Assesssment of student performance

Academic Success

The mission of the School of Medicine is to provide educational services and programs for medical students who need academic support to improve their academic progress and for students to enhance their academic achievements. Through services provided by the University Academic Success Center and specialized programming provided by the School of Medicine' Office of Teaching and Learning, students are empowered to develop the academic skills and abilities to promote and demonstrate academic excellence.

We are here to help you succeed. At entry students sign the MD Learning Expectations which shows us that they are committed to their own success. Students are empowered to take responsibility for their own learning and educated on where to go for help when they are not demonstrating success in all required competencies.

 

WSUSOM Examination Policies

Examination Policies

  1. Exam materials both written and electronic are property of Wayne State University School of Medicine. Students are not allowed to possess these materials outside of a secure testing facility nor are students allowed to transmit information regarding these materials. Such behavior is considered academic misconduct and may result in a referral to the University Code of Conduct Office.
  2. During the examination process, testing facilities are considered secure, which means that students are not allowed to possess non-permitted items on their person, at their seat, or in the testing facility. All non-permitted items are to be stored in a student's locker. Items are NOT to be stored in the examination facility or adjacent hallway during the examination process. Storage of these materials on the floor constitutes a fire hazard and not allowed. Permitted and non-permitted items include the following:
    1. Permitted Materials
      1. Exam packet (envelope, exam booklet, scantron, images), if applicable
      2. A non-alarmed watch
      3. Pencils
      4. Erasers
      5. WSU student ID
      6. Earplugs
      7. Beverage
      8. Wallet or Purse "" However, these items must be stored in your pocket or under the seat.
    2. Non-Permitted Materials
      1. Large/bulky coats
      2. Backpacks, satchels, luggage or briefcases
      3. Food "" Students are not allowed to consume food in the testing facility during an exam.
      4. Reference materials (e.g., books, notes, papers)
      5. Scrap paper or paper for taking notes.
      6. Electronic devices that can transmit, store, or receive information including but not limited to cellular phones, pagers, cameras, video recorders, laptops, ipads, ipods or electronic organizers.
      7. Hats and hoods "" Students wearing brimmed hats must remove them or turn them backwards. Students wearing hoods must remove them. Students are permitted to wear religious or cultural head attire (e.g., turban, hijab, yarmulke) as long as it does not interfere with the examination process.
    3. The length of all WSUSOM internally developed exams is based on the number of items (i.e., questions). For each item, 1.2 minutes is allotted plus an additional 10 minutes for citations. The total length of the exam is rounded up to the next minute. The length of external exams (e.g., NBME sponsored exams) and laboratory exams might be different.
    4. The official start time of all WSUSOM exams is defined in the class calendar. Students will be allowed into the testing facility 20 minutes prior to the start of each exam. The exam will begin with the reading of instructions at the designated start time.
    5. Students that show up after the start of the exam are not allowed to sit for the exam at that time. Proctors will inform the student that they must report to their counselor in the Office of Student Affairs to request an excused absence. If the counselor grants an excused absence, the student will take the exam on the next scheduled make-up date, which is also posted on the logistics memo sent out by Testing Services. This policy applies to students taking exams under regular testing conditions and to those receiving testing accommodations.

 

Types of Examinations

There are two types of examinations: non-promotional and promotional. Non-promotional examinations are used solely to allow students to assess their understanding of the material. The purpose of promotional examinations is to determine whether students have acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to pass the course/clerkship. The School uses protected exams for promotional examinations, which will not be returned to students. Students are not permitted to copy and/or share information regarding the content of protected examinations.

