly reduce the numbers of resident organisms (e.g. S. epi, Corynebacteria, P. acnes,) but is effective in removing transient flora such as gram-negative bacilli and S. Aureus.
• Always wash hands between different patients as well as between “clean and dirty” sites on the same patient.
• Always wash hands, and then glove (put on gloves) before inserting or manipulating an intravascular device or any other device, which will enter a sterile body site. Wear a mask too.

Observe Isolation Procedures

• Isolation procedures are based on a large body of scientific work. They come from the CDC, and are based on recommendations from people who are smarter than most of us. They are rational.
• Each isolation category specifies whether gloves, gowns, masks, or goggles are necessary when in close contact with the patient or even entering the room.
• Isolation is intended for appropriate patients whether they are alive or dead. Specimens derived from patients. All specimens taken from isolated patients must be designated as isolation specimens and placed in the appropriate protective bags. The lab must be aware that a specimen is from an isolation patient as body fluids can be hazardous when spilled, splattered or aerosolized in the lab.
• There is a copy of the infection control manual and the isolation category cards at every nursing station refer to them or contact the Hospital’s Epidemiology Department when you have questions.

If you are sick:

• Consult a physician. If you go home, tell the hospital immediately and e-mail to SUSOM. Follow the SUSOM procedures.
• Wear a mask if you’ve have a respiratory illness, go home if you think you have influenza
• Wash your hands a lot.
• If you have a contagious disease or have been exposed to one, the Hospital needs to know. Report it to your supervisor for the particular rotation and tell SUSOM.

Be Careful with Needles

• Do not attempt to recap them.
• Dispose of them (used or un-used) only in the red plastic containers.
• Know where the container is located BEFORE using needles.
• Do not use needle cutters, and do not try to bend or break them yourself.
• Be careful when you are cleaning up after any bedside procedure, e.g. lumbar punctures/spinal taps, thoracentesis, bone marrow aspiration. Do not leave needles under drapes if the nurses are going to clean up for you.
• During blood culturing, there is no need to change needles between the patient and the blood culture bottles.
• Occasionally while in the hospital or clinic, a student is accidentally stuck with a needle potentially contaminated by infectious material. Should this occur you should thoroughly clean the wound immediately and stimulate bleeding. As soon as possible you should inform your supervisor for the particular rotation. An incident report should be filed at the nursing station and a note made in the patient’s chart. Every hospital has a Needle-Stick Policy, ask the nurse in charge for it, and follow it immediately and completely. If you make a decision to not follow the Hospital/clinical site procedures completely, you must sign a waiver at the clinical site, AND tell SUSOM immediately (within 48 hours) so it can be recorded. Failure to notify SUSOM immediately is grounds for dismissal from the school.

Generic Blood and Body Fluid Precautions

• Follow Universal Precautions for Body Fluid Exposure at all times.
• Use disposable, non-sterile gloves whenever you handle blood, urine, sputum, or any other bodily fluid from any patient, or you change dressings or manipulate an IV or a catheter.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

• Safe and Efficacious
• Both Engerix and Recombivax are derived from yeast via gene cloning and are absolutely free of infection risk.
• HBIG (serum derived) is required if exposed without prior vaccine.
• Vaccine is required at this point too.
• Single needle stick exposure to HBeAG+ person will result in 40% chance of clinical Hepatitis B or seroconversion.
• Sequelae of Chronic Carrier state. Chronic Hepatitis Cirrhosis Delta Virus Superinfection Hepatoma Vasculitis
• Limiting your ability to practice your specialty of choice

HIV/AIDS

• Incidence and prevalence in the population continues to be of serious concern.
• HIV transmission has been documented due to occupational exposure, but is unusual. The risk from a needle stick is about 1:300.
• In prospective studies of 1000 unbroken mucous membrane or skin exposures, there has been no documented transmission.
• No HIV transmission occurs with casual contact, nor with fairly intimate but not sexual or parenteral exposure. Recommended isolation procedures are no doubt adequate, but be careful.
• If you’re pregnant, or think you are, no special precautions are needed outside of standard isolation procedures. In general, this would be a situation where generic blood and body fluid precautions should be followed.

