Frequently Asked Questions
Feinberg has compiled a list of frequently asked questions here that apply to the medical school. For a full list of FAQ about the Northwestern University response, including information on travel, academics and grading, health concerns and the Illinois stay-at-home order, visit the Northwestern COVID-19 website.
How can members of the Feinberg community be tested for COVID-19?
Ongoing COVID-19 testing for Feinberg faculty, students, and staff members:
- Medical students and clinical faculty involved in direct patient care should contact the COVID hotline at 312-472-6843 to be routed to NM Corporate Health for testing related to a potential workplace exposure to COVID-19.
- All other faculty, staff, and students not directly involved in patient care should follow the University’s COVID-19 testing protocol for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals:
What Feinberg departments and units have COVID-19 information and resources on the web?
How can I designate myself or a member of my team as an essential worker?
Employees who are designated by their supervisors as essential workers can self-designate online using the Essential Position Designation and Notification Form. Once an employee fills out this form, their supervisor will be prompted to approve the designation.
Essential Employees may be required to report to work, either on-campus or virtually as applicable if either contacted by their supervisor or via University announcement of “Essential Employees Only” staffing through the Northwestern Emergency Notification System.
Has Feinberg implemented new cleaning procedures in light of COVID-19?
How can Feinberg employees report harassment or discrimination related to COVID-19?
All members of the Northwestern University community should be free from harassment and discrimination, and we intend to uphold our values. If any member of the community feels they have been treated unfairly because of their race, country of origin or where they have traveled, please reach out to the Office of Equity.
Where can I find Feinberg-specific Zoom backgrounds?
Feinberg Zoom backgrounds can be found on Box.
Research FAQ
Where can I find the latest Office for Research guidance?
Where can I find the latest Feinberg guidance on conducting clinical trials?
Detailed information on conducting clinical research is available in the Feinberg Research Guidance document, including safety and research space considerations.
How do I share my COVID-19 research idea with the administration?
Investigators can work with the medical school’s COVID-19 task force. If you are starting or contemplating a project, please send a one-paragraph description by email to Rex L. Chisholm, PhD, and Abby Cosentino-Boehm, DrPh.
Are 2020 summer lab volunteer programs for high-school and college students happening at the Feinberg School of Medicine?
Education FAQ
Feinberg School of Medicine has temporarily moved to remote instruction. Will I receive a tuition discount or refund?
For Northwestern University, including Feinberg School of Medicine, all enrolled student tuition remain unchanged as the school has remained open and the curriculum remains operational during these unprecedented times. Our Office of Medical Education and our teaching faculty have worked extremely hard to ensure that the instruction is high quality, equivalent and engaging for our medical students. While the methods of instruction have changed due to circumstances beyond our control, the planned curricular content continues to be delivered virtually, in a way that is safe for our medical students, faculty, and patients. Our faculty are confident that all students will have met all educational objectives and be prepared for their next stage of training.
What does my tuition pay for?
Tuition revenue does not cover the total cost of educating a medical student. At Feinberg, tuition covers 50% of the cost of educating a medical student; the additional expense is covered by the School’s other unrestricted revenues.
Examples of how tuition is used:
- Support for faculty and staff who plan, develop, and deliver the pre-clinical and clinical curriculum and its components
- Information technology systems and other resources that directly support the curriculum
- The overall student experience, including wellness activities, learning and academic support, career advising, and student physical and mental health support
Medical student tuition is not used to cover the costs of student social events, such as graduation or the welcome first week events.
The total costs of medical education include:
- Faculty and administrators involved in the planning, development, and delivery of the curriculum
- Staff and administrative support for education and student affairs
- Simulation and standardized patients
- Student research support, including the AOSC and mentoring
- Student affairs and diversity and inclusion services
- Student events
- Financial Aid
- Infrastructure to support education, such as facilities, information technology systems and support, Galter library, and security
Can we be reimbursed for the student activity fee since we are not physically on campus?
The student activity fee ($367/year) covers a portion of certain student-related support services that are continuing and remain available to students. Specifically, the fee covers a small portion of the library, which is still open virtually with online resources, as well as learning and wellness support technology (for example, Brainscape, Thieme Dissector). Feinberg will not refund the student activity fee.
Will I be getting the same education if this is done remotely?
Additional resources have been devoted to providing faculty with training, equipment and software to ensure the smoothest transition possible. Faculty have risen to the challenge and are attending to their teaching in this new mode with a commitment to creating the right balance of rigor and engagement for the best student learning experience they can provide.