- Joined
- Jul 3, 2012
- Messages
- 472
- Reaction score
- 115
We know the new academic requirements seem to have "changed overnight". Although not a solution for those deficient in 1-2 courses at the moment, I will explain how our hands were tied relative to informing the premed community of changes before allowed to do so in mid-June.
The accrediting body (LCME) absolutely PROHIBITS the perception/reality of recruiting students while waiting for the decision. Here's the timeline leading to the LCME meeting in mid-June wherein Phoenix received prelim accreditation.
Dec 2011 - Phoenix submits application and academic details, including proposed required courses for admission to the LCME for review.
February 2012 - LCME visits Phoenix for 3-day on-site "hearing", verifying/interviewing me and others on what we've prepared in the application.
April - MSAR updates are due, but no separate mention for Phoenix is possible because, again, we have not received prelim accreditation. Only option is to continue with the shared Tucson/Phoenix entry, which has been our reality since 2006 as the "regional campus" to Tucson. Cannot even hint to required coursework changes pending prelim accreditation.
April - May - My office and staff continues to meet premed's, talking very GENERICALLY about POSSIBLE course changes but cannot for a second leak that we will change requirements for admission. We hosted 3 PreMed Workshops and very carefully informed everyone of imminent changes to required coursework. During these months, the entire campus built a new website to launch as soon as news arrives in June.
June 13 - LCME meets and grants Phoenix prelim accreditation. We update existing site and remove all mention of previous required courses and replace with this statement, "please contact the Office of Admissions and Recruitment for a list of required courses". Individual advising sessions begin with anyone who is interested in our program.
June 19-22 - I travel to national prehealth advisor meeting to share our new course requirements. Over 1,000 advisors attend meeting.
June 29 - AMCAS sends applications to med schools and we immediately respond with an email message informing applicants of new requirements.
July 2 - website is launched, new requirements are out there.
Everyday - tweet, answer SDN forum and PM, phone advising appointments to answer questions about revised required courses.
My message to all of you entering the application process this year - we are remaining flexible, to a degree, in this "transitional year" - you will have fall 2012, spring 2023, and even summer 2013, first session (typically don't allow required courses for admission to be taken in the summer prior to med school start, July 3013) to take any remaining courses. Substitutions can be granted, too, assuming the course is equivalent.
Why did we change? Prereq's have remain the same for 40+ years and were out of alignment with the realities of med school curriculum - students without Biochem foundations and Physio struggled.
These changes are for your benefit and we are certainly not the only school to change. However, I know they our timing was tough on the premed community because of the planning involved to get the courses completed. There is no single solution, but we are open, transparent and communicating as much as we can right now.
Tara
Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app
The accrediting body (LCME) absolutely PROHIBITS the perception/reality of recruiting students while waiting for the decision. Here's the timeline leading to the LCME meeting in mid-June wherein Phoenix received prelim accreditation.
Dec 2011 - Phoenix submits application and academic details, including proposed required courses for admission to the LCME for review.
February 2012 - LCME visits Phoenix for 3-day on-site "hearing", verifying/interviewing me and others on what we've prepared in the application.
April - MSAR updates are due, but no separate mention for Phoenix is possible because, again, we have not received prelim accreditation. Only option is to continue with the shared Tucson/Phoenix entry, which has been our reality since 2006 as the "regional campus" to Tucson. Cannot even hint to required coursework changes pending prelim accreditation.
April - May - My office and staff continues to meet premed's, talking very GENERICALLY about POSSIBLE course changes but cannot for a second leak that we will change requirements for admission. We hosted 3 PreMed Workshops and very carefully informed everyone of imminent changes to required coursework. During these months, the entire campus built a new website to launch as soon as news arrives in June.
June 13 - LCME meets and grants Phoenix prelim accreditation. We update existing site and remove all mention of previous required courses and replace with this statement, "please contact the Office of Admissions and Recruitment for a list of required courses". Individual advising sessions begin with anyone who is interested in our program.
June 19-22 - I travel to national prehealth advisor meeting to share our new course requirements. Over 1,000 advisors attend meeting.
June 29 - AMCAS sends applications to med schools and we immediately respond with an email message informing applicants of new requirements.
July 2 - website is launched, new requirements are out there.
Everyday - tweet, answer SDN forum and PM, phone advising appointments to answer questions about revised required courses.
My message to all of you entering the application process this year - we are remaining flexible, to a degree, in this "transitional year" - you will have fall 2012, spring 2023, and even summer 2013, first session (typically don't allow required courses for admission to be taken in the summer prior to med school start, July 3013) to take any remaining courses. Substitutions can be granted, too, assuming the course is equivalent.
Why did we change? Prereq's have remain the same for 40+ years and were out of alignment with the realities of med school curriculum - students without Biochem foundations and Physio struggled.
These changes are for your benefit and we are certainly not the only school to change. However, I know they our timing was tough on the premed community because of the planning involved to get the courses completed. There is no single solution, but we are open, transparent and communicating as much as we can right now.
Tara
Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app
