Academic Enhancement Program

• Sara Rabie, Ph.D.
  • Chair, Department of Educational Services (srabie@sgu.edu)
• Allana Roach, Ph.D.
  • Director, Academic Student Success Initiatives, Supports and Training Division (aroach1@sgu.edu)
• Asha Lessey-Charles, M.Ed., MBA, B.Sc.
  • Assistant Director, Academic Support Administration and Innovation (alessey@sgu.edu)
• Ms. Davette St. Louis, B.Sc.
  • Coordinator, SOM Peer Learning Groups (dstlouis@sgu.edu)

NOTE:  For All communication regarding AEP, please use (aep@sgu.edu)  

Congratulations! We are delighted to welcome you to the St. George’s University School of Medicine (SGUSOM). Medical school is a fast-paced learning environment, that can be a challenging yet transformative experience. Successful learners in this context are self-directed, organized, adaptable and resilient. 

To facilitate your success while at SGU, you have been selected by our Committee on Admission to enter the Academic Enhancement Program (AEP). Administered through the Department of Educational Services (DES), the AEP is designed to provide real-time support when you need it the most. As part of the AEP, you are assigned an AEP Faculty Advisor, an AEP Cohort and are required to attend select study skills workshops. 

Your AEP Cohort is a closed AEP Peer Learning Group facilitated by one or two upper-class students (your AEP Cohort Leaders). These students will serve as your mentors for the term. We also hope that your AEP cohort will help provide you with a sense of community, a nexus where you can build connections, and maybe find a study buddy. During Orientation, you will receive an email with your assigned Faculty Advisor and AEP Cohort details. To learn more about your AEP Requirements, we invite you to review the attached document (AEP requirements).

During the Spring 2022 semester, you are required to:

• Meet with your AEP Faculty Advisor (at least 1 meeting before your first exam and 1 email check-in)
• Attend all 11 mandatory AEP Peer Learning Group sessions 
• Attend minimum 10 Open Peer Learning Group sessions 
• Attend minimum 3 DES Learning Strategies workshops (live or recorded)
• Complete three (3) student support questionnaires (Initial Self-Reflection, BPM1 Post-Exam 2 Reflections Survey and AEP End-of Term Reflection)
• Respond to correspondence from the ASAI and your Faculty Advisor in a timely manner.

This document contains additional details about each of these requirements.  

Your AEP Faculty Advisor is available to provide you with academic and non-academic support. We strongly suggest that you stay connected with your AEP Faculty Advisor. You are required to meet with your AEP Faculty Advisor at least once during the term. We recommend that you attend your initial meeting before Exam 1; however, you are encouraged to check in with your advisor through a virtual meeting or by email at least one (1) other time during the term. Meetings will be hosted on Zoom or in person. Details about your Faculty Advisor will be emailed to you, including how to schedule an appointment. 

A Peer Learning Group (PLG) is a small group study session, facilitated by upper-term students who have done well in the coursework and serves as a low stakes environment for you to practice application of the content covered in the previous week. These small group study sessions provide you with a safe space for learning, can help you develop key study skills needed to assess and build understanding of the content covered in classes, for example by doing MCQs. PLGs are also less formal, shared learning communities, that provide an opportunity to build connections with your peers. Sessions are monitored for quality assurance purposes and we welcome your feedback regarding the sessions you attend.  Session facilitators and participants all have an impact on the value of sessions.  

We offer two types of PLGs to support you: 

a) AEP Peer Learning Groups (AEP PLG):

Access to AEP Closed PLGs is restricted to AEP students. Beginning January 19th or 20th, you and your AEP cohort members must attend your required AEP PLGS. You will meet with your cohort (i.e., the same group, same facilitators), at the same time each week unless otherwise specified. For online students, these sessions are held online via Zoom. For on-campus students, these sessions are held in Andrew Belford Hall, Level 3 (west and middle). At each session, please ensure that you scan the QR Code or use the Insight link provided by the facilitators to record your attendance (or you will be marked as absent).  

b) OPEN Peer Learning Groups (OPLGs):

Each week upper term students offer a range of PLGs focused on different important content from the previous week. You can RSVP and attend the sessions of your choice. It is recommended that you aim to attend at least one per week. You are required to attend at minimum Ten (10) OPLGs during the semester. The first Term 1 OPLG will be held during the week of January 25th. At each session, please ensure that you scan the QR Code or use the Insight link provided by the facilitators to record your attendance (or you will be marked as absent). The invitation to sign up for OPLGs goes out every Friday by via email, with the Signup Genius link so that you can RSVP for the sessions of your choice. Once the OPLGs begin, you can view the list of available sessions and RSVP using Signup Genius.

