Policy on Narrative Assessment

Objective:

To document assessment in a narrative format, focusing on strengths and areas for improvement. To Provide meaningful assessment and written descriptions of specific observed student behaviors and performance.

Content:

The narrative should include both students’ strengths and areas that require improvement. In order to enhance the narrative’s depth and meaning, concrete and specific examples of the observations should be documented.

Integrated Medical Science I and II Phase:

Students will receive narrative assessment in any course/module in which students have four or more sessions in a small group of 12 or fewer students with the same instructor.

Required Clerkship Phase:

Students will receive narrative assessment during all required clerkships.

Career Focus Track Phase:

Students will receive narrative assessment in all clinically-based required and elective courses, research electives, and classroom electives with 12 students or fewer.

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Policy Name
Policy on Narrative Assessment

Policy Number - DO NOT USE

Original Approval Date
5 June 2024

Periodic Review Schedule
Every 3 years, next review due JUL 2027

Applicable Stakeholders
Medical students, course directors, module directors, clerkship directors, selective directors, elective directors, attending/clinical faculty

Purpose of Policy

To describe the requirement for providing student narrative assessment during courses. This policy ensures a comprehensive and qualitative approach to the documentation of student performance.

Notified Groups & Methods of Communication
Public, MMS Website

Type of policy
Major Revision of an existing policy

Template Completion Date
6 June 2024

Originating Office/Committee
Office of Educational Programs

Responsible Office/Committee For Implementation And Monitoring
Office of Educational Programs

LCME Required Policy
Yes

LCME Element(s) Number and Description

LCME Element(s) Number and Description:

9.5 Narrative Assessment

A medical school ensures that a narrative description of a medical student’s performance, including non-cognitive achievement, is included as a component of the assessment in each required course and clerkship of the medical education program whenever teacher-student interaction permits this form of assessment.