You may have received a message or letter demanding that you sign the consent form referred to below. This is a coercive scam. You are under absolutely NO obligation to sign such a form! I would encourage you NOT to participate in this outrageous scheme under any circumstances!

2005 Bulletin 174 () June 23, 2005 4:53 PM

Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

BC, Deputy Director - International Office, has recently posted all USydMP students and recent graduates information and a consent form that relates to the US Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

The University participates in the US Department of Education's Stafford Loan Program that funds students from the US to attend university in Australia. In order to continue to participate in this program, the University is required to collate information on current students and graduates of the USydMP program who have sat for any of the examinations administered by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

The International Office would value your assistance in collating this information to allow the University to continue to participate in the Stafford Loan program. All Universities who offer Stafford Loan that have medical programs, such as the University of Sydney, are required to provide annual statistics to the US Department of Education.

There are two categories of information requested. The first relates to citizenship of students enrolled here - which can be obtained from the University's records.


In addition, we need to report to the US Department of Education pass rates for students and graduates who take any step of the examinations administered by the US Education Commission - which is the US body responsible for licensing of medical practitioners and accrediting medical qualifications obtained outside of the US. There are two ways we can obtain this information:

Students and graduates taking the examinations can forward their results to the International Office; or
Students and graduates taking the examinations can complete a "consent" form so that the International Office can obtain the test results direct from the ECFMG.
The International Office would be happy to receive the test results direct from the students/graduates, but it may be simpler if the International Office obtains this information for you, we therefore ask you to complete the consent form, which enables us to obtain your results. Please note that we would only be advised if you passed or failed the exams and would not be provided with your individual grades.

The University requires all USydMP (both local and international) students and recent graduates to complete and return the form to the International Office. The reason for this is related to the University's continued participation in the US Department of Education student loans program. In order to be able to continue to accept students in receipt of US student loans the University is required to demonstrate how many - if any - of its USydMP students and graduates passed the US Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFGM) examinations.

The US Department of Education requires Universities to provide this information to ensure that they are funding medical programs overseas that provide a qualification suitable for practicing medicine in the US. As local students may have sat the ECFMG tests, or may decide to sit the tests in the future both local and international students are required to complete the consent form.

Your assistance with the above will be much appreciated both by the International Office and by students currently in receipt of Stafford Loans who rely on this source of funding to pay their fees.

You should receive the information sheet and consent form over the next week. You may also download the form here.

Should you have any queries about this matter please contact ---

----
Compliance Co-ordinator
International Office
Phone: -------

edited by mod for proper names.

.................

Assuming the email was reproduced AS IS, I see at least a few problems with the content.

1. The ECFMG is the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
It is not "Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates", and it is not "US Education Commission"..While the spelling mistake could be only a spelling mistake, it might be something else.

2. The following is not correct, is it.
"...the US Education Commission - which is the US body responsible for licensing of medical practitioners..."

3. "The International Office would be happy to receive the test results direct from the students/graduates, but it may be simpler if the International Office obtains this information for you, we therefore ask you to complete the consent form, which enables us to obtain your results. Please note that we would only be advised if you passed or failed the exams and would not be provided with your individual grades."

I agree it would be simplest if the student or graduate tells the International Office whether they passed or failed, since this is the information they want. Why go to the trouble of producing a consent form, sending it to ECFMG, waiting for ECFMG to respond (and surely an agreement would have to be set up between the International Office and ECFMG)? Why complicate matters? What is the likelihood that students or graduates would misrepresent themselves?-Nil.

4. At first, it is a request that students and graduates sign and submit the consent form. But then, it becomes a requirement.
"The University requires all USydMP (both local and international) students and recent graduates to complete and return the form to the International Office."


5. There appears to be a negative consequence if students and graduates do not pariticpate in this venture. If the University does not demonstrate that its students and graduates have passed the ECFMG examinations, then it would not be able to continue to accept students with US student loans. Note the cliff-hanger, "...how many - if any - ...", a note that is surely meant to grab the attention of most of the target audience who may jump to respond with a resounding "What do you mean "if any?! Of course I passed and here are my full scores!"

