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 (MMS) in Physician Assistant Studies.
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 outline the following:
The complete academic standard polices are located in the academic standard document and in the LMU–SMS Chattanooga PA Program Student Handbook.
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.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to clearly identify the circumstances under which a student may be dismissed from the LMU-SMS Chattanooga PA Program.
Dismissal is reserved for situations in which a student is unable to meet the academic, professional, technical, legal, or ethical standards required for progression and graduation.
Authority
The Student Progress Committee (SPC) is responsible for reviewing student performance and making recommendations regarding progression, probation, deceleration, delay, and dismissal. The SPC conducts a holistic review of each student's academic performance, professional conduct, remediation efforts, and overall suitability for progression in the program.
Grounds for Dismissal
A student may be dismissed from the program for any of the following reasons:
I. Academic Dismissal
A student may be dismissed for academic reasons, including, but not limited to:
Failure to successfully complete required remediation.
a. Failure of a remediation assessment following a failed examination, skills assessment, OSCE, End-of-Rotation Examination, Clinical Preceptor Evaluation, or summative assessment.
b. Failure to successfully complete an individualized remediation plan required by the program.
Course or Rotation Failure.
a. Failure of a didactic course may result in dismissal or deceleration and course repeat. A student who fails a second didactic course after being granted deceleration and course repeat will be dismissed from the program*.
b. Failure of a clinical rotation may result in dismissal or deceleration and rotation repeat. A student who fails a second clinical rotation after being granted deceleration and rotation repeat will be dismissed from the program.
*A student who fails a didactic course and successfully completes the required deceleration and course repeat may progress to the clinical phase. Prior didactic course failures do not count toward clinical rotation failures. During the clinical phase, failure of a clinical rotation may result in dismissal or, at the discretion of the Student Progress Committee, deceleration and rotation repeat. A student who fails a second clinical rotation after being granted deceleration and rotation repeat for a previous clinical rotation will be dismissed from the program.
Grade Point Average Requirements.
a. Failure to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 after the one-semester probationary period permitted by the SPC.
Summative Evaluation Failure.
a. Failure to successfully complete required components of the Didactic Summative Evaluation.
b. Failure to successfully complete required components of the Program Summative Evaluation following remediation.
Excessive Remediation.
a. Exceeding the maximum allowable number of remediation attempts or retakes as defined by program policy and subsequent SPC review.
II. Professional Conduct Dismissal
A student may be dismissed for professional conduct reasons including, but not limited to:
Failure to successfully remediate professional conduct deficiencies.
Multiple referrals to the SPC for professional conduct violations.
Violation of the Student Code of Conduct that the SPC determines warrants dismissal.
Conduct that compromises patient safety, confidentiality, ethical standards, professional integrity, or the reputation of the profession.
Serious or egregious professional misconduct, including, but not limited to:
a. Falsification of records or documentation.
b. Academic dishonesty.
c. Misrepresentation of credentials or status.
d. Breach of patient confidentiality.
e. Dishonest or deceptive conduct.
f. Conduct determined to be behavior unbecoming of a healthcare professional.
III. Attendance and Participation Dismissal
A student may be dismissed for:
Unexcused absences resulting in SPC review and determination that progression is no longer appropriate.
Refusal to participate in required program activities, assessments, remediation activities, or assigned clinical experiences.
Refusal to attend an assigned supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE).
IV. Clinical Education Dismissal
A student may be dismissed for:
Removal from a clinical site due to conduct, professionalism, patient safety concerns, or policy violations when progression cannot reasonably continue.
Failure to meet clinical affiliate credentialing requirements resulting in the inability to complete required clinical experiences.
Violation of clinical affiliate policies that jeopardizes patient safety or the affiliation agreement.
V. Criminal, Legal, and Substance-Related Dismissal
A student may be dismissed for:
Conviction or finding of guilt involving alcohol-related offenses, illicit drugs, or illegally obtained prescription medications.
Falsification or omission of criminal history information.
Refusal to submit to required criminal background checks.
Refusal to submit to required drug or alcohol screening.
Positive drug or alcohol screening results that prevent progression or participation in required clinical experiences.
Criminal conduct that, in the judgment of the Program, School of Medical Sciences, or clinical affiliates, prevents safe participation in clinical education or future professional practice.
VI. Technical Standards and Program Requirements
A student may be dismissed for:
Failure to maintain the program's Minimum Technical Standards for Enrollment and Progression.
Failure to meet health, immunization, tuberculosis screening, drug screening, or other program requirements necessary for participation in clinical education.
Failure to complete all degree requirements within 48 months of matriculation unless an extension has been approved.
Dismissal Process
Students facing potential dismissal will be referred to the SPC.
The student will be notified of the meeting and afforded an opportunity to provide information relevant to the review.
The SPC will conduct a holistic review and determine whether progression, probation, deceleration, delay, withdrawal, or dismissal is appropriate.
The SPC Chair will communicate the decision in writing.
Students may appeal SPC decisions in accordance with the Program Appeals Policy.
Reapplication Following Dismissal
Students dismissed for academic reasons may be eligible to reapply to the program through the standard admissions process.
Readmission is not guaranteed.
Students dismissed for violations of the Student Code of Conduct, professional misconduct, legal violations involving dishonesty, patient safety concerns, or other serious professional conduct violations are not eligible for readmission.
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 Chattanooga PA Program 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:
Needlestick and Bloodborne Pathogens Policy and Instructions
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
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
SMS Policy for Appeals Policy
https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/sms-resources/sms-policies
Student Mistreatment Policy
https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/sms-resources/sms-policies
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/
Outside employment is strongly discouraged while enrolled in the program, as it may conflict with the program's academic and professional conduct requirements. LMU’s malpractice coverage for PA Students does not cover any employment activities. Absences from any component of the program curriculum due to employment commitments are not allowed (except for military service requirements). Students are not required to work for the program. Students must not substitute for or function as faculty, clinical or administrative staff, regardless of prior knowledge, experience, or skills, at any time throughout the program (Didactic or Clinical Year). The Clinical Team advises clinical affiliates of this policy.
Refund schedules, housing charges, and financial aid implications related to course additions, drops, or withdrawals are governed by the University and administered by Student Financial Services. To ensure accuracy and access to the most current information, students should visit the official University webpage linked below.
The following information is provided for faculty and students to provide a pathway for timely access and/or referral for services to address personal issues which may impact their progress in the PA program.
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.
