VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

Peer Tutoring VCOM provides peer tutoring free to first and second year students. Any student, regardless of academic performance, may attend a tutoring session. VCOM tutoring is offered in a study-group format. Sessions generally last 1 hour; however, may be longer or shorter depending upon the subject matter. The content of the peer tutoring session is designed to assist students in understanding the concepts covered in the curriculum, which in turn helps to prepare students for the upcoming examination. Peer tutors receive support and guidance from the Course Director, who may provide the peer tutor with a list of frequently challenging concepts or topics to cover. Peer tutors may offer additional study material or utilize practice questions; however, the questions are not provided as ones that will be covered on the exam. Students remain responsible for adequately learning all content on the exam. Students should come to the peer tutoring session prepared to participate by being aware of their areas of strength and weakness in relation to the curriculum and bringing suggestions for topics or questions. Students are informed in the beginning of the year of the existence of the peer tutoring program and schedules are provided throughout the year. After VCOM’s Medical Education Department publishes the block calendars, tutoring sessions are scheduled in preparation for upcoming exams and published for the class. Recruitment of Peer Tutors First and second year students serve as peer tutors for their respective class year. This is important to ensure that the tutor is up to date on the curriculum being taught as well as being familiar with the current faculty expectations and teaching styles. Tutors must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater, score an 86% or greater on the exams for the course they are tutoring, pass all courses and portions of courses with a 70% or greater, and be in good academic and behavioral standing. Any students interested in becoming a peer tutor must complete the “VCOM Peer Tutor Application Form”, which details expectations of the tutors. A meeting for tutors is held once in the fall (for orientation) and once in the spring (for continued training). Orientation is provided by The Center for Institutional, Faculty, and Student Success. Tutors must participate in orientation prior to their first tutoring session. VCOM keeps a record of students who serve as peer tutors and includes this information on the student’s MSPE or Dean’s Letter , which is provided as a part of residency programs application. Assistance for Matriculated Students with Disabilities Students should first refer to the Technical Standards for Matriculation and Continued Enrollment section of this H andbook . Each Technical Standard listed in this Handbook was derived from standards that Osteopathic physicians deem necessary for the safe and effective practice of osteopathic medicine and; therefore, VCOM faculty and administration require the Technical Standards to be met (mandatory). Students with disabilities must read the Technical Standards for Admission and Continued Enrollment in the Admissions Section of this Handbook . VCOM recognizes that there are varying levels of disability and student needs to be successful. VCOM is committed to supporting those students with disabilities who, with accommodation, can meet the Technical Standards. VCOM has provided reasonable accommodations to many students with various handicaps that have enabled the student to be successful. Reasonable accommodations do occur if the student qualifies for such accommodation under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the accommodations allow the student to meet the Technical Standards designated to safely practice osteopathic medicine and to be successful in the VCOM curriculum. Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. It prohibits discrimination against individuals who meet the definition of disability in the act, and it is applied to entities that receive federal funding. Under 504 and the ADA, a person is considered to have a disability if that person: has a physical or mental

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