Academic Learning Environment (ALE)

The Office of the Academic Learning Environment (ALE) is dedicated to enhancing the experiences of students, faculty, and colleagues by improving the quality of teaching and learning in medical education. Our vision is to promote a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to strengthen student, faculty, and colleague development through partnerships throughout Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM).

ALE Partnerships and Services

Tailored to the unique needs of medical students, ALE partners with Medical and Clinical Sciences to provide academic and personal support services throughout the medical school journey. ALE’s holistic services help students to thrive as they transition to medical school,

• Helping students to begin their medical education and make connections in the RUSM community
• Guiding students with preparation for the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE) Step exams
• Assisting with the transition to Clinical Sciences, graduation, and residency

Resources to navigate a high-volume learning environment

ALE resources and services follow research-based best practices and are designed to help students adjust to a high-volume learning environment, which requires students to develop their learning, critical thinking, and research skills. ALE staff assists students with coping strategies, overcoming test anxiety, time management, and personal wellness. Support via individual, small, and large group sessions led by faculty, staff, and peers includes tutoring, remediation, and advising.

Expert support to facilitate student success

ALE delivers support through the Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL), the Clinical Academy for Teaching and Learning (cATL), and the Library. ALE colleagues are a diverse team of MD faculty and staff from all over the world with varied work experiences in higher education and medical education, including recent RUSM graduates who serve as teaching assistants.

Support throughout the Student Journey

What does the student experience?

Academic support throughout the medical school journey

Years 1 & 2: Medical Sciences

Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL)

An essential part of the ALE, the ATL conducts pre-matriculation courses, one-on-one coaching, workshops exploring effective study skills, peer tutoring, and the cognitive skills program.

Academic Success Programs

Programs include workshops, online materials, advisement with faculty mentors, and individualized support concentrating on the development of active learning skills. Offered to all students, but especially targeted towards students whose performance on mini exams suggests improvement is needed.

Academic Enhancement Courses

A required course for any student repeating a semester in the Medical Sciences curriculum to support the development of necessary cognitive foundations, using the language of medicine and reasoning skills needed for success in medical school and beyond.

Academic Advising

ATL faculty help students to create an overall study plan for Medical Sciences that includes:

• Create/review an Academic Action Plan
• Create/review a study plan
• Review resource materials
• Develop a study timeline
• Learn test-taking strategies

Peer tutoring

Connects successful students in upper semesters with those needing assistance in one-on-one and group sessions.

Communication for medical practice

Provides individual and small group sessions to develop and improve English communication skills needed for study as well as future medical practice.

Years 3 and 4: Clinical Sciences

Clinical Academy for Teaching & Learning (CATL)

Students often describe the transition to Clinical Sciences as the most stressful time in medical school as they adjust to independent learning, demanding clinical rotation schedules, and prepare for high-stakes exams. The cATL supports the transition to Clinical Sciences by monitoring student academic success and personal wellness during school. The cATL provides support for board exam preparation for both USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 while also supporting student self-care.

Academic Advising

cATL faculty help students plan an overall study strategy for Step 1 and choose the right combination of resources tailored to strengths.

• Create/review a study plan
• Review resource materials
• Develop a study timeline
• Learn test-taking strategies

Tutoring

cATL teaching assistants review Step 1 multiple choice questions (MCQ) based on preferred areas for improvement, and focus on the application of knowledge, understanding questions, and assessing knowledge. Weekly one-hour sessions are offered using the Microsoft Teams platform.

USMLE Step 1 Pathways to Success

Instructs students how to break down high-yield questions and select answer choices; two disciplines and interdisciplinary areas of the exams will be covered each week.

RUSM Rapid Synthesis Program (RSP)

Addresses one of the more challenging components of preparation for Step 1: the integration of medical knowledge with clinical reasoning and recognize the optimal use of resources for Step 1 and Step 2 preparation.