Categories of Academic/Clinical Learning Standing are:

1. Good Standing: Status of a student who has met course requirements in a satisfactory manner and has demonstrated good professional behavior.
2. Warning: Status of a student who has incurred a course failure subject to remediation and/or professional behavior issues.
3. Probation: Status of a student who has demonstrated a marginal level of performance, professional behavior issues to the degree that any additional course failures will make the student liable for dismissal according to South College academic policy.
4. Dismissal: Action, after review of the academic deficiency or other deficiencies such as professional behavior of a student by the program director, submitted to the South College Graduate Academic Committee and then approved by the Executive Vice President, whereby a student will be dismissed from the academic program of the college.

Probation

The South College Masters of Health Science Physician Assistant Studies Program maintains a probation and dismissal policy in effect for all PA students. Students will be placed on Academic Probation if their cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 on a 4.00 scale during any quarter program or for professional behavioral deficiencies.

Remediation of Course Failures

A student on Academic Probation must first meet with his/her instructor or course director to define a plan for remediation, then discuss this plan with the faculty advisor, present the final plan to the course director and the director of academic services, and if necessary present the plan to the Academic and Clinical Committee on Students Progress. The student, the instructor, the director of academic services, and the program director must sign remediation plans that are then presented by the student to the Committee. If the student fails to fulfill or achieve the outcomes described in his/her remediation plan, he/she is liable for dismissal from the PA program.

Dismissal

Students may be dismissed for reasons other than academic deficiency. Causes for non-academic dismissal may include violation of the Honor Code, South College rules, or state or federal law, moral turpitude, unprofessional behavior, criminal activity, or other reasons as defined by the college. Students will be liable for dismissal when:

1. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is not earned by the end of the didactic phase or at the end of the clinical learning year.
2. Grades lower than (70%) are earned in any course during the didactic and/or clinical learning year that causes a cumulative GPA of less that 3.0 at the end of the quarter.
3. A student fails to achieve the plans and outcomes listed in a remediation worksheet.
4. A student’s professional conduct violates the performance standards set forth in the Physician Assistant program “Honor Code.”
5. South College reserves the right to dismiss at any time a student who in its judgement is undesirable and whose continued enrollment is detrimental to himself/herself or his/her fellow students or whose presence is disruptive to the learning environment or the orderly operation of the college.

Grading

Course instructors, in concert with the course directors, determine the means by which the final grade will be computed, which may include exam scores, oral presentations, written assignments, laboratory exercises, practical examinations, class participation, and other means of evaluation. Except in the case of an error on the part of faculty or administration, no grade changes will be honored after the end of the course. All courses (including clinical learning rotations) will be graded with a letter grade from A-F. All courses will be assigned appropriate credit hours. One credit hour is equal to approximately 10-12 hours of lecture, small group conference, and required practice session (laboratory session credit hours are determined separately).

Course directors also determine grade adjustments for the purpose of standardization with the A-F scale. Where objective testing is used, scores and grades will be correlated as follows:

Students enrolled in the Masters of Health Science Physician Assistant Studies Program at South College must successfully complete all didactic courses in order to proceed to the clinical learning phase of the program. Progression from the didactic year to the clinical learning year requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. In addition, in order to graduate and be awarded a Masters of Health Science, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Attendance and Testing

The PA curriculum requires students to master a large amount of information and skills in a very short period of time. Excused absences must be obtained from the course instructor or course director, in person or by phone, not by e-mail. The PA program utilizes the following attendance and testing policies:

Attendance:

1. Attendance for all scheduled lectures, laboratory sessions, and student meetings is mandatory for all didactic students.
2. Call Back Clinical Learning Days are mandatory for all clinical learning students.
3. Didactic courses and Call Back Clinical Learning Days may utilize an attendance and grade reduction policy that may result in a failing course grade (F) for unexcused absences. Course directors will outline and discuss their attendance and grade reduction policies in their course syllabi.

Testing:

1. Absence will typically be defined as being 15 or more minutes late for a scheduled class or laboratory session.
2. Instructors may offer “make up exams” in the event of an “Excused Absence” with the permission of the Director of Academic Services, within a reasonable period of time.
3. Make-up exams will not be given in the case of an “Unexcused Absence.”
4. Students who are late for a scheduled exam will not be allowed additional time to complete the exam and will not be allowed to enter the classroom and initiate the exam if another student has already completed the exam and left the room.

Course Syllabi and Objectives

For every course and clinical learning rotation, studentsare provided with a complete syllabus, which includes specific, measurable, course goals and learning objectives, outlining the intended scope of the course. Course descriptions and course schedulesare alsoincluded. Students are expected to learn all information identified in the course goals and learning objectives, and should expect to be tested on such material.

