Program Policies

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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, principal faculty, instructional faculty, and clinical preceptors) will NOT serve as health care providers for students in the program, except in an emergency situation.

Refund (tuition and fees) policy

The PA program’s refund policy is aligned with the University’s policies and procedures. More information can be found here:

https://www.usm.edu/business-services/forms-and-policies.php  

Soliciting clinical sites     

Students will not be responsible to provide or solicit clinical preceptors or clinical sites. Students may suggest sites or preceptors and provide information to program faculty and staff for consideration. Solicitation of clinical sites and preceptors is the sole responsibility of the University and the Physician Assistant program.

Student Help

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 (name tag, jacket patches or emblems, etc.) in all clinical settings to distinguish themselves from other health profession students and practitioners. 
• All accepted and enrolled students must adhere to the Program’s policies on immunizations and health screenings. The Program’s policies are based on current CDC recommendations and MS state law and require or recommend students to receive (unless exempt) certain immunizations for health care professionals. Students must also provide documentation of required health screenings as outlined in the student handbook. 

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
• Interim 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.

 

Student allegations of harassment     

Information, policies, procedures, and resources regarding student allegations of harassment can be found here:

• USM Sexual Harassment Policy Statement
• Interim Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures
• USM Title IX office

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These and other PA Program policies are outlined in detail in the PA Student handbook for enrolled students.