Foundations 1 Policy on Attendance and Participation

Purpose

To specify the expectations and requirements for student attendance and participation in Bridges Curriculum Foundations 1 learning activities.

Overview

The Foundations 1 (F1) phase of the Bridges Curriculum comprises a range of educational activities that are enriched by active, shared learning. Settings include large and small groups, laboratory, simulation, and clinical workplaces. The expectation that students be fully engaged in these learning activities is predicated on:

The value of active team-based learning in students’ professional development and physicians’ work.
Students’ professional responsibility to contribute to the learning of peers by preparing for and participating fully in group learning activities.
The need to prioritize and avoid disruption to patient care in clinical workplaces, and to ensure that students are viewed as integral members of the care delivery team.
Respect for:
- Patients who contribute generously to students’ education.
- Faculty who would alternatively be engaged in patient care or other professional activities.
- Staff who coordinate curricular activities.
The importance of students demonstrating expected competency in professionalism.
Alignment with accreditation and licensing standards.

Related LCME Standards

12.4: Access to Healthcare

Principles

Medical school is a full-time endeavor culminating in the privilege and responsibility of caring for the health of patients, communities, and populations. Accordingly, UCSF medical students are expected to prioritize attendance and engagement throughout medical school.
Being present and prepared to participate in all parts of the curriculum are essential for effective work of learning in teams and for professional identity development.
Achievement of learning objectives for some curricular sessions requires synchronous in-person attendance.
As professional students, medical students are responsible for accurately managing their schedules, monitoring on-time attendance and participation, communicating professionally about absences, and seeking assistance if personal circumstances interfere with their ability to engage in the curriculum.
Consistent on-time attendance and participation are critical for the School to assess student progress toward competency milestones.
The School is responsible for providing students with guidance and support regarding expectations and requirements for attendance and participation.
As adult learners and future professionals, students should have autonomy to manage attendance in response to predictable and unpredictable events that affect them.

Policy

Students are responsible for learning all content regardless of the method of content delivery, and whether or not attendance is required.
On-time attendance is required for the following types of sessions:
1. Small groups and workshops
2. Clinical Microsystems Clerkship sessions
3. Large group sessions involving patients or standardized patients
4. Large group sessions involving community members
5. Large group sessions in which sensitive topics are discussed
6. Other sessions in which session learning objectives depend on in-person attendance
Sessions for which attendance is required will be clearly identified in Ilios.
The standard for passing each Foundations 1 course is 85% attendance at required sessions.
Students with a pattern of attendance that is inconsistent with the principles of this policy will be counseled by a faculty member and, in the case of persistent absenteeism, may receive a Physicianship evaluation.
Falsification of attendance reporting violates the UCSF Student Code of Conduct and may be grounds for a Physicianship evaluation.
Attendance at summative assessments is covered by a separate policy.

Procedure

Calendar Publication

In order to facilitate students’ planning, the School will publish timely and accessible curricular calendars to students.

Attendance

Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the published start time of a session will be marked late.

Absence Requests

Students who will be absent for a required session must submit an online absence form prior to, and as far in advance as possible, of the session.
Students who will be absent from a Clinical Microsystems Clerkship session must also notify their Coach.
For clinical skills sessions involving patients or standardized patients and for clinical microsystem sessions, an absence request must be received a minimum of one week before the scheduled session.
In the case of unexpected illness or emergency absences from required sessions, student must submit an online absence form (available August 1, 2025) within 24 hours after the missed session.

Tracking and Support

Students are responsible for reviewing and managing their attendance data, which will be accessible through the Bridges Student Dashboard.
If a student has a pattern of consecutive or multiple absences, the Student Experience Team will reach out to check on the student’s well-being.
The Student Experience Team (SET) is available to support students with personal circumstances (e.g., illness, family emergencies) that may require multiple or prolonged absences.

Makeup Work & Remediation

Any student who is absent from more than 85% of required sessions in a course, or with a pattern of absences inconsistent with this policy, will be required to complete remediation activities.
Makeup work is required for some individual sessions, as determined by element and/or block directors.
For sessions without required makeup work, students are responsible for independently learning the material to achieve learning objectives.
The Grading Committee will review any patterns of student absences and make specific remediation recommendations in addition to those listed above. Students may be referred to student support and remediation programs as appropriate.

Related Policies

Accountable Dean or Director: Associate Dean for Curriculum

Approval Date and Governing Body: April 8, 2025, CCEP/Executive Committee