School of Health Professions
Program Policies
Page Content
Summary of PA program attendance policy
Attendance (in person) is mandatory for all PA program classes, labs, activities, assessments, and clinical rotations. There are no online courses in the PA curriculum and there is no virtual attendance option. Lectures and other instructional activities are not routinely recorded or available to absent students. See the PA student handbook for policies, procedures, and further information on excused and unexcused absences.
Faculty members as health care providers
Program faculty members (including the Program Director, Medical Director, and principal faculty) will NOT serve as health care providers for students in the program, except in an emergency situation.
Soliciting clinical sites
Students are NOT required to provide or solicit clinical preceptors or clinical sites. Students may suggest sites or preceptors and provide information to the Director of Clinical Education for consideration. The program will determine if the clinical site and preceptor(s) satisfy the requirements for rotation placement. Providing information and requesting a specific clinical site or preceptor does not guarantee that the student will be placed at the site or with the requested or proposed preceptor. The program has the final determination on whether a clinical site or preceptor meets the program’s requirements and on student placements and rotation schedule.
Student Services and Resources
Procedures for student access and referral to University and community services
It is the student’s responsibility to notify a faculty or staff member if they feel they need access or referral to services to help address personal issues which may impact their progress in the PA program. The faculty or staff notified will direct the student to the appropriate service or resource in a timely manner.
For emotional or mental health issues, students can access Student Counseling Services which provides free and confidential appointments for currently enrolled students. Students can schedule an appointment online, call 601-266-4829 (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm), or email counselingFREEMississippi. Walk-in and telehealth (Zoom) appointments are also available. The counseling service can also refer students for crisis help. Student can self-refer for crisis services by dialing 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or calling the helpnowTM crisis line at 601-266-4829 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
For help with medical issues, students can visit the Moffitt Health Care Center (Scott Hall, Hattiesburg) or the Gulf Park Health Center (117 Beach Park Place, Gulf Park campus).
Note: The student is responsible for costs and fees associated with community providers or services that require payment.
Additional information and resources (including academic help, financial help, health & wellness, social help, self-help, tech issues, recovery support, and help with complaints or appeals) are available online on the Student Help website.
USM’s Student Help website is a central location for students requiring information, resources, services, or
access to a service provider for any issues (academic, financial, mental or emotional,
health & wellness, social, self-help, IT (tech) issues, recovery support or need to
file a complaint) which may impact their progress in the PA program.
In addition, any PA faculty or staff member can provide timely referral to a service
provider or their office staff within an appropriate time frame for the given situation.
For emergency assistance, dial 911.
Suicide hotline – dial 988.
For assistance in a non-emergency on campus, contact University Police at 601-266-4986.
Local Community and State Resources contacts (including local law enforcement, fire
departments, emergency management, medical facilities, counseling, and the Red Cross)
can be found here.
Student policies
- It is the Program’s policy that accepted or enrolled students are NOT required to work for the Program in any capacity under any circumstances.
- Students will NOT substitute for or function as instructional faculty (e.g. teach a class session in lieu of a faculty member) at any time while enrolled in the Program. Students will NOT serve as an instructor in any phase of the program under any circumstances.
- Students will NOT substitute for or function as clinical or administrative staff at any time while enrolled in the Program. Students will NOT provide administrative work at the Program nor provide clinical staff work while on clinical rotations. Clinical staff work includes performing any task not ordinarily assigned to a PA student such as filling in for or acting in the role of a nurse or medical assistant.
- Students must be clearly identified as a PA student by wearing the program-provided name tag and any addition identification badges provided by the clinical site in all clinical settings to distinguish themselves from other health profession students and practitioners. White coats must include the PA Program patch.
Policies and Procedures for Refunds of Tuition and Fees
University refund and withdrawal policies and procedures:
Tuition refunds:
Tuition is refundable within the University’s defined timeline and criteria for official withdrawals and dropped classes. The PA program’s policies and procedures for tuition refunds are aligned with the University’s refund policies and procedures as summarized below:
- Students who find it necessary to withdraw from the university (or cancel classes prior to the first day of classes) must log on to their SOAR account, choose the Enrollment link on the Student Dashboard and then choose Drop a Class or Drop ALL Classes (Withdrawal).
- Refunds are based on the following (apply to withdrawals and dropped classes):
- Withdrawal before the first day of classes any semester – 100%
- Withdrawal during Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters:
- First through the sixth working day – 100% less a $30 withdrawal fee
- After the sixth working day – None
Further details on the University’s policies and procedures for tuition refunds for withdrawing students are outlined in the University’s policy titled ‘Refund and Withdrawal Policy’. The full text of this policy is available on the Business Services website located here: https://www.usm.edu/business-services/forms-and-policies.php under ‘Students’, ‘Policies’, ‘Refund and Withdrawal Policy’. The admissions ‘seat’ deposit collected upon acceptance to the PA program is non-refundable.
Application (SLATE) fee: The application fee assessed by Graduate Admissions is non-refundable and non-transferable. Details on the refund policy for the application fee are outlined on the Graduate Admissions website located here: https://www.usm.edu/graduate-admissions/frequently-asked-questions-graduate-admissions.php#FAQ%20App%20Deadlines%20and%20Fees under ‘Questions about Application Deadlines and Fees’, ‘How much is the application fee and can I get it waived?’
Parking pass: The cost of the parking pass is refundable under the current Parking and Traffic Regulations (effective August 1, 2025) available on the USM Parking and Transit Services webpage located here: https://www.usm.edu/parking-transit-services/parking-traffic-regulations.php under ‘1. REGISTRATION AND PERMITS’.
Student ID card: The fee for the student ID card is charged directly to the student’s account and is non-refundable. More information regarding student ID cards is available on the University’s Photo and Information Center webpage located here: https://www.usm.edu/photo-and-information-center/student-id-upload.php.
Refunds of PA program-specific fees:
All USM PA program-specific fees (see table titled: ‘Additional required program fees (paid to USM PA)’) published at the time of the student’s matriculation are non-refundable. These fees do not include those assessed by the University (see table titled: ‘Tuition & Fees (paid to USM)’), those fees or costs paid to third-party vendors (see table titled: 'Additional required costs’), or personal expenses (see table titled: ‘Personal expenses (estimates)’). See the ‘Tuition, Fees, and Estimates of Costs Related to Attendance’ page for more details.
Faculty grievances and allegations of harassment
Information, policies, procedures, and resources regarding faculty grievances and allegations of harassment can be found here:
- USM Sexual Harassment Policy Statement
- Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures
- USM Title IX office
- USM Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Labor Regulatory Compliance
- The University’s policy and procedures for faculty grievances can be found in the current faculty handbook (2024-2025), Chapter 7 – Grievances and Appeals.
- In addition, the University’s employee handbook outlines the formal process for faculty filing a grievance in section 7.2.
These and other PA Program policies are outlined in detail in the PA Student handbook for enrolled students.