Guided Learning Groups Initiative

Guided Learning Groups at the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine are part of a coordinated, student-centered set of programs managed through the Center for Student Success (CSS) to help learners develop stamina, study skills, and effective approaches to medical education. The initiative is organized as an integrated component of CSS services that include academic advising and coaching, learning and test-taking strategies, study skills and time management, board exam guidance and preparation, career and match advising, and academic tutoring. 

The Guided Learning Groups Initiative is presented as a proactive, developmental resource intended to prepare students before matriculation and to sustain them through early curricular years. CSS emphasizes individualized attention, inviting students to visit for a variety of supports and framing success as rooted in identifying each learner's best strategies for approaching and learning material. Guided Learning Groups are positioned alongside peer tutoring and broader academic services to offer collaborative, small-group formats that complement individual academic coaching. The structure reflects the SOM's broader educational priorities: helping students build durable study habits, manage time effectively, approach board preparation strategically, and navigate career and residency planning while maintaining wellness through the demands of training.

Operationally, the initiative is embedded within CSS staffing and programming. Dearden's role includes coordination across tutoring and group-learning activities, facilitating connections between pre-matriculation preparation and the ongoing academic supports available in the first and second years. CSS leadership provides the operational framework and outreach so students know how and when to access these services. The program interacts with other student supports, such as tutoring coordinators, faculty academic advisors, and the Student Academic Progress Committee, so that Guided Learning Groups operate as part of a continuum of interventions designed to promote academic success and retention.

The Guided Learning Groups Initiative reflects Rowan-Virtua SOM's commitment to accessible, scaffolded academic development for medical students. By situating group learning within a campus-wide network of advising, tutoring, and exam preparation, the program aims to normalize help-seeking, enhance collaborative learning, and equip students with evidence-informed study strategies. The initiative's integration with pre-matriculation programming also underscores a preventive approach: providing incoming students with early exposure to effective practices and peer support to accelerate their transition into the rigors of medical education.