IAU - Questions

[CrunchTime]

1. Do you have, or are you in the process of obtaining, New York Accreditation? Do you have future plans for California approval? If so, what time frame and what changes do you plan to make before inspection?

2. Do you offer student loans for U.S. citizens which do not require a co-signer (like TERI, or equivalent)?

3. Do you offer scholarships or other options for those who cannot bear the full cost of education and living expenses? If so, what are those options?

4. What US schools are affiliated with IAU? Please include pre-med and PhD programs.

5. Do you require Step 1 as a requirement for your MD degree? If yes, what do you do with students who do not wish to take Step 1 (e.g., to practice in other countries or to become researchers)?

6. Do you accept transfer students at all levels of Basic Sciences? If yes:
a) How do you accept courses taken at previous schools?
c) Do you require anything at all, besides a transcript, to transfer credits (like course Syllabi)?

7. Do you have or are you in the process of obtaining any more rotation contracts with hospitals in the U.S.? If yes, please list the hospital(s). If not, please give some indication of how far along this process is and what locations are being sought.

8. Do you encourage or at least permit students to arrange their own rotations? If yes, would this include rotations in foreign countries? Do you have a formal procedure in place for such students?

9. What is the approximate monthly cost of living in St. Lucia for a single occupant, including hot water, internet, etc?

10. What is the range of car rental fees? And Bus fees?

11. Are there any problems encountered by U.S. students with St. Lucia Authorities? What, if any, policies do the school in place to handle students who get in trouble with the St. Lucian government?

12. Are personal effects such as computers/cameras/electronics taxed by St. Lucian Customs when medical students enter the country?

13. Is there Skype service from St. Lucia. If yes, is it currently blocked? If so, what alternatives are there for students to come in contact with family and friends?

14. At the end of each semester, will you provide an official transcript to each student -- subject to a reasonable fee -- showing courses completed and credits transferred from other schools? Will it show grades? Are grades given out to students? Is the system pass/fail or honor those who pass with higher grades?

15. For each student, do you guarantee the tuition and fee schedule that was in effect at the time the student was admitted? This includes semesters spent in rotations.

16. Do you have a formal, actually operating -- not theoretical or planned -- grievance procedure for the adjudication of student complaints?

17. Do you have an office or contact person in the United States who can arrange a visit to St. Lucia? If yes, please give the address, phone number, email, and name of that person or office.

18. Do you have a student government? If yes, please provide me with the name and email address of its president or other officers.

19. Do you publish the names of the textbooks used in each course? If yes, are those books actually, really and truly, used by the teachers, or is the list merely part of a marketing plan?

20. Are your teachers required to have "office hours" to meet with students? If no, do they make themselves available at reasonable times?

21. Do you require a school uniform? Is there a code of conduct? Does it address sexual misconduct, off-campus misbehavior, excessive absenteeism and other disruptions?

22. Do you require students to be tested in subjects that are being transferred from another school?

23. Do you require a "shelf" or "exit" exam before being allowed to start rotations? How are these scores used? Are they reported to students and/or institutions for the students? Are there exams for those in clinical rotations?

24. What are your policies regarding teachers' behavior in the classroom? Are they permitted to humiliate, berate, and ridicule students? If they do that, what will you do?

25. Are there any graduation requirements, however trivial, not explicitly stated on your web site? If yes, what are they?

26. Do new students have staff or individuals to take care of them? If yes, who are these people and their contact information? If not, how does the school help those first arriving?

27. Is the school affiliated with AMSA? If so, who is the contact person or student available including name and email address?

28. How many students have passed step 1/2/3 on the first try? Total? How many failed? How many of these students have completed the entire curriculum at the school? How many were transfer students?

29. Is there anyone in residency? If so, how many and in what? How many finished the entire program at the school and how many were transfer students? If not, when is the soonest expected match?

30. Is there a computer lab? If so, how many working computers? Is there an intranet set-up to download teacher’s lecture material? If so, can it be accessed remotely? If so, is it available only for current students or to those also in clinical rotation? Is the Internet available as wireless or landline?

31. Is there a library? Approximately how many books are available? Are there any other sources such as online reference materials, ebooks, videos, and audio?

32. When is the expected time frame for the new school building to be finished? How many labs? How many classrooms are planned for? Will there be another dorm?

33. How many classrooms are available now? Study rooms? How big is the study area and computer lab? What is the total size of the school?