Our Learning Strategies Unit offers workshops to help you become effective, self-regulated learners. These workshops provide an opportunity to enhance your strategies for knowledge acquisition, integration, and application; develop your interpersonal skills; and build your practical competence. All of our workshops are highly recommended; however, you are required to attend at least 3. You will be alerted of upcoming workshops by email, and you can decide which sessions to attend; the workshop schedule will also be posted on the AEP Sakai site. We highly recommend that you attend the live workshops, however, this term you will receive credit for attending a workshop whether live or recorded, as long you watch the 85% or more of the recording within the same week that the workshop is originally offered. We can determine whether you have watched the recording, therefore, you are not required to alert us by email for your participation to be credited.

You will be given access to a Sakai course dedicated for AEP students, which supports collaboration, team building, help-seeking and self-monitoring. Prior to the start of orientation, you will be assigned to your small group cohort in Sakai and sent a notification so you can begin connecting with your facilitators and cohort mates. We hope that you are excited to meet your team!

SOM Term 1 Exam Dates:

• Exam 1 (Tues. Feb 8th)  
• Exam 2 (Tues. Mar 1st)
• Exam 3 (Mon. Mar 28th)
• Exam 4 (Wed. Apr 20th)
• Exam 5 (Mon. May 16th)  

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE:

If you did not do well on any exam, you may be invited to a meeting with the School of Medicine advisory team from the Office of Academic Advising Development and Support (AADS). Those meetings are mandatory and separate from AEP.  Regardless of your performance, we encourage you to follow up with your Faculty Advisor or make an appointment to meet with a Learning Strategist, to identify ways to enhance your efficiency, performance or well-being.

RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS IS MANDATORY:

Help us stay informed about you and your experience in the AEP. 

REQUIRED SURVEYS/QUESTIONNAIRES

You will need to complete the following surveys/questionnaires (compliance is recorded):  1. Initial Self-Reflection, 2. BPM1 Post-Exam 2 Reflections Survey and 3. AEP End-of Term Reflection

Can I change my AEP Peer Learning Group? Yes. 

If you have a problem with your group for any reason, please let us know. We will either solve the problem or move you to another AEP cohort.

Can I attend a different cohort’s AEP Peer Learning Group? No. However, you can attend additional Open Peer Learning  Groups.

What do I do if I miss my AEP Peer Learning Group? 

Attending your AEP Peer Learning Group is the most important AEP requirement. Not attending it without a legitimate excuse is seen as non-compliance. In the rare case that you cannot attend your AEP group; E-mail your facilitator and Mrs. Lessey-Charles, the Assistant Director, ASAI (aep@sgu.edu) to explain your absence. Attend an additional Open Peer Learning Group in the same week to make up for the missed session.

What is the difference between AEP Peer Learning Groups and Open Peer Learning Groups?

The AEP Peer Learning Groups and Open Peer Learning Groups are very similar in terms of goals and format. The main difference is that the AEP Peer Learning Group is a closed group that is led by your AEP cohort leaders and only your AEP cohort members attend. This means you have a consistent learning community that meets each week, and it also allows for a closer ongoing relationship between the facilitators and the participants. Open Peer Learning Groups are accessible to all students and the participants are likely to be different each week; however, sign up is required before hand. 

How many Peer Learning Groups can I attend each week? 

Up to four (4) Open Peer Learning Groups. Attending too many groups can negatively impact your learning. You need time to study on your own as well.

When will I attend my first Open Peer Learning Group? The week of January 25th.

Where are the AEP & Open Peer Learning Groups held? 

AEP and Open Peer Learning Groups are held Tuesday to Friday and Sunday. During orientation, you will be informed of the selected locations. Any change will be communicated to you via email. 

How many AEP Peer Learning Group sessions I can miss? NONE, attending these sessions is mandatory.

What do I do if group learning is not for me? 

Participating in AEP is a condition of your acceptance into SGU. While we understand that working with a group can (at times) pose a challenge, learning how to navigate complex team dynamics and building communication skills are critical skills in medicine. Do not simply stop attending group, connect with Ms. Asha Lessey-Charles (alessey@sgu.edu) if you experience difficulty.