Forward Feeding Policy

PURPOSE
To outline the intent and processes to be followed by course faculty in discussing student performance across courses

AUDIENCE
All faculty and students

LCME STANDARD
9.7 Formative Assessment and Feedback

POLICY

  1. The intent of the forward feeding process is to help educators identify the strengths and weaknesses of students in previous courses, to allow educators to build on learner strengths and areas for improvement and maximize success.
  2. It is the responsibility of the Course/Clerkship Director to identify learner needs and facilitate the incorporation of targeted activities and interventions to maximize student learning in a manner which promotes student safety while minimizing bias and labeling.

DEFINITIONS

  • Forward feeding: the sharing of information about student performance in a course with the student and coaches with the purpose of utilizing the information to improve student performance.
  • SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely

PROCEDURE
Clerkship/Course Directors who have feedback for students should discuss the feedback directly with the student.  If that feedback is substantial, the clerkship director should ensure that the student’s coach is aware of the feedback, generally through email communication, and include the Associate Dean for Students for tracking purposes. The student and academic coach, who has no evaluative role with the student, should use the feedback to determine next steps to improve the student's performance. These options might involve referring the student to available resources (e.g. OSLER, Wellness), developing SMART goals with the student to address issues identified, and reaching out to the course director(s) of the next rotation to develop ways to support the student's progress. All of these options will be determined by the student and the academic coach so they have a shared responsibility for creating a plan to incorporate the feedback and to monitor for progress.

The academic coach and student will develop SMART goals together that will be entered into a database maintained by the Associate Dean for Students and regularly referenced to ensure the student is making satisfactory progress. The academic coach and Associate Dean for Students, together with the student, assume accountability for ensuring student support and oversight of progress.

When appropriate, the academic coach and/or the Associate Dean for Students will close the loop with the referring clerkship/course director to let them know that goals for the student were developed. The Director of Academic Coaching will attend the Clerkship Directors workgroup meeting annually to review this policy and ensure communication between the groups.

RESPONSIBILITY
Committee on Educational Policy

REFERENCES
UC Davis School of Medicine Bylaws and Regulations, Regulation 60: Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Medicine (A) (4)

POLICY OWNER
Associate Dean for Students

REVIEWED BY
Associate Dean for Students*
Clerkship Directors
Clinical Skills and Clinical Experiences faculty
Academic Coaching Director
Office of Medical Education Curriculum Managers
Committee on Educational Policy

REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
November 2022; annual review