Vaccination/Prevention

• In addition to Hepatitis B vaccine, you should receive the appropriate yearly influenza vaccine.
• Measles, Mumps, Chicken Pox, and Rubella serologies are required and a booster is indicated with repeat serology if you are not immune.
• Your TB infection record must be assessed and recorded every year.
• If your TST/PPD (TB Skin Test) is negative, we now mandate a Two Step TST/PPD. If your TB skin test is positive, irrespective whether you received BCG or not, we consider it a ‘positive’ and require a physical exam confirming your good health, and a recent Chest X Ray (CXR).

RESPIRATORY MASK USE AND FITTING

Occasionally, especially when an influenza epidemic is threatening, a hospital asks that a student be certified in mask fitting which means that the student knows what size mask he/she needs and has learned how to don the mask. However, since international medical schools use multiple hospitals for the clinical training of their students, and these hospitals do not all use the same type of mask it is impossible for SUSOM to certify its students. Please read the following for your own education. If you are asked about certification, ask your hospital to assist you in acquiring the certification, and please let SUSOM Clinical Office know.

Voter Registration

Where to find voter registration information for U.S. students.

Information on voter registration in the United States can be found through the United States Election Assistance Commission: https://vote.gov.

Military Leave

The refund treatment for students involuntarily called to active military duty.

If a student receives an involuntary call to active military duty, tuition and fees shall be fully refunded for the current enrollment period, less an administrative fee of $100 and the acceptance deposit.

As a foreign graduate medical school in the Direct Loan Program, the institution reports USMLE pass rates, on-time completion rates, student debt levels, and residency placements to the U.S. Department of Education, which then publishes the data for students.

As a foreign graduate medical school participating in the Federal Direct Loan Program, SMU reports annually to the U.S. Department of Education, on an educational program basis, the data required under 34 CFR 600.55(d) and Dear Colleague Letter GEN-12-20, including: scores earned by students and graduates on Step 1 and Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE); the on-time completion rate for U.S. students; the median and mean federal student loan debt, private education loan debt, and institutional loan debt incurred by U.S. students who completed the medical program; and placements of graduates in U.S. medical residency programs. The Department publishes this information for prospective and enrolled students at: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/st-matthews-university-school-medicine.pdf.

The most recently reported figures, as published by the U.S. Department of Education (April 2020, calendar year 2019), are as follows: fewer than 10 of 18 U.S. students completed the medical program on time, and the Department withheld the on-time completion rate for privacy reasons due to the small cohort size; the mean and median Title IV, private education, and institutional loan debt for U.S. completers are each reported as $0, reflecting that 2019 completers had not borrowed under those programs prior to the institution’s participation in the Federal Direct Loan Program. USMLE pass rates for SMU students and graduates, as published on the same Department data sheet, were 97.29 percent for Step 1, 96.77 percent for Step 2, and 83.33 percent for Step 3 for the reported period. The Department’s published data sheet for SMU is available on StudentAid.gov, and this information is also available upon request from the Office of the Registrar. SMU also collects and submits, to its accrediting body and to the Department upon request, placements of graduates in U.S. medical residency programs for the preceding calendar year.

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department maintains a website with program-level information; access details will be provided once published.

Under 34 CFR 668.43(d), beginning July 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education will maintain a website with information about institutions and their educational programs. The information may include the published length of the program, enrollment, the total cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment, the percentage of enrolled students who borrowed federal or private loans, median loan debt, median earnings, programmatic accreditation, debt-to-earnings rates, and the earnings premium measure. SMU will provide access to the Department’s program information website for SMU on its student consumer information page as soon as the Department makes the website available. SMU will provide this access information to prospective students before the prospective student signs an enrollment agreement, completes registration, or makes a financial commitment to the institution, and to each enrolled Title IV recipient prior to the start of the first payment period associated with each subsequent award year of continued enrollment.

This document contains the consumer information disclosures applicable to St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine, a foreign institution participating in the Federal Direct Loan Program, under HEA section 485, 34 CFR 668 Subpart D, 34 CFR 600.55, and the November 2018 Federal Register waiver of certain consumer information requirements for foreign institutions. Last reviewed and updated: September 2026, Office of Financial Aid. This document is reviewed annually and updated as federal regulations and institutional policies change.