Learning Enhancement and Mentoring Services
One of the most challenging parts of the medical school experience is feeling supported academically and adjusting one's study skills and philosophy to a new way of learning. That is why KHSC-KansasCOM has created several academic support services for medical students.
Resources include peer tutoring, professional tutoring, and learning specialists. In addition to these services, students are requested to take assessments like the LASSI (Learning and Student Strategies Inventory) to help them with their academic skills.
Learning Specialists
KHSC-KansasCOM offers academic support including workshops, tutoring, board exam preparations, course remediation, course reviews, and one-on-one academic counseling. Students are encouraged to seek this support proactively to ensure their academic performance is positive.
Mentoring Services
KHSC-KansasCOM connects each student with a faculty mentor starting at the beginning of their first year in order to provide connection and support. In addition to faculty mentors, all entering KHSC-KansasCOM students are assigned a peer mentor, who serves as a mentor throughout their OMS I year in medical school.
Faculty Mentoring
KHSC-KansasCOM believes a critical component of supporting students is to provide each student with a faculty mentor. Because students are all block registered, the faculty mentor plays no role in course registration. Rather, they are here to support students. Whether the student has a personal issue, is struggling with course content, or is wanting advice on the type of residency to pursue, the faculty mentor is here to assist. Faculty mentors meet with students at regularly scheduled intervals.
Peer Mentoring
Research clearly highlights the importance of medical students having a mentor who can provide advice, support, and guidance. KHSC-KansasCOM is committed to provide a variety of mentors for students. Each student is assigned a peer mentor, who serves in the role of a mentor through the entire OMS I year of medical school. The peer mentor program gives students the opportunity to meet with and receive support from students who have recently finished the OMS I year themselves.
Tutoring
The KHSC-KansasCOM tutoring program provides limited supplemental instruction at no cost to students. Qualified tutors are selected to provide both large and small group tutoring for medical students through the academic year. Both student tutors and professional tutors are available, depending on the student’s academic year. All KHSC-KansasCOM students are encouraged to participate in the tutoring program.
Tutors also provide large group review sessions several times throughout the academic year.
Behavioral Intervention Team
The behavioral intervention team (BIT) exists to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all faculty, staff, and students within the KansasCOM community. Its responsibility is to assess, intervene, and prevent behavioral risks and hazards and to provide timely and effective responses to health and safety concerns. The BIT has a broad range of responsibilities and activities including risk assessment and prevention, emergency preparedness, promotion of wellness and education, incident management and reporting, and policy development and compliance.
The BIT team can be called together by any member of the team who believes there is a need to have the team assess a particular individual and/or situation. Their authority is broad and includes being able to direct faculty and staff to intervene appropriately on behalf of KansasCOM. BIT has the authority to assess and make key decisions on behalf of the entire institution, consistent with all policies within the Student Handbook and Academic Catalog.
BIT team members are selected by The President’s Cabinet.
KHSC-KansasCOM Student Support Team
The Student Support Team (SST) is made up of KHSC-KansasCOM faculty and staff charged with being the primary panel for proactively retaining and identifying at-risk students and developing the interventions to assist students who are struggling. The SST will review a student’s academic record as part of their charge. In addition, the team will review all qualitative and/or quantitative data and information about the student’s co-curricular experiences, as well as any information that is available about any personal extenuating circumstances impacting the student’s academic success.
As a part of this comprehensive review, the SST will make recommendations, and in some cases, will mandate specific actions designed to bring to bear all KHSC-KansasCOM resources to help the student improve their academic standing. The SST has broad authority to review students’ records, decide how best KHSC-KansasCOM can assist the student academically, and can recommend, and in some cases require, a broad number of resources designed to support the student intellectually, emotionally, and professionally.
SST (Student Support Team) is not a disciplinary committee. Its primary function is to serve as KHSC-KansasCOM’s primary retention team. SST’s meetings are not public, and the team follows all privacy guidelines in accordance with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and HIIPA as a part of its processes and procedures.
Counseling and Support Services
KHSC-KansasCOM understands the intense environment and extra stress that medical students experience. Because it is important for students to be emotionally healthy, students are encouraged to utilize the counseling services that are available to them on-campus.
KHSC-KansasCOM has a multi-dimensional counseling support network for all KHSC-KansasCOM students. First, KHSC-KansasCOM has a licensed counselor on-campus. Students may make appointments in confidence by contacting the counselor directly via phone or through Guardian. Students can reach KHSC-KansasCOM Counseling Services at: (316) 315-5639.
Counseling Services provides immediate support for students on campus through psychotherapy, proactive support programs to assist with the extra stresses associated with medical school and graduate study, and the provision of additional information and support through the KHSC-KansasCOM orientation process. Counseling services can also assist students who are dealing with any kind of substance abuse or addiction issue.
Second, KHSC-KansasCOM also provides students with 24/7 access to ComPsych, a free and confidential counseling service available to students and their families. ComPsych is a nation-wide network in all 50 states. For students wishing to be seen by a counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist off-campus, ComPsych is available at: www.compsych.com. ComPsych is also an excellent option for students who are on clinical rotations away from campus and in other states.
All counseling referrals and sessions are confidential and are not recorded in the student’s educational records.
