MSCHE Self Study April 2021

Professional students who need assistance with coursework are encouraged to reach out, as a first step, to their instructor(s). Peer tutoring is available to students at no cost and can be arranged by contacting the VPSA. All student transcripts are screened each semester, and those students experiencing academic difficulty are reviewed by the faculty Committee on Course and Standing, which reports to the dean. This committee may recommend modified schedules, academic counseling or other remedial actions to the vice president for academic affairs. In response to the challenges and rigor of the academic program, the Academic Advising Program was developed in 2016 to identify and assist students in academic difficulty. Students are identified throughout the first three years of the program by monitoring the results of early assessments each semester, academic performance at the end of each semester and reports from instructors and when self ‐ identified by students seeking assistance through Student Affairs or Academic Affairs. Students are contacted confidentially, and those who respond meet with faculty advisors assigned to them. After an initial meeting where the student’s difficulties are assessed, strategies are developed to assist the student. These strategies are tailored to the student’s specific needs and may include tutoring in an area of deficiency, coaching on study skills and test taking strategies and directions to find assistance for psychosocial issues. The Clinical Enhancement Program is aimed at students performing at or below minimal competency in clinical programs as identified using the clinical grading rubric. Student performance is carefully reviewed by the clinical remediation program director working with a clinical education team made up of 3 rd and 4 th year clinical instructors of record, the director of externships, and the chair of the department of clinical education. Clinical competency is reviewed and difficulties diagnosed in areas such as basic and optometric knowledge, patient care skills, decision making, communication, and professionalism. A clinical enhancement plan is developed, and a clinical faculty coach is identified and paired with the student to remediate the deficiencies. The Clinical Enhancement Program was initiated in 2015. An analysis of Part 1 NBEO retake performance in the last two years resulted in the creation of The Board Assistance Program , which aims to provide diagnostic and organizational support for 3 rd and 4 th year students with the goal of increasing the first ‐ time pass rate on Part 1 of the NBEO Board Exam. Students are matched with a faculty assistance specialist who will develop an individualized strategy for student success on the board exam that may include analysis of past board exam performance, analysis of Gap Exam results, analysis and organization of preparatory materials and development of individualized study schedules and test taking strategies. Health ‐ Care Services and Mental Health Resources Information regarding pre ‐ matriculation health standards, access to health care and health insurance, mental health services, personal counseling and immunizations are published in the online Student Handbook . Students are advised during orientation and subsequently each semester by email that short ‐ term counseling services are available at no charge. The College has a licensed clinical psychologist on retainer and bears the cost of the first five visits ( Mental Health

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