Selected Program Policies

If an LMU-Harrogate PA Student has a grievance about an academic issue, the student must first discuss the matter with the Course Director. If the academic grievance is unresolved after meeting with the Course Director, the student may discuss the matter with the Director of Didactic Education (during the Didactic Phase) or the Director of Clinical Education (during the Clinical Phase). If the academic grievance remains unresolved, the student may bring the matter to the Program Director for final resolution.

Progression in the LMU-Harrogate PA Program is contingent upon continued mastery of program objectives, course content, competency minimums, and demonstration of professional behaviors consistent with health care professionals. Students matriculating into the LMU-Harrogate PA Program have a maximum of 54 (fifty-four) months to complete all required components of the curriculum including time for deceleration and leave of absences. Any alterations to the student curriculum must be approved by mechanisms listed in LMU-Harrogate PA Program Student Handbook. 

In order for students to progress from the Didactic Phase to the Clinical Phase, students must:Successfully meet all learning outcomes and competencies and complete all components of the Didactic Phase, including:

* Score of 70% (C) or higher for all courses in the Didactic Phase, including the Didactive Comprehensive Examination.
* Demonstrate consistent compliance with all LMU and Program policies and procedures (including maintenance of  Technical Standards for Enrollment and Progression found in the LMU-Harrogate PA Program Student Handbook)
* Demonstrate professional conduct or successfully remediate professional conduct deficits that have been identified
* Pass all graded physical examination and clinical procedure skills assessments
* Meet all competency requirements
* Pass all remediation assessments
* Fulfill all financial obligations to LMU

• expands Academic/Professional Probation   Academic/Professional Probation

  Students on Academic and/or Professional Probation may not be allowed to progress to the Didactic Summative Evaluations in the Didactic Phase, which may delay entering the Clinical Phase to begin Student Practice Clinical Experiences (SCPEs). Students must meet all requirements as stated above to progress to the Clinical Phase.
  
  In order for students to progress from the Clinical Phase to the Clinical Summative Assessments, students must:Successfully meet all learning outcomes and competencies and complete all components of the Clinical Phase, including:
  
  * Score of 70% (C) or higher for all courses in the Clinical Phase, including Summative assessments
  * Demonstrate consistent compliance with all LMU and Program policies and procedures (including maintenance of Technical Standards for Enrollment and Progression found in the LMU-Harrogate PA Program Student Handbook)
  * Demonstrate professional conduct or successfully remediate  professional conduct deficits that have been identified
  * Meet all competency requirements
  * Pass all remediation assessments
  * Fulfill all financial obligations to LMU
  
  The SPC has the authority to remove a student from Academic and/or Professional Probation so that the student may progress to the Summative Evaluations and Graduation.
  Students must meet all Summative Evaluation requirements listed below and must not be on Academic and/or Professional Probation to be eligible for graduation:
  
  * Demonstrate compliance with all LMU and Program policies and procedures (including maintenance of Technical Standards for Enrollment and Progression found in the LMU-Harrogate PA Program Student Handbook).
  * Demonstrate professional conduct or successful remediate  professional conduct deficits that have been identified
  * Demonstrate successful achievement of Program Graduate Competencies
  * Pass all remediation assessments
  * Fulfill all financial obligations to LMU
  
  Students on Academic and/or Professional Probation are not allowed to progress to Graduation. The SPC has the authority to delay progression to Graduation for any student who has not met all requirements and competencies of the Program. Only the SPC has the authority to remove a student from Academic and/or Professional Probation so that the student may progress to Graduation.
  
  At the end of each semester, and as needed, the SPC convenes to review student performance (academic and non-academic) and either approve students for progression in the Program or make an alternate recommendation.  Students must meet all requirements for completion of the Didactic Phase, the Clinical Phase, and all Summative Evaluations for successful completion of the Program. Students must successfully complete the Program and demonstrate fulfillment of all financial obligations to LMU to be eligible for graduation.