Career Services
For students seeking career support, the Office of Career Services provides a wide variety of resources for students that can assist with their specialty selection, residency application processes, and interview skill development. Each KHSC-KansasCOM student is provided a free subscription to Careers in Medicine, a career-focused online tool that provides a wealth of medical career information for medical students. KHSC-KansasCOM cannot guarantee employment upon graduation, but KHSC-KansasCOM provides advising for all students on future medical careers. For more information, students are encouraged to contact the Career Services Specialist.
Orientation
Orientation is required of all new students, in person. This occurs the week before classes begin at KHSC-KansasCOM. The goal of orientation is to help prepare new students for the rigors of medical education and the KHSC-KansasCOM curriculum. OMS II students will have a shortened orientation at the start of their OMS II year to update them on changes that have occurred over the summer, remind them of key policies, and to allow them to provide feedback to key members of KHSC-KansasCOM.
Student Government Association (SGA)
The SGA serves as the primary liaison between the student body and the KHSC-KansasCOM administration. All KHSC-KansasCOM students in good academic standing are allowed to run for positions on the SGA. There are representative and officer positions available for each KHSC-KansasCOM class. An activity fee, paid by each student, financially supports SGA activities and SGA-chartered organizations. SGA members serve on administration and faculty committees and help to bring about changes that benefit the student body as a whole.
The election process for OMS I SGA positions begins in the fall of the OMS I year. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Affairs about the nomination, petition, and election processes.
Student Leadership Requirements
Any KHSC-KansasCOM student who is holding a leadership role in a KHSC-KansasCOM endorsed program or organization (e.g., SGA, executive leadership, student ambassador) or campus employment position (e.g., KHSC-KansasCOM tutor) is expected to maintain professional standards and be in good academic standing. KHSC-KansasCOM students must maintain a failure free transcript. Any student who has failed a course must discuss the matter with the Director of Student Affairs to determine if they remain in good standing. Student leaders who are not in good standing or are placed on academic probation may be required to resign from their leadership or employment position. Students exhibiting unprofessional behavior and/or are in violation of the Professional Code of Conduct may similarly be required to resign from a leadership or employment position.
Students selected for any professional fellowship program cannot concurrently hold an organization officer position during the year of their fellowship.
A student may appeal the decision for any reason. The appeal process will be communicated to the student at the time the initial decision is delivered (verbally or in writing) to the student. If the student wishes to appeal, the student must submit an appeal in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. That appeal should be submitted for review within five business days of receipt of the initial decision.
Student Organizations
KHSC-KansasCOM student organizations offer a variety of opportunities for leadership development, career exploration, community service, education, professional networking, and recreation. Most student organizations at KHSC-KansasCOM fall into one of two categories: Student Government Association (SGA)-chartered organizations or special interest groups. Chartered organizations are eligible to participate in SGA’s funding request process. Special interest groups are recognized as such by Student Affairs. KHSC-KansasCOM affords both types of organizations certain benefits and expects them to abide by certain requirements and procedures, which are detailed below.
Leadership from the student interest group requesting recognition must submit a Student Organization Application Form with the Office of Student Affairs, confirming basic eligibility requirements and affirming the group’s purpose and objectives.
Chartered organizations have the benefit of requesting SGA funds and all other privileges granted to KHSC-KansasCOM endorsed organizations. Organized groups not interested or unable to meet the above-mentioned criteria can become a recognized special-interest group (not receiving SGA funding). Additional information about the new organization application process is available in the Office of Student Affairs and the Student Organization Handbook.
Student organizations endorsed by KHSC-KansasCOM receive certain benefits. These benefits include:
- Privilege to have access to and use of campus facilities.
- Permission to host events, publicize via email notices, and bulletin boards.
- Opportunity to request, through processes determined by Student Affairs, assistance of campus departments (e.g., audio-visual, IT, etc.).
- Inclusion in KHSC-KansasCOM publications and on the website with approval from Student Affairs.
- Limited funding at the discretion of the Student Senate (SGA-chartered organizations only).
- Opportunity to recruit new members at the annual fall organization fair.
- Documentation to satisfy requirements for national affiliation.
- Opportunity to schedule events on the KHSC-KansasCOM calendar.
KHSC-KansasCOM is not responsible for the activities of student organizations; however, organizations are expected to meet certain criteria. To acquire and maintain officially endorsed status, organizations must:
- Abide by SGA and campus policies, in additional to federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.
- Have at least one KHSC-KansasCOM employee who serves as an organization advisor.
- Submit the following documents to Student Affairs:
- Constitution and by-laws.
- Membership list updated by October 1st each year.
- Date and location of regular meetings (off- and on-campus).
- Participate in the annual organization fair to welcome new students to KHSC-KansasCOM.
- Conduct at least one community service project each academic year.
- Complete all forms required by Student Affairs in a timely manner (Contact Student Affairs in order to access organizational forms).
KHSC-KansasCOM endorsed organizations may have such recognition revoked by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and/or the Director of Student Affairs. if the organization becomes inactive, has violated any requirements set forth by the organizations’ constitution and/or bylaws or KHSC-KansasCOM Code of Conduct the organization and its members may be subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, if any of the student organization’s activities conflict with the best interests of KHSC-KansasCOM the organization may be subject to disciplinary action. If students wish to continue the organization’s activities once official recognition has been revoked, the organization must go through the process established for official recognition of a new student organization.
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