Year Three Option Periods

Synopsis of Schedule Information

• During Academic Year 2007-2008, Year Three students will have the opportunity for alternate activities in addition to the regular Year Three Clerkship rotations.  These Option Periods are available to students for scheduling: Vacations, Remediations, Research, the Neurology Clerkship, and Electives. 

• The length of time available to Y3 students for these optional activities will be two 2-week periods for a total of four weeks per student for the year.  The Option Periods for 2007‑2008 Academic Year are as follows:
  • Weeks 11 & 12 (September 17 & September 24, 2007)
  • Weeks 39 & 40 (March 31 & April 7, 2008)
  • Weeks 41 & 42 (April 14 & 21, 2008) 

• The major goals of this programmatic change are to offer students both an option for vacation time and opportunities for exploration of areas not normally available to students during Year Three. 

• Credit for Elective courses taken in Year Three will apply toward Elective requirements for Graduation, however, Year Three electives will not satisfy the requirement for an Intensive Clinical Elective; this can only be taken in Year Four.  Students will be evaluated using the Elective Performance Evaluation form currently in use for Year Four students.  These evaluation criteria were developed and approved for use by the Year Four Curriculum Committee and based on the ACGME Core Competencies.

• Maximum course length for Year Three students is two (2) weeks.  It should be noted that many electives originally developed for Year Four students are now being opened to Year Three students; these courses will appear in both the Year Three and the Year Four Elective Catalogs.  Even though the course may indicate the offering can be taken for 2-4 weeks, the option of taking more than two weeks of any elective course will apply to Year Four students ONLY.      

• The only 4-week experience that will be allowed during the Y3 Option Periods will be the Neurology Clerkship.  This option will only be available to Y3 students who are taking their long clerkships during the second semester of their third year.  If more students want to take advantage of this opportunity than available slots, a lottery system will be used to ensure all applicants have an equal opportunity.

• Selection of Activities for Option Periods:

·         Students are encouraged to diversify their schedules by including time for both educational and vacation activities.   

·         There is no requirement that students use any of the four Option Weeks for educational activities; all four weeks can be scheduled as vacation time.

·         No Electives can be scheduled in Year Three during Holiday Break (Weeks 25-26).

• Students are encouraged to schedule vacation time or electives during the Option Periods, however, if a Clerkship remediation becomes necessary, students may be required to utilize the Option Period(s) for such remediation activities.

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*Year Three Option Periods