Department of Educational Services
Mission Statement
The mission of DES is to provide support services to the St. George's University community. Our primary goal is to enhance the educational experience of students and faculty members and thereby promote academic excellence.
DES provides services through programs, courses, workshops and individual sessions. In DES you will also find review questions, resource books and informational handouts on topics pertinent to your studies. DES is continually evaluating the needs of the University and working to develop initiatives to address those needs. We strive to maintain a friendly and supportive environment in our department and welcome input from students and faculty.
Learning Skills Program
The Learning Skills Program is designed to provide all students the opportunity to evaluate and improve their academic skills. One-on-one or group meetings are arranged to address such topics as:
- Practical application of study methods to specific academic curricula
- Test-taking strategies
- Time management strategies
- Learning styles assessment and application
- Techniques for managing test-taking anxiety
Office of Educational Assessment
The Office of Educational Assessment (OEA) manages the computerized exam scanning, scoring and analysis system and offers consultations on test construction and interpretation of results. The OEA also manages all of the University courses, programs and faculty evaluations. It assists with the development of new evaluation instruments, administers and analyzes evaluation questionnaires, develops evaluation reports, and offers consultations on interpretation of results.
English Communication Skills
In the Specialized English Language Program we offer classes, workshops and individualized sessions which promote the development of English language skills. In our English Medical Communication Skills Course, we focus on skills which are highly valued in the medical and veterinary medical professions. We are pleased to assist any member of the University community in becoming more effective readers, writers or public speakers or in improving pronunciation or grammatical accuracy. We are able to assess an individual's areas of strength and weakness to devise a personalized plan for improvement.
Individual Tutorials
If you feel that you are in need of extra, individualized help in one of your courses, you should make an appointment to discuss your request. If approved, DES will arrange individual sessions for you with a peer tutor.
Course Review Questions
DES is responsible for coordinating the provision of review questions and answers for medical and veterinary medical courses. These questions, which are submitted by the course directors, provide an excellent supplementary resource for studying in the students' first two terms. Questions are available online at: qp2.sgu.edu/desresources
Group Review Sessions
Group Review Sessions are arranged for most first and second-term medical, veterinary medical, and arts and sciences courses. Peer tutors who have successfully completed the course facilitate the review sessions. This interactive learning environment allows students the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights into different ways to understand and study difficult material.
Review groups are scheduled at a variety of times and in various locations. Information regarding the groups is posted in DES and online. DES administers approximately 1200 Group Review Sessions per term.
Premedical Program
The program oversees the student services, curricular development and academic administration of all premedical students. The goals of the program are to prepare premedical students for matriculation into the School of Medicine, to enhance student learning and to administer the School of Medicine's BSc/MD Combined Degree. The program offers academic advice, admissions testing, diagnostic testing, preprofessional mentoring and several other services in conjunction with the other offices in DES.
Supplemental Instruction
(Premedical and Arts and Sciences Students)
The Supplemental Instructions (SI) Program, administered by the Premedical Program, assists students by developing beneficial learning communities, integrating study strategies, and applying effective test-taking skills. The goals of SI are to improve student grades, reduce attrition rates in identified difficult courses, and improve long term content integration.
Additional Initiatives Administered by DES
- Academic Enhancement Program (AEP): A retention and tutorial initiative implemented in the School of Medicine. The basic components of this one-year program include supplemental instruction and personal advisement.
- English Medical Communication Skills Course: A 6-credit selective designed for medical and veterinary medical students for whom English is not their first language. It supports them in their coursework and also provides them with the opportunity to develop communication skills that will contribute to success in clinical rotations and medical and veterinary medical careers. To enter the EMCS Course, a student must also enter the Individual Advancement Program.
- Faculty Development Program: This program promotes faculty growth by assisting faculty members in acquiring additional knowledge, skills, sensitivities and techniques related to teaching and learning. It also improves student learning by instructing faculty members in the preparation of effective courses and learning material.