Policies
Overview of Curricular Philosophy
In the fall of 2001, UCSF introduced an innovative medical curriculum
focusing on student-centered learning. The school transformed the conventional
pre-clinical educational experience for medical students-one characterized
by 40 hours a week of learning in large group lectures and labs-by limiting
hours spent in the classroom and emphasizing active learning settings,
case-based integration and multidisciplinary teaching.
To this end, half of all instruction in the first two years at UCSF occurs
in small group sessions in which students teaching to and learning from
their peers, under faculty guidance. The small group approach focuses
on essential, clinically relevant material and enhancing the efficiency
of learning. Students comprehend, remember and apply their learning more
effectively with active participation and collaborative learning. This
gain in efficacy permits limiting formal instruction to about 24 hours
per week, thereby increasing opportunities for self-directed study.
The small group model affords students greater freedom, both in how they
learn and in time set aside for self-directed education. With this opportunity
comes greater responsibility as well, for each student must manage his
or her professional stake in learning. The Essential Core assumes professional
behavior among students as a fundamental principle, and tremendous resources
are invested on behalf of students' learning. The policies that follow
have been developed within this context of student maturity and institutional
respect.
Read the Policy Highlights
Full Text of Participation & Attendance Policy
(Adapted from the policy approved in 2002 by Harvard Medical School)
Policy Overview
UCSF School of Medicine (UCSF SOM) requires every student pursuing the
degree of Doctor of Medicine to be responsible for meeting the school's
expectations regarding attendance in all aspects of the curriculum. Unlike
many undergraduate institutions, where attendance is typically flexible
and the evaluations of mastery are focused on a limited number of discrete
measures (writing of papers, exams, etc.), UCSF SOM, as a professional
school, operates under a unique contract with society in which students
are required to attend and participate directly in all components of the
core educational program. This contract is specified by three sources:
the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (the national organization
responsible for the accreditation of medical schools in the U.S.), the
California Medical Board (which has very specific requirements regarding
the minimum scope and duration of the curriculum for subsequent licensing),
and the UCSF SOM Committee on Curriculum and Educational Policy (which
is responsible for defining the philosophy and content of the M.D. curriculum).
Although UCSF SOM utilizes the writing of papers and examinations, including
examinations by licensing boards, as important elements of the curriculum,
the school does not consider the passing of examinations equivalent to
having attended medical school. When the school confers the M.D. degree,
the faculty is attesting not only that the student has achieved a level
of competency as measured by performance on tests, but that the student
has shown a commitment to professional responsibility and has also participated
in the entire educational experience that is defined by the curriculum.
The medical school acknowledges that unpredictable events affecting attendance
can and do occur. When these situations (such as medical emergencies,
important changes in life circumstances, parenting issues, etc.) arise,
the school will always work with the student to find a solution. As soon
as a student becomes aware of a situation that might affect fulfilling
course obligations and attendance requirements, or influence the course
of study, it is the responsibility of the student to consult promptly
with his/her Course Directors and with the Office of Curricular Affairs
(OCA).
Participation in the medical school curriculum is considered by the medical
school as one aspect of a student's commitment to the learning of medicine
and evidence for an understanding and mastery of professional responsibility.
Attendance and participation will be assessed throughout all four years
of the UCSF SOM curriculum and contribute to students' overall performance
record, which are summarized and documented in the Medical Student Performance
Evaluation (MSPE, aka the "Dean's letter"). Particular strengths
will be recognized, and chronic, recurring or egregious problems will
be addressed. Thus, non-compliance with the school's participation and
attendance policy as described herein will have consequences that are
reflected in a student's academic record. These consequences may include:
an unsatisfactory grade on the basis of attendance, required make-up work
or repeating of a course, documentation in the summative comments section
of a course evaluation, or comments in the MSPE attesting to any unprofessional
behavior.
The following sections provide more detail regarding participation and
attendance policies as those specific to the various components of the
Essential Core and Clinical Studies curricula. In some circumstances,
course/clerkship directors may specify attendance requirements particular
to their course/clerkship.
General Policies Applicable to Both the Essential
Core and Clinical Studies Curricula
The courses in the Essential Core and Clinical Studies curricula are
a complex mix of teaching venues and techniques through which the medical
school strives to maximize the student's ability to achieve defined educational
objectives. Teaching, learning and assessment occur in lectures, labs,
small groups, medium sized groups, with patients, without patients, as
part of a team or solo, sometimes with hands-on exercises, on campus,
off campus, with computers, without computers, in practice and hospital
settings etc. Each of these represents a major investment of faculty time
and effort, and to varying degrees requires not only student preparation
but also participation to be effective. A student's preparation and participation
are thus essential to the success of the curriculum and also affect the
learning of his or her classmates. Students are expected to be present,
to be prepared, and to be on time.
1. Vacation Periods
Students are not allowed to extend vacations beyond the periods specified
by the official academic calendar.
