Extramural Electives (Away Rotations)
Medical students have the opportunity to complete domestic extramural electives at LCME and/or ACGME accredited institutions. Students apply for the electives through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) or using the host institution’s application system. Student’s plans for extramural electives must be discussed with and approved by the students’ faculty advisors prior to enrollment to ensure that the elective is appropriate for the student. The UTRGV SOM has established that the VSLO vetting process for electives meets the expectations of the school and, therefore, VSLO electives need no further approval. For electives at non-LCME accredited institutions, students must submit a petition with a detailed plan and daily schedule to include learning objectives. This petition requires the support of a UTRGV SOM faculty sponsor or the student’s faculty advisor. Petitions must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs through the Office of Clinical Education for review and final approval.
Medical students can also complete extramural electives abroad. These can be scheduled at international affiliated institutions or also through AAMC VSLO. The UTRGV SOM has established that the VSLO vetting process for electives meets the expectations of the school and, therefore, VSLO electives need no approval beyond that of the student’s faculty advisor. If a student identifies an elective opportunity at a site not at an affiliated institution or a VSLO institution the site is vetted by the Office of Student Affairs. Petitions for electives abroad are reviewed and either approved or denied by the Office of Student Affairs based on the ability of the host site to ensure the health and safety of the student, availability of emergency care, the possibility of natural disasters, political instability, exposure to disease, and the level and quality of supervision.
Oversight of Extramural Electives (Away Rotations) Policy (EAA068)