University of Virginia School of
Medicine
Curriculum Committee
Minutes 12.20.01
Pediatric Pathology Conference Room, 4:00 PM
Present (underlined) were: Reid Adams, Robert Bloodgood,
Victoria Camerini, Anita Clayton, Al Connors, Gene
Corbett, Donald Innes (Chair), Nelle Linz, David Shonka,
Jerry Short, Howard Kutchai, Bill Wilson, Debra Reed
(secretary)
- Electives Proposal. The proposal to designate the electives
program an official course and be managed as such with course
co-directors was approved. Margaret Mohrman, the current Electives
Board Director, has reviewed the proposal and agrees with the concept.
The Clinical Medicine Committee will assume an active role as the
advisory group for the electives course directors. Candidates for the
new clinical co-director were discussed. Qualities deemed necessary for
the person assuming this position include 1) possess a diplomatic
attitude, 2) a physical location in the "hospital" complex , and 3)
familiarity with aspects of all four years of the curriculum. The
position would be require about 3% of a faculty members time and is a
compensated position
- Advanced Clinical Elective. Advanced Clinical Electives are
for senior students who have successfully completed their clerkships.
The purpose of the ACE is to prepare the student for residency
training. ACE will be a required experience and must be a minimum of
four weeks duration. It will require the highest level of patient
involvement allowed a medical student. Approximately 80% of students
participate in electives considered ACE electives during their fourth
year at the present time. Approval of individual Advanced Clinical
Electives will be determined by the Electives course co-directors in
consultation with the CMC. Minor changes were recommended to the
proposal and will be considered when formulating the final criteria and
objectives of the program. The Committee recommended inclusion of the
words "commitment and responsibility" in the wording of the ACE
criteria. Students need to be present at all times they are assigned to
ACE to fully take advantage of the educational opportunity.
- Grading Subcommittee. Bob Bloodgood is now the co-chair with
Al Connors of the ad hoc Subcommittee on Grading. The committee has
been charged to advise the Curriculum Committee regarding grades and
grading policy for the School of Medicine years 1-4. The subcommittee
should provide the Committee with an evaluation of the current UVA
grading system, its purpose and its successes and failures. The
committee should also evaluate other grading systems, their pros and
cons, and their potential impact on the UVA system. If the subcommittee
determines that a grading system change is needed at UVA, then an
implementation plan should be delivered to the Curriculum Committee. It
will then be discussed with the Associate Deans for Admissions and
Student Affairs. Whatever the outcome, the Curriculum Committee will
submit a report to the Dean.
- The next meeting of the Curriculum Committee will be on January 3,
and will be a joint meeting with the Clinical Medicine Committee.
-Don Innes
-dmr
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