Welcome to the In the Loop newsletter, an initiative of the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Office of Assessment, Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement.

As a champion of continuous quality improvement, your medical school has benefited greatly from the feedback of students and other stakeholders the last several years. This feedback has been instrumental in driving positive change.

In the Loop aims to keep you informed about these important updates and changes, and the successes we’ve achieved together.

This month’s issue covers an element in the School of Medicine’s Liaison Committee on Medical Education accreditation related to academic advising and academic counseling (LCME Element 11.1). This will specifically cover Segment 1 with information provided by Paul Walker, Ph.D., assistant dean of Basic Foundational Science.

How are at-risk students identified before receiving a failing grade? 

Each 11-week Human Body Foundations course of the M1 Segment features two summative exams during week three and six. Students who achieve less than 75% correct on an exam are identified for academic assistance as early as week four of the course and help continues throughout the segment until the students demonstrate they are no longer at high risk of course failure (greater than 75%). 

Can you describe the types of assistance available to students? 

The available assistance falls into three overarching categories: content master, learning strategies and student wellness. 

Content mastery: Students identified as “at-risk” (less than 75%) following an exam are contacted by the M1 Segment director or designee to schedule an in-person meeting with faculty content experts to review and discuss each question answered incorrectly on the exam. The faculty selected to participate are experienced in recognizing and discussing gaps in student knowledge, key items in the question to avoid misinterpretation and other items designed to improve student performance on exams. 

Learning strategies: The School of Medicine’s Office of Learning and Teaching is poised to reach out to and work with students to introduce strategies designed to improve learning and retention of complex material. Topics include time management, resources to accelerate learning and retention, active learning strategies, etc. 

A tutorial assistance program designed and run by the Office of Learning and Teaching also is available to all M.D. students, with priority given to students identified as at-risk after exams. There is a link on OLT’s Near-Peer Teaching Program’s website that students can use to schedule sessions with M3 and M4 student tutors. 

Student wellness: Class counselors in the School of Medicine’s Office of Student Affairs and Career Development are expected to reach out to at-risk students who might have experienced personal issues that affected their academic performance and to help with those issues. Topics include personal wellness, reducing test anxiety and more. 

For each type of assistance, who provides and how can students gain access to it? 

Assistance with mastery of content: Faculty make themselves available for one-on-one meetings conducted in person or via virtual platform to help struggling students with content mastery. To schedule an appointment, email M1 Segment Director Paul Walker at pdwalker@med.wayne.edu. Dr. Walker will put students in direct contact with course directors, discipline directors, faculty lecturers, or faculty active learning instructors who are ready to provide assistance. 

Assistance with learning strategies: The Office of Learning and Teaching is ready to provide assistance with learning strategies designed to improve retention and performance. To schedule an appointment, visit the OLT website. 

Assistance with personal issues/wellness: Make an appointment with your class counselor or visit the Office of Student Affairs and Career Development in person or virtually. The office provides a wealth of health and wellness resources. 

Let us know what you think

Many thanks to Paul Walker, Ph.D., assistant dean of Basic Foundational Science, for compiling this issue of In the Loop. We hope you enjoy this issue as well as those to come in the months ahead. 

You can submit your ideas for future issues via the In the Loop Suggestion Form. You can submit general questions or comments about the School of Medicine via the Warrior Med Suggestions Program. You are free to include your name and contact information or to remain anonymous.  

All issues of In the Loop can be found on the Office of Assessment, Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement website. 

Sincerely,  

Kanye Gardner  
Director of Continuous Quality Improvement  
Office of Assessment, Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement