Policy 1
6.4 CLINICAL YEAR

Clinical rotations provide the most intensive and rewarding experiences in the PA Program. Great effort is taken to assure the student of qualified preceptors and appropriate settings for an excellent clinical experience. Scheduling of the rotations is complicated by a number of considerations required for the best fit for both the students’ and the preceptors’ needs. Certain rotations have limitations due to preceptor availability. Students may wish to suggest specific sites and/or preceptors, but these rotations must meet specific criteria and be approved by the clinical director. (These suggestions are options; prospective and enrolled students are never required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.)

Policy 2
9.11.2 ACADEMIC PHASES OF TRAINING AND REQUIREMENTS
PA PROGRAM RETENTION STANDARDS

The Academic Affairs and Progress Committee (AAPC) monitors academic progress and notifies students about their status if they fail to meet the standards of performance required by the PA Program. The below standards must be met:

1. Each student must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 in order to receive a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree
2. Students must complete all required courses with a grade of “C” (73%) or higher
3. Students must have complied with all university policies

DIDACTIC PHASE

The didactic phase is composed of courses outlined in the program curriculum. Students are required to earn a satisfactory course grade to receive academic credit. Each course director determines and publishes in the course syllabus how the final grade will be calculated. Successful completion of all didactic courses and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 are required for promotion to the clinical phase. A student who does not obtain a 3.00 cumulative GPA at the end of the didactic phase will be suspended.

CLINICAL PHASE

The clinical phase is composed of courses outlined in the course of study. Students are required to earn a satisfactory course grade to receive academic credit. The clinical director determines and publishes in the course syllabus how the fi- nal grade will be calculated. 

SUMMATIVE EVALUATION

The Summative Evaluation is composed of an assessment of the medical knowledge, interpersonal skills, clinical and technical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities and professionalism required to enter clinical practice. The Summative must occur within the final four months of the program. Components are defined in the Clinical Year Guide. The student is required to pass the Summative Evaluation in order to graduate from the PA Program. 

GRADUATION

Students will become eligible to graduate upon successful completion of the pro- gram curriculum, completing all required courses with a grade of “C” or higher, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher, within sixty (60) months of matriculation, and passing the Summative Evaluation. A student on probation is not eligible to graduate until all deficiencies have been corrected and probation is removed.

TIME FRAME FOR COMPLETION 

Students who have matriculated into the PA Program will have a maximum of sixty (60) months to complete the requirements for a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree, including any and all leaves of absence. Any student who does not finish within the required time frame is dismissed from the PA Program.

DELAYED GRADUATION

Students who need to complete program requirements during the summer following the anticipated May graduation may apply to participate in the May graduation ceremonies as prospective summer graduates if the remaining requirements are limited to 8 credit hours. Students must present evidence that the remaining requirements can reasonably be complete prior to the August graduation date. A deposit of $200 will be charged to the student’s account, and can be refunded or applied to any unpaid Union Adventist University charges if all graduation requirements are completed by the August graduation date. If the degree is not completed on time, the deposit will be forfeited.

Policy 3
9.11.3.5 DECELERATION

A student whose academic progress is delayed greater than three (3) months will, by definition, be decelerated and will graduate upon successful completion of the program curriculum. They will be offered the opportunity to participate in the graduation ceremony with the next cohort. A leave of absence greater than three (3) months in duration will lead to deceleration.

There are no other prescriptive recommendations for deceleration.

Policy 4
9.11.4 REMEDIATION POLICY
9.11.4.1 INDIVIDUAL COURSE

The AAPC analyzes student performance on individual courses and formative exams to determine if remediation is needed. A student will be referred to the director of student success if two (2) or more exams are failed (<73%) in a single course as well as the criteria for mandatory enrollment outlined in section 8.1.1. Additionally, a student placed on non-academic or academic probation during the didactic or clinical phase of the program by AAPC will be referred to the director of student success.

Students referred to the director of student success will be assigned an individual remediation plan focused on improving individual deficiencies. Participation in the student success program provides strategies for effective learning, such as preparation of a schedule for study and time management, training in study skills and test taking, and regular conferences with the course instructor and/or advisor. It also provides assistance when students experience academic difficulty. (Read more about the student success program in section 8.1.1).

As part of the remediation plan, the following measures may be considered and implemented to assist students in improving their performance as determined by the director of student success with input, as needed, by the AAPC:

1. Participation in programs sponsored by the Union Adventist University Student Success Program.
2. Referral to outside providers.
3. Limit workload and amount of participation in extracurricular activities.
4. Test mentoring: The student is given an individually designed plan requiring additional study. The plan may include reading assignments, writing assignments, and/or personal counseling.

For students in the clinical portion of the program, two additional measures may be required:

1. A period of self-development: Defined as a 4-week period without assigned clinical rotations. This period includes an individually designed course of study designed by the AAPC, with oversight by the director of student success, which may include study skills, test-taking skills, and/or independent study and tutoring.
2. Repeating a rotation. Successful remediation will be determined by the AAPC and evidenced by removal of probation.

9.11.4.2 SUMMATIVE EVALUATION

A student who earns an unsatisfactory score, as defined in the syllabus, on any component of the assessment included in the EOC Summative Evaluation will be required to retest the failed component. If the student fails the retest, then he/she fails the summative, and the student will be referred to the AAPC. The committee will determine individual remediation. If remediation is assigned, the student must pass outlined remediation measures, as determined by the AAPC. The AAPC reserves the right to enforce any and all actions they deem appropriate for a given case, up to and including deceleration and/or probation, suspension, or dismissal from the program.

Policy 5
9.12.5 EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Students who wish to withdraw from the professional program for any part of an academic year must submit a formal written request to the program director. The student will be referred to Records to complete the withdrawal process. Permission may be granted under the following guidelines:

1. The student is in good standing academically (“C” or better in all graduate PHAS courses).
2. At least one semester has been completed in the graduate program.
3. The leave of absence will not extend beyond one academic year.
4. Re-entry requirements will be predetermined in writing by the Union Adventist University PA Program faculty, and may include validation of skills or knowledge.
5. Permission to reenter is subject to case evaluation and space availability.
6. If the leave of absence is exceeded, the student must reapply to the program. Guaranteed readmission is not available.

Please also reference the Graduate bulletin withdrawal policy (beginning on page 31) in this section that is listed below:

CHANGES IN REGISTRATION 

Add/drop:

Students who are considering changing courses should consult with their advisors and attend the new courses as soon as possible if space is available. Courses already in progress may be added or dropped only during the first seven business classes (two days in summer session). Thereafter, permanent academic records are established and a W (withdrawal) grade will be assigned if a student chooses to drop the class later in the semester. Students benefit from confirming their class schedule on Self-Service to ensure the registered courses are those actually intended.

Withdrawal:

Courses dropped between the add/drop deadline and the published withdrawal deadline receive the designation W (withdrawal) instead of a letter grade. If classes are dropped after this date, letter grades will be assigned based on work completed at the end of the term. Students considering withdrawal from a course should contact Student Financial Services to determine if financial aid could be jeopardized. Withdrawal procedures must be fully completed before a withdrawal becomes official.

Unofficial Withdrawal Policy:

Students are defined as unofficially withdrawn for Title IV federal aid purposes when they do not have any grades for the semester other than FA, a failing grade due to non-attendance. When instructors assign the FA grade, the last known date of attendance or academic activity must also be reported. At the end of each semester, any students who have all FA grades are assumed to be “unofficially withdrawn”. Students who unofficially withdraw from Union Adventist University (quit attending all classes but did not follow official withdrawal procedures) may have to return all of the financial aid received for the semester. The FA grade designation is treated as F (failing) for all other policy purposes

Administrative Withdrawal: 

The university administration may grant an administrative withdrawal (W) from a course or courses for a student suffering a medical or unexpected circumstance. Administrative withdrawals are not granted to avoid failing grades or for circumstances normally addressed by a regular withdrawal. A student receiving an administrative withdrawal in all courses must demonstrate evidence of recovery from the circumstances before returning to Union Adventist University.

Policy 6
9.11.3.7 DISMISSAL

Dismissal means that the student will be asked to withdraw immediately from the PA Program without possibility of readmission at the same or previous level. The below circumstances may result in dismissal following a decision by the AAPC:

