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Neurology Clerkship grades consist of assessment in clinical performance, knowledge, and professionalism.

Clinical Performance (Faculty/Resident Evaluation) Grading Criteria:

  • Faculty evaluate students on their history taking, examination/technical skills, knowledge, medical problem solving, oral presentation, written presentation, professional development, patient-centeredness, and overall abilities. Not all faculty are able to grade each student in every category and are given an option to opt-out based on insufficient contact.
  • One of the following grades will be assigned to each of the observed categories
    • Needs improvement to meet expectations: performance below the expectations of MU students or fails to meet certain expectations.
    • Meets expectations for level of training: performance at the expected level for MU students and completes all requirements.
    • Exemplary: performance at a level well above the usual expectations and requirements for MU students.
  • Evaluations are compiled and weighted according to time spent with each preceptor. Students do not see their evaluations until the end of the block when all faculty evaluations are complete.

Knowledge Grading Criteria:

  • Clinical Neurology NBME Exam
    • Score Information: Students are scored according to their percentile rank. Percentile ranks are based on the scores for the corresponding quarter of the previous year as provided by the National Board of Medical Examiners.
    • Examination Information: Refer to the following link for information on the types of questions that will be on the NBME: https://www.nbme.org/Schools/Subject-Exams/Subjects/clinicalsci_neur.html.

Professionalism Grading Criteria:

  • Student professionalism grades are made up of the following criteria and are graded on a pass/fail basis:
    • Time response to communication.
    • Meets deadlines: PLOG, Mid-block feedback, deadlines for evaluations and cases.
    • Well prepared for seminars, lectures, and presentations.
    • Professional attire.
    • Honest with high ethical standards.*
    • Maturely accepts responsibility for actions and attitudes. +
    • Respectful to staff, faculty and patients. In class and lectures, no use of electronic devices or sidebar conversations. No inappropriate discussion of patients. +
    • Responds appropriately to feedback. +
    • On time to lectures, seminars, rounds, clinics, etc.
    • No unexcused absences. Known absences requested two weeks prior to clerkship.
    • Active participant in seminars and lectures (share, engage, partner).
    • Reliable.
    • Does not approach faculty or residents about evaluation or discuss grades with other students. +

* Denotes an egregious violation and will result in a failing grade for the clerkship

+ Indicates major deficit which will result in an unsatisfactory grade and necessitate remediation

Remediation:

If a student should perform below expectations in clinical rotations, knowledge or professionalism, he or she will receive a grade of “unsatisfactory” and must repeat the portion (at the discretion of the clerkship director) of the clerkship failed.

Grade Breakdown

Honors

  • Clinical Performance
    • 50% Exemplary
    • 0% Needs Improvement
  • Knowledge (SHELF Exam Percentile)
    • 80th percentile or higher
  • Professionalism
    • 90%

Letters of Commendation

  • Clinical Performance
    • >=25% Exemplary
    • 0% Needs Improvement
  • Knowledge (SHELF Exam Percentile)
    • 60th to 79th percentile
  • Professionalism
    • 70%

Satisfactory

  • Clinical Performance
    • <15% Needs Improvement
  • Knowledge (SHELF Exam Percentile)
    • 5th to 59th percentile or higher
  • Professionalism
    • 50%

Unsatisfactory

  • Clinical Performance
    • >= 15% Needs Improvement
  • Knowledge (SHELF Exam Percentile)
    • 4th percentile or lower
  • Professionalism
    • 49%