Examinations could include items from material covered in lecture notes, required readings, laboratories, and online assignments. The examinations may be purchased or developed by the course director. There will be promotional examinations in:


Year
Subject(s)
Year 1: Gross Anatomy, Histology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Clinical Nutrition, Neurosciences, Medical Genetics, Population, Physician and Patient (P3)
Year 2: Immunology/Microbiology/Infectious Disease, Psychiatry, Pathobiology, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, Clinical Medicine 2 with Physical Diagnosis
Year 3: Family Medicine, Medicine, Pediatrics, Neurology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery
Year 4: Emergency Medicine

The examination schedule, including make-up examinations, and remedial examinations is determined by the Director of Assessment and Medical Education Research in consultation with the Assistant Dean for Pre-Clerkship Education (Years 1 and 2) or the Assistant Dean for Clinical Education (Year 3 and 4).
 

Absence from an Exam

In some instances it might not be possible for a student to be present for an examination due to either a serious health problem or other unavoidable circumstances. It is at the discretion of the student's counselor in the Office of Student Affairs to grant or deny an excused absence for an examination. An excused absence permits the student to take a make-up examination at the scheduled make-up date. See section on Excused Absences for further information.

 

Make-Up Examinations

An examination of comparable content is administered to students who have an excused absence. The examination is not returned to the student. At the time of the make-up or re-examination, the item citation process has concluded, therefore students taking these exams cannot participate in the item citation process.

For Years 1 and 2 there are scheduled make-up examinations times approximately on a monthly basis. Refer to the Curriculum Guide for the specific dates. All make-up examinations must be completed in a timely manner. Once a new course has started, missing exams from a previous course must be prioritized and taken first in the exam make-up schedule. Students are automatically scheduled for the next make-up examination time, but may, at the discretion of the Assistant Dean for Pre-Clerkship Education, be granted a customized make-up exam schedule to complete courses in a timely manner only under extenuating circumstances.

For year 3 each specialty department allows special designated testing dates for missed clerkship examinations. The exact dates for scheduled make up examinations are established by the Director of Assessment in consultation with the Assistant Dean of Clinical Education.

 

Academic Dishonesty Regarding Examinations

Disruptive Behavior During Examinations

A student engaging in disruptive behavior (i.e. behavior that interferes with the testing environment of other examinees) will receive a verbal warning. If the disruptive behavior continues, the student will be escorted to the Office of Student Affairs. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in consultation with the appropriate education assistant dean (Pre-Clinical or clinical) will be responsible for evaluating and deciding appropriate next steps for a student who has engaged in disruptive behavior during examinations.

Disruptive Behavior in Course-Related or Clinical Activity

A student engaging in disruptive behavior (i.e. behavior that interferes with the educational or clinical environment of other students, faculty or employees at a clinical site) will receive a verbal warning. If the disruptive behavior continues, the student should be referred to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs will be responsible for evaluating and deciding appropriate next steps for a student who has engaged in disruptive behavior in a course-related or clinical setting.

Academic Misconduct

Irregular Behavior During Examinations

Academic misconduct includes all actions or attempted actions on the part of a student that would or could subvert the examination process. Examples of irregular behavior include, but are not limited to:

  • Failing to comply with any testing policy, procedure, rule, and/or instruction of a proctor
  • Providing specific information regarding the content of examination to any other student
  • Seeking and/or obtaining specific information about the content of an examination from another student
  • Seeking and/or obtaining access to examination materials prior to the administration of an examination
  • Theft of examination materials
  • Impersonation of a student or engaging a proxy to take the examination
  • Copying answers from another student
  • Allowing another student to copy your answers
  • Possessing unauthorized materials during an examination
  • Making notes of any kind during the examination except in the test booklet
  • Taking photos of test materials
  • Reconstruction of test content through memorization
  • Altering or misrepresenting examination scores
  • Continuing to bubble in or erase an answer sheet after time is called
  • Failure to report suspected or actual irregular test-related behavior or cheating of fellow students

A student observed or reported to have engaged in Irregular Behavior during an examination will be escorted to the Assistant Dean for Pre-Clerkship Education or the Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, as appropriate.

The Assistant Dean for Pre-Clerkship Education or the Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, in consultation with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, will be responsible for evaluating and deciding appropriate next steps for a student who has engaged in Irregular Behavior during an examination. To the extent such Irregular Behavior falls under the umbrella of Cheating, it will be handled pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct as discussed below.

