Curriculum & Course Preparation

Complete the tasks below to prepare for the start of your course work.

Contacts for each task are listed below - please reach out to them directly with any questions or concerns.

Calendar & Courses for Year 1

Online Course Availability

Canvas is our learning management system, where you will access all course information, including detailed class schedules. You will have access to Medical School Canvas courses 10 days before classes begin.  Your initial access to the Canvas platform will be issued over the summer as part of Orientation preparations.

Calendars & Scheduling

Access to an overview of the academic year (including holidays, and general course start and stop dates) can be viewed on the Academic Calendars home page.

Six weeks before a new course begins, you will have access to view the course calendar, prior to Canvas being available, in the Upcoming Course Dates calendar (for MS1 and MS2) .

We recommend you browse the information the Medical Education website, which has important information for all four years of medical school. 

Questions?

Contact Stephanie Appleby at sappleby@d.umn.edu.

Required Equipment and Resources

There are a few items that will be required early in your courses that we recommend you purchase prior to the beginning of classes. These items will be used frequently throughout your training. Other course-specific materials will be provided in course syllabi prior to the beginning of each individual course.

Please review the official letter with details on required equipment and ordering instructions.

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Appleby at sappleby@d.umn.edu

Obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, state ID card, or valid U.S. passport.

Students who are assigned to clinical rotations at a VA facility, any other federal site, or a clinical site with a REAL ID requirement will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID card. Alternatively, a valid U.S. passport or other TSA-acceptable form of identification may be used.

Failure to secure the necessary REAL ID-compliant identification will result in students being pulled from affected clinical rotations and reassigned (space permitting). This may also impact a student’s progression in the curriculum.

To ensure uninterrupted access for any clinical assignments, all students will need to have a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, state ID card, or valid U.S. passport. Students assigned to a site requiring a REAL ID, must secure this identification before beginning their rotation. Your Early Clinical Experiences will begin in January - please have REAL ID-compliant identification by that time.

Be aware, obtaining a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license in the State of Minnesota can take over three months. If you do not have the necessary identification, apply as soon as possible.  To learn how to obtain a REAL ID, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency in the state that issued your current driver's license or state ID. For Minnesota residents, information is available on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services website.

Questions? Contact the Office of Student Affairs at medstuaf@umn.edu.

Social Media Guidelines

The UMMS Student Council has created a social media policy.  Some of the key points in this policy include the following recommendations:  

1. Do not discuss patients in an identifiable manner.  This includes protected HIPAA information (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects health information, as well as unique characteristics, such as a rare disease or high-profile traumas.  Be aware of time stamps & location data as well. If someone else taking care of the patient could identify them by what you are posting, then it is most likely too much information.

2. Be aware that each clinical site may have its own policy by which you must abide.

3. Demonstrate respect toward others. As such, do not use derogatory language about fellow students, residents, attendings, other health care staff, patients, etc.

4. Do not post any photographs of/from protected areas (of patients, cadaver lab, test questions/answer, etc.)

5. Do not discuss secure exam content unless clearly authorized to do so by an instructor.

6. Do not vent online.  Always think about what you are posting before you do so.

7. Consider making school-related groups on social media private and continue to demonstrate professional conduct with your peer group.  Note: Nothing on the internet is “private”. By its nature, any social media site is a public forum, regardless of privacy settings, etc. 

8. Do NOT “friend/follow” patients you only know in a clinical context.

9. Remember that you are always a representative of the University of Minnesota & the Medical School.

10. You have the right to free speech, but know that as a professional, you will be held accountable for your words and actions. Hold your peers accountable to foster a community of professional conduct.

Questions? Contact the Office of Student Affairs at medstuaf@umn.edu.

Policies on Drug Use while in Medical School

The University of Minnesota has a Drug-Free Policy.  Several states have legalized the use of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational purposes, including Minnesota.  As a medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMS), you are expected to abide by all University policies, regardless of your campus of origin.  As a part of your curriculum, you will be engaged in clinical activities across the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Some of these sites will require drug testing prior to starting your clinical experience.  This includes testing for cannabis. A positive drug test for cannabis or other substances can result in a referral to the Office of Student Affairs if you do not have a prescription from a licensed physician for its use. It may also impact your ability to participate in clinical activities at a site. When requested, the school generally contracts with DC Testing LLC in Superior, Wisconsin to conduct industry standardized drug screening.

Questions? Contact the Office of Student Affairs at medstuaf@umn.edu.