Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Student Curriculum Committee
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Course Evaluation Policy

We at Vanderbilt believe that medical education is a lifelong process. Learning may occur in solitary, thoughtful reflection, in patient-doctor interactions, in interactions with peers and with those more experienced than oneself, and in a host of other settings.

In the classrooms, laboratories, and patient care areas of the School of Medicine and the Hospital, we believe the most effective learning is a team endeavor in which teachers are learners and vice versa. This mutuality is reflected, for example, in the obligation of faculty members to provide grades and other constructive commentary on student performance and how it can be enhanced. And it is reflected in the expectation that students will provide evaluative feedback and commentary on each course in order to improve the quality of instruction at Vanderbilt. Both processes of evaluation are essential to the Vanderbilt educational experience.

The student curriculum committee and the undergraduate medical education committee endorse the following guidelines in order to elicit the meaningful participation of every student in the evaluation process.

Every required course/clerkship will be evaluated by students.

The evaluation instrument (e.g., questionnaire) should be the product of student-faculty collaboration and of reasonable length.

Every student is expected to respond in a professional manner to each item which she/he feels qualified to answer.

Strict anonymity of responses must be assured.

Failure to respond will result in withholding the grade for the course. Further, repeated failure to respond in a timely and reasonable fashion will be brought to the attention of the appropriate Promotion Committee.

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