Block/Clerkship/Elective Syllabus Template
v. 2015
The following items should be included in each syllabus and will be described below. The word
“course” will stand for block, clerkship, or elective. Use the parts of this template that apply
to your course.
1.
Cover Page
a. Title of the course
b. Course Prefix and Number, example (MED 641)
c. Names of Course Directors
d. Academic Year and semester for which this syllabus applies,
example 2013-2014 Spring
1a. Optional - A Table of Contents may be included if the syllabus is long or has
appendices. Number pages for easy reference.
2.
First Page – Key information for students
a. Where, to whom, and at what time to report on the first day of class?
b. Restate names and titles of key persons administering this course with their contact
information.
1. Office location
2. Phone number that students may use to contact the faculty members
3. Email address of key persons
4. Office hours and location (if location is different from b1.)
5. Online/email office hours if applicable
6. Laboratory faculty, if different from block teaching faculty
7. Clinic/hospital contact persons and locations
3.
Course rationale Why is this course included in the curriculum?
4.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO), Block and Weekly Objectives. Clerkship and
Elective competencies/objectives
a. Measurable Student Learning Outcomes must be written for any new course proposal.
Contact Brady Janes at bradyj@medicine.nevada.edu for more information on this topic.
Additional information on Student Learning Outcomes may be found at
http://www.unr.edu/assessment/slos.
b. Block level objectives should be written so they can be mapped to the Institutional
Objectives. They should be listed in the Syllabus and posted to WebCampus.
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c. Weekly objectives should be included. You may choose to include them with the
syllabus and/or the schedules. The weekly objectives will also be posted on the
WebCampus weekly front page with the schedule.
d. Clerkship and Elective competencies/objectives should be written so they can be
mapped to the Institutional Objectives.
5.
Course methodologies/format used to accomplish the above objectives and
competencies; what kinds of activities will the student do during this course?
6.
Learning Materials and Resources
Include your use of course technology. Where will students find the materials for your
course?
a. textbooks or e-textbooks
b. required reading – articles, websites, recordings
c. Library staff and library reserve – references and/or e-reserve (Eres system)
d. needed references to copyrighted information
e. Online cases
f. Simulation center activities
g. Peer led Supplemental Instruction (SI) groups are available as is the Learning
Specialist with the Office of Student Affairs
7.
Course Activities: Assignments, projects, learning modules, computer cases, with
instructions and due dates.
Include how assignments should be submitted: in person on paper, online through
WebCampus, at a group site (i.e. discussion board), etc.
8.
Grading/assessment criteria for assignments, clinical work, and duties of the block



Grades Allowed:
Honors/ High Pass/ Pass/ Fail for transcript notation
Evaluator Concerns will be placed in the student record for internal use when creating
the Medical Student Performance Evaluation [Dean’s Letter] for Residency application or
for Student Promotion and Conduct Committee use.
A temporary grade of Incomplete may be given when at the close of a course assigned
work is not complete or a student does not achieve the benchmarks for a passing grade in
a grading component. An incomplete generated by failure of a block level grading
component will result in a grade not higher than a Pass.
Course Specific Information for Students
a. Examination formats and dates
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b. Professionalism expectations
c. Feedback and clinical performance
d. Case presentations – oral and written
e. Other modes of evaluation – SP, Computer cases, participation, attendance, small
group evaluations, etc.
Course Specific Grading Components
Students must receive a passing grade in all components of the block.
Component EXAMPLE
Weighting
Written Comprehensive Block Exam
___%
Laboratory Final Exam(s)
___%
Small Group Activities, e.g. Cases, TBL, & others
___%
Peer Assessments
___%
Written Assignments
___%
9.
10.
Course calendar (may be separate)
a. Lectures/large group presentations
b. Laboratory sessions
c. Small group sessions – Case-based and team-based learning
And other groups (Human Behavior, Anatomy, Psychiatric Medicine, etc.)
d. Special presentations
e. Standardized Patient exercises and other Simulation
f. Noon conference
g. Ward rounds
h. Examinations
i. Holidays
j. Please do not post group schedules publically on the web with student names included
(a FERPA rule).
Policies
UNSOM policies are posted on the Office of Medical Education website and in the
UNSOM Student Handbook at
http://campusguides.unr.edu/content.php?pid=352807&sid=2886242
a. Attendance
 Students must attend and actively participate in all labs, small group activities,
clinical skills classes, and specially scheduled activities as noted in their syllabus;
lectures are highly recommended, but not required.

Students must attend all scheduled clinical preceptorship experiences.

