All PA Students must comply with LMU student policies and procedures published in the LMU Railsplitter Community Standards Guide.
Program policies and procedures apply to all students, faculty, and staff, whether on campus or off campus at a clinical site. Where program policies and procedures exceed LMU student policies and procedures and create enhanced or additional obligations for the PA Student, program policies and procedures shall apply. The policies and procedures of clinical affiliates who provide Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs) may supersede the program’s policies and procedures. Policies and procedures published in the LMU-SMS-Chattanooga PA Program Student Handbook are reviewed each year prior to the start of a new student cohort. Students may access this handbook electronically on the program’s website. The Program Director provides matriculating students with an overview of program policies and procedures during orientation in the first semester. Changes to program policies and/or procedures are communicated to students via LMU-issued student email accounts. These changes are also published in the handbook.
The LMU SMS Chattanooga PA Program is a 115-credit-hour graduate curriculum leading to the Master of Medical Science degree.
Students must complete all required courses and meet all graduation requirements to earn the degree.
There are no elective courses in the program.
Credit hours for each course are listed within the course descriptions.
The Academic Standards document outlines the following:
The LMU-SMS Chattanooga PA program is committed to transparency related to accreditation status. The program’s current accreditation status is published at school-of-medical-sciences/pa-chattanooga/accreditation.
The Admissions page provides detailed information regarding:
https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/pa-chattanooga/admissions
Student graduation and attrition data, using the ARC-PA required format, will be published by April 1 each year beginning in April 2029.
This information will be available on the Goals and Outcomes page: https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/pa-chattanooga/mission-goals-and-outcomes
The LMU-SMS Chattanooga PA Program makes every effort to ensure that all advertising and published materials, whether on the institutional website, in brochures, or elsewhere, are accurate and consistent. If an inconsistency is identified, please contact the program for clarification.
All required curricular components, including delivery methods, are detailed on the Curriculum page https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/pa-chattanooga/academics
Each course description specifies its instructional format.
The program’s Mission, Goals, and Outcomes are published on the program website.
The program’s effectiveness in meeting these goals will be reviewed and updated annually following the graduation of the first cohort in December 2028 and will be posted at https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/pa-chattanooga/mission-goals-and-outcomes
Tuition, fees, and estimated enrollment costs will be similar to those of other PA programs. Specific LMU SMS Chattanooga PA Program total cost of enrollment will be located here: https://www.lmunet.edu/student-financial-services/tuition-and-fees/graduate-and-professional
The LMU-SMS PA Program–Chattanooga is committed to ensuring a safe learning environment and minimizing student exposure to infectious and environmental hazards. All students must adhere to established safety policies, procedures, and best practices designed to reduce risk during both the didactic and clinical phases of the program.
General Prevention Measures
To avoid exposure to infectious and environmental hazards, PA students are required to:
Clinical Environment Safety Measures
To reduce exposure in clinical settings, students must:
Environmental Hazard Avoidance
Students may encounter environmental risks such as chemicals, radiation, heat sources, or physical hazards. To mitigate these risks, students must:
Exposure Response
If a student is exposed or believes they have been exposed to an infectious or environmental hazard, they must:
Program Responsibilities
The Program ensures student safety by:
In the event of an exposure, please proceed to the following:
Exposure to Infectious & Environmental Hazards Policies & Procedures
Post-Exposure Document Packet
Costs incurred: Most training sites provide post-exposure treatment to students at no cost. If there are charges for services, the student must file all medical claims to their personal medical insurance first, then to the LMU intercollegiate policy.
The program principal faculty, the program director, and the medical director may NOT serve as PA student health care providers, except in an emergency.
Do NOT ask faculty, the program director, or the medical director for personal or family medical advice or to refill prescriptions. It is your responsibility to have individual health insurance and maintain a relationship with a local primary care provider.
All students must identify themselves as a Physician Assistant Student (PA-S) while on campus, during SCPEs, and in any other setting where they are representing the Program.
