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Co-Curricular Credit Program Overview

Background

The co-curricular credit program was initiated in the fall of 1998 in response to the extraordinary service investment that Wayne State University School of Medicine students have historically made to the Detroit Metropolitan area.

It recognizes those students who have dedicated themselves to building partnerships with surrounding communities through a variety of sponsored outreach and volunteer activities. Students acquire a greater understanding of human needs, concerns, interests, and values through their participation in these programs, learning to interact with area residents by providing services in their communities.

Director Co-Curricular Programs
Jennifer Mendez, Ph.D.
jmendez@med.wayne.edu

Elective Fulfillment Options

Students who complete the co-curricular requirements will be given two options toward the elective requirements in fourth year. These options are:
 

Option 1: Use Co-Curricular Course Credit as One of the Required Electives	Option 2: Register for the Normal Amount of Electives
Pay for six credit hours of co-curricular credit. Only be required to take an additional four electives in the fourth year. The course will show up as an elective on the transcript for 6 credit hours.	A student does not want to use their co-curricular course as one of their required electives. Not required to pay for the six co-curricular credit hours, but required to take and pay for the normal number of electives. The co-curricular course would still show up on the transcript as an additional fourth year elective, but for zero credits and no assessment.

Getting Co-Curricular Credits

• Students must be in academic good standing in order to participate in the program.
• These credits may be earned through participation in 75 extra hours of activities each Year 1 and Year 2 (150 hours total).
  • Students select a program as a focus for students to participate in. Students self-select the program which best fit their interest to participate in.
  • Students attend seminars and volunteer or participate in special projects each academic year.
  • These activities must be completed by April 30.
• Mid- and end-of-the-year program impact statements are required.

Program Options

• Fabric of Society
• HuMed: Humanistic Medicine
• ME2: Medical Education/Evaluation Committee
• MPAC: Medicine and Political Action in the Community

Seminars

Students attend monthly seminars designed to personalize their experience of caring for vulnerable populations. Students gain insight by relating to people they may consider different from themselves and people who are often stigmatized as patients, including the elderly, homeless, addicted, multiply handicapped, pregnant teens and many others. These forums also provides members of stigmatized populations an opportunity to participate in the education of medical students. Required numbers of seminars vary, depending on which program a student selects to participate in.

Volunteer Opportunities

WSU-SOM recognized student organizations provide outreach experiences in partnerships with agencies, schools, hospitals, etc., in the Detroit Metropolitan area. These programs are designed to promote an in-depth, yearlong commitment for medical students. It may be necessary to choose more than one organization in which to be involved to complete the hours required per year. Additional hours may be added for credit with per-approval from the Director of Co-Curricular programs. Request must be submitted in writing include a description of the activity, dates, length of time and contact person for the agency or organization where the activity will take place.

The volunteer service categories are:
 

Clinical	Mentoring/Outreach
Health fairs where WSU-SOM students are called upon by health and community service organizations to take and conduct health blood pressure screenings. World Health Student Organization medical relief missions. A number of free Clinics for the underserved population.	Tutoring at local schools. Helping kids fix bikes while discussing safety and injury prevention. Run laps and play games with the students to encourage healthy living habits. Other initiatives occur at soup kitchens, food bank, building homes etc.