Mission:

The Undergraduate Medical Electives Unit focuses on challenging students, on an individual basis, as they begin the dynamic process of transitioning from a classroom learner to an individual medical practitioner (whether clinically, administratively, in research or in a combination). It endeavors to listen to each student and facilitate placement based on student needs, perspectives and ability, while working on coordination with different departments and institutions.

As students are assessed, the unit supports and encourages their development in becoming life-long learners.

Undergraduate Medical Electives Unit Goals

A. General

1. Participate as an active, supportive member of the Medical Education Department and College of Medicine;

2. Manage the mandatory and voluntary (summer) electives;

3. Design and implement research related to the electives program and medical education for presentation both locally and internationally;

4. Develop and distribute a monthly electronic newsletter within the College of Medicine, KSU, that highlights elective issues and needs.

B. Mandatory Elective

1. Evaluate every 4th and 5th year student’s elective request using impartial systematic tools to give an equal opportunity to all students;

2. Provide an environment where students can safely and confidentially discuss their options;

3. Communicate with departments within KSUMC, other institutions within KSA and internationally, to arrange electives for KSU students;

4. Facilitate student preparation for their respective electives, including, but not limited to, a student guide book;

5. Inform students and departments of acceptances for the electives;

6. Give confidential support to students and departments as requested throughout the elective period;

7. Collect and assess faculty evaluations of students, student assessment of their electives, attendance records, logbooks/portfolios and required student reports;

8. Submit pass/fail grades for all students to the Assessment Unit in a timely fashion;

9. Arrange for remediation for students, where needed and especially for students who fail.

C. Voluntary (predominantly summer) electives

1. Evaluate online applications from KSU students first to fourth years;

2. Provide letters of support to students who want to do electives in non-KSU hospitals within KSA;

3. Co-ordinate placements based on KSU student requests and department availability;

4. Present certificates of completion to successful students based on faculty evaluations attendance records;

5. Electives for students who request electives outside formal elective periods, are arranged on individual bases with the specific departments.