QUALITY OF STUDENT LIFE

Social interaction between the classes (2.5/6)

Student Concerns: Students felt strongly that there should be more social activities and interactions between the classes.

Response: As the report notes, the social committee of the Medical Student Senate is largely responsible for developing opportunities for students to interact socially, and our primary goal in responding to this concern is to ensure we support student efforts. In an effort to increase social activities and interactions between the classes, this fall the second-year peer mentorship program was revised. Each year, second-year students are matched with entering first-year students. At the beginning of the year, the student affairs office sponsors a number of events. Additional outdoor trips and sports activities for all four classes are being explored. The student affairs office also sponsors student-initiated social events that are open to all medical students and will continue to do so. These social activities could also include the graduate school population if more interaction is desired there. The report made several recommendations on ways the medical school can interact with the graduate school that will be explored this year.

Because third- and fourth-year students have so few opportunities to interact, there is a proposal for a new student-to-student mentoring program. Volunteer fourth-year students would be matched with third-year students during third-year orientation. Fourth-year students would offer advice on scheduling electives and rotations, residency planning, student affairs and other resources as well as their own career decision-making process. A kick-off dinner would start the program.

Student–Faculty Forums (3.1/6)

Student Concerns: Students expressed their hope that the medical school would promote more student and faculty interaction through such activities as shared forums similar to the one conducted in January 2000.

Response: It is proposed that one or two student–faculty forums be held each year. One forum will be held in the fall and/or one in the spring. Faculty and students will be involved in the planning. The overall theme of the forums will be training physicians to fulfill the medical school mission. Potential topics include professionalism, leadership, caring for the underserved, and cross-cultural health care. Forums will involve faculty and students in all four years, and will complement not duplicate other curricular and extracurricular offerings, providing a broader perspective on medicine.

A follow-up meeting will be held in February to continue planning a forum—to set dates, propose a format, and to obtain faculty and student input. Key administrators will be identified who will comprise a task force to begin the planning process for the student–faculty forums for the 2001–2002 academic year. Students and faculty will be invited to participate in the planning process including the members of the Committee on Multiculturalism. The goal is to conduct one forum in the spring of 2001.

Streamline Student Groups (3.5/6)

Student Concerns: Students requested an effort to streamline and improve communication between student groups. This year, for example, there are more than 25 formally recognized student groups within the medical school, many with overlapping goals and objectives.

Response: A Patient Advocacy Coordinating Council has been formed to enhance coordination and cooperation between the various student organizations. This student-led council will address coordination of meeting times. The Office of Curriculum Affairs staff will be available to coordinate and financially support collaborative activities of interest groups that focus on patient advocacy initiatives. In the Biomedical Center, a student organization office will be set up in the near future where student groups may store files and related materials. Also, we will place in the office space a large “Mark ‘N Wipe” monthly planner as well as a three-month planner so organizations can note what student activities will occur during the current month or semester.

Interaction with Graduate Students (3.9/6)

See discussion above on social interactions among the classes.

Brown Daily Herald (4.2/6)

See below on page 29, Information about Campus Events.

Outdoor Trips/Sports (4.2/6)

See discussion above on social interactions among the classes.