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College of Veterinary Medicine

Clinical Rotations – Block Change Process

In their Clinical Year, DVM students can make up to FOUR (4) minor changes to their clinical schedule using the Block Change Process.

The Block Change Process

Rules and Regulations

  • Students are allowed a maximum of FOUR (4) block changes during their Clinical Year
  • Block changes must be made at least TWO (2) BLOCKS PRIOR
    • Students will NOT be permitted to make block changes less than two blocks prior unless in emergency situations
  • If the course requires Instructor Approval, the student must receive this permission in writing and send it to the Clinical Year Program Manager before the block change can be made
  • Block changes CANNOT:
    • Drop a student from a required course that would impact their ability to graduate
    • Drop a block below minimum OR exceed the block maximum

The Process

Four Checkpoints

All Block Changes are made in the Medtrics system. Click here for step-by-step instructions.

To make sure that a block change is possible, review the Four Checkpoints:

Checkpoint 1: Does This Change Impact the Max/Min of the Block?

Block changes cannot drop a block below the minimum or make a block exceed the maximum number of students. The maximum/minimum limits are set by clinicians to determine the number needed for the service to function.

Instructions on how to view rotation availability can be found here.

If the block change you’re wanting to make would drop a block BELOW the minimum, it cannot be made. If the block change you’re wanting to make would push a block ABOVE the maximum, it cannot be made.

Checkpoint 2: Are You Within the Deadline?

Block changes must be made at least TWO (2) BLOCKS PRIOR.

  • Students will NOT be permitted to make block changes less than two blocks prior unless in emergency situations.
Checkpoint 3: Does This Change Impact Your Requirements?

If the block change drops a student from their focus area or graduation requirements, the block change will not be approved.

  • Focus Area Requirements
  • Graduation Requirements
    • 43 clinical credits required (40 credits of clinical rotations; 3 credits of Clinical Conference)
    • Students are not allowed to schedule all four (4) vacation blocks as three-week blocks, as that would drop them below the required number of clinical training weeks
Checkpoint 4: Does This Change Require Instructor Approval and/or a Prerequisite?

Instructor Approval: if a course requires Instructor Approval, the student must contact the course coordinator to request approval and email it to the Clinical Year Program Manager (cvm-clinicalcoordinator@ncsu.edu) BEFORE the block change can be made.

  • To see if a course requires Instructor Approval:

Prerequisite: if a course requires a prerequisite (example: VMC 996: Adv. Exotic Animal Medicine requires the prerequisite VMC 988: Exotic Animal Medicine), students must register the prerequisite BEFORE they can register the advanced course.

  • To see if a course requires a prerequisite:

If you pass all four checkpoints, you can submit a Change Request Form in Medtrics. Instructions on how to do so are available here.