Students must never present themselves as a physician, resident, medical student, graduate PA, or as a current colleague of Clinical Preceptors.
Use of titles earned before matriculation into the Program is not permitted (e.g., EMT, RN, Ph.D., etc.) when representing the Program.
During orientation, the first week of the first semester, students are issued a name badge that identifies them as an LMU-SMS Chattanooga PA Student. Students must wear this name badge while on campus, during SCPEs, and in any other setting where they are representing the Program.
The LMU-SMS Chattanooga PA Program does not require or include international clinical rotations or experiences.
The program will publish the current annual NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report (Last 5 Years) by April 1 of each year, beginning in April 2029.
This report will be available on the Goals and Outcomes page https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/pa-chattanooga/mission-goals-and-outcomes
The LMU Chief of Police and Security oversees safety and security services across all LMU instructional sites. At the Chattanooga site, the Program Director and Site Director collaborate with the Office of Campus Police and Security and the LMU Threat Assessment Team to address any safety or security concerns. The Threat Assessment Team coordinates the institutional response to potential risks or threats to safety, as described on the LMU Threat Assessment Team website.
The University employs multiple systems and procedures to ensure the safety and security of LMU-Chattanooga PA Program students and faculty:
Emergency Response Training:
All faculty and staff complete annual emergency response and safety training during the LMU Faculty–Staff Conference. Attendance is documented by the LMU Office of Human Resources to demonstrate compliance.
Accessibility of Safety Information:
Safety procedures, reporting mechanisms, and emergency response protocols are available on the University’s website and posted on-site. Relevant documents include the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASR), Clery Act, Adam’s Law, and Suzanne’s Law compliance information. These are publicly available on the LMU Campus Police and Security Website.
LiveSafe® Application:
Students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to download and use the LiveSafe® smartphone app to receive emergency alerts, request assistance, and report suspicious activity. The app also provides weather notifications and evacuation guidance. See LiveSafe Information.
Identification and Building Access:
The Chattanooga instructional site utilizes badge-swipe card entry. All students, faculty, and staff are issued LMU identification badges at the time of matriculation or hire, which are required for entry and must be worn at all times. LMU policy is outlined in the Employee Handbook (Section II: Employment, Employee Identification Badges).
Emergency Contact Information:
Students must provide personal and emergency contact information at matriculation and again at the start of the clinical year. Documentation is maintained in student files to verify compliance.
Student Orientation and Training:
During both the didactic and clinical year orientations, students receive formal training in security, emergency response, and use of safety resources, including the LiveSafe “SafeWalk” feature, which can be used at any SCPE site.
Clinical Affiliate Safety Requirements:
All Clinical Affiliates are required, through signed Clinical Affiliation Agreements, to provide site-specific safety and emergency procedures to students at the start of each rotation.
Clinical Site Vetting:
Before initial student placement and at regular intervals thereafter, all clinical sites are evaluated for safety through the program’s site vetting and review process, as documented in the Clinical Site Evaluation Forms and Clinical Site Review Process.
Emergency Communication and Procedures:
Clinical preceptors notify both students and program faculty of any weather or site-related emergencies. The LMU-Chattanooga PA Program Inclement Weather Policy outlines procedures for evacuations, absences, and returns to clinical sites.
Immediate Reporting and Action:
Clinical Affiliates are required to notify the Clinical Education Director immediately if student safety is compromised. The Program investigates all reported safety concerns within 24 hours and, when warranted, removes the student from the site pending review.
Title IX and Non-Discrimination Policies:
All faculty, staff, students, and Clinical Affiliates receive information regarding LMU’s Title IX policies and procedures. These are detailed in the LMU Employee Handbook, Student Handbook, and Preceptor Manual.
Grievance and Harassment Policies:
The University ensures that all personnel and students are aware of procedures for reporting grievances, harassment, or mistreatment, as outlined in institutional handbooks.
Students are not required to find their own clinical sites or preceptors. The Program has dedicated faculty and staff who arrange all required Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs).