1. Academic or non-academic probation for a maximum of two (2) school semesters without progress toward resolution of the problem/deficiency.
2. Exhibition of behavior unchanged by remedial activities. There are circumstances in which an immediate decision must be made by the involved faculty member and/or the program director to suspend the student from attending courses or clinical experiences. Based on the discretion of the program director, the student may also be suspended or dismissed from the PA Program.
3. Failure to follow or successfully complete remedial plan, as outlined by the AAPC, following the assignment of probation.
4. Violation of university policies, resulting in a dismissal decision by the AAPC.
5. Inability to pass the EOC Summative Evaluation.
6. Failure to complete the program within sixty (60) months.
7. Illegal or unprofessional behavior. Illegal behavior in any form, and some categories of unprofessional behavior, are not tolerated and will result in disciplinary action including dismissal from the PA Program. A written record is kept on all proceedings and is filed with the Union Adventist University administration for ten years. Release of that information is at the discretion of Union Adventist University’s legal counsel. Examples of these include, but are not limited to:
   Consumption of alcoholic beverages immediately prior to or during classes, labs, clinical experiences, or any Union Adventist University-sponsored event; any unwanted touching, patting, or other contact with another person; offensive language; possession of a firearm or other dangerous device on school property or at a clinical site; threatening behavior toward another person; obtaining personal information from a patient; purposefully misleading patients while providing care; cheating in any form (see section 9.13.1); falsely reporting or recording patient information; dishonesty or theft in any form; purposely breaching the confidentiality of patient information; deliberate misuse of prescription or other drugs for patients; misuse of prescription or other drugs personally.
8. In addition, outside of the scripted reasons for dismissal, a student may be dismissed at the discretion of the AAPC due to unsatisfactory academic or professional performance.

Additionally, a report of any prior unprofessional behavior, such as may be discovered in the required criminal background check, may require an inquiry that could result in possible denial of admission to or dismissal from the PA Program.

PROCESS FOR DISMISSAL

• The student will be notified verbally and in writing when dismissal is being considered for their status in the PA Program.
• The student has the right to present their perspective in writing and/or in person to the AAPC. The student also has the right to bring a support person (not legal counsel) when presenting their perspective.
• A decision regarding continuance or termination shall be communicated to the student verbally and in writing as soon as possible after the decision is made. When a student is dismissed or withdraws voluntarily from the PA Program, the student will be asked to complete an Exit Survey.

Policy 7
9.11.5 APPEALS/GRIEVANCE PROCESS

Appeals of a program-related decision are processed in accordance with the Union grievance procedure, as outlined in the Union Adventist University Student Handbook. The policy is briefly introduced here; the complete policy should be reviewed prior to any action.

Union Adventist University follows the biblical admonition of Matthew 18:15-16 in matters of grievance. Students may, upon request, be granted a fair and impartial hearing when they believe that unjust action has been taken with regard to them. Students who believe they have been treated unjustly shall use the grievance policy and procedure outlined in the Union Academic Bulletin and Union Student Handbook.

Policy 8
9.9 STUDENT WORK POLICY

PA students are generally discouraged from maintaining employment while in their PA studies, due to the rigorous nature of the curriculum. If academic difficulties arise and the student is employed, academic advisors will include counsel to resign from employment. No concessions or time off will be granted to students to maintain employment of any kind.

PA students are never required to work for the program. In general, PA students are not permitted to work for the program; however, on rare occasions, a PA student will request work during a school break and may be hired for temporary non-office duties (e.g., janitor over Christmas vacation). Students are not permitted to substitute for or function as instructional faculty in didactic and/or laboratory sessions. During clinical rotations, students cannot function as a substitute for clinical or administrative staff and cannot receive any payment for services provided.

Students with specific prior knowledge, experiences, and skills may assist faculty in didactic and laboratory sessions to share their knowledge and skills.

Policy 9
6.4.2 CLINICAL YEAR TRAVEL

While a number of rotation sites are available in the Lincoln area, students are assigned rotations at other rural and remote sites. During the three semesters of clinical rotations, students are required to have their own private transportation to participate at various clinical sites and are responsible for travel costs and arrangements to and from all rotation sites. Students returning to campus for a quarterly meeting from a distant rotation site should contact the clinical director to discuss the need for extra travel time.

Clinical experiences in a variety of medical settings are necessary to offer the student a complete and balanced experiential education in medicine. The schedule is arranged by the clinical director; particular personal needs are considered when possible. Each student should be prepared to relocate for a portion of the year to participate in rotations outside of Lincoln.

A student needing additional time to complete long-distance travel prior to a quarterly meeting or subsequent rotation will use the following criteria. Approved travel time is not counted as an absence; however, students are encouraged to make effective use of weekend time between rotations.

• For estimated travel time of 8 to 16 hours, a student is allowed 1 day of approved travel time.
• For estimated travel time of 16 to 24 hours (or more), a student is allowed 2 days of approved travel time.