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 KHSU-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
KHSU-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
KHSU-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 KHSU-KansasCOM students are assigned a peer mentor, who serves as a mentor throughout their OMS I year in medical school.
Faculty Mentoring
KHSU-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 wants advice on the type of residency to pursue, the faculty mentor is here to assist. Faculty mentors meet with students at regularly scheduled intervals. Faculty mentors play a significant role in crafting portions of students’ MSPE (Medical School Performance Evaluation) letters.
Peer Mentoring
Research clearly highlights the importance of medical students having a mentor who can provide advice, support, and guidance. KHSU-KansasCOM is committed to providing 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 KHSU-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 KHSU-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
Purpose
The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) exists to identify, assess, and respond to students of concern whose behavior may pose a risk to themselves, others, or the learning environment. The BIT supports early intervention, coordinated response, and holistic student support while maintaining institutional compliance and community safety.
Scope
The BIT addresses concerns including, but not limited to threatening or disruptive behavior; significant changes in behavior or functioning; mental health concerns impacting safety or performance; concerns of substance abuse or dependency as demonstrated by functions, actions, or expression; reports of self-harm actions or threats, or threats or actions to induce harm to others; patterns of concerning academic or professional behavior; or crisis situations requiring coordinated institutional response. BIT does not address routine academic performance issues (unless escalating behavior is present), standard conduct cases (unless risk indicators emerge), or Title IX cases (coordinated separately, though BIT may be informed as appropriate).
Guiding Principles
The BIT is guided by the following principles: Care + Accountability, Early Intervention, Least Restrictive Response, Confidentiality, Collaboration, and Documentation.
Authority
The BIT is authorized to:
- Receive and review reports of concerning, disruptive, or threatening behavior
- Conduct structured risk assessments using established frameworks (e.g., NaBITA risk rubric)
- Develop and implement intervention strategies, including individualized support and behavioral management plans, referral to state board of health standards for impaired physicians, etc.
- Coordinate cross-functional responses across institutional units (Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Counseling, Campus Safety, etc.)
- Request relevant information from institutional stakeholders as needed to assess and manage risk, consistent with FERPA and institutional policy
- Recommend actions and referrals, including escalation to Student Conduct, Title IX, Academic Review, or external resources when appropriate
- Monitor ongoing cases and adjust interventions based on evolving risk, including reporting to the state boards of license or health
Authority for Elevated Risk Situations
When a student is assessed as posing a credible risk of harm to self or others, the BIT is authorized to implement immediate and directive interventions to protect the safety of the student and the campus community. These actions may include:
- Requiring a psychological or medical evaluation by a qualified, licensed provider
- As a condition for continued participation in academic or clinical activities
- With documentation of fitness for return or continued enrollment
- Implementing interim safety measures, including but not limited to:
- Temporary removal from campus, classroom, or clinical environments
- Restrictions on participation in certain activities
- No-contact directives (non-disciplinary)
- Increased monitoring or required check-ins
- Drug and/or alcohol testing
- Coordinating emergency or involuntary response, when warranted, including:
- Activation of emergency services
- Wellness checks
- Hospital transport for evaluation
- Placing conditions on continued enrollment, when necessary to manage risk
- Including compliance with evaluation, treatment recommendations, or behavioral expectations
All required evaluations and return-to-participation decisions must be conducted by appropriately licensed professionals and be based on the student’s ability to safely engage in the academic and clinical setting as required by the COM.
Institutional Expectations
All faculty, staff, and administrators are expected to:
- Report concerning behavior through established channels
- Cooperate with BIT information requests in a timely manner
- Implement agreed-upon intervention strategies within their respective roles
Failure to engage with BIT processes may compromise institutional risk management and student support efforts.
Expectation of Student Compliance
Students are expected to comply with BIT-directed interventions that are implemented to address safety concerns. Failure to comply may result in escalation to the Student Conduct process, administrative action related to enrollment status/promotion/graduation/eligibility, and additional institutional response as appropriate.
Decision-Making Role
The BIT functions as the institution’s primary advisory and coordination body for behavioral risk. The BIT does not assign disciplinary sanctions or adjudicate violations of the Student Code of Conduct and Student Handbook and Academic Catalog. The BIT does not replace formal processes such as Student Conduct or Title IX. However, BIT recommendations related to safety planning, behavioral expectations, and support interventions are considered authoritative operational guidance. The BIT Chair (or designee) serves as the institutional point of coordination for behavioral risk cases. Cases involving elevated risk may be escalated to senior leadership for final decision-making when necessary.
