Do I need to attend a training to participate in CUP?
Yes. CUP Clinical Skills Training is usually held once a year for students interested in participating in the clinical program. Many of the non-clinical programs offer trainings for their particular programs, too.
Is there a fee to participate in CUP?
Yes. We ask that you pay a one-time fee of $20 to “join” CUP. The fee helps us pay for the costs of food and supplies for meetings, trainings and clinics. This allows us to use our budget to pay for supplies and medications needed to run the CUP programs.
How do I earn CUP hours?
Once you have joined CUP, you are may attend trainings for any of the programs. For the clinical programs you need to review the clinical skills teaching module which is available online (link not functional). When this is completed, you can take the CUP clinical skills hands-on training. You also need to attend the training(s) offered for the specific programs you want to do. Then, you can sign up to participate in those CUP programs on the sign-up sheets posted on the bulletin board outside the student mailroom. Some program leaders will use email communication to request volunteers. (Be sure to check your schedule carefully to see if you are available.)
What if CUP activities conflict with curricular activities?
All CUP activities are voluntary and are not part of the required curriculum. If there is a conflict with scheduled curricular activities, such as required labs or small groups where your participation is expected, it is your responsibility as a medical student to attend the required activity. Therefore, it is important to check your schedules carefully before making a commitment to a specific CUP activity. Students should not expect that CUP participation is a valid excuse for missing a required activity—it will not be considered as such. The faculty is not responsible to provide remediation for you if you miss a class session. According to policy established on March 31, 2010, each medical student is allowed one excused absence per semester to attend Nogales Peds.
Optional Elective Credit
How do I earn CUP elective credit?
There are two CUP electives: CUP I and CUP II. CUP I allows you to get either 1 or 2 units of 2nd year elective credit by participating in CUP during the first two years of medical school. CUP II allows you to get either 1 or 2 units of 4th year elective credit by participating in CUP during your 3rd and 4th years. The minimum number of CUP hours for credit in either elective is: 45 hours for 1 credit and 90 hours for 2 credits. The CUP I elective must be completed in order to get CUP II credit.
For CUP I, a student needs to complete the required hours and submit a 3 page reflective paper to Dr. Carol Galper, wherein a student will consider and reflect upon something they encountered during CUP participation.
CUP II is a program that will developmentally have different objectives since the student has gained more knowledge and skills during the ensuing years of their medical education. For CUP II another reflective paper is required, this one 3-5 pages in length with the same considerations for topics to reflect upon.
What are the requirements for the Community Service Distinction Track?
A medical student who wishes to receive a notation of Distinction in Community Service needs to complete both CUP I and II with 2 credits each (90 hours per CUP elective for a total of 180 hours) and write a 10 page reflective and cited paper related to an issue seen in CUP. The topic of this paper needs to be approved by the distinction track director.
I hear that a previous class had a different CUP requirement.
As CUP evolves, so do the rules and requirements related to CUP programs. Medical school classes before or after yours may have different requirements. You will be held to the requirements that apply to the year you entered medical school. If you change graduating classes, please check with the distinction track director to assure you know what rules will apply to you.
What are the different CUP programs?
The CUP programs are grouped into two categories: clinical and non-clinical. Descriptions of each program can be found in the Program Structure section of this website.
Who runs CUP programs?
The student leaders do! CUP is truly a student-developed, student-directed program. Student coordinators lead each CUP program. The responsibilities for many of these programs are shared by a number of students, particularly for programs that are complex in their operation.
How are new CUP programs started?
New programs are developed by students and are based on their desire to work with a particular population, but must be approved by the distinction track director. Faculty and staff can help provide assistance, such as linkages to community agencies or leaders, and technical advice about program logistics, eligibility and feasibility as CUP has a limited budget.
I’m interested in becoming a CUP student leader. How does that happen?
Leadership changes every year. Each year, the leaders, who are now 2nd year students, recruit and train new leaders from the 1st year class to take over the programs in the Spring. If you are interested in a leadership role in one of the CUP programs, talk to the current leaders.