Cheating

A student whose behavior gives the appearance of cheating (e.g., who appears to be looking at another student's answer sheet, examination booklet, or computer monitor) may be moved to a different seat for the remainder of the examination. Failure to move when requested will result in the collection of the examination and a zero for the exam.

A student observed to be cheating during the examination will be escorted to the Office of Student Affairs and reported to the Assistant Dean for Pre-Clerkship Education or the Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, as appropriate. Other forms of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism) will also be reported.

All forms of cheating or plagiarism constitute "academic misbehavior" under the Student Code of Conduct and will be handled pursuant to the procedures set forth in SCOC.

 

Student Access to Health Care Services Policy

Absences related to healthcare may be considered "excused absences" when procedures for reporting are followed. The procedure for reporting of health care absences can be located in the curriculum guide for their academic year. Students are expected to attend all required sessions and should schedule healthcare appointments outside of required curricular activities or courses to the extent possible.

Students have a right to privacy when seeking care. Students need not disclose the specific type of healthcare that is being sought. Additionally, a student's decision to seek healthcare during a required curricular activity or course will have no impact on his or her performance evaluation.

 

Excused Absences

The authority to grant or deny an excused absence is the responsibility of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, and by delegation to the student's counselor.

An excused absence does not mean that a student is excused from an activity (examinations and other required activities), but rather the student will be allowed to make-up the activity. Excused absences are granted the day of the activity and are based upon an unforeseen circumstance preventing the student from participating. All excused absence requires appropriate documentation.

Students cannot be granted a retroactive excused absence to set aside the results of an examination, nor can the result of an objective examination be appealed to a course or clerkship director. Students who get sick during an examination, and bring it to the attention of a testing proctor, will be handled on an individual basis.

Limit on Number of Excused Absences

Due to the intense nature of the requirements for academic progression with the medical education curriculum, no more than 6 excused absences from examinations (including make-up exams) will be granted in a given academic year.

Excused absences will be monitored and students who fall 3 exams behind or have more 6 requests for an excused absence in an academic year must meet with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs for evaluation of their status. Depending on the evaluation of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, the student may be placed on an administrative leave of absence or may be referred to the Promotions Committee.

Illness

A student who is ill on the day of an examination or other required activity, and who is unable to participate in the activity is required to contact the Office of Student Affairs prior to the start of the activity. The nature of the illness needs to be specified and an excused absence requested. An excused absence for illness will not be granted unless the student obtains a medical verification note from an appropriate health care provider. This note must be provided to the Office of Student Affairs as soon as the student is medically able to return to school. A student may not obtain a medical verification note from a healthcare provider who is a member of his/her family.

Religious Holidays

Because of the extraordinary variety of religious affiliations of the University student body and staff, the SOM Academic Calendar makes no provisions for religious holidays. However, it is University policy to respect the faith and religious obligations of the individual. Requests for an excused absence from an exam must be made through the Office of Student Affairs. Students whose classes, clerkships or electives conflict with their major religious holidays are expected to submit in writing their request for time away due to religious holidays to the course, clerkship or elective director on the first day of the course, clerkship or elective, with a copy of the request forwarded to his/her counselor.

Unexcused Absences

Failure to take a scheduled examination or required activity, without being granted an excused absence, will result in a score of zero (0) for the examination or activity. The consequences of all absences (unexcused as well as excused absences) from non-examination activities are determined by course directors as specified in the course syllabi.

 

Completion of Courses in a Timely Manner

It is expected that courses will be completed in a timely manner. In order to assist students, we will create a customized exam schedule for students that miss regularly scheduled make-up exams. All course work including examinations must be complete within thirty (30) calendar days of the course end date (defined as the date of the last exam) or prior to the start of the summer re-exam schedule, whichever comes first. Students not complying with the policy may be placed on a leave of absence and their status to return to course work will be evaluated by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.