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Minutes |
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Educational Policy Council Meeting
April 9, 2001
Carbondale: Lindegren 310/Springfield: Lincoln Conference Room
|
Minutes |
|
|
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Educational Policy Council Meeting
April 9, 2001
Carbondale: Lindegren 310/Springfield: Lincoln Conference Room
Present:
Jeff
Suzewitz, MD
for Amber Barnhart, MD
Peter
T. Borgia, PhD
Terri Cameron, Staff
Donald A. Caspary, PhD
Erik J.
Constance, MD
George
Dunaway, PhD
for Paul J. Feltovich, PhD
Sharon
K. Hull, MD
Regina
A. Kovach, MD
Jerry
A. Kruse, MD
Gary
Myers, PhD
for Theodore R. LeBlang, JD
Joelle
Lipcamon, Class of 2004
Tracy
K. Lower, MD
Dean
K. Naritoku, MD.
Sandra
L. Shea, PhD
David R
Wade, PhD
Absent:
Linda
H. Distlehorst, PhD
Clint
Farris, Class of 2002
Susan
Thompson Hingle, MD
Matthew
Lavery, Class of 2003
Rick
Markiewicz, Class of 2001
David
S. Resch, MD
Michael
F. Shanahan, PhD
John
Tomkowiak, MD
Guest:
David
E. Steward, MD
Discussion
Items
The March 26 minutes were unanimously approved with
the following changes:
6.1. Mentored Professional Enrichment Experience (MPEE):
The first sentence to the second to the last
paragraph of the report was amended as follows:
There was a brief discussion as to why projects in
which students wished to participate in clinical activities with a mentor were
not considered eligible, since that was one of the projects liste in early
promotional materials and because they were supported and endorsed by the
Steering Committee.
9.2
Year
2 Curriculum Committee:
The report was amended as
follows:
Students performed at a
higher level than on the previous end-of-block exam, probably based on
greater student and faculty familiarity with the process.
Retreat organizers Drs. Borgia, Distlehorst,
Kruse and Tomkowiak met with Dr. Getto to discuss plans for the retreat…
There were no announcements.
Dr. Kruse explained that, in a continuing effort to
bring all EPC members up-to-date on the Curriculum 2000 process, abbreviated
versions of the faculty development workshops offered to faculty last summer
are being presented at the next few EPC meetings.
Dr. David Steward distributed copies of the
materials distributed at the two Item Writing Workshops scheduled last
summer. The session were well-attended
by both clinical and basic science faculty.
The basic organization of the workshop follows the
NBME document Constructing Written Test Questions for the Basic and Clinical
Sciences, with a one-week follow-up by review of questions written by
participants. The focus of the workshop
is on “A” type questions (5-item multiple choice), since the NBME is no longer
using other types of questions due to the poor data results obtained from their
use. Issues covered include: question focus, test application, question
clarity, avoiding clues in items, avoiding absolute terms, homogenous answers,
and tips such as arranging options in alpha order. Participants left the workshop with peer-evaluated questions and
a template for future item writing.
Dr. Steward reported that an EVU survey had been
distributed to all faculty so that the Task Force could obtain a clear
understanding of faculty opinion regarding educational value units for the
subcommittee’s use in developing guidelines and tools. EPC members noted that the survey was a good
beginning to the process, although the issue of quality of educational effort
will need further development.
Dr. Caspary reported that he had incorporated the
changes suggested by EPC members the last time the group reviewed the operating
paper. The following additional changes
were suggested: 1) last section:
“anyone may suggest amendments…”
Dr. Lower made a motion, seconded by Dr. Borgia, to
accept the operating paper with the changes noted. The motion passed with 10 votes in favor, none against, and two
abstentions. Ms. Cameron will make the
final changes and re-distribute the operating paper.
Dr. Kruse reported that the issue of the Year 3
Schedule was before the EPC again in light of events at the March 26 Year
3 Curriculum Committee meeting. He
asked Dr. Kovach to summarize those events.