Students may, however, share contact information for potential clinical sites or preceptors if:
The Clinical Team will review all suggested sites and preceptors to ensure they meet Program standards and can provide appropriate learning experiences to support Program Learning Outcomes and Graduate Competencies.
Students are responsible for securing housing, transportation, and meals during the Clinical Phase. Students should expect several rotations to be located outside a 50-mile radius of Chattanooga. Students are encouraged to discuss housing options with other students who will be completing or have completed Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs) in the same geographic area. Students are responsible for all costs associated with housing, transportation, and meals during the Clinical Phase.
Institutional Policy for Non-Academic Grievance- Title IX and Other Grievances
https://www.lmunet.edu/office-of-institutional-compliance/student-complaint-process
Institutional Policy for Academic Grievance/Appeal Procedure
https://graduatecatalog.lmunet.edu/academic-grievanceappeal-procedure
Student Mistreatment Policy
The LMU-SMS Chattanooga Physician Assistant Program is committed to maintaining a learning environment that is respectful, professional, and free from student mistreatment. Mistreatment is defined as any behavior that disrespects, demeans, threatens, exploits, or harms a student, including but not limited to verbal abuse, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, or inappropriate use of authority.
Students who experience or observe perceived mistreatment should report the concern promptly to their Faculty Advisor or the Program Director. The Program will investigate all reports in a timely and confidential manner and will take appropriate action, escalating concerns to University administration or other offices as required.
Retaliation for good-faith reporting of mistreatment is strictly prohibited.
Student health records are confidential and not accessible to program faculty or staff, except for immunization and screening documentation required for enrollment and clinical placement.
These records may only be released with the student’s written consent.
Unauthorized individuals, including PA students, do not have access to academic records or confidential information of other students or faculty.
Students have the right to review their own educational record in accordance with university policy and applicable federal regulations (FERPA). https://www.lmunet.edu/registrar/ferpa/
Students of the PA program are not required to work for the Program in any capacity. Additionally, the Program strongly discourages outside employment while enrolled due to the rigor and intensity of the curriculum.
Students are not permitted to perform clerical, administrative, instructional, or operational duties for the Program at any time.
During clinical rotations, students will not be used as substitutes for clinical or administrative staff. This policy is communicated to all clinical preceptors through the Preceptor Orientation Handbook.
High-achieving students may be offered the opportunity but are never required to tutor peers. Likewise, students may volunteer to assist with Program interview days, but such participation is strictly voluntary and not expected or mandated.
LMU prioritizes mental health and employs seven full-time counselors. Students may contact LMU’s Office of Mental Health Counseling for support with mental health concerns or stress management. Appointments are confidential, free of charge, and available via secure message, chat, phone, or video. Students may schedule an appointment through the counseling website. If a counseling appointment requires missing class, the student must notify the course director in advance. Faculty maintain open-door availability when possible, for students to raise concerns.
LMU partners with EMPATHIA to provide StudentLife, a 24/7 remote counseling and support service available to all students regardless of location. StudentLife offers counseling as well as additional support such as financial planning, legal guidance, and childcare referral services.
Information regarding crisis services and emergency mental health procedures is available on the Mental Health Counseling webpage. https://www.lmunet.edu/counseling/
The Lincoln Memorial University Chattanooga PA Program has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The Lincoln Memorial University Chattanooga PA Program anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2027, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the October 2026 ARC-PA meeting.
* Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation – Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. Accreditation-provisional remains in effect until the program achieves accreditation-continued after its third review, closes or withdraws from the accreditation process, or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.
In the event the Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) Physician Assistant Program – Chattanooga is not granted Accreditation-Provisional status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the Program will not commence and will not matriculate a student cohort in January 2027 as planned. If the Program is not granted Accreditation-Provisional status, applicants will be notified in writing and receive a full refund for any tuition and fees paid to the Program within 30 days of the Program receiving notification of the ARC-PA decision. Fees paid by applicants to the program will be reimbursed. Other expenses associated with the admissions process, such as interview travel, are not included in the LMU refund policy.
