Office of Academic Affairs
About Us
The mission of the Office of Academic Affairs is to plan, support and evaluate all aspects of the predoctoral, postdoctoral and continuing dental education curriculum at NJDS. Areas of activity include ongoing curriculum review, curriculum design and modification, curriculum administration, and academic scheduling, as well as maintaining the individual course grades and syllabi for all postgraduate programs. The Office of Academic Affairs has the principal responsibility for administering the predoctoral dental curriculum as developed by the NJDS Curriculum Committee, as well as the Postgraduate Core Curriculum. Curricula matters with affiliate dental auxiliary programs, other UMDNJ schools and the organization and preparation of reports relating to accreditation are also the responsibility of this office.
Dr. Kim E. Fenesy, Interim Associate Dean
for Academic Affairs
fenesy@umdnj.edu
Jeanette DeCastro, MEd, PhD, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs
decastje@umdnj.edu
Dr. Eileen Hoskin. Acting Director for Academic Affairs
hoskiner@umdnj.edu
Ms. Nadege Dady, MS.Ed., Director of Educational Programs
dadynj@umdnj.edu
Kathy Ryan, Principal Management Assistant
ryanka@umdnj.edu
Ms. Laura Imperiose, Coordinator, Faculty Affairs
imperila@umdnj.edu
Ms. Dolores Koontz, Program Assistant
koontzdo@umdnj.edu
Ms. Gwen Lynch, Staff Assistant
lynchgw@umdnj.edu
Mailing Address
Office of Academic Affairs
UMDNJ- New Jersey Dental School
110 Bergen Street, Suite B812
Newark, NJ 07103
973-972-5040 (fax)
973-972-4440 (phone)
The following falls under the purview of Academic Affairs:
Curriculum
Pre-doctoral DMD Curriculum
Clinical Dentistry Courses
The Office for Academic Affairs is responsible for the Clinical Dentistry courses, which are designed to allow early patient contact. Students become familiar with the policies and procedures of the clinics through numerous rotations in most phases of clinical dentistry.
The Introduction to Clinical Dentistry course is designed to provide freshman dental students with an introduction to clinical dentistry. In five clinical locations, students will be exposed to aspects of clinical practice including: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning, Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. During their rotations students will have the opportunity to assist and/or observe postdoctoral specialty students and pre-doctoral dental students performing dental care. The goal is to familiarize beginning students with clinical procedures in dentistry such as infection control, dental assisting, and management of patient care.
The Clinical Dentistry course, taught in the sophomore year prepares the dental student for the full time care of patients that begins in the junior academic year. Students are rotated to most clinical areas of the dental school, including Diagnostic Science, Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prevention, Prosthodontics, Radiology, and Restorative Dentistry.
During their rotations students have an opportunity to assist with and perform basic clinical procedures.
Selective/Electives
The Office for Academic Affairs manages all selective-elective course offerings. These courses are designed to provide the senior dental student with a variety of choices to expand their knowledge base in particular subjects. Selective courses are offered to senior students during regular lecture hours. Elective courses are offered during regular clinic hours. Students registering for electives which require clinic time must obtain a release from clinic from the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. Since the students taking these courses are exempt from required clinic time, these courses are limited to students in good standing, (good standing is defined as maintaining a 2.0 grade point average with no failures or unsatisfactory performance reports.) Students are required to complete sixty hours of selective courses by the end of the fourth-year spring trimester. Additional hours may be taken if the student’s schedule permits. The aim of this program is to allow the student the opportunity to structure and enhance a segment of the fourth-year curriculum.
The Five Year Program
Recognizing that students learn and assimilate information at varying rates
a Five Year Program was developed which allows a student the opportunity to
successfully complete the four year degree program in five calendar
years. The program is designed so that the schedule of the first two
academic years is expanded into three calendar years; the last two years
are identical to those of the third and fourth year schedule. This program
can be entered no later than the end of the winter trimester of the
freshman year.
International Dentist Program
The International Dentist Program at the New Jersey Dental School is designed to enable qualified dentists educated outside the United States or Canada to earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree following a special twenty-four month didactic and clinical program.