34. Is there a recreational center? If so, what is available? If not, what is given to students for recreational use?

35. Is there a kitchen? If so, what food is served or what appliances are provided?

36. What labs are available? If so, what is available in these labs? Are there lab exams? If so, how much is calculated for grading? If graded, are students notified?

37. What is the school’s policy on subject failure? Are there rules per subject or total? What is the policy on USMLE (or its foreign equivalent) failure? What is the rate of those who started the first semester compared to those who took USMLE?

38. Does the school provide any functions, such as white ceremony, banquets, or other school-sponsored functions?

39. There is a list of faculty. How many are actually present on campus? What is the diversity available among teachers and staff? Is there a policy on how to handle student/teacher conflicts? How many years has the longest teacher been teaching? About how much is the turnover rate of teacher?

40. Do teachers provide after-hour tutoring? Is there payment?

41. How many teachers have taken USMLE? How many have practiced as licensed physicians in the US? In the UK? Elsewhere? How many of those who practiced in US are presently on campus teaching?

42. How is testing conducting on campus? Do they students receive USMLE-style questions? Are the exams multiple-choice or short answer or both? If there is a dispute on a test/question, what is the school’s policy to handle the situation?

43. For emergency situations, is there a contact person available 24/7 on or near campus? What are the campus hours? What are library hours?

44. How does the school extend help to those who have been victimized by the local population? Is there counseling available for those who have suffered a traumatic experience?

45. How does the school handle conflict among students? Is there counseling for those suffering substance abuse/rape/physical altercations?

46. What are the school’s plans for the next 1 year?

47. What are the school’s plans for the next 5 years?

48. What are the school’s plans for the next 10 years?

49. If the school becomes large, will the school be willing to sell itself to another party?

50. If the school unfortunately fails, what are its plans for current students?

There will be a separate list of questions for students.

[Drdiego]

With so many questions, you may not want to attend this school. :confused:

[niyeklin]

On the contrary....

Asking all of these questions is very reasonable and prudent.

Lots of other posts have raved about how the IAU faculty is willing to stay "until 4 am" in the morning helping students.

Don't you think that if they are this dedicated, that the school would be eager to answer such reasonable questions from a prospective student?

I think IAU would be more than happy to engage this person, and answer the questions.

[IAU]

Below you will find brief answers to your lengthy list of pertinent questions which should be asked by any interested student. Good questions. The answers are directly below the questions.

Please note that many of your questions can be answered by visiting our website; I'll therefore mainly address (most of) your questions which are not already there. I've responded quickly, so some of the answers may have to wait and/or the students can answer them for you.

1. Do you have, or are you in the process of obtaining, New York Accreditation? Do you have future plans for California approval? If so, what time frame and what changes do you plan to make before inspection?
We are currently in the process of NY accreditation and expect final approval in the Fall. There are plans for California accreditation, but IAU is too "young" to begin the process (California requires 5 years of graduate data).

2. Do you offer student loans for U.S. citizens which do not require a co-signer (like TERI, or equivalent)?
We only offer private co-signer loans at this time. See website (Tuition & Fees page).

3. Do you offer scholarships or other options for those who cannot bear the full cost of education and living expenses? If so, what are those options?
We offer both need- and academic-based scholarships. See website (Tuition & Fees page).

4. What US schools are affiliated with IAU? Please include pre-med and PhD programs.
Texas A&M-Commerce (agreement with affiliation in process), Florida International University in the making.

5. Do you require Step 1 as a requirement for your MD degree? If yes, what do you do with students who do not wish to take Step 1 (e.g., to practice in other countries or to become researchers)?
Yes, in addition to Step 2. Students who do not attempt Step 1 will eventually be withdrawn by the university; that is, we do not have a "non-USMLE" path the M.D.

6. Do you accept transfer students at all levels of Basic Sciences? If yes:
a) How do you accept courses taken at previous schools?
c) Do you require anything at all, besides a transcript, to transfer credits (like course Syllabi)?
Yes. Transcripts usually suffice for domestic students. More complicated transfers may require more information. All transfers are done on a case-by-case basis.

7. Do you have or are you in the process of obtaining any more rotation contracts with hospitals in the U.S.? If yes, please list the hospital(s). If not, please give some indication of how far along this process is and what locations are being sought.
Our current contracts (DIRECT contracts) are with Jackson Park in Chicago and Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Louisiana. We have other contracts in process (in NY) and will post this information on our website when they are finalized.

