Phase 1 Assessment Policies and Procedures
Phase 1 Assessment Policies and Procedures in the Illinois Medicine Curriculum
Approved by CCIA on 07/03/2024
Phase 1 Assessment Policies and Procedures in the Illinois Medicine Curriculum Heading link
- Expectations of Students in All Courses Types of Courses in Phase 1
- Types of Courses in Phase 1
- Graded Assessment in Phase 1
- Block Courses
- Doctoring and Clinical Skills
- Synthesis Weeks
- Medical Colloquia
- Transition to Clerkships
Expectations of students in all courses:
- Students must satisfactorily complete all course requirements in order to be promoted to the next year.
- For students in the class of 2027, accumulation of more than two unmet requirements (URs) at the same time during a given academic year will halt a student’s progress in the curriculum.
- For students in the class of 2028, accumulation of more than two unmet requirements (URs) over the course of the M1 year will halt the student’s progress in the curriculum. Accumulation of more than one unmet requirement over the course of the M2 year will halt a student’s progress in the curriculum.
- Students must participate in required activities, such as attending and participating in activities and completing preparatory and follow-up assignments on time with appropriate engagement to receive a passing grade. Students should refer to the course syllabus for information on absences.
- Students are expected to know and to abide by the standards for professional behavior detailed in the College of Medicine’s Student Academic Policies and Professional Standards (APPS).
- Not meeting the aforementioned expectations may impact students’ ability to progress through the College of Medicine’s undergraduate medicine program. Students who are contacted by representatives of curricular affairs or student affairs (Deans, course faculty, advisors, course coordinators) are expected to respond promptly and to meet with representatives as requested.
Types of courses in Phase 1 (Pre-clerkship): Block Courses and Longitudinal Courses Heading link
Phase 1 comprises seven Block courses, three longitudinal courses, and a course to prepare for the start of clerkships.
Each of the seven Block courses is 5-10 weeks in duration. The first two Block courses provide a broad overview of medical science topics. Blocks starting with Block 3 have a primary focus on a specific set of related organ systems.
Three longitudinal courses run the entire length of Phase 1:
- Doctoring and Clinical Skills (DoCS) focuses on work with patients in clinical settings as well as in simulation practice settings.
- Synthesis Weeks occur after some Block courses during M1 and M2 year and then for six weeks at the end of Phase 1, integrating concepts immediately before and after the Step 1 exam.
- Medical Colloquia meets several times during some Block courses throughout Phase 1 and engages our community in powerful dialogue about key issues in medicine.
The final course of phase 1 is Transition to Clerkships (TTC). TTC provides practice in clinical skills and procedures and exposure to the expectations of the clinical environment.
Graded Assessment in Phase 1 Heading link
All courses in Phase 1 result in a transcript record of either Pass, Pass after Initial Fail, or Fail. Longitudinal courses result in a transcript record for each term.The minimum pass level for each exam, course component, and course is determined by the faculty of UICOM and reflected in each course syllabus.
Graded assessment in Block courses Heading link
Block courses provide foundational medical knowledge via case-based learning in a classroom or lab setting, or via independent learning. Block grades are composed of the following components: Professional Engagement, Weekly Assessment, Final Exam, and Checkpoint Assessments. The Professional Engagement component, Final Exam component, and overall course grade are non-compensatory components in which a student must meet a minimum pass level set by the faculty in order to pass the course. The weighting of these components and grade outcome in each component are reflected in the Block syllabus. All content from sessions and learning modules within the course may be assessed on quizzes, checkpoint assessments, assignments, and the final exam.
Professional Engagement in Blocks Courses Heading link
Professional Engagement represents 10% of the total grade for a Block course and is based on attendance. In Block courses, it is non-compensatory, meaning that this element must be passed to receive a course grade of Pass. Unexcused absences negatively impact the Professional Engagement element of the grade. Block courses may include additional professional engagement requirements which will be described in the syllabus. An unexcused absence on one day represents 1 of 10 Professional Engagement percentage points. (See Attendance Policy for description of unexcused absences). Students should refer to the course syllabus to determine the minimum pass level for Professional Engagement.
All other professionalism issues may elicit a Professional Development Concerns form and meetings with the course director and campus student affairs and curriculum deans.
Weekly Assessment in Block Courses Heading link
Weekly assessments comprise 30% of the Block course grade, and include both the weekly quizzes and the TBL scores on the individual readiness assurance test (IRAT) and team readiness assurance test (TRAT). Additional components included in the weekly assessment score will be in the block syllabus. TBLs are scored based on performance on the IRAT and TRAT. Consult the syllabus for each Block course for a description of how weekly assessments are weighted.
Weekly quizzes have approximately 20 items that are graded as completion only. The weekly quizzes will also include material from prior blocks to promote spaced repetition. Students are expected to complete the quiz individually and closed-book. Students will receive full credit for completing each quiz if they:
- Spend at least 30 seconds per question on average across the quiz
- Complete at least 85% of the items on the quiz
- Review the quiz during the quiz review window.
Students who complete the quiz appropriately but do not enter the quiz review will receive 50% credit for the quiz.
Weekly quizzes are a learning resource that students are expected to use appropriately and to engage in fully. Quiz scores and item rationales will be provided to students so that they can identify and address specific learning gaps throughout the Block. If a student receives a message from Academic or Student Affairs requesting to discuss quiz performance, the student is expected to respond within three business days. Students must make-up a missed quiz within 1 week of the original quiz date.