Dual Degree Programs
The Office for Academic Affairs administers the Dual Degree Programs which are listed below. Interested students are encouraged to apply for admission to any of the dual degree programs offered in conjunction with one of our sister schools.
Authorization to pursue one of these dual degree programs MUST be obtained from both the NJDS Office for Academic Affairs and the secondary school prior to enrollment. Enrollment forms are available from the Office for Academic Affairs and MUST be on file in the appropriate offices prior to registration. Enrolled students are subject to all the rules, regulations and policies of each school and will be charged full tuition and fees currently in effect at each school. The dental school reserves the right to monitor the student’s performance in the dual degree program and may deny continued enrollment if warranted by unsatisfactory academic or disciplinary status.
These dual degrees include:
Dual Degree |
Partner School |
Mentor |
DMD/PhD |
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences |
Dr. Gill Diamond, |
DMD/MPH |
School of Public Health |
Dr. Rufus Caine, |
Postdoctoral Curriculum
Advanced Dental Education training is offered at the New Jersey Dental
School in the areas of Endodontics, General Practice, Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry,
Periodontics and Prothodontics. Once enrolled students participate in a two
year core curriculum managed by the Office for Academic Affairs.
Core Curriculum
The Core Curriculum is designed to provide a broad foundation in the
Biomedical Sciences upon which training in postgraduate specialized dental
disciplines is based. The Biomedical Science Core Curriculum meets the
requirements set forth by the American Dental Association for all advanced
dental specialty education. Didactic instruction occurs in a weekly
two-hour seminar during both academic years of the postgraduate
programs.
PROGRAMS
Diagnostic Sciences (Oral Medicine Fellowships and General Practice Residency)
Oral and Maxilliofacial Surgery Residency Program
Master of Dental Science Degree (MDS)
The MDS degree when combined with a two or three year postgraduate certificate program, residency program or clinical post-doctorate program can be completed within the time constraints of the individual program. This degree program is designed for postgraduate students, residents or clinical post-doctorate students interested in pursuing a clinical career from the various Commissions on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited specialty and residency programs at the New Jersey Dental School (see above).
This program is also designed for clinical post-doctorate students interested in pursuing a clinical career in non –CODA accredited programs including:
- Orofacial pain
- Oral Radiology
- Implantology
- Oral Medicine
This program is designed for non-certificate specialty training students desiring a MDS degree.
Master of Science in Dentistry Degree (MSD)
The MSD degree program is designed for postgraduate students and residents interested in pursuing an academic career with a scholarly and research focus from the various CODA accredited specialty and residency programs at New Jersey Dental School.
The MSD degree when combined with a two or three year postgraduate
certificate program, residency program or clinical post-doctorate program
will require 1 additional year after completion of the certificate
program.
The program is designed for clinical post-doctorate students interested in pursuing an academic career with a scholarly and research focus in non-CODA accredited programs including:
- Orofacial pain
- Oral Radiology
- Implantology
- Oral Medicine
This program is designed for non-certificate specialty training students desiring a MSD degree.
Curricular Support
Accommodations
Students who seek accommodations from UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School on the basis of a disability are required to submit a written request for accommodation to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADA/Section 504 Compliance Officer). Students may request accommodations at any time during enrollment should the need for accommodations develop, but must provide sufficient time for the evaluation of such requests as outlined in this policy. Such requests should be submitted by July, prior to an academic year or at such time as a disability develops. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and eligibility will be determined based on the documentation provided.
Advanced Dental Education Applications
The Office for Academic Affairs supervises the student application procedure to advanced dental education programs and residency programs of various kinds offered by educational institutions, hospitals, state agencies, etc. The Office for Academic Affairs assists students and graduates in applying to these programs by preparing “Dean’s Letters of Recommendation” as well as any other information requested by the students/graduates. The Office for Academic Affairs also hosts a “Match Day Reception” each year to celebrate the success of our students’ placement in their desired advanced dental education programs.