8. Do you encourage or at least permit students to arrange their own rotations? If yes, would this include rotations in foreign countries? Do you have a formal procedure in place for such students? Yes. The main stipulation is that the clerkship must be ACGME approved.

9. What is the approximate monthly cost of living in St. Lucia for a single occupant, including hot water, internet, etc?
US$700

10. What is the range of car rental fees? And Bus fees?
Car: $600/month (students, any updates?)
Bus fees: $0.70 for your basic 3 mile trip.

11. Are there any problems encountered by U.S. students with St. Lucia Authorities? What, if any, policies do the school in place to handle students who get in trouble with the St. Lucian government?
No problems.

12. Are personal effects such as computers/cameras/electronics taxed by St. Lucian Customs when medical students enter the country?
Ask the students for the most current update. My immediate answer is no.

13. Is there Skype service from St. Lucia. If yes, is it currently blocked? If so, what alternatives are there for students to come in contact with family and friends?
Ask the students for the most current update. Skype was working a few months ago.

14. At the end of each semester, will you provide an official transcript to each student -- subject to a reasonable fee -- showing courses completed and credits transferred from other schools? Will it show grades? Are grades given out to students? Is the system pass/fail or honor those who pass with higher grades?
Transcripts are always available upon request. We are on the pass/fail system.

15. For each student, do you guarantee the tuition and fee schedule that was in effect at the time the student was admitted? This includes semesters spent in rotations.
No, as is the case for U.S. universities.

16. Do you have a formal, actually operating -- not theoretical or planned -- grievance procedure for the adjudication of student complaints?
Yes.

17. Do you have an office or contact person in the United States who can arrange a visit to St. Lucia? If yes, please give the address, phone number, email, and name of that person or office.
Various individuals in our Dallas office will be more than happy to help arrange a visit. Simply call 888-440-4474.

18. Do you have a student government? If yes, please provide me with the name and email address of its president or other officers.
Yes. Click on the SGA link on our website.

19. Do you publish the names of the textbooks used in each course? If yes, are those books actually, really and truly, used by the teachers, or is the list merely part of a marketing plan?
Yes. Click on the Bookstore link on our website. "Marketing plan?" I've never come across this concern. Why would we request students to have textbooks which are not used in the classroom?

20. Are your teachers required to have "office hours" to meet with students? If no, do they make themselves available at reasonable times?
Our profs are on campus from 8-5 and many times into the evening. They are always available for office hours when not lecturing.

21. Do you require a school uniform? Is there a code of conduct? Does it address sexual misconduct, off-campus misbehavior, excessive absenteeism and other disruptions?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

22. Do you require students to be tested in subjects that are being transferred from another school?
Transfer students are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The answer is "maybe," it just depends on the students previous academic performance in the transferred coursework.

23. Do you require a "shelf" or "exit" exam before being allowed to start rotations? How are these scores used? Are they reported to students and/or institutions for the students? Are there exams for those in clinical rotations?
Our students cannot proceed beyond the Basic Sciences (Semesters 1-4, in Saint Lucia) without passing the shelf exams for each course. If they are successful, they move to the States and do an ICM course, then a Kaplan review course (or Pass Program course). No student is allowed to begin clinical rotations until Step 1 of the USMLE is passed (as is the case for U.S. medical schools).

24. What are your policies regarding teachers' behavior in the classroom? Are they permitted to humiliate, berate, and ridicule students? If they do that, what will you do?
Our professors are professional educators, and any behavior would not be tolerated if it ever surfaced in the classroom.

25. Are there any graduation requirements, however trivial, not explicitly stated on your web site? If yes, what are they?
It's all on our website. Nothing is hidden.

26. Do new students have staff or individuals to take care of them? If yes, who are these people and their contact information? If not, how does the school help those first arriving?
Our students are taken care of by all employees of the school (U.S.-based admin, St. Lucia-based admin and faculty) and especially our current students. Our size allows for a very personal experience at IAU. Students who first arrive are greeted at the airport and are taken care of immediately.

27. Is the school affiliated with AMSA? If so, who is the contact person or student available including name and email address?
Ask the students.

28. How many students have passed step 1/2/3 on the first try? Total? How many failed? How many of these students have completed the entire curriculum at the school? How many were transfer students?
Our pass rate for Step 1 is 70%; for step 2 it's 100%. No one has taken step 3. We'll have our first graduates this year, or early next year.

29. Is there anyone in residency? If so, how many and in what? How many finished the entire program at the school and how many were transfer students? If not, when is the soonest expected match?
Soonest match will be next year (2008). Then we'll have some data.