Decision Authority in Urgent Situations
In situations requiring immediate action, the BIT Chair (or designee) is authorized to enact interim measures prior to full team review. Actions will be reviewed by the full BIT as soon as practicable.
Limitations of Authority
The BIT does not override legally mandated processes (e.g., Title IX), does not independently impose academic or disciplinary sanctions, and operates within all applicable legal and institutional frameworks.
Team Composition
Members are appointed by the President of KHSU-KansasCOM. Core members may include:
- Student Affairs Dean (Chair)
- Counseling/Wellbeing Representative (advisory role)
- Academic Affairs Representative
- Campus Safety/Security
- Title IX Coordinator (as needed)
- Legal/Compliance/Risk (consultative)
Reporting Process
Concerns may be submitted via online reporting form, faculty/staff referral, self-report or peer report, or emergency channels (if urgent). All reports should include description of behavior/incident, dates/timeline, individuals involved, and supporting documentation (if available).
Risk Assessment & Case Review
The BIT utilizes a structured, consistent process to evaluate both risks and threats of harm to self and harm to others including 1. Intake and Triage, 2. Information Gathering, 3. Risk Assessment, and 4. Action Planning. Possible interventions include:
- Outreach and check-in
- Referral to counseling or support services
- Directed treatment plan
- Behavioral expectations agreement
- Academic or wellness support plan
- Increased monitoring
- Forensic diagnostic evaluation
- Referral to Conduct or Title IX processes
Communication Protocols
Communication is coordinated through the BIT Chair or designee. Students are informed of expectations and support options when appropriate. Only necessary information is shared with involved parties.
Documentation
All cases are documented in a centralized, secure system. Records include report details, risk level, decisions and rationale, interventions and follow-up, etc.
Meetings
Regular meetings occur on a trimester basis. Emergency meetings are convened as needed. Quorum is defined as 50% of membership and is the minimum representation for decision-making. This can be overridden by the Chair if prudent.
Relationship to Other Processes
The BIT operates in coordination with, but distinct from:
- Student Conduct (policy enforcement and sanctions)
- Title IX (sex/gender-based misconduct and legal compliance)
- Academic Review (academic progression decisions)
The BIT may refer cases to these processes, receive referrals from them, and provide contextual behavioral risk information to inform decision-making.
Privacy & Compliance
All BIT activities adhere to FERPA regulations, HIPAA considerations (as applicable), ADA considerations, institutional policies on privacy and records, and applicable state and federal laws.
Assessment & Continuous Improvement
The BIT will review aggregate data annually, identify trends and prevention opportunities, provide training to faculty/staff, and refine processes based on outcomes.
Approval & Review
This charter is approved by the KHSU Cabinet. BIT will be reviewed annually or as needed based on institutional or regulatory changes
Student Support Team
Kansas Health Science University and the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine has created myriad resources to support students’ academic support. The Student Support Team (SST) is one of the primary resources, analyzing student academic performance and personal/behavioral issues that might place a student at academic risk.
The goal of each SST meeting is to review students’ academic performance, and any other external issues that might be contributing to their performance, with the objective of creating a personalized intervention for each student based upon their unique situation and needs.
Team Composition
The Student Support Team (SST) is made up of KHSU-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 Team includes representation from the following administrative areas:
Team Procedures and Actions
The SST reviews students’ academic records as part of their charge. In addition, the team reviews 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 KHSU-KansasCOM resources to help the student improve their academic standing. The SST has broad authority to review students’ records, decide how best KHSU-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 KHSU-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.
Minutes of each SST meeting are kept to ensure the appropriate interventions are followed-up on and completed.
SST Data and Metrics
Key data points about students who are discussed will be preserved and analyzed to provide metrics. This data is an important tool in assisting the administration with the ability to track and identify future at-risk students. KHSU-KansasCOM reserves the right to keep and utilize this data for future analysis.
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 KHSU-KansasCOM student is provided a free subscription to Careers in Medicine during the OMS I year, a career-focused online tool that provides a wealth of medical career information for medical students. KHSU-KansasCOM cannot guarantee employment upon graduation, but KHSU-KansasCOM provides advising for all students on future medical careers, the preparation and competitive aspects of each option or choice. For more assistance students have access to KHSU-KansasCOM’s Career Services Specialist, who conducts seminars during the OMS I,II, and III years, as well as hold individual events with students in the late OMS III and early OMS IV years to advise the student.
Orientation
Orientation is required of all new students, in person. This occurs the week before classes begin at KHSU-KansasCOM. The goal of orientation is to help prepare new students for the rigors of medical education and the KHSU-KansasCOM curriculum. OMS II, OMS III, and OMS IV students will have a shortened and required orientation at the start of their respective year to update them on changes that have occurred over the summer, remind them of key policies, and allow them to provide feedback to key members of KHSU-KansasCOM. Additional orientations/re-orientations may be added as needed.