Students must attend morning reports, rounds, didactic sessions, etc.
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
Students must take all examinations and self-assessments.
b. Late work To be determined by the Directors, you choose.
c. Absence (See Student Handbook)
The following constitute excused absences:
Serious illness of self or immediate family member
Death of close family member or family issues
Emergencies and accidents
Students who are ill are encouraged to take appropriate time off and seek medical care.
After three days, a medical note is required.
Attendance at conferences requires advance notice and planning; it is usually granted
only if a student is presenting scholarly work at that meeting.
The policy for religious holidays can be found at http://www.unr.edu/studentconduct/policies/university-policies-and-guidelines/religious-holiday-observation
d. Missed tests or significant experiences
The student will meet with the Director(s) within (time frame?) in order to create a plan
to make up work that is essential to their grade.
11.
Protocol for remediation of unsatisfactory performance at the conclusion of a block
UNSOM’s new integrated, systems-based curriculum is structured to allow students more
time in the schedule for self-directed and group study and interaction with teaching
faculty.
The first line of contact for academic concerns or professionalism issues will be the
Directors listed on the cover of this syllabus. Also, you may contact Ranna Nash,
Learning Specialist, with the Office of Student Affairs.
Students falling below minimum standards or receiving a grade of “Incomplete” will be
required to begin a formal remediation program. Students will work with their Directors
to develop a specific remediation plan that includes activities and timelines. The plan will
be submitted to the Office of Medical Education for review and then referred to the
Student Promotion and Conduct Committee (SPCC) for approval. There the students and
Block Directors will present the remediation plan. SPCC follow-up will be determined by
the complexity of the remediation plan.
Other remediation issues may fall under UNSOM’s policy guidelines for specific cases.
12.
Academic Success Services
UNSOM provides support for all medical students through the Academic Learning
Center. For Year 1 students there are Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions for anatomy,
biochemistry and physiology subjects throughout the Year 1 blocks. Successful second
year medical students will conduct these sessions periodically throughout the blocks and
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dates and times will be communicated to the class by email and posted on the Learning
Center website. These interactive sessions are designed to assist students at all levels of
learning through review of the most relevant material being presented in the blocks. The
SI leaders also provide supplemental learning resources during the sessions.
One on one tutoring for all medical students is also offered through the UNSOM
Academic Learning Center. Students requesting tutoring must make an appointment with
the Learning Specialist in order to be assigned a tutor.
The Learning Specialist can also provide additional resource materials, and assistance
with study strategies, time management skills and USMLE and NBME exam
preparation. Please visit the following website for more information:
http://www.medicine.nevada.edu/dept/asa/students/LC/learningcenter.htm
If you have any questions please contact our Learning Specialist, Ranna Nash by email:
rannan@medicine.nevada.edu or telephone: 775-682-8355.
13.
Professionalism guidelines
a. Academic dishonesty
Here are the statements contained in the UNSOM Student Handbook. They are very
similar to those recommended in the UNR “Syllabus Requirements.”
Academic Dishonesty
In accordance with UNR policy, academic dishonesty is defined as:
Cheating, plagiarism, or otherwise obtaining grades under false pretenses. Plagiarism is
defined as submitting the language, ideas, thoughts or work of another as one’s own; or
assisting in the act of plagiarism by allowing one’s work to be used in this fashion.
Cheating is defined as (1) obtaining or providing unauthorized information during an
examination through verbal, visual or unauthorized use of books, notes, text and other
materials; (2) obtaining or providing information concerning all or part of an examination
prior to that examination; (3) taking an examination for another student, or arranging for
another person to take an exam in one’s place; (4) altering or changing test answers after
submittal for grading, grades after grades have been awarded, or other academic records
once these are official.
Also included under the heading of “cheating” is the submission of any work as your own
that you did not create or perform. This includes, but is not limited to: homework
assignments, written projects, and patient history or examination findings.
Cheating on any academic test will result in automatic failure of the course.
Students will be referred to SPCC. Disciplinary action up to and including dismissal may
be recommended by the SPCC.and presented for approval by the UNSOM Dean. If
SPCC approves continued active student status, the student will be placed on probation.
If the student is permitted to repeat the course, the highest grade he/she can receive is a
C. A second infraction related to academic dishonesty will result in dismissal.
b. Patient Care
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Patient care infractions include falsifying or knowingly omitting pertinent information,
lying regarding patient care, and/or conscious HIPPA violations: Students will be referred
to SPCC. Disciplinary action up to and including dismissal may be recommended by the
SPCC and presented for approval by the UNSOM Dean. If SPCC approves continued
active student status, the student will be placed on probation. A second infraction related
to patient care will result in dismissal. The Student Promotion and Conduct Committee
shall have the ability to override these guidelines.
14. Statement of Disability Services
During the admissions process, qualified candidates with disabilities will be considered
without regard to their ability status by the UNSOM Admissions Committee in
accordance with UNSOM’s Essential Functions Requirements. Appropriate
accommodations to help the candidate successfully meet the requirements for graduation
from UNSOM must be planned and discussed with the appropriate committees prior to
matriculation. Disabilities occurring after matriculation will be dealt with on an
individual basis by the Student Promotion and Conduct Committee (SPCC) in accordance
with the Essential Functions Requirements to best meet the needs of the candidate and the
school. Candidates must understand and accept their roles as health care providers within
their communities.
UNSOM retains the right to review and approve or decline any or all requests for
accommodation. If you have a disability that necessitates accommodation to meet
UNSOM’s Essential Functions Requirements, then you must provide, at your own
expense, appropriate documentation from a qualified professional describing the
disability and setting forth any reasonable accommodations necessary to ensure that you
are able to meet the Essential Functions.
15. Statement on Audio and Video Recording
Surreptitious or covert video-taping of class or unauthorized audio recording of class is
prohibited by law and by Board of Regents policy. This class may be videotaped or
audio recorded only with the written permission of the instructor. In order to
accommodate students with disabilities, some students may be given permission to record
class lectures and discussions. Therefore, students should understand that their
comments during class may be recorded.
16.
Appendices – optional – add what applies to your course
Suggestions:
a. Institutional Objectives Checklist
b. Honor Pledge
c. Reference materials, including library e-reserves
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d. Procedure/clinical skills checklists
e. Forms used for grading/assessment
g. Articles to read
h. Other
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