30. Is there a computer lab? If so, how many working computers? Is there an intranet set-up to download teacher’s lecture material? If so, can it be accessed remotely? If so, is it available only for current students or to those also in clinical rotation? Is the Internet available as wireless or landline?
Wireless is available at the university. We have a few computers available for student use; however, most (if not all) students have their own laptop. Any information (lecture notes, et cetera) is available to all students regardless of location.

31. Is there a library? Approximately how many books are available? Are there any other sources such as online reference materials, ebooks, videos, and audio?
Yes. We have hundreds of volumes on the shelves but our most valuable asset is our access to the EBSCO database (Medline access, mainly) available to all basic science and clinical science students.

32. When is the expected time frame for the new school building to be finished? How many labs? How many classrooms are planned for? Will there be another dorm?
The new building should be finished in 2008. The plans have been drawn, but the details of the number of labs and classrooms is not at hand. There will be another dorm.

33. How many classrooms are available now? Study rooms? How big is the study area and computer lab? What is the total size of the school?
Four classrooms. Four case study rooms. Over 30,000 sq ft currently.

34. Is there a recreational center? If so, what is available? If not, what is given to students for recreational use?
No. Local gyms, yes.

35. Is there a kitchen? If so, what food is served or what appliances are provided?
On campus? No.

36. What labs are available? If so, what is available in these labs? Are there lab exams? If so, how much is calculated for grading? If graded, are students notified?
Anatomy, Path, PD, and Phys labs. Most labs are graded. I'd ask the students for details.

37. What is the school’s policy on subject failure? Are there rules per subject or total? What is the policy on USMLE (or its foreign equivalent) failure? What is the rate of those who started the first semester compared to those who took USMLE?
Students who fail any subject must retake the course. Students are given two chances at passing the USMLE.

38. Does the school provide any functions, such as white ceremony, banquets, or other school-sponsored functions?
Yes, all three of these.

39. There is a list of faculty. How many are actually present on campus? What is the diversity available among teachers and staff? Is there a policy on how to handle student/teacher conflicts? How many years has the longest teacher been teaching? About how much is the turnover rate of teacher?
We currently have approximately 10 faculty on campus but will be expanding this to 15 by the Fall. Policies are in place for conflicts. Longest teacher has been there since our inception (in 2004).

40. Do teachers provide after-hour tutoring? Is there payment?
Yes. No.

41. How many teachers have taken USMLE? How many have practiced as licensed physicians in the US? In the UK? Elsewhere? How many of those who practiced in US are presently on campus teaching?
Unsure of the exact numbers, but a majority have taken step 1 and have practiced and taught in the US, UK and India.

42. How is testing conducting on campus? Do they students receive USMLE-style questions? Are the exams multiple-choice or short answer or both? If there is a dispute on a test/question, what is the school’s policy to handle the situation?
Testing is done bi-weekly. All exams are USMLE-based. Disputes undergo a formal process.

43. For emergency situations, is there a contact person available 24/7 on or near campus? What are the campus hours? What are library hours?
Yes. Ask the students about the hours.

44. How does the school extend help to those who have been victimized by the local population? Is there counseling available for those who have suffered a traumatic experience?
In the unfortunate event of students or faculty becoming victimized, counseling is immediately available.

45. How does the school handle conflict among students? Is there counseling for those suffering substance abuse/rape/physical altercations?
Students, again, are well taken care of.

46. What are the school’s plans for the next 1 year?
NY accreditation, permanent campus begun, more hospitals...

47. What are the school’s plans for the next 5 years?
New campus complete, more U.S.-based affiliations (universities, hospitals) including research affiliations...

48. What are the school’s plans for the next 10 years?
Accreditation for all 50 states, branch campuses, nursing schools, research programs...

49. If the school becomes large, will the school be willing to sell itself to another party?
Highly unlikely.

50. If the school unfortunately fails, what are its plans for current students?
The school won't fail.

There will be a separate list of questions for students.

[dt]

50. If the school unfortunately fails, what are its plans for current students?
The school won't fail.


Well, that's confidence!

How can someone know/predict the future so well?


lol

[doc883]

wow...i think if someone really spent time researching the website on there own, they would find most of there answers there...and not be spoon fed the answers...

[niyeklin]

I believe that IAU's consistent courtesy, honesty, and helpfulness is very apparent on this forum.

It seems clear that the administration's attitude is one of helpfulness. A great attitude for an administration.