Student Government Association (SGA)
The SGA serves as the primary liaison between the student body and the KHSU-KansasCOM administration. All KHSU-KansasCOM students in good academic standing are allowed to run for positions on the SGA. There are representative and officer positions available for each KHSU-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 KHSU-KansasCOM student who is holding a leadership role in a KHSU-KansasCOM endorsed program or organization (e.g., SGA, executive counsil or senate, student organization President, institutional committee member, executive leadership, student ambassador) or campus employment position (e.g., KHSU-KansasCOM tutor) is expected to maintain professional standards and be in good academic standing. KHSU-KansasCOM student organization president must maintain a failure-free transcript. Presidents who fail a course must discuss the matter with the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs to determine if they remain elibible to retain their role. Student leaders who are not in good standing or are placed on academic probation are highly recommended, or may be required to resign from their leadership or employment position. Students exhibiting unprofessional behavior and/or who 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 officer position in an organization during the year of their fellowship.
More information about Student Leadership expectations can be found in the Student Activities Handbook produced by the Office of Student Affairs.
Student Activities, Organizations, and Events
Student Activities
KHSU-KansasCOM recognizes that events and activities outside of the curriculum are critical to the development of well-rounded physicians. KHSU-KansasCOM also recognizes that event frequency must be thoughtful to ensure that conflicts and distractions from coursework and testing are minimized.
The Student Activities Handbook is the ultimate resource for policies and procedures related to Student Activities, Organizations, and Events. The handbook defines the meaning of extracurricular events or activities, details the process for event requests and approvals, provides clarification of expectations, and ensures that such events/activities are in alignment with laws, regulations, and mission relative to KHSU-KansasCOM. The Office of Student Affairs may interpret and apply these policies as necessary to ensure fairness, compliance, and alignment with institutional priorities.
The Student Activities Handbook can be found on the front page of Campus Groups, the primary tool for managing events, activities, and student organizations. The policies and procedures of the handbook apply to all KHSU-KansasCOM employees and students. The following is a partial representation of the total information found in the Student Activities Handbook.
Events
Referring to co-curricular and extracurricular activities, an event is “a gathering of students sponsored by a student club or organization, university office, faculty, or staff member”. It is not a part of the curriculum which includes class, simulation, lecture, graded activities, or similar. Examples of co-curricular and extracurricular events include
- Social (social gathering, gathering of the distinct purpose of raising funds for club chosen nonprofit or mission trip, events in which alcohol is served/consumed, auctions, parties, etc.)
- Educational (speakers, practical, training, clinical skills, etc.)
- Recreational (sports, outside events, etc.)
- Meetings
Business meetings that each organization is required to hold each trimester are not included in the definition of “event” for counting purposes. The definition of event does not include groups or meetings established through Counseling Services, tutoring, or group studying. This definition and these policies do not apply to events and activities for faculty and staff such as community engagement, meetings, trainings, all hands meetings, etc.
Events that include any type of clinical skills are required to have a KHSU-KansasCOM subject matter expert present.
Campus Groups
Campus Groups is the official platform used to submit, review, and approve all extracurricular and co-curricular events. All events for students must be submitted through Campus Groups to be considered university sanctioned. Events that are not submitted and approved through Campus Groups will not be recognized as official university events and are not eligible for funding, promotion, or institutional support.
Non-Programming Time Periods
Events are not to be hosted in the 72 hours (approximately 3 days) leading up to an exam.
Event Approval Process
- Student Organization, Club, or Committee Sponsored Events
Any recognized campus organization may plan an activity. All functions/activities must be approved by the Office of Student Affairs. Event requests must be submitted at least two (2) weeks, or ten (10) business days, in advance of the proposed event date. Additional time to finalize approval may be required depending on the nature and complexity of the event. The Student Activities Specialist will communicate to the organization if there is a cause for delay. Submission of an event request does not guarantee approval. Advisors should review all function approval forms before submission to the Student Activities Specialist. The failure of organizations to submit an event request with the above-mentioned advanced notice may be noted in the annual review. This may lead to the event being cancelled or delayed.
Recognition of Student Organizations
KHSU-KansasCOM recognizes that the student bring to campus a variety of interests and develop new interests as members of the campus community. Therefore, students are free to organize and promote their common ideas.
Students shall have the right to assemble if they do not:
- violate the civil law or the medical school’s professional code of conduct;
- destroy property;
- disrupt classes and any other regular and essential operations of the KHSU-KansasCOM; or
- in any way it infringes upon the rights of other individuals or organizations.