Dr. Kovach summarized the process of the Year 3
Schedule: a Year 3 Schedule
Subcommittee was established soon after the inception of the Year 3 Curriculum
Committee and spent several months evaluating various options that would allow
Neurology to occur in Year 3 while resolving issues that had been problematic
with the remainder of the schedule (reduced time for two of the short
clerkships; 12-week rotations that made it difficult for students who had
deferrals or leaves to graduate on time).
A proposed schedule was presented to the full committee and was
approved. The Department of Surgery
Chair subsequently addressed the Year 3 Committee regarding concerns about down
time in the Surgery Clerkship, and the Year 3 Committee deliberated those
concerns but reiterated its approval of the previously-approved schedule. That schedule was endorsed by the EPC at its
March 12 meeting and subsequently distributed to students.
Dr. Getto addressed the Year 3 Curriculum
Committee at its March 26 meeting and strongly recommended that the Year 3
Committee not make any schedule changes until 2002. He said he had knowledge that a group of faculty had become
disenfranchised with the calendar and felt that their educational efforts were
not being recognized or appreciated and would, therefore, not participate in
the curriculum, and that this lack of support included multiple years of the
curriculum. He observed that
educational principles were not followed, although the Year 3 Committee
disagreed with that statement and noted the irregularity of the process the
Dean had followed. After Dr. Getto
left, the committee deliberated possible responses, but none of the committee
members felt that they could disregard the Dean’s recommendation. Since the existing schedule had several
noted problems, the committee voted to return to the pre-C2000 calendar, which
means that Neurology no longer has a presence in Year 3. A special meeting of the Year 3 Committee
was held on April 2 to discuss the role and function of the Year 3 Committee in
light of the events at the March 26 Y3 Curriculum Committee meeting. Committee members reiterated that, while
they disagreed with the Dean’s comments and recommendation, they felt that they
had no choice but to follow his recommendation. Dr. Kovach and Dr. Kruse met with the Dean subsequently to
express the concerns of the Year 3 Committee and potential ramifications of
this decision.
After much discussion, Dr. Naritoku made a motion,
seconded by Dr. Caspary, that the Dean be sent a memo stating that the EPC
stands by its endorsement of the original schedule as developed by the Year 3
Curriculum Committee. While the EPC
recognizes the Dean’s prerogative to change the curriculum and will abide by
the current decision, this situation raises serious concerns about governance
of the curriculum and the governance process in general. A failure to recognize the importance of the
committees and their input will certainly have a deleterious effect on faculty
committee and curriculum participation.
Dr. Kovach was urged to work with the Year 3
Committee to develop a formal response to the situation and forward it to the
EPC as soon as possible. However, in
light of the time of the year, the schedule voted on at the March 26 Year 3
Committee meeting (pre-C2000) will be distributed.
Dr. Caspary made a motion, seconded by Dr. Borgia,
to table Dr. Naritoku’s motion until the next meeting so that Dr. Kruse can
further develop the memo. The motion
passed unanimously. In the meantime,
Dr. Kruse will notify the Dean of the EPC’s concerns and plans.
Dr. Wade reported that the curriculum is progressing
smoothly. The only current issue of
concern is the fees ($450) that students must pay to participate in any
curriculum experiences during the summer.
Dr. Constance explained that this is a University requirement. The actual costs have not changed – they
have just been re-aligned to reflect the curriculum. This is not an issue that can be easily dealt with – it includes
Federal Law and University requirements.
While students see the situation as punitive to the MPEE, that is not
the case. The fees have always been
paid, they were just not noticed because they were part of the tuition that was
paid across three semesters instead of two.
Dr. Borgia reported that the Year 2 Committee will
have a retreat next week. Surveys have
been distributed to all students and faculty.
The results will be compiled and distributed in the next few days.
Dr. Kovach reported that she had nothing to add to
the earlier discussion regarding Year 3.
Dr. Lower reported that the Year 4 Committee had
developed an orientation for Electives Advisors and that she had presented the
first session. The Committee has also
reviewed the Graduation Questionnaire, which
did not have comments/information specific to Year 4, so does not plan
to develop a response to the report for the EPC.
Dr. Suzewitz reported that Doctoring is progressing
smoothly, and that Dr. Barnhart continues to work with students with identified
problems.