It goes to show that a new school can be good, and that longevity isn't the only thing of importance when evaluating a Caribbean school.

[byteme]

wow...i think if someone really spent time researching the website on there own, they would find most of there answers there...and not be spoon fed the answers...

Maybe Crunch is spending too much time researching CMU's forum, because these questions look suspiciously similar to the ones "Fossildoc" posted over there.

http://www.valuemd.com/caribbean-medical-university-cmu/139549-cmu-will-not-answer-these-questions.html

[iaustudent06]

Someone took CMU's questions and gave it steroids! Are there student questions available so we can get a head start?

Apparently other people has noticed our school's response!

http://www.valuemd.com/main-foreign-medical-schools-forum/119942-international-medical-school-america-44.html#post642529

[iaustudent06]

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON NEW RESTRICTIONS FOR TRANSFERRED ACADEMIC CREDITS

One of the medical education credential requirements for ECFMG
Certification is that an international medical graduate must have had
at
least four credit years (academic years for which credit has been given
toward completion of the medical curriculum) in attendance at a medical
school that is listed in the International Medical Education Directory
(IMED). A change to ECFMG's medical education credentials policy will
restrict transfer credits that may be used to meet this requirement.
This change will affect credits earned on or after January 1, 2008,
that
are transferred to the medical school that issued or will issue an
applicant's medical degree.

For the purpose of ECFMG Certification, transferred academic credits
earned on or after January 1, 2008, are restricted to:

- Credits transferred from one IMED-listed medical school to another
IMED-listed medical school.

- Credits for courses taken at one medical school within seven years of
the date of graduation at the medical school that accepts the
transferred courses.

- Credits for courses that were passed at the medical school at which
the course was taken.

Applicants who have transferred credits to the medical school that
issued or will issue their medical degree will be required to document
these credits when they apply to ECFMG for examination. This
documentation must be in the form of a transcript issued by the school
at which the course was taken; failure to provide appropriate
documentation of transfer credits earned on or after January 1, 2008,
will prevent exam registration. Further instructions will be provided
at
the time of application.

Applicants whose transferred credits do not meet all the criteria
listed
above will not meet the requirements to be registered by ECFMG for
examination or the requirements for ECFMG Certification.

An international medical student/graduate whose transferred credits do
not meet all the criteria listed above may request an exception from
the
ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee.

[Drdiego]

I believe that IAU's consistent courtesy, honesty, and helpfulness is very apparent on this forum.

It seems clear that the administration's attitude is one of helpfulness. A great attitude for an administration.

It goes to show that a new school can be good, and that longevity isn't the only thing of importance when evaluating a Caribbean school.

Somehow I believe that Crunchtime and Niyeklin are IUA representatives. It is very strange that crunch had so many questions but did not respond to the answers and only have this one post. Strange indeed.

[logical]

i recently got accepted to SMU and I dont think I heard of this school before wish i had. sounds like they have a future. oh well good luck guys.

[mpIAU]

drdiego, how can you be so sure they are fake? they sound pretty legit to me.

[lswiltshire]

IUA is a bogus school

Any so called medical school in this day and age that offers experienced physicians $1500 per month in this day is not serious about medical education.

A workman is worthy of his hire. If you expect devoted teachers with experience who can guide students YOU MUST PAY THEM PROPERLY!

[mpIAU]

first of all its IAU
second i don't think its really any random person's concern how much they pay the profs

[rpat3]

What exactly is NY accrediation?

[iaustudent06]

What exactly is NY accrediation?

Approval by NY only gives a school the ability to have their students rotate through NY hospitals for more than 12 weeks. This can help obtain residency positions, increase the chances of becoming fully licensed across various states, obtaining greenbook rotations, etc. NY may come back again this year to IAU for re-inspection which could possibly set up IAU for approval.

NY's approval does not directly confirm the ability to be fully licensed in any state. The current schools on the list are:

American University of Antigua, Antigua
American University of the Caribbean, St. Martin, Netherland Antilles
The Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
English Language Program, University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Medical School, Debrecen, Hungary
English Language Program, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
English Language Program, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Fatima College of Medicine, Manila, Philippines
International Health and Medicine Program, Ben Gurion University of the Negrev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
Medical University of the Americas/Nevis, Nevis, West Indies
Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, Dominica
Saba University School of Medicine, Saba, Netherland Antilles
St. George's University School of Medicine, St. George's, Grenada
St. Matthew's University School of Medicine, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

[hnbaby]

With so many questions, you may not want to attend this school.