Medical Student Handbook

Medical Student Education

Basis of Assessment

Policy 540.10

Policy Statement

Students will be assessed by faculty on the basis of their total performance within the context of curriculum and course objectives. Assessment is based on the competencies and medical education objectives as outlined in Medical Student Handbook Policy 130.00.

The Larner College of Medicine, in accordance with Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Standards, requires providers from any discipline who provide health or mental health service to students not be involved in the assessment of student academic performance or the decisions regarding their advancement and/or graduation.

Student performance is assessed in all coursework and longitudinally across the medical education program.

1. Coursework
   1. Foundations Level: Student performance will be graded as Pass, Marginal Pass, or Fail. The Marginal Pass grade is a formal indication of sub-optimal performance, and is recorded as a "Pass" on the medical student’s transcript. Narrative evaluations will be provided whenever students have three or more small group sessions (12 or fewer students) with the same faculty. Narrative comments will be included in the student’s record and summative narrative comments will be included in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE). (Refer to 2.5. below).
   2. Clerkship and Advanced Integration Level: During the clerkship level student performance will be graded as Pass or Fail. Clerkship students will receive formative narrative feedback at mid-rotation and summative narrative assessment at the end of a rotation. At the Advanced Integration level, 4-week clinical courses are graded as Pass, Fail, or Honors; non-clinical and 2-week courses are graded as Pass or Fail. Summative narrative assessments are provided for clinical Advanced Integration level courses. The summative narrative assessment is included in the MSPE). (Refer to 2.5 below).
   3. In all clerkships and 4-week Advanced Integration required courses, students will receive an assessment of their performance at or near the course midpoint.
2. Longitudinal assessment.
   1. End of Level Clinical Skills Examinations: During the four years of medical school, students are required to take and pass two end-of-level Clinical Skill Exams (CSE). The first occurs at the end of the Foundations Level and the second occurs at the end of the Clerkship Level.
   2. National Board of Medical Examiners Comprehensive Basic Science Exam (CBSE):  Each student must take this examination near the completion of the Foundations Level. This exam is formative only.
   3. USMLE Step Examinations:  Per Policy 540.7, students must take and pass The United States Medical Licensure Examination Steps 1 and 2CK.
   4. Student total performance is continuously assessed.
   5. The MSPE is a summative evaluation of a student’s academic and clinical work during medical school.

All grades and narrative comments are included in the student's academic file. Students have the right to review their files in accordance with general university policy at any time. Students will be apprised of their overall performance and final academic grade at the end of each course or clinical rotation. For specific policy related to student access to their records and MSPE, refer to Policy 919.00 Medical Student Records: Student Access.

There are circumstances when a grade of Pass does not by itself ensure that a student will advance in the curriculum. Such circumstances are evaluated by the Advancement Committee.

Applicability of the Policy

All Medical Students

Related Larner College of Medicine Policies

• 130.00 Competencies and Medical Education Programmatic Objectives
• 300.00 Technical Standards for Admission, Advancement and Graduation
• 310.00 Support for Disabilities: Technical Standards Procedure for Admission, Advancement & Graduation for Students with Disabilities Seeking Accommodation
• 500.00 Academic Progress
• 510.10 Attendance: Foundations Level
• 510.30 Attendance: Clerkship Level
• 510.40 Attendance: Advanced Integration Level
• 540.70 USMLE Examinations
• 550.00 Evaluation of the Curriculum
• 560.00 Satisfactory Academic Progress
• 565.20 Review of Academic Performance: Foundations
• 565.30 Review of Academic Performance: Clerkship Level
• 565.40 Review of Academic Performance: Advanced Integration Level
• 565.45 Graduation Degree Requirements: Advanced Integration Level
• 919.00 Medical Student Records: Student Access 

Related University of Vermont Policies

• 2.7.8 Code of Academic Integrity
• 2.13.2 Disability Certification, Accommodation and Support - Students
• 2.16.3 Grade Appeals
• UOP55 Process for Resolution of Academic Accommodations

Related Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Standard(s)

• 9.4 Assessment System
• 12.5 Non-Involvement of Providers of Student Health Services in Student Assessment/Location of Student Health Records

History

• 5/20/2014 Policy Adopted/Affirmed [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 9/18/2018 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 3/17/2020 Reformatted [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 6/16/2020 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 4/26/2022 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 7/19/2022 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]
• 7/16/2024 Policy Revised [Medical Curriculum Committee]

Policy Oversight

Associate/Assistant Dean for Students (Director of Academic Achievement)

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