Each instructor, in concert with the course director, reserves the right to alter the syllabus as time, teaching materials, new clinical and scientific information, or the necessity of a sequenced integrated PA curriculum dictate. Any altered materials will be made available to the student at lecture time. If there are questions regarding course goals, course objectives, learning objectives, or expected course outcomes the student is expected to directhis/her questions first to the course instructor, then the course director, and if needed to the Director of Academic Services.

Food and Beverages

The eating and drinking of foods and beverages is prohibited in all college buildings except in the student break areas. Receptacles for trash are provided in these areas. Food and drink cannot be consumed in the classrooms, labs, hallways, or libraries. Food and beverages with secured screw-on tops may be taken in these areas but must not be left on desktops, tabletops, counters, or any location including floors where they are visible. In other words, they must be placed where they are out-of-sight (in back packs, duffel bags, insulated lunch bags, purses, briefcases, and other appropriate carry-in bags).

Dress Code

The South College Physician Assistant program strives to prepare students to become assimilated into the professional medical and health science communities. Student’s general attire and general appearance should reflect an attitude for their future professional role and function. Student’s professional appearance and demeanor are a demonstration of self-respect, respect for their patients, and respect for their profession. From the outset, students will be viewed by the public as representatives of the Physician Assistant profession. Students may be asked to leave class because of inappropriate attire. They will not be permitted to return unless they are properly dressed.

The following standards of dress and appearance are to be observed by students at all times:

1. Students are expected to look professional and wear appropriate professional attire at all times. During the didactic year faculty may allow for casual dress in the classroom.
2. Jeans, hats, exercise clothing, sleeveless T-shirts or shirts with obscenities, mini skirts/mini shorts, crop tops, and bare feet are never permitted.
3. When students are in clinical laboratories, appropriate dress will be discussed by faculty.
4. Men should wear slacks and dress shirts. Women should wear dresses or skirts/slacks and blouses. Dress length should be appropriate for a dignified and professional appearance.
5. Shoes should be clean. Athletic shoes, open toed shoes (men and women) and/or sandals, shorts, mini-skirts, and denim jeans are not appropriate and should never be worn.
6. While present in any clinical setting or facility, studentsare subject to rules and regulations established by that facility and South College concerning professional behavior.

Evaluation of Professional Conduct

In concert with the core competencies for the PA profession, the faculty of the Masters of Health Science Physician Assistant Studies Program at South College has established standards for evaluating the professional and behavioral conduct of all students. This evaluation of professional conduct is in direct compliance with the core competency of professionalism that will be required of practicing PAs in their daily clinical life. At the end of every quarter, the core faculty will conduct a professional review of students.

Professional conduct evaluations will include the components of the Physician Assistant Program Honor Code and the following considerations:

1. Concern for the welfare of patients as evidenced by thoughtful and professional attitude in obtaining history and physical examinations; avoidance of foul language, offensive gestures, inappropriate remarks, or remarks with sexual overtones; treatment of patients with respect and dignity both in their presence and in discussions with peers; and manifestation of concern for the total patient.
2. Concern for the rights of others, behavior with professional and staff personnel, and with peer members of the PA class and health care team in a considerate manner and with a spirit of cooperation; acting with an egalitarian spirit towards all persons encountered in a classroom setting or a professional capacity regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or disability; and assuming an appropriate and equitable concern of duties among peers.
3. Responsibility to duty which involves effectively undertaking duties with alacrity and persevering until complete or notifying responsible persons of problems; punctual attendance of classes, rounds, conferences, and other clinical duties or offering appropriate explanation when unable to be present; notifying course directors and supervising MDs on academic health care teams of absence or inability to carry out duties; seeing patients regularly, and assuming responsibility for their care with appropriate supervision; identifying emergencies and responding appropriately; and ensuring that he/she can be located when on duty by faculty or staff personnel.
4. Trustworthiness that is being truthful and intellectually honest in communication with others; acceptance of responsibility for meeting multiple demands by establishing proper priorities and by completing work necessary for the optimal care of patients; discerning accurately when supervision or advice is needed before acting; and maintaining confidentiality of information concerning patients.
5. Professional demeanor which means a neat and clean appearance in attire that appears professional to the patient population; maintaining equilibrium under pressures of fatigue, professional stress, or personal problems; and avoidance of the use or effects of alcohol or drugs while on duty or attending class.

The results of this revieware shared with and signed by each student; any student requiring additional counseling or professional development will meet with both his/her academic advisor, and the director of academic services. If a student receives an unsatisfactory evaluation regarding professional conduct, written notification to the student by the faculty is required together with written documentation of the events leading to the unsatisfactory evaluation. This notification also must be forwarded to the program director. If the documented event involves a serious offense, the student may be liable for dismissal from the Physician Assistant program regardless of previous academic record. If a student receives an unsatisfactory evaluation of professional conduct, or a violation of the Honor Code, the student may be issued a letter of warning or placed on professional probation, or depending on the violation, liable for dismissal from the program. This recommendation will be made to the Program Director of the Physician Assistant program and then to the Executive Vice President.