Academic Success Initiative

It is the Medical School's desire to see that each student has every opportunity to succeed. Important resources in this regard are Faculty Advisors and Academic Counseling Teams (ACT). 
 
The Basic Science Faculty Advisor
a.  The Basic Science faculty advisor has the responsibility for monitoring advisees' academic progress. The advisor can play a valuable role in helping students proactively identify and address evolving academic problems before these problems develop into serious academic difficulties.  He/she will be available to discuss issues such as group skills and group process, curricular matters, study strategies, academic performance and professionalism issues. 

b.  The goal of the basic science faculty advisor is to foster a collegial helping relationship with their advisees that results in the facilitation of a student's learning and successful progression through the first two years of the curriculum. 

c. Each incoming freshman medical student will be assigned an advisor from basic science faculty who are involved in the Biomedical Problem Program (BMP).  A goal of the academic advising system is to prevent a student from falling into academic difficulty through early assessment and intervention.  The advisor will serve as resources for information and guidance on academic issues, as well as other issues related to medical education as requested by the student. 

d. Students are required to meet with their advisor regularly to discuss their academic performance.  Advisors will have access to advisees' academic records for the purposes of academic counseling.  The student will have an initial meeting with their advisor during the first week of medical school.  Sign up sheets for appointment times will be available on the doors of the respective faculty.   Other mandatory meetings will occur in the middle of Phase A, beginning of Phase B, in the middle of phase B, and once each phase thereafter. 

e. If a student fails an examination, they will be required to meet with the individuals assigned to serve on their Academic Counseling Team (see below), as well as the Student Affairs Dean.

f. Students may initiate a request to be assigned a different faculty advisor at any time upon request through the Students Affairs Dean. 

Academic Counseling Team (ACT)
If a student fails an examination an Academic Counseling Team (ACT) will be formed composed of the student's basic science advisor and a member of Student Academic Counseling Committee (SACC).  The goal of the ACT is to provide prompt and effective interventions to correct departures from good academic health.  Once a student fails an examination the ACT will follow that student's academic progress for the remainder of the year. 

Clinical Years Mentor
At the end of the second year of the curriculum students will be appointed a Clinical Faculty Mentor.  The clinical mentor's role includes fostering professional development, elective selection, academic and career guidance.  Students are encouraged to seek out additional clinical mentors as well, from specific specialties of interest.  As with the BMP Faculty Advisor, the student may request a different clinical mentor at any time upon request through the Office of Student Affairs.