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OMS III Elective Research Rotations

The Heritage College encourages research and scholarly activity and facilitates opportunities for students to conduct research through both academic credit (curricular) and non-credit (non-curricular or extracurricular) mechanisms. Whereas the focus for OMS IIIs should be on required clinical rotations, many students have expressed an interest in scheduling a 4-week elective research rotation (OCOM 8944) during Year 3.

As the transition to the required clinical rotations is new and sometimes challenging, Heritage College students are typically encouraged to engage in elective research rotations only during Summer and Fall of their fourth year.

Nonetheless, we understand and appreciate that students may have ongoing projects that they desire to continue developing during Years 3 and 4. As such, and under certain circumstances, a student may be able to request an elective research rotation in Spring Semester of their third year. OMS III students who have an approved elective research rotation during Year 3 will be choosing a research elective instead of a clinical elective.

To be considered for an elective research rotation, students must be in good academic and professional standing, with no Code of Professional Standards violations on record as determined by the Office of Research and Grants.

The following guidelines are provided for students and their APAs interested in scheduling an elective research rotation during Spring 2026.

1. Requesting an Elective Research Rotation

To request an OCOM 8944 (Original Research) elective research rotation, students must have a specific, established project, a firm commitment from their mentor, and defined goals for the research rotation. Permission will not be granted to 鈥渉old鈥� a research block open in anticipation of identifying a research project later. The exact project and mentor must be known prior to requesting an elective research rotation.

2. Rotation Location

Students must complete their elective research rotation in the state of Ohio. Permission will not be granted for out-of-state rotations.

3. Time Commitment Required

Students and mentors must commit to a specific 4-week block listed below so that it can be prescheduled around required clinical rotations. 

4. Research Rotation Request Process

The student, after consultation with their APA, must submit the basic details of their plan (outlined below) to the Student Portal in Salesforce for review and provisional approval by the Heritage College Office of Research and Grants.

• Required Information/Details (to be submitted to the Student Portal in Salesforce)
  • Project Title
  • Mentor Name, Institution, and Email Address
  • Firm commitment from the mentor in the form of a letter or email, including the project title, their willingness to serve as your mentor for the rotation, and the top three date choices based on blocks outlined below.
  • Defined goals/deliverables of the research rotation
  • Draft timeline of activities in which the student will engage during the four-week rotation.
• The deadline to make the commitment for an elective research rotation in Year 3 is January 7, 2025.
• During Year 3, elective research rotations may only be scheduled during blocks 7-11. The student and mentor must indicate the top three preferred blocks, from the options provided below, for the Year 3 Research Elective to occur. The APA must also be consulted to approve the rank list as there could be required rotation availability restrictions.
  • Block 7: 2/9/2026 - 3/8/2026
  • Block 8: 3/9/2026 - 4/5/2026
  • Block 9: 4/6/2026 - 5/3/2026
  • Block 10: 5/4/2026 - 5/31/2026
  • Block 11: 6/1/2026 - 6/28/2026

5. Confirmation of Research Block

APAs will communicate with students prior to July 1, 2025, to confirm their elective research rotation block.

6. Review and Final Approval

Final details of the research project, including a final description of deliverables on which you will be graded, must be submitted to the Student Portal in Salesforce no later than 60 days prior to the start date of the elective research rotation for review and final approval by the Heritage College Office of Research and Grants. The student and APA will receive an email from the Salesforce Student Portal as a reminder to complete this requirement, but it is the student鈥檚 responsibility to meet the deadline to apply for full approval of the Year 3 research rotation. Final approval of the elective research rotation may not be granted if these items are not submitted by the deadline.

7. Research Rotation Syllabi

The OCOM 8944 (Original Research) syllabus will be utilized for Year 3 Spring elective research rotations. 

8. Questions Regarding Research Rotations

Any questions regarding research rotations should be directed to the Heritage College Office of Research and Grants.

OMS IV Elective Research Rotations

Many students desire to conduct research during the clinical training years but do not have a specific project identified. The Heritage College encourages these students to seek out research and scholarly opportunities while on clinical rotations during Year 3. Discuss with the mentor about the possibility of an elective research rotation for credit during Year 4. Once the student has advanced to Year 4 standing, they can schedule a research rotation anytime during Summer and Fall Semesters of Year 4. Special permission is required to conduct research during Spring Semester of Year 4 due to upcoming graduation deadlines. Students are reminded there is a limit of 12 weeks of non-clinical electives allowed during the clinical education years.

Contact the Heritage College Office of Research and Grants to discuss research rotation options in Year 4.