Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Illinois, a variety of considerations are necessary to accommodate the life cycle of our clinical work, educational programs, and clinical training activities. We are committed to the health of our students, faculty, and staff, and to the communities and patients we serve. Every effort is being made by our hospital affiliates to conduct our patient care activities thoughtfully, and each entity will exercise their preferred processes to maximize everyone’s safety.
The following information is specific to Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, which moved into Step 2 of our Feinberg Return to Campus Plan on June 3, 2020. Northwestern University continues to update university-wide guidance on an ongoing basis.
Northwestern Medicine will test any Feinberg faculty, student, or staff member who exhibits symptoms or is otherwise determined to need testing. For questions about a potential exposure and testing options, call the Northwestern Medicine COVID-19 Hotline at 312-47-COVID (312-472-6843) and follow the prompts.
Information For
Clinical Care Information
All patient care activities will follow the lead and guidance provided by each of our clinical affiliates.
Education Guidance for Feinberg
- The library's Extended Hours Study Space will remain open to Feinberg faculty, staff and students. Read more from the Galter Health Sciences Library and Learning Center website.
- Essential training and education activities at the Simulation Laboratory are available for departments who have scheduled activities. We are also able to postpone courses and sessions upon request.
- Northwestern University has developed an FAQ for teaching remotely.
MD Program
- M1 students will arrive in August.
- M2 students are beginning their AoSC projects this summer.
- M3 students will return to direct patient care in a phased approach beginning June 1.
- M4 students will return to direct patient care in a phased approach beginning June 4.
- Clinical clerkships will continue using a virtual teaching format for didactic conferences in June.
- We continue reviewing each educational experience to ensure learning objectives are met.
- To ensure an optimal choice of residencies for the M4 match, there is no change to our M1-4 grading for course work or clinical rotations.
GME
- All McGaw residency and fellowship programs are continuing clinical activities with schedules determined by the program director and department chairs.
- GME conferences have moved to an on-line format and continue to meet educational objectives.
Other Degree Programs
- Physician Assistant students will return to classroom and clerkship teaching in a phased approach starting June 1.
- Student clinical training for all allied health profession programs (e.g. Physical Therapy, Orthotics, Physician Assistant, and Clinical Genetics) will be modified as needed based on clinical site availability and accreditation guidelines.
- Graduate students will receive Pass/No Pass grades for Spring Quarter 2020, but have the option to select quality (letter) grades. We encourage only those who must have a letter grade for external accreditation, licensure or reimbursement to opt-out of Pass/No Pass grading. Pass/No Pass grades do not count in the GPA; a Pass grade does earn a credit and is equivalent to a B in graduate courses. Programs will follow up to advise students in programs where letter grades may be prudent, and with information about allowing Pass/No Pass grades from Spring Quarter 2020 to fulfill requirements.
- For Summer 2020, graduate student grading will revert to the method described in the course catalogue for each course. The decision to revert to standard (pre COVID-19) grading practices is made in view of the need to maintain student progress toward a degree while meeting Northwestern University graduation requirements for GPA and minimum graded credits. While maintaining our high standards, we encourage programs to be flexible for students who find remote learning and other Covid 19 related adjustments challenging.
Research Guidance for Feinberg
- Feinberg has posted new guidelines for Chicago campus research. Feinberg has begun ramping up its Chicago campus research enterprise, as the school entered Step 2 of its reactivation plan on June 3, 2020. Information for clinical research is included in the guidance document.
- Northwestern's Office for Research has published new guidance for ramping up research and has continued to post information for conducting essential research on campus.
- NUCATS has compiled a list of COVID-19 funding opportunities and resources.
Administrative and Technical Information for Employees Working Remotely
- Northwestern University has compiled resources to help our community teach, learn and work during this time - including web conferencing, online chat and file sharing, and call forwarding and voicemail management. Additionally, Feinberg-specific information is available to complement these materials.
- Feinberg's Office of Finance and Administration has published interim changes to payroll transaction processing while working in a remote environment.
- Northwestern University has implemented changes to accounts payable, mailroom, and other office services that impact the Chicago campus.
- The Chicago Parking Office in Abbott Hall is now closed until further notice. However, Departments and employees of Feinberg remain eligible to purchase parking coupons for Chicago campus lots for individuals who cannot work from home and who typically commute via public transit. During this time, employees in need of daily parking passes may pick up at the Erie/Ontario garage customer service office. The customer service office is located off the first floor vehicle exit on Ontario Street between the Southeast and Southwest elevator lobbies. Departments may also purchase visitor parking coupons for issuance to those individuals. We will continue to evaluate parking capacity and communicate further updates in April.
- More information is available on the Transportation and Parking website.
- As of March 20, 2020, Starbucks in Searle, and Beefsteak and Slice in SQBRC, are temporarily closed. Smart Market in SQBRC remains stocked and open.
