Full-time learning specialists with academic credentials in advanced education and who have experience advising students will be available to help guide students through adjustments in time management, academic difficulties, and learning strategies.

Peer Tutor Program - OCOM offers students peer tutoring services free of charge. Tutoring is available on a first-come, first-served basis during all academic years. It is designed to help students enhance their test-taking skills, modify their study habits, and/or focus on critical material and content. Request forms for tutoring services are available in the Office of Student Support.

Applications to tutor and requests for tutoring services are available in the Office of Student Support. Students requesting a tutor must be registered in the Office of Student Support to benefit from tutoring services. Applications to become a peer tutor are available in the Office of Student Services. The appropriate course director grants final approval to tutor a subject. Peer tutors must communicate effectively, have mastered the course material, and be in good academic standing.

Collectively, the entire system works together to communicate with students as early as possible and as often as possible in support of each student’s academic progress.

Academic Advisors – The Academic Advisor Program plays a vital role at OCOM. The Academic Advisor-Advisee relationship is one of an institutional representative providing insight or direction to a student about academic, professional, scholarly, and career planning issues. The nature of this direction may be to inform, suggest, counsel, discipline, coach, mentor, or even teach. The OCOM advising process ensures that both biomedical science and clinical faculty are involved in student advising and establishing relationships that create an atmosphere of trust and meaningful dialogue. The Advisor-Advisee relationship will ensure consistent feedback regarding academic performance and direct the student to additional resources within the institution as needed. All Advisors are essential in identifying students experiencing academic, personal, or behavioral health problems and providing them with referrals to OCOM’s Office of Student Affairs, Learning Specialists, and/or Behavioral Health Services. Students and faculty work closely together in the academic arena.

Students are encouraged to use the advice, expertise, and help of the faculty through the Advisor program. Students should contact their assigned Advisor as frequently as necessary for guidance, encouragement, and support. Advisors may assume a proactive role and become involved with their students when performance levels fail to meet minimum academic standards.

Through the Office of the Associate Dean for Pre-Clinical Education, the Early Warning System tracks summative exam scores to identify students at risk of academic failure or experiencing a sudden change in academic performance. Once identified, students may be required to meet with a Learning Specialist, the Associate Dean for either Pre-Clinical and/or Student Services, and/or the student’s assigned Academic Advisor. Students may be counseled in study skills, time management, exam taking, and self-assessment. Students may also be advised to meet with the school’s behavioral health team to address personal concerns such as exam anxiety and stress management. Other resources available to the student may be identified and offered.

OCOM provides career counseling to assist students in evaluating career options and applying to graduate medical education (GME) training programs. OCOM has developed a Career Counseling and GME placement plan to support students with career counseling, including entry into GME, using several commercial and in-house resources and personnel. Career Counseling will be provided by OCOM Learning Specialist(s) (especially in the administration of AAMC Careers in Medicine) and assigned OCOM Faculty Advisors.