FAQs | Optional Enrichment Electives

To propose a new OEE, navigate to the OEE website to complete and submit the details via New OEE Proposal Application (umassmed.edu).

Deadlines for submission

• June 30 for OEEs to be offered in the Fall 2024 term
• October 30 for OEEs to be offered in the Spring term

note: The Elective Curriculum Committee reviews a maximum of 4 new or reinstated OEEs each term. Review is based on a first come first served basis.

• T.H. Chan School of Medicine students
• Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing students may co-lead with T.H. Chan School of Medicine student leaders

Yes! You will be enrolled in OE 993 Leadership of an Optional Enrichment Elective; the course will appear on your transcript but you will not receive a grade. 

note: To qualify as a student leader, you must first have successfully completed the particular OEE as a non-leader.

Roster Management

• Submit the course enrollment roster at the beginning of the course; we suggest enrollment is collected at the end of the second session, as it is a better indicator of which students plan to participate in the full course.
• Submit the Transcript Recognition form no later than two weeks after the course has ended. Students will not receive recognition on their transcript or MSPE if the Transcript Recognition list is not submitted.
• Update changes to student leadership when appropriate. It is important that the student leader information is updated for communication purposes. Student leadership can be updated using the OEE renewed link on the OEE website by filling in the ‘student leadership update’ in the dropdown box.

of note

• • Student leaders receive recognition as leaders so should not be listed as attendees
  • Student names must be submitted as they are recorded in the Registrar’s office – i.e. no nicknames, shortened names, or misspelled names. Inaccurate name submission can lead to missing enrollment and transcript recognition.

Change Management

• All updates must be submitted via the updating form 
  • Content changes (title, curriculum, evaluation) must be approved by the Electives Curriculum Committee (ECC)
    • note: syllabus date or time changes do not need to be reviewed. However, students should be notified of any changes in date or time.
  • Full updates must be submitted via the updating form annually or the OEE will be considered inactive
    • for Fall and Fall & Spring | due July 15
    • for Spring only | due November 16
  • OEEs that have not run for a year or more must be "re-reviewed" by the ECC, and are often considered NEW OEEs that require a full review by the ECC
• Notify the OEE Team if the OEE was unable to run due to COVID restrictions

Click to view OEE Policies & Procedures  

updated JUNE 11 2024 | cjb

• OEEs are advertised at the student Involvement Fair held in the fall
• OEEs are listed on the OEE website | Optional Enrichment Electives AY24-25 (sharepoint.com)
• You can reach out to the student leader or faculty sponsor found on the OEE description. If you cannot contact a student leader, you can reach out to the OEE Course Leadership.

Credit is not earned by participation in an OEE. The term "transcript recognition" is used rather than "credit". Students do not receive credit for participating in an OEE but do receive recognition on their transcript and in their MSPE upon completing the requirements of the course.

OEEs are held during “independent study” time. OEEs can be offered in the fall, spring or during both academic semesters.

No, there are no funds allocated to OEEs through the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education (OUME) or the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).

Students are encouraged to reach out to the sponsoring department with requests.

The Faculty Sponsor...

• is responsible for guiding students in creation and maintenance of the OEE content and evaluation
• will provide mentorship to OEE student leaders
• is responsible for reviewing end of the course evaluations from IREA and responding to student feedback

• T.H. Chan School of Medicine students can participate in an OEE and will receive transcript recognition upon fulfilling the requirements of the course
• Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing students can participate in an OEE. Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing students will have a nursing OEE course number assigned
• Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students can participate in an OEE but will not receive transcript recognition
• OEEs are designed for UMassChan students. Student leaders can reach out to the OEE Course Director for further questions on outside participants.
• LOA - Students who are on LOA can participate in an OEE but will not receive transcript recognition

• If a student does not finish the course, the OEE course will not be included in the transcript or MSPE
• Recognition of OEEs are acknowledgement for students who have completed all requirements of the OEE