The LMU-Harrogate PA Program does not provide a waiver of required coursework (in whole or in part) included in the curriculum based on prior academic or professional experience. Transfer academic credits are not accepted.  All students must complete all components of the curriculum in whole to be eligible for graduation.

Students are not required to provide or solicit Clinical Sites or Clinical Preceptors (Clinical Affiliates). The Program employs sufficient faculty and staff to coordinate Clinical Sites and Clinical Preceptors for the Program’s required SCPEs. However, students may provide the Clinical Team with contact information for Clinical Sites or Clinical Preceptors with whom the student has an established professional relationship (e.g., employed at the Clinical Site prior to matriculation) or in cases where the Clinical Preceptor has indicated they would like to precept the student. Students who know of a healthcare provider who would like to be a clinical preceptor should provide the SCPE Manager with the healthcare provider’s name, business address, and telephone/FAX number(s). The Program will contact the prospective clinical preceptor to determine if the clinical rotation site/preceptor is able to meet LMU-Harrogate PA Program requirements to participate as a clinical rotation site/preceptor. A student should not recommend a prospective preceptor if he/she is not willing to precept other LMU-Harrogate PA Students in the future.

 

The Office of Institutional Compliance handles all complaints of discrimination. Students may contact the Institutional Compliance Officer to report allegations of discrimination by LMU faculty, staff, and members of Clinical Affiliates at https://www.lmunet.edu/office-of-institutional-compliance/.

LOA is defined as a student-initiated immediate discontinuation of the student’s enrollment in the Program where the student is eligible to re-enroll in the Program. Matriculated students may request a LOA when circumstances arise that may adversely impact their performance in the Program. Students requesting a LOA must be in good academic standing with a minimal individual course average of 70% at the time of the request. The student must complete and submit their request in writing, via their University-issued email account, to the Program Director. The Program Director meets with the student to discuss the LOA request. The Program Director has the authority to approve or decline a LOA request. The maximum term of a LOA is twelve (12) months. If approved, the official date of the start of the LOA is the date of receipt of the student’s written request for LOA. The official date is used to determine any tuition refunds or outstanding balances. Students who are absent from the Program for a total of twelve (12) months or longer (all periods of absence are included in this total) may be required to reapply to the Program. A LOA may be granted to a student by the Program Director for one or more of the following reasons:

* Medical emergency/condition
* Financial emergency
* Maternity
* Call to active military service
* Other circumstances at the discretion of the Program Director

All students granted a LOA must inform the Program Director, in writing via their University-issued email account, of their intent to return to the Program no less than three (3) months before their anticipated return. Students who miss this deadline must reapply to the LMU-Harrogate PA Program. All students granted a LOA must meet with the SPC prior to reenrollment to determine if reenrollment is appropriate. The student must take/retake all courses with the new cohort as per University policy.

Course grades for students who chose to take a LOA may be designated by LMU’s registrar as “IP” for in-progress or “WD” for “withdraw” on the student’s transcript for that course/semester. A LOA from the Program does not waive the student’s financial responsibility to LMU.

Students returning from a LOA for medical reasons must have a licensed health care provider certify in writing that the student meets the Program’s Minimum Technical Standards for Enrollment and Progression to be eligible to return. This letter must be submitted to the Program Director.

Resignation is defined as a student-initiated discontinuation of the student’s enrollment in the Program where the student is eligible to reapply to the Program. The Program uses the term “resign” or “resignation” as opposed to “withdraw” or “withdrawal.” Students voluntarily resigning from the Program must submit a letter of resignation to the Program Director. Course grades for students who chose to resign may be designated by LMU’s registrar as “WD” for withdraw” on the student’s transcript for that course/semester. Resignation from the Program does not waive the student’s financial responsibility to LMU.

Enrolled students who are granted an LOA or chose to resign from the Program must complete an exit interview with the Financial Aid Officer and must return their LMU-Harrogate PA Student name badge and parking tag to the Campus Police and Security Team. Failure to do so will result in the Program withholding all records pertaining to the student’s attendance.