Course Syllabi
The Office for Academic Affairs manages the collection and distribution of all pre-doctoral course syllabi to students. The course syllabus includes information about the goals and requirements for each course, schedule of lectures/laboratory, competencies taught and tested to, course content, topic outlines, methods of evaluation and specific departmental policies distributed by course directors at the beginning of each course. Each department determines the manner in which students are examined and the criteria for evaluating performance.
Course Evaluation
The Office for Academic Affairs administers the course evaluations for all
undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Course evaluations provide an
anonymous online survey mechanism for students. Information gathered
helps maintains the quality of our curriculum. Course directors use
the feedback to continually update their courses.
Examination Archive
The Office for Academic Affairs manages the Examination Archive Site.
Examinations in this archive are for informational purposes only and are
intended solely as study aids for students
Committees
The Student Academic Performance Committee (SAPC)
The Student Academic Performance Committee is responsible for recommending policy to the Executive Council relating to the academic and professional performance and progress of students. It meets regularly to review student’s performance and make recommendations for academic action. The committee develops, maintains and upholds the academic regulations for the school. The SAPC will determine whether any academic action is necessary, and the student will be informed of such, in writing, by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, or their designee.
The Curriculum Committee
The management of the pre-doctoral dental curriculum is under the direction of the Curriculum Committee in collaboration with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The evolving nature of health sciences, of dental practice and of our understanding of the adult learning process dictates that the school must have a responsive process that continually stimulates curricular improvement. Charged with the oversight of the pre-doctoral curriculum, the membership of the committee is designed to assure that all constituencies (faculty, students, and administration) have an appropriate voice in the planning, administration and evaluation of the curriculum.
The Master Educator Review Committee
The purpose of the Master Educators’ Guild is to recognize and promote excellence in the University’s educational mission and to contribute to educational scholarship, research and innovation. The goals are to facilitate and support the improvement of educational effectiveness and innovation and conduct scholarly activity. Master educators are chosen by their deans from nominations by their peers, students, other faculty, administrators, and department chairs. University-wide, school based committees annually review and approve nominees, who are inducted as Guild members, ( for a renewable term of five years), each fall at the University Day ceremonies. The Office for Academic Affairs staffs the annual review committee for New Jersey Dental School and manages the overall selection process. Final selection however is made by the Dean of the dental school. Additional information: http://meg.umdnj.edu/
Appointment and Promotion Committee
The committee which consists of five full -time tenured Professors, one full-time tenured Associate Professor, one full-time non-tenured Professor or Associate Professor, and two part-time faculty equal to or greater than.4 and less than .8 FTE with rank of Clinical Professor or Clinical Associate Professor is charged with reviewing and recommending candidates for appointment or promotion to academic rank in the dental school faculty. When appropriate, the committee also recommends tenure for faculty.
The Code Selection Committee
Following an orientation to the Community Oriented Dental Education (CODE) program, review of student academic progress and performance, the Office for Academic Affairs convenes a selection committee that makes the final decision on the list of students that will participate in the CODE program. *Please refer to the CODE program under the Special Program section below for more information about this program.
Special Programs
The Code (Community Oriented Dental Education) Program
The Community Oriented Dental Education program is the New Jersey Dental School’s (NJDS) plan to expand its curriculum beyond dental school walls, thus creating an opportunity for senior dental students to treat patients outside of the school and within the community.
Michael Balbo Dental Expo and Research Day
The Expo is named in honor of Dr. Michael Balbo a faculty member and student advocate who started the Dental Exposition Program to expose students to the many facets of the dental profession. It is a school wide event devoted to research, continuing education, mini-lectures and poster presentations about the most recent technological advances in dentistry. In collaboration with the American Dental Association, the Office for Academic Affairs provides the following lecture series specifically geared toward the dental student .
Smart Start for Freshman
Professional Preview for Sophomores
Advanced Dental Education Program Director Panel for Juniors
Licensure Information Program for Seniors
Academic Calendars and Schedules
The Office for Academic Affairs assembles and distributes the Academic Calendar for each year. It includes the timing of classes for each dental school class, student holidays and vacations and the dates of student activities.
Continuing Dental Education
http://dentalschool.umdnj.edu/CDE/general-information.htm
Faculty Development
The Faculty Development Program