"In order to be able to continue to accept students in receipt of US student loans the University is required to demonstrate how many - if any - of its USydMP students and graduates passed the US Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFGM) examinations."

Just my observations.
I could be wrong.

.............

they just want to stay eligible for loans. my school is just starting to hop on this bandwagon. the catch with DOE now is that you have to demonstrate that you have a good pass rate on usmle to remain eligible for loans...

what my school does is just asks us to bring in a copy of the score report. since there are really not that many of us from the states, it is pretty easy so far. i imagine that a reasonable solution for all schools would be something like requiring to see the original score report so they could make a copy. if you don't bring in the score report, they can just not sign your loan papers for the next year.

but, this is no scam, i am sure. just want to keep being able to get that us govt money!

I received my personalized consent form by post last week. It came with a cover letter that was confusing (not unusual). The form which had my name printed on it specified that it was only intended for Stafford Loan recipients. That does not include me. Now, do the schools know who has Stafford Loans? I also do not understand why the US authorities involved in adminstering such loans can not make receipt contingent on taking the USMLE (on whatever schedule they desire) and releasing their scores to those bodies involved. (It would seem default has become an issue. Rumors abound.)

Interestingly, the post above from the so called "compliance coordinator" indicates that all students and graduates are "required" to sign including Australians. What a bloody insult to the locals. Like, what authority do all these American institutions have on them?

I would consider the --- post more than a "minor nuisance". It is a real display of the ineptitude and ignorance that characterize this institution's relations with international students.

It contains misinformation about the US system of licensing physicians, it atttempts to use the "authority" of a number of US institutions (doesn't quite get the names right, though) in an attempt to "enforce" its demands, and it is very confusing on a number of fronts.

I have some doubt as to whether the ECFMG will consider the "form" as valid consent for release of scores to Usyd. (Note: ECFMG has been made aware of the tactics and the letter as have the other institutions mentioned! They are reportedly "investigating" the situation.)

If you feel you are under undue duress to sign the form for fear of upsetting Usyd and generating the hostility toward yourself for which they are noted, you might go ahead and sign. And then notify ECFMG to disregard the form -- that your signature was obtained under duress and potential "threat" -- and that you will notify them if you want any scores (or future scores) released.

.........................................

i have edited out the proper names of individuals and their contact info. posting this is STILL against terms of use.

__________________
Steph
If you get a warning, put on yer manpants and stop whining about it.

No one told them the CSA no longer exists, I guess. Also, what do they mean by "English Proficiency Results" (in addition to TOEFL).

Do you think US organizations would take such a "consent" form seriously.

This is like Keystone Cops do medical education. Quite frankly, I don't think the US taxpayer should be supporting such a program in the first place. I think it's doubtful that this program is making a significant contribution to US society in terms of well-qualified doctors (despite, a few obtaining ECFMG certification eventually).
-------------------------------------------

International Office
Services Building G12
University of Sydney
NSW 2006
Australia


ECFMG Transcript Consent Form

International Loan Schemes Officer
The International Office, G12
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006, Australia



Request for Official USMLE Scores, CSA Results and TOEFL and English Proficiency Results

Student’s Name: «Fname» «Surname»

I hereby authorize and request that the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to release my United States Licensing Examination Official Transcripts, CSA results and English Language proficiency score result to:

International Office, G12
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006, Australia

Student’s Signature: _________________________________________________

Date: ____________________________

Social Security Number (if applicable): _______________________

Date of Birth: _____________________

ECFMG Identification Number: ____________________________

Only applicable to students who have loans through the US Department of Education: Please remember that your signature on this form does not relieve you of the responsibility of sending BOTH sides of your score (or “no show”) report to the US Department of Education (Student Financial Assistance).

The required fee for this Official USMLE will be paid by the International Office, The University of Sydney.

Yes, this is most appropriate. Thank you.