How can I take the S3?
MS1s and MS2s: You will receive a personalized link to the S3 via email from IUSM Educational Affairs Data Analytics (EDA) (iusmeda@iu.edu). This link is unique to you and shouldn’t be shared with other students.
MS3s and MS4s: You will receive a generalized link to the survey via email. The survey link will also be on this page when the survey is open to your Phase.
What is the S3?
The Strategic Student Survey (S3) was developed in collaboration with IU School of Medicine students, staff, and faculty on all nine campuses as a holistic way to obtain actionable student feedback on areas the school aims to improve. The S3 also compares student experiences across all four years of training to track continuous program quality improvement and identify areas that require rapid interventions.
The S3 complements national Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) questionnaires such as the Graduation Questionnaire (GQ), which provide vital benchmarks to show the educational experience areas IU School of Medicine needs to improve relative to other medical schools.
This report utilizes quantitative and qualitative methods to display results from the S3 administered to students in early spring.
The S3 provides effective outlets for you to impact your educational experiences, engage with school leadership, and leave a legacy of improvement for future student experiences.
When will I take the S3?
Classes do not take the S3 all at once. The S3 will be distributed to each class one at a time. Here is the S3 2023 schedule:
- MS1: May 5 – May 19
- MS2: January 18 – February 1
- MS3: February 27 – March 7
- MS4: January 3 – January 29
Why should I take the S3? Because your feedback matters.
Many improvements have been made from past S3s that you are experiencing now!
Based on feedback since 2020, here is how Medical Student Education has improved your education:
- Phases 2 and 3: MSE added a study day and a clerkship NBME voucher before every NBME Clerkship Exam. We also expanded the OB/GYN rotation from 4 to 6 weeks.
- Phase 1: We transitioned all phase 1 courses to using a single statewide recorded lecture video to ensure comparability.
- Student Affairs: New Lead Advisors have been put in place and the Mental Health Services Team has continued expansion to meet student requests for great access with attention to the diverse needs of our student population.
Who is S3 feedback shared with?
The results of the survey include both campus-specific and statewide results. This information is shared with the Deans, Regional campus directors/deans, and governance committees to make changes to the curriculum each year. So, getting a high percentage of each class to complete the S3 is vital to get valid results.
Previous S3s
2021 S3
Medical Student Education extends a huge thank you to all the students who participated in the 2021 S3.
2020 S3
In spite of COVID-19, students provided their feedback to help improve IU School of Medicine. Some of the changes resulting from the 2020 S3 included:
Phase 1
- Transition to one statewide lecture
- Blocking of Human Structures & Molecules to Cells & Tissues
Phase 2 and 3
- An added study day before NBME Clerkship Exam
- Expanded OB/GYN rotation from 4 weeks to 6 weeks
- Opportunity to retake a NBME Clerkship Exam to attain a higher score
- Time for wellness incorporated into STEPS
2019 S3
Based on student feedback in 2019, Dean Antwione Haywood, PhD, shares a change made for all subsequent classes. “A major change to orientation was moving from an optional day of service to a service opportunity incorporated into orientation for all students. We enhanced the experience by creating a common reading program. The Medical Student Service Learning Group is now a part of student government (Medical Student Council) which should help continue to improve the student voice statewide on issues around service learning.”