Student organizations endorsed by KHSU-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 KHSU-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 KHSU-KansasCOM calendar.
Recognition Process
A student interest group may petition for official KHSU-KansasCOM recognition if they meet the following criteria:
- Its purpose is consistent with the KHSU-KansasCOM mission, vision, and values;
- The group has a special purpose and/or objectives beyond mere affiliation;
- Membership requirements are clearly defined and documented; and
- The group meets an area of interest not already served by an existing organization.
Leadership from the student interest group requesting recognition must apply to the Office of Student Affairs, which shall confirm basic eligibility requirements and affirm the group’s purpose and objectives. Specific details which should be addressed in this document include, but are not limited to, the following:
- name of organization;
- proposed advisor;
- proposed mission statement;
- proposed dues;
- proposed by-laws including ratification and amendment procedures;
- proposed financial proforma (Details of where funding will come from for the first 12 months of operation);
- statement of national affiliation (If appropriate);
- proposed student leadership (Officer titles, not names of individuals holding office);
- statement of purpose and objectives;
- proposed service projects;
- petition for membership (Signed by a minimum of 10 students)
- and any additional information.
The Student Activities Specialist shall present eligible applications for new student organizations to the Office of Student Affairs and Student Government Association (SGA) leadership for review. Final decisions regarding recognition are made by the Office of Student Affairs, in consultation with SGA and KHSU-KansasCOM leadership. Applications are reviewed during the summer, and new organizations are only added before the beginning of the academic year.
To ensure equitable access to resources and maintain organizational effectiveness, KHSU-KansasCOM may limit the total number of recognized student organizations. Applications for new organizations will be reviewed only when space is available and will be considered in the order received.
Responsibilities upon Recognition
Once the organization receives recognition approval, the organization must complete the following within two weeks:
- provide a description of duties and responsibilities for each officer;
- provide the required qualifications for officers and a definition of how officers shall remain in good standing;
- outline of election process;
- process for the removal and replacement of officers
- qualifications for membership;
- procedures for amending the organization’s constitution and/or by-laws;
- descriptions and responsibilities of any standing committees;
- and formally elect officers
Once the officers are in place, the student organization is free to do the following: Recruit new members, hold meetings, and plan events and service projects.
Good Standing
Organizations must complete the following requirements to be eligible and remain in good standing. These qualities may be used to determine funding allocations.
- Selection of an Advisor: The organization must ask a full-time member of the KHSU-KansasCOM faculty or staff to serve as an advisor for the organization. The advisor should work with the organization to reinforce scholarship and academic excellence within its mission as well as provide guidance for all efforts of the organization. The Advisor should attend at least one business meeting a trimester, review event requests for those occurring off campus or involve contracts, , and must be present at any events where alcohol is served. Events in the Simulation Center will require a faculty member to be present during the event.
- Active President Requirement: In order for a student organization to remain in good standing, the organization must maintain an active President. If the President position becomes vacant for any reason, the organization must promptly initiate the process outlined in its constitution to fill the vacancy and restore active leadership.
- Presence and Participation in the Strategic Planning Process: The organization must participate in the Council of Student Organization Presidents and other major KHSU-KansasCOM initiatives when invited or required to do so, such as the Student Club & Organization Fair.
- Community Service/Engagement: SGA requires that organizations must conduct at least one community service project open to all members of the organization to be tracked by the Senators for Organizations and Advocacy.
- Commitment to Community Expectations: The organization should have no chapter violations of KHSU-KansasCOM policies.
- Regular Reports of Organization Progress: Presidents of all student organizations are required to submit a President Event Summary Form for all events and business meetings recorded on Campus Groups. The End-Of-Year Report is also required to be submitting by the outgoing president by the last day of the trimester.
- Meet All Deadlines: The organization’s leadership is required to submit all paperwork required by the requested deadline.
- Conduct Elections: Organizations must conduct elections in accordance with the established timeline to ensure leadership transition for the following academic year.
Organizations who fail to uphold these expectations will be recognized as “not in good standing” by the Office of Student Affairs. The Student Activities Specialist will track these components and notify the organization if they are not meeting these expectations. Failure to maintain good standing throughout the year will be considered in the annual review of the organization and may result in suspension of the organization or other sanctions. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs has the authority to suspend an organization at any time.
Annual Review
All student organizations are subject to annual review by the Office of Student Affairs. Additional reviews may be conducted if concerns arise regarding the organization’s activity level, leadership, or adherence to institutional expectations. The End-Of Year report required to be submitted by outgoing presidents will be used to help making determination on whether the student organization continues next year.
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