Attendance Guidelines

During Phases 1, 2, 3, attendance at all scheduled sessions is expected, but is required for all mandatory sessions.

Mandatory learning sessions are defined as sessions that require learners to attend in order to achieve the learning objectives.  Sessions are designated mandatory if they meet one or more of the following criteria: 

  • Provide an introduction or overview of learner expectations for the MD program, phase or course; 
  • Involve application of clinical decision-making skills such as tutorials, case-based learning, clinical skills and laboratories; 
  • Include an assessment component; 
  • Involve interactivity such as integrated learning sessions, interprofessional education sessions, guest speakers or patient volunteers; and/or 
  • Provide support and/or counseling to promote learner well-being and success. 

Missing mandatory sessions may lead to failure in the course. During the Phase a session may be deemed mandatory in order to facilitate cohort remediation. 

Cancellation of sessions

Campus-wide closure announcements for Memorial University are shared via the MUN Safe App. Closure announcements for the PEI campus are shared via the UPEI Safe App.

Please see the Unexpected Campus Closure Guidelines to understand what to expected of learners when one or both campuses is closed. 

If a lecturer is not present for a session at the scheduled time, learners must notify the Phase 1, 2 & 3 Administrator via email to ugmephase123@mun.ca and wait in the assigned room for 15 minutes. 

Missing Mandatory Sessions or Assessments

Any non-attendance must be reported to the UGME office by submitting a Medical Learner Leave & Assessment Deferral form. Even in cases of approved leave requests, learners must meet minimum attendance expectations in order to achieve a passing grade for a course. Specific limitations exisit around attendance at Clinical Skills sessions. Similarly, minimum attendance requirements are outlined in the Assessment Plans for each course.In cases where prolonged absences occur, or are anticipated, learners may choose to withdraw temporarily for medical, educational or other personal reasons .

Scheduled Time and Breaks

Sessions may be regularly scheduled from 9:00 a.m. in NL (8:30 a.m. in PEI) until 4:00 p.m. in NL (3:30 p.m. in PEI) (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. in NL (8:30 a.m. in PEI) until 12:00 p.m. in NL (11:30 a.m. in PEI) on Tuesday.

Learners will have scheduled breaks from curricular and/or patient care activities as follows:

  • One hour between 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. hours on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday;
  • University statutory holidays (see Key Dates and Holidays)

The schedules are subject to change. Exceptions to the protected times outlined above may be made at the discretion of the Associate Dean, UGME, in consultation with the Assocaite Dean, Learner Well-Being & Success, when missed sessions or assessment must be cancelled as a result of emergency closures. Protected time may also be scheduled at an alternative time with the approval of UGMS. 

Breaks

  • Fall semester mid-term break* in November (dates unique to Faculty of Medicine)
  • Year-end holiday break* (not less than one week at the end of the calendar year)
  • Spring break* (at least one week break)
  • Summer break* (at least eight weeks break)

Key Dates and Holidays