.

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 prior to 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-Harrogate PA Student. Students must wear this name badge while on campus, during SCPEs, and in any other setting where they are representing the Program.

At-Risk Student Initiative for Didactic Students 

After each examination during the didactic phase of the curriculum, student grades are reviewed by the Director of Didactic Education and each student’s faculty mentor. Students who have earned < 75.0% on an examination have not mastered the information and are therefore deemed “at-risk.” Those students who have been identified to be “at-risk” must adhere to the following remediation requirements:  

• The student must contact their mentor within 24 hours of receiving their grade to schedule an initial remediation meeting. All effort should be made for this meeting to occur within three business days of receiving their grade. This meeting aims to assess test-taking strategies, study skills, and time management. Appropriate referrals may be made based on the discussion during this meeting. Documentation of this meeting will be kept in the student’s central file.  

• The faculty mentor will assign specific Lecturio content, where applicable, correlating to the student’s strength and weakness report provided by the testing software. These assignments must be completed by the specified due date.  

• For students who score 70.0% or below, oral reassessment of the weaknesses with the assessment committee will be required. The date/time of this assessment will be provided to the student via university email. Students must confirm receipt of the correspondence. The outcome of this reassessment will not result in an adjustment of the examination grade unless otherwise specified in the specific course syllabus. Documentation of this reassessment will be kept in the student’s central file.  

• Failure to successfully complete any of the above requirements will result in referral to SPC.  

• If a student acquires three “at-risk” scores during a single semester, the student will be referred to SPC. 

 

At-Risk Student Initiative for Clinical Students

It is imperative that knowledge gaps are addressed in a timely manner to ensure success throughout the clinical year. Enrichment Exercises should not be viewed as a punishment. It is a chance to strengthen weak areas.  

All students are encouraged to self-identify topics they struggled with and close those knowledge gaps independently. However, students who have an “At-Risk” score with a Z-Score -1.99 to -0.5 on a CORE EOR exam (70-75% on PAEA EOR exams and 70-78% on the Ortho EOR exam) and those scoring an average of (≤75%) on the Elective Rosh Review Assessment exams, will be required to complete an Enrichment Exercise.

Students who exhibit unprofessional conduct may be reported to Program Faculty by LMU Faculty and Staff, patients, members of the Program’s Clinical Affiliates (e.g., Clinical Preceptors, office managers, nurses), other LMU students, and persons not affiliated with LMU. Program Faculty and Clinical Preceptors can utilize standardized rubrics to identify and document student professional conduct deficits and develop learning activities and assessments for remediation. The Program Director determines if a student with a suspected Student Code of Conduct violation will meet with the SPC for a decision(s) on a progression and/or disciplinary action(s) or with Program Faculty for mentoring and/or formal remediation learning activities and assessments. Student Code of Conduct violations that warrant immediate referral to the SPC for a decision(s) on a progression and/or disciplinary action, including dismissal from the Program, include any action that compromised or may have compromised the safety or confidentiality of patients, members of the Clinical Affiliates, classmates, and/or Program Faculty and Staff. Students must successfully complete all remediation learning activities and assessments to progress in the Program.

Remediation of Competency Deficits

All the aforementioned components are considered integral parts in attaining the advanced level of clinical competency the Program has developed and expects from all students prior to graduation. Except for a few components, competency development is expected over the course of the entire clinical phase. This is especially true since all students do not have the same sequence of rotations from beginning to end. Minimum progression thresholds will be monitored at the end of each rotation and end of the semester and are dealt with proactively.
 
Rotation patient encounter and Clinical Passport requirements that are not achieved will result in communication with the student to ascertain barriers that may be interfering and to mentor strategies to surmount these barriers. If, after the completion of the Spring Semester, it is deemed that a student will not be able to achieve a certain domain (i.e., Clinical Passport, patient encounter logs,) then the student’s elective rotations may be changed in order to make certain these domains are achieved.
 
