- 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).
LIST OF 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.
AEP FACULTY ADVISOR
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.
PEER LEARNING GROUPS
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.
DES LEARNING STRATEGIES WORKSHOPS
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.
SOM ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM – SPRING 2022 SAKAI SITE
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!
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Spring 2022 Attendance Schedule AEP Peer Learning Groups and Open Peer Learning Groups |
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SOM Term 1 Week |
AEP PLG Session Day (varies by cohort). All sessions are mandatory |
Open Peer Learning Groups (Minimum 10 required) |
DES Workshops (Minimum 3 required) |
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Week 1 (Jan 17 - 23) |
Jan 19th or 20th |
By the end of week 4 – 2 OPLGs required overall |
Attend your 1st DES Workshop by |
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Week 2 (Jan 24 - 30) |
Jan 26th or 27th |
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February 15th |
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Week 3 (Jan 31 – Feb 6) |
Feb 2nd or 3rd |
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Week 4 (Feb 7 - 13) *Exam 1 (Tues. Feb 8th) |
NO AEP PLG SESSIONS |
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Week 5 (Feb 14 - 20) |
Feb 16th or 17th |
By the end of week 6 – 4 OPLGs required overall |
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Week 6 (Feb 21 - 27) |
Feb 23rd or 24th |
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Week 7 (Feb 28 – Mar 6) *Exam 2 (Tues. Mar 1st) |
NO AEP PLG SESSIONS |
By the end of week 9 – 7 OPLGs required overall |
Attend your 2nd DES Workshop by March 15th
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Week 8 (Mar 7 - 13) |
Mar 9th or 10th |
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Week 9 (Mar 14 - 20) |
Mar 16th or 17th |
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Week 10 (Mar 21 - 27) *Exam 3 (Mon. Mar 28th) |
NO AEP PLG SESSIONS |
By the end of week 13 – All 10 OPLGs required |
Attend your 3rd DES Workshop by April 15th |
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Week 11 (Mar 28 – Apr 3) |
Mar 30th or 31st |
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Week 12 (Apr 4 - 10) |
Apr 6th or 7th |
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Week 13 (Apr 11 - 17) |
Apr 13th or 14th |
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Week 14 (Apr 18 - 24) *Exam 4 (Wed. Apr 20th) |
NO AEP PLG SESSIONS |
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Week 15 (Apr 25 – May 1) |
Apr 27th or 28th (Optional) |
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Week 16 (May 2 - 8) |
May 4th or 5th (Final Session) |
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Week 17 (May 9 - 15) *Exam 5 (Mon. May 16th) |
NO AEP PLG SESSIONS |
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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.
School of Arts and Sciences Master Syllabi — Info for All Sections
Academic Integrity
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“Plagiarism is regarded as a cardinal offense in academia because it constitutes theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist. Plagiarism draws into disrepute the credibility of the Institution, its faculty, and students; therefore, it is not tolerated” (p. 48).
Plagiarism also includes the unintentional copying or false accreditation of work, so double check your assignments BEFORE you hand them in.
Be sure to do good, honest work, credit your sources and reference accordingly and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously following the university’s policies on Plagiarism as outlined in the Student Manual.
Your work may be subject to submission to plagiarism detection software, submission to this system means that your work automatically becomes part of that database and can be compared with the work of your classmates.
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“Students are expected to attend all classes and or clinical rotations for which they have registered. Although attendance may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance may be taken randomly. Students’ absence may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy. If absence from individual classes, examinations, and activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed. A particular course may define additional policies regarding specific attendance or participation” (p. 9).
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“All matriculated students are expected to attend all assigned academic activities for each course currently registered. Medical excuses will be based on self-reporting by students. Students who feel they are too sick to take an examination or other required activity on a specific day must submit the online SAS medical excuse, which is available on Carenage. Students are only allowed two such excuses a year. Upon consultation with the Director of University Health Service, the third excuse will result in a mandatory medical leave of absence. The policies regarding make-up examinations are at the option of the Course Director” (p.46).
For additional specific examination policies and procedures, refer to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), pages 31 through 37.
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“A student with a disability or disabling condition that affects one or more major life activities, who would like to request an accommodation, must submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) located in the Dean of Students Office. It is highly recommended that students applying for accommodations do so at least one month before classes begin to allow for a more efficient and timely consideration of the request. If a fully completed application is not submitted in a timely fashion, an eligibility determination may not be made, and accommodations, where applicable, may not be granted prior to the commencement of classes and/or examinations” (p. 8).
It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the policies, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for a course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus. These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual.