Medical Student Handbook

Use of Assessment Data

Table of Contents Handbook Homepage POLICIES & GUIDELINES - Privacy & Access to Academic Records - Disabilities Technical Standards Policy - Assistance for Individual w/Disabilities - ADA Ombudsperson - Mistreatment of Medical Students - Sexual Harassment - Assessment Data - Religious Observance - The U.S. Medical Licensing Examination - Alcohol Use On School of Medicine Property - Impairment Due to Substance Abuse - Self Disclosure in the Course of Learning - Confidentiality - Teaching Exercises with Student Subjects - Video Equipment Use - Regulatory, Health and Other Requirements --- Infection Control --- In-Service Education Competency Exam --- Certification in Use of Clinical Information System --- Medical Student CPR Certification --- University Health Requirements MD Student Responsibility, Conduct, & Academic Policies ACADEMIC ISSUES - Verification of Eligibility for Matriculation - Verification of Academic Credentials - Completion of Required Experiences - Remedial Work - Completion of Academic Deficiencies - Grading Policy up to Class of 2002 - Double Helix Grading Policy - Student Assessment Guide --- Comprehensive Assessments - MD with Distinction - AOA and Dean's Letter Rankings - In-Depth Experience - Plagiarism - Absences from Classes & Academic Responsibilities - Policy on Time Away From Clerkships - Class Attendance - Leaves of Absence - Year-Out Fellowships - Drop/Add Deadline Policy SUPPORT SERVICES - Academic Support Services - University Health Service - Counseling and Mental Health Services - Chaplain's Office - Division of Medical Informatics - Women in Science, Dentistry & Medicine (WISDM) - Assistance for Pregnant Medical Students - Miner Library ADVISING & STUDENT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS - Advisory Dean Program - Student Enrichment Programs - Student-Sponsored Symposium CONSUMER & LEGAL ASSISTANCE - Integrity Hotline - University Housing - Executing Legal Documents - Consumer and Legal Assistance OFFICES FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION - Medical Education - Student Services Center - Advisory Deans - Student Affairs Office - Registrar's Office - Financial Aid Office - Bursar's Office - Office for Ethnic & Multicultural Affairs - Admissions Office - Medical Alumni Affairs - Student Enrichment Programs - Graduate Studies - Offices for Educational Research - Curricular Affairs Office - Facilities for Students - Student Computing DOUBLE HELIX CURRICULUM MEDICAL EDUCATION OBJECTIVES

With the implementation of the new Double Helix Curriculum, a new system of curriculum and faculty assessment will be phased in. An Assessment Advisory Committee composed of both student and faculty representatives will be involved in the development and implementation of a centralized assessment system for the curriculum and faculty teaching. Thus the current policies described below will very likely undergo revision.

Student Confidentiality

Students are assured all data they provide to the Curricular Affairs Office is confidential, and that reports based on their feedback will not be released to course directors until grades have been registered.

Sharing Feedback About Faculty

Reports based on student feedback about teaching faculty can be shared only with course directors, the faculty in question and his/her department chair/division chief, and committees that consider special awards and honors, promotion and tenure. Any other feedback about faculty that is shared for the purposes of improving courses or other reasons must be general in nature and not permit identification of individual faculty.

Ownership Of Data

Assessment data are the property of the Curricular Affairs Office/Offices for Medical Education whose members along with other faculty may conduct research on questions of interest in the data.

Access To Data

Research is the only legitimate purpose for which confidential curriculum evaluation data can be released other than the reasons enumerated above under "Sharing Student Feedback." All requests for use of the data should be accompanied by a written research proposal that outlines the study methodology.

This proposal will be reviewed by the Curricular Affairs Office. If more than one request is received for use of the same or similar data, the Curricular Affairs Office will inform the parties of the multiple requests and suggest that they collaborate in their research. If a proposal is approved, the researchers also need to obtain approval from the institution's Human Subjects Review Board.

Collecting Data From Medical Students

All requests for collecting data from University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry medical students need to be submitted to the Curricular Affairs Office to be reviewed and where appropriate, referred to the institution's Human Subjects Review Board. This includes questionnaires developed by medical students, faculty, and researchers outside the Medical School.

Student Participation In The Evaluation Of Faculty And Curriculum

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry has a history of valuing student feedback and a record of commitment to improving the educational environment. Students' views on the educational process provide much of the data used to assess courses and faculty. Thus, it is critical to our effort to improve the quality of assessment data that ALL students take this responsibility seriously and participate in this process. As stated in the admissions brochure, "We expect students to treat the educational enterprise with the same seriousness of purpose that we all treat patient care and research, and participation in curricular innovation and in the outcome studies to determine which innovations are most effective is an integral part of the students' role." Participation in the course and faculty assessment process is therefore required.