Failed end-of-rotation exams and preceptor evaluations are considered more serious lapses in competency achievement and will result in the assignment of mandatory enrichment and remediation learning activities and/or evaluation by the Student Progress Committee. Students must successfully complete all enrichment and remediation learning activities to progress in the Program. Delays in graduation are also considered for any competency domain that will not be achieved prior to graduation and will be considered even when numeric scores used for rotation/course purposes indicate a “passing” score.

Freedom and liberty from unwanted, unwelcomed, or coerced sexual contact is the right of every member of the LMU community. Individual responsibility and recognition of the intrinsic value of high moral and ethical standards are guiding principles for every member of the LMU community to foster an atmosphere that does not tolerate unwanted sexual contact or sexual violence. LMU does not tolerate sexual misconduct or other sexual violence committed on or off campus by or against any sector of the LMU community, faculty, staff, students, or third parties. The Title IX Coordinator provides consultation, investigation, and disposition of all inquiries and complaints of alleged discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual intercourse, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, stalking, and any other forms of discrimination on the basis of sex.

Students may contact the Title IX Coordinator to report allegations of discrimination based on sex, as listed above. The Title IX Coordinator may be reached at: 

titleix@LMUnet.edu
Phone: 423-869-6315
https://www.lmunet.edu/office-of-institutional-compliance/

• expands SEXUAL HARRASSMENT AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT/TITLE IX FOR ROTATIONS   SEXUAL HARRASSMENT AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT/TITLE IX FOR ROTATIONS

  ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT
  All students should be able to study in an atmosphere free of harassment, sexual violence, and gender discrimination. Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender is a Civil Rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources on the LMU website: https://www.lmunet.edu/office-of-institutional-compliance/index.php
  
  Preceptors must always treat students with respect. Behaviors such as humiliating, ridiculing, berating, or being disrespectful to students while on rotation will not be tolerated by the Program. In addition to Program policies, the Preceptor must follow federal laws for student protection including:
  
  * In accordance with federal Title VI and Title IX laws, the Preceptor will not discriminate against or harass any student because of color, national origin, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
  
  * In accordance with federal ADA laws, the Preceptor shall not discriminate against any student because of physical or mental handicap. The Preceptor agrees to treat qualified handicapped students without discrimination based upon their physical or mental handicap in all clinical activities and to afford such individuals reasonable accommodations at the expense of the Academic Institution.
  
  * In accordance with federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the Preceptor will protect the privacy and confidentiality of all student information and will not redisclose such information without the prior written consent of the student except as permitted or required by applicable law. Preceptors will not discuss current or former students with other students.
  
  * Students are instructed to report Title VI, IX, and FERPA violations to the DCE and LMU’s Title VI and IX Investigator.

Because of the intensity of the LMU-Harrogate PA Program, students are strongly discouraged from seeking or maintaining employment during the entire program. If a PA student chooses to work during the program's first year, it is their responsibility to ensure that employment does not interfere with or hinder academic progress. Having a job is not an excuse for missing lectures, examinations, clinical laboratory sessions, or assignments. During the clinical year, students will be required to rotate through a clinical site at a full-time schedule. In addition, students may be required to take call during weekends, holidays, evenings, and/or nights.  Therefore, LMU PA Students are not allowed to have concurrent employment during the clinical year. In addition, PA students are not allowed to work for the program or be substituted for administrative or technical support at any time.

Preceptor or preceptor’s designee will not ask students to substitute for clinical or administrative staff on any rotation at any time. Students are instructed to report this to the Director of Clinical Education.

A grievance is defined as dissatisfaction with an action or inaction that is non-academic and perceived as unjust, inequitable, or creates undue hardship. Students should contact the Office of Institutional Compliance/Title IX Coordinator (titleix@LMUnet.edu or 423-869-6315) as soon as possible for any grievance stemming from sexual harassment, racial discrimination, or any other discriminatory act. Updated contact information is available at https://www.lmunet.edu/office-of-institutional-compliance/. Each student can advise the Program of grievances with the assurance of fair treatment. The student, faculty, or staff member alleged to have caused the grievance must be fully informed of the allegations and provided the opportunity to respond fairly and reasonably.

