Assessment of Student Performance

Assessment of Student Performance

The program conducts frequent objective assessments of student performance related to learning outcomes and graduate competencies for the purpose of monitoring and documenting student progress in a manner that promptly identifies deficits in knowledge and/or skills and establishes means for remediation. All assessments are based on the instructional objectives found in course syllabi and materials for other learning activities, which guide student achievement of the program’s learning outcomes and graduate competencies. 

Types of Assessments

The program utilizes formative assessments to monitor student progress in meeting course-specific learning outcomes. Formative assessments are administered in several forms (e.g., multiple-choice questions, written assignments, and observation of performance in simulated patient encounters) and allow program faculty to provide students with ongoing feedback on areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.   

The program utilizes comprehensive assessments to assess student achievement of learning outcomes at the end of a course component. These graded assessments are administered in several forms (e.g., multiple-choice questions and physical examination and clinical procedure skills assessments) and allow program faculty to provide students with periodic feedback on areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.

The program utilizes cumulative assessments to assess student achievement of learning outcomes at the end of a course during the Didactic Phase and at the end of the Didactic and Clinical Phases. These graded assessments are administered in several forms (e.g., multiple-choice questions and physical examination and clinical procedure skills assessments) and allow program faculty to provide students with feedback on areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. 

The Summative Evaluation, administered after successful completion of the Clinical Phase, is used to verify that each student has acquired the program’s graduate competencies and is prepared to enter clinical practice. 

The program makes every attempt to post student grades on the program’s online learning management system within 48 hours of an electronic written examination and within 96 hours of all other assignments/assessments. All assessments are the property of the program.  Students may not duplicate assessment items in any form at any time.