Not responding to an Academic or Student Affairs email request, missing a weekly quiz without prior notification or communication, not taking the quiz individually, or not completing the quiz with appropriate effort are all issues that will result in meeting with academic and student affairs administrators and completing a Professional Development Concerns form.Students should refer to the course syllabus and APPS regarding outcomes of failure to meet the minimum pass level on weekly activities.
Checkpoint assessments in Block Courses Heading link
Each block will have one or two checkpoint assessments, worth a total of 10% of the final grade. Checkpoint assessments will contain approximately 30 items (about 20 from the week prior and about 10 from weeks before that within the block). The purpose is to test knowledge from the preceding weeks, since the beginning of the block or since the last checkpoint assessment. Credit for checkpoint assessments will be awarded based on performance and will contribute to the final grade. Any student who is excused from a Checkpoint Assessment must make-up the assessment within 7 days of the original assessment date. A student who misses a Checkpoint Assessment without seeking an excusal will receive a zero on the assessment.
The checkpoint assessment is expected to be taken closed-book, without accessing any other materials or people. Students are expected to keep confidential the questions and the rationales. Students may not copy items within the checkpoint assessment in any form (e.g. screen recording, pictures, written, audio recording, etc) for personal use. Students must not discuss the content of the checkpoint assessment with any students who have not taken it, in their own class or subsequent classes, and must follow the College of Medicine Professionalism Code and UIC standards of academic integrity.
Block Course Final Exam Heading link
The Final Exam for Blocks 1-7 represents 50% of the total Block grade. The exam is a proctored examination with approximately 100 NBME-format items. The minimum pass level varies based on the faculty-rated difficulty level of the items in each exam. The final exams in Block courses are non-compensatory, meaning that one must pass the exam in order to pass the course. Students should refer to the course syllabus and APPS regarding outcomes of failure to meet the minimum pass level on a block exam.
Exam dates are determined by the Office of Education Affairs. Students must provide documentation for any excused absence from an exam within 7 calendar days. Students must contact the appropriate College of Medicine contact no later than noon on the day preceding their scheduled exam to seek an excused absence (with the exception of emergency absences). Failure to provide this notification will be considered an unexcused absence, resulting in a zero score for the examination.
Students without an excused absence will receive a score of zero for the exam. Any student who has been approved for an excused absence must take their make-up exam at the next identified date provided by the Office of Education Affairs.
If granted a second attempt on an exam, the student must take the second attempt on the date provided by the Office of Education Affairs. Failure to sit on the second day of the exam will result in a failing course grade, unless an excused absence has been granted.
Students with Block final exam scores below or near the minimum pass level will work with faculty and staff in the Office of Student Affairs to develop a learning plan. Support may include a learning specialist consultation, peer education, and other referrals.
Graded assessment in longitudinal course: Doctoring and Clinical Skills (DoCS) Heading link
Assessment in DoCS is based on observation of students’ knowledge and practice of clinical skills, attitudes, and professional engagement. DoCS is a clinical course, therefore, the same level of professionalism is expected in this course as is expected in clerkships.
At the end of each term, students receive a Pass / Fail grade for this longitudinal course.
In order to receive a Passing grade for the term, students must reach expectations in the following 4 non-compensatory areas:
- Achieve >70% of available points in the term awarded for performance and completion of assignments, assessments, quizzes, and standardized patient encounters.
- Meet the minimum pass level on any high-stakes exams DoCS exams, if applicable for the term
- Meet attendance expectations as defined by the course syllabus
- Meet professionalism expectations as defined by the course syllabus
Students who fall below the MPL on any of the items above should refer to the syllabus for the DoCS term and the APPS for further information regarding grading outcomes and academic progress.
Professional Engagement in DoCS Heading link
Professional Engagement in DoCS is based on attendance and conduct.
Attendance in DoCS courses is a non-compensatory element of the course. Students must meet the minimum pass level in this component in order to pass the course. Unexcused absences negatively impact the Professional Engagement element of the grade and are considered professional lapses. Students should consult the DoCS Syllabus for information on how attendance is assessed within the course.
Graded assessment in longitudinal course: Synthesis Heading link
Synthesis Grade: At the end of each term, students receive a Pass/Fail grade for this longitudinal course. Successful completion of required activities for Synthesis Weeks and Synthesis Capstone Block 8 will result in a passing grade for this longitudinal course.
The course grade element weights vary from term to term, and students are provided with the grading table in advance. The Synthesis syllabus will specify the course requirements and consequences of failure to complete the requirements.
Graded assessment in longitudinal course: Medical Colloquia Heading link
Students are required to prepare for, participate in, and submit periodic reports of their participation, learning goals achieved, and future learning plans regarding the topics addressed.
Students must complete the required number of Medical Colloquia assignments with appropriate engagement to receive a passing grade. At the end of each term, students receive a Pass/Fail grade.
The Medical Colloquium syllabus will specify the course requirements and consequences of failure to complete the requirements.
Graded assessment in Transition to Clerkships (TTC) Heading link
Student assessment in TTC is based upon the direct observation of student skills, attitudes, and problem solving abilities. Students are required to prepare for, attend, and engage in all sessions within Transition to Clerkships. The Transition to Clerkships syllabus will specify the course requirements and consequences of failure to complete the requirements.