• expands Conflict with a Student   Conflict with a Student

  If a student has a conflict with another student in the Program, the student should attempt to resolve the conflict in a direct and constructive manner with the other student as soon as possible. If a resolution cannot be reached, the student should request help from the Director of Didactic Education (Didactic Phase) or the Director of Clinical Education (Clinical Phase). If the conflict remains unresolved, the student may then request help from the Program Director for final resolution of the conflict.

  If a student has a conflict with a student from a different LMU Program, the student should attempt to resolve the conflict in a direct and constructive manner with the other student as soon as possible. If the conflict remains unresolved, the student may then request help from the Program Director for final resolution of the conflict.

• expands Conflict with a Faculty or Staff Member   Conflict with a Faculty or Staff Member

  If a student has a conflict with a Program faculty or staff member, the student should attempt to resolve the conflict in a direct and constructive manner with the faculty or staff member as soon as possible. If a resolution cannot be reached, the student may then request help from the Program Director. If the conflict remains unresolved, the student may then request help from the School of Medical Sciences Dean.

  If a student has a conflict with a faculty or staff member from a different LMU Program, the student should attempt to resolve the conflict in a direct and constructive manner with the faculty or staff member as soon as possible. If the conflict remains unresolved, the student may then request help from the Program Director. If the conflict remains unresolved, the student may then request help from the School of Medical Sciences Dean.

• expands Conflict with a Member of a Clinical Affiliate   Conflict with a Member of a Clinical Affiliate

  If a student has a conflict with a member of a Clinical Affiliate (e.g. Clinical Preceptor, nursing, administrative staff), the student should attempt to resolve the conflict in a direct and constructive manner with the member of the Clinical Affiliate as soon as possible. If a resolution cannot be reached, the student may then request help from the Clinical Team as soon as possible. If the conflict remains unresolved, the student may then request help from the Program Director for final resolution of the conflict.

The purpose of the SPC is to ensure that every graduate of the LMU-Harrogate PA Program has the medical skills, knowledge, and competency as well as the clinical and professional judgment to assume the responsibilities of a Physician Assistant. The SPC monitors student progress and ensures that all students meet the academic, competency, and professionalism requirements necessary for progression through the program and, ultimately, graduation as outlined in the LMU-Harrogate PA Program Student Handbook and Catalog. At the end of each semester, the SPC reviews the academic progress of all LMU-Harrogate PA Students and must approve each student for progression into the next semester/phase of training.

The PA Program Director appoints the SPC, which comprises PA faculty and other SMS faculty as needed. A staff member is present only to document the proceedings and maintain the minutes. Additionally, for circumstances in which more guidance or clarification is required, the SPC may consult the Program Director and/or Dean of the School of Medical Sciences before making final decisions.

Students will have no input into SPC faculty presence or participation in the proceedings.

Students are referred to the SPC for deficiencies in meeting academic, professional, or competency requirements. The SPC can decide student progression in the Program and/or disciplinary action(s) based on each student’s academic performance, professional conduct development, and adherence to the Student Code of Conduct policies.

 

• expands SPC Procedures   SPC Procedures

  The SPC Chair will set the meeting date and time, provide an agenda to the SPC members, and inform any invited student(s) of the meeting date, time, and location and the reason(s) for the meeting by LMU e-mail. The invitation for the student will be sent a minimum of two (2) business days before the meeting. Any student invited to meet with the SPC will be required to appear in person at the Harrogate Campus unless permitted by the SPC Chair to meet via a virtual meeting platform (i.e., Zoom). If a student fails to appear before the SPC, either in person or virtually, the matter will be resolved in their absence.

