> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ismms-md-program.gitbook.io/medical-student-handbook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ismms-md-program.gitbook.io/medical-student-handbook/academic-information-and-resources/electives/important-information.md). # Important Information ## Step 1 and Step 2 Elective Credit (Eligible for Class of 2026 and 2027 only) Students may receive 2 weeks’ credit for each, but must register in Empower before the exam. Required documentation will be outlined in an email sent by Lauren Linkowski and Jillian Palmer. Students who matriculated under the Legacy curriculum but graduate with the ASCEND Class of 2028 after completing a scholarly year should note that the ASCEND elective requirement is **20 weeks** and does **not include USMLE Step elective credit**. Students who matriculated **prior to 2024** and completed their Step elective credit **before beginning the scholarly year** may apply that credit toward the 20-week ASCEND requirement. USMLE Step elective credit will no longer be offered beginning **Academic Year 2026–2027**. ## Registration for Elective Credit Important: Each type of elective has a different registration process. All registration steps must be completed before the elective start date to get elective credit. Retroactive credit will not be applied. ## Electives and Required Courses and Clerkships Electives cannot be taken during a required clerkship or course, including InFocus. Elective duties are not an excused absence from a clerkship or course and should not be requested. ## Electives During Vacation/Interviews Students can take electives during their vacation or residency interview time. ## Electives and Absences While students do not have to formally submit an absence during an elective, absences should be relayed to the specific elective director and any other team members. ## Scholary Year (SY) and Leave of Absence (LOA) Students Students on a Scholarly Year or Leave of Absence are not eligible to participate in MD program course work and cannot accrue elective credit. MD/PhD Students ## MD/PHD Students MD/PhD students please refer to sections 1.2 and 1.3 of the [ASCEND Electives Policy](https://ismms-md-program.gitbook.io/medical-student-handbook/policies-and-procedures/md-program-specific-policies-and-procedures/year-3-4-and-phase-2-3-policies-and-procedures) for the most up to date information ## Remediation Elective Credit Students cannot receive elective credit for remediation work. ## Electives Performance Evaluations An elective is considered complete and eligible for credit once your evaluation is submitted and a grade is recorded. At the end of your elective, you’ll receive a pre-populated Jotform link via email from Juliette Wertz. To initiate the grading process, you’ll be asked to enter the following information: * First and last name * Life number * Email address * Elective type (clinical, clinical tailor-made, research, away) * Evaluator’s name and email (must be the faculty member who is directly evaluating you, which may differ from the elective director listed in the catalog) Once submitted, your evaluator will receive an automated email prompting them to complete your evaluation. Weekly reminders will be sent until the form is submitted. When complete, both you and the Registrar’s Office will receive a confirmation email, and the grade will be recorded on your transcript. Please ensure all information is accurate, especially your evaluator’s name and email address. Errors will delay grading. The electives are graded using criterion-based grading. Non-clinical/Research electives are graded Pass/Fail. **Class of 2027**: Clinical Electives are graded Pass/Fail/Honors. **Class of 2028**: One week Clinical Electives are graded Pass/Fail. Two to four week Clinical Electives are graded Pass/Fail/Honors. To achieve a grade of Honors for a Clinical elective, students must demonstrate honors-level performances in 3 out of 5 of the criteria. If a student receives a fail-level performance on any of the criteria, they will fail the elective. ## One45 Evaluations Students are highly encouraged to complete an evaluation of each elective they take. About a month after a student completes an elective, they will receive an email with a link to complete a One45 evaluation of the elective. * Students should complete this evaluation for every elective they complete (clinical, global health, non-clinical/research, longitudinal, and away) * These evaluations help the Curricular Affairs team ensure quality control of our electives * All evaluations students complete are anonymous * Elective directors only receive these anonymized evaluations if there are at least three completed. Otherwise, they do not receive the evaluation --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. 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