2. Classes and other Venues Involving Patient Participation
When a patient is part of the learning experience, students are strongly
encouraged to attend all large group classes, and are required to attend
all other course offerings such as clinics, preceptorships etc. Patients
typically rearrange their own schedules (including missing work or school)
to be available for teaching purposes, and they almost always choose to
participate because they see this as an opportunity to transform their
own misfortune and suffering into something of benefit to others, i.e.
the education of future physicians. Students should consider these scheduled
events with patients as would a practicing physician who is responsible
for caring for his or her own patients: students are expected to arrive
on time, to stay with the patient for the scheduled time, and to behave
in a professional manner.
3. Accommodations for Religious Practices
The UCSF SOM policy on religious observations follows that specified by
the University of California and published by the Office of the Registrar
which states that any student in an educational institution who is unable,
because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate
in any examination, study or work requirement on a particular day shall
be excused from any such examination, study or work requirement. The student
shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study
or work requirement that s/he may have missed because of such absence
on any particular day, provided that such makeup examination or work does
not create an unreasonable burden upon the school. The school expects
students to use careful discretion in judging the importance of a particular
observance. It is the responsibility of the student to inform his/her
course director well in advance as to whether or not s/he will be absent
due to a particular religious observance.
Specific Policies Applying to the Essential Core Curriculum
Small group participation:
These sessions provide a unique opportunity for collaborative and inter-dependent
learning, and the medical school considers the experience of working in
pre-established groups as an essential component of professional education
in medicine. For these reasons, attendance and participation in small
groups is required of every student. Unexcused absences will affect the
overall assessment of a student's professional behavior and may be reflected
in course evaluations and the MSPE. Small group faculty are expected to
keep track of students' attendance and participation. Unexcused absences
are reported to the Course Directors, who will forward this information
to the OCA. This information is tracked across the Essential Core block
courses, and will be considered in discussions by the First- and Second-Year
Screening Committees, the faculty committees that review student performance.
Excused absences:
A student who needs to miss scheduled/required activities must request
approval in advance* directly from the Course Directors (EC block course
and FPC). All requests for any excused absences must be made as far in
advance as possible, with a minimum of THREE business days. The request must be made using the
online submission form in iROCKET. Using this form will ensure that student
requests reach all course directors and administrators. Individual small
group leaders are not authorized to approve absences. The Course Directors
make the ultimate decision, and convey it in writing to the student and
to relevant course faculty. Illness and other personal or family emergencies
will obviously be handled in a different time frame, but with the same
process, i.e. requests for approval of absences due to illness and other
personal or family emergencies must be made using the online submission
form in iROCKET, even if the submission is made after the small group
session occurs.
Students may request up to 3 days per year for "discretionary"
absences. Family events (weddings, graduations etc.) and extension of
time at professional meetings will generally be expected to be covered
by the "discretionary" days. Beyond these 3 "discretionary"
days, students' requests for excused absences must meet the guidelines
listed in the exam policy (see below).
There are several important limitations to excused absences, discretionary
or otherwise:
1) excused absences will not be granted to "bookend" any official
school vacations or holidays (including 3-day weekends);
2) as part of the advance communications, students are responsible for
determining any contributions to missed group(s) that might be required
in advance, or work that will need to be made up. 3) The curriculum contains
several categories of unique small group sessions that are not feasible
to recreate (PBL, Foundations groups, preceptorships, simulator sessions).
Where possible, student swapping and rescheduling is supported, with timely
communications required that include all parties involved. Otherwise,
such sessions are not eligible for "excused" absences.
*Illness and other personal or family emergencies will obviously be handled
in a different time frame, but with the same process.
Labs:
In general, and when not otherwise specified, attendance in labs is expected.
However, the attendance policy for labs, and for any group exercises that
are not structured with inter-dependent learning, is subject to Course
Director discretion. Each course director will confirm these guidelines
clearly, conveying them to students at the beginning of the course and
in the course syllabus.
Large group sessions/lectures:
Attendance at large group sessions/lectures is anticipated of all students.
However, when patients are part of such learning experiences, attendance
is strongly encouraged. Timely arrival is required. Although white coats
are not necessary, it is expected that attire be neat, clean, and would
be deemed appropriate by patients. Students should also refrain from eating
and drinking during these sessions.
Exam Policy
Students will be allowed to reschedule exams only with the permission
of the course director and for the following reasons: documented illness,
approved personal or family emergency, approved professional commitment
or approved religious observance.
Students with unexcused absences from exams will not be eligible to take
makeup exams.
A student who is unable to take an exam because of illness or personal
or family emergency should notify one of the course directors by telephone
before the exam, and receive permission to reschedule. A student who wishes
to reschedule an exam to meet a professional commitment, such as a scientific
meeting,
or for a religious observance
must contact the course director at least three weeks in advance
of the regularly scheduled exam. Read the full
text of the grading and examination policy.
Adopted September 2003
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