  * Virtual meeting protocol: Only SPC members (including any staff member) and individual students will be included in the meeting. The student is expected to show the SPC that no one else is in the room with them.

  All SPC meeting proceedings are confidential and closed to anyone not part of the SPC proceedings. Students cannot bring personal items to the SPC meeting, including audio/video recording devices, cell phones, and smartwatches. The Didactic Coordinator maintains meeting minutes, and access to the meeting minutes by anyone other than committee members, unless requested for review by the SMS Appeals Committees, is not permitted. The SPC members review the academic record and all documents relevant to the student’s meeting. When the student enters the meeting, the SPC Chair verifies that the student knows all SPC members present and can explain the reason for the SPC meeting. The student is offered an opportunity to provide testimony relevant to the meeting.

  After discussion, the student is asked to leave the room while the SPC members discuss progression and/or disciplinary action options. A decision(s) is submitted to a vote with a simple majority ruling. The SPC Chair is a non-voting member except for a tie vote. Because this is not a criminal court, the level of proof for a decision shall be “more likely than not” and not the strict criminal law standard of “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” In exceedingly rare circumstances, following the review of pertinent documents and student testimony, the SPC may determine the referral to be unwarranted. In these situations, the SPC will forward the case to the Program Director for further review and/or additional action. Once the SPC has reached a decision(s), the student is asked to return to the room, and the SPC Chair explains the decision(s) and relevant instructions/expectations to the student.

  The SPC Chair notifies the Program Director (if not serving as Chair) and Dean of SMS of all SPC decisions. The Campus Security Team, Registrar, Financial Aid Officer, Manager of Exam Services, and LMU PA Harrogate faculty/staff are notified if a decision(s) results in student dismissal or deceleration. Within three (3) business days following the meeting, the student receives notification of the SPC’s decision(s) and relevant instructions/expectations via the student’s University-issued student email account. When the SPC decides to delay progression in the program or dismissal in the absence of the student, the student is informed of the SPC’s decision in person or via telephone communication by the SPC Chair, in addition to receiving email notification as stated above.

• expands SPC Decisions   SPC Decisions

  The SPC has the authority to make decisions regarding student progression in the Program and/or disciplinary action(s) based on each student’s academic performance, professional conduct development, and adherence to the Student Code of Conduct policies.

• expands For Professional Conduct Deficits   For Professional Conduct Deficits

  Any student who is suspected of violating the Student Code of Conduct may be referred to the SPC for a decision(s) on disciplinary action and/or progression, including dismissal from the Program.

  In cases where the SPC does not dismiss the student, the student is placed on Professional Probation and is required to successfully complete remediation of the professional conduct deficit(s) in the following time frame:
  
  Didactic Phase
  Prior to beginning the Clinical Phase (this may result in a delay in beginning SCPEs, a delay in graduation, and failure to complete the Program curriculum within 54 months of initial matriculation)
  
  Clinical Phase
  Prior to beginning the next scheduled SCPE and/or completing the Summative Evaluation (this may result in a delay in graduation and failure to complete the Program curriculum within 54 months of initial matriculation as outlined in the LMU-Harrogate PA Student Catalog)
  
  All students who are on professional probation and allowed to return to the Program are mandated to meet with the Academic Remediation Specialist.
  
  In addition, the SPC may require any of the following for professional conduct deficits:
  * Use of other Program/institutional resources
  * Other (e.g. use of resources external to the institution)
  
  If the student does not successfully complete remediation of professional conduct deficit(s), the student will be dismissed from the Program. In addition, students referred to the SPC two (2) or more times for professional conduct deficits may be dismissed from the Program.

  Violations of the Arrest/Criminal Background Check and Drug/Alcohol Screening Policies
  Students arrested or formally charged with any infraction of the law, other than minor traffic violations, while enrolled as an LMU-Harrogate PA student shall report such violation or charges to the Program Director of the LMU-Harrogate PA Program within two business days of the offense. Students failing to report an arrest will be subject to immediate dismissal. Any report to the Program Director will result in a direct referral to the SPC to evaluate unprofessional behavior. During the didactic year, the SPC can determine the impact it will have on attendance and the ability to participate in the program to evaluate the feasibility of continuation versus the need for deceleration or dismissal. During the clinical year, events of this nature may result in the student being removed from the current SCPE. The SPC may make the decisions listed in Section III of this handbook titled “For Professional Conduct Deficits.” This may result in a delay in beginning SCPEs, a delay in graduation, and/or failure to complete the Program curriculum within 54 months of initial matriculation. Clinical Affiliates reserve the right to refuse to accept or remove any student arrested. This may result in a delay in beginning SCPEs, a delay in graduation, or failure to complete the Program curriculum within 54 months of initial matriculation.

  
  * In addition, students arrested for an alcohol, illicit drug(s), or illegally obtained prescription drug(s) charge are expected to seek appropriate medical/behavioral treatment/counseling to determine if the student’s actions may compromise future patient safety. If the student does not seek treatment/counseling voluntarily, the Program reserves the right to mandate evaluation to demonstrate safety to the Program or the public.
  
  * Students found guilty of an alcohol, illicit drug(s), or illegally obtained prescription drug(s) felony charge will be immediately referred to the SPC for possible dismissal.
  
    * If a student is allowed to progress, the student may be required to continue to seek counseling, treatment, or other therapeutic modalities to ensure the program and the public that the student’s actions will not compromise patient safety.
  
  * Students arrested for felony charges not related to alcohol, illicit drug(s), or illegally obtained prescriptions will be referred to SPC to determine compliance with the LMU student code of conduct based on current policies and procedures.
  
  * Students found to falsify information about past or current criminal history will be dismissed from the Program.
  
  * Students found “not guilty” of alleged charges or students who plead to lesser (misdemeanor) charges may, at the discretion of the SPC, be allowed to return to the Program, barring any additional professional or other outstanding programmatic issues.
  
  The Program reserves the right to immediately dismiss any student it determines to betray the values and integrity of the University, community, and the PA profession. 

• expands For Academic Deficits   For Academic Deficits

  Didactic Phase – Academic Probation
  Progression in the LMU-Harrogate PA Program is contingent upon mastery of program objectives, course content, learning outcomes, and demonstration of professional behaviors consistent with healthcare professionals. In addition, students must continue to meet technical standards and competency minimum performance. A policy has been added as an initiative to help mentor any student who scores less than 75.0% on an exam or for the overall course grade while passing the course. Refer to Appendix G (At Risk Policy) of this handbook, where the policy is outlined in detail.

  Three at risk scores <75.0% will result in referral to SPC.
  
  Each student placed on Academic Probation will meet with the SPC committee at the end of each semester to review their academic performance.  Students may be eligible for removal from Academic Probation if the following criteria are met:
  
  * No exam failures, and
  * No more than two at-risk exam scores
  * Alternatively, if the student continues to be at risk with their academic performance, the SPC can elect to continue the student on Academic Probation for the next semester.
  
   
  Didactic Phase - Deceleration
  During the didactic phase of training, if a student is on Academic Probation and subsequently earns six additional exam scores less than 70.0% in any one semester, they will be referred to SPC for deceleration. Any didactic course failure (i.e., throughout the entirety of their didactic year) will result in the student being referred to the SPC for deceleration. This meeting will occur promptly after the final course grade has been calculated. Course grades are calculated after any remediation assessments (if applicable) are completed. At that time, the SPC will recommend decelerating the student to the next matriculating cohort for a retake of all courses per program policy. Additionally, the student must meet with their faculty mentor, Director of Didactic Education, and/or Program Director to assist the student in preparation for their return.
  
   
  Didactic Phase – Dismissal
  Any student who fails two courses in the entirety of their didactic phase of training will be referred to SPC for dismissal from the program.
  
  All students who are decelerated for an academic reason are placed on academic probation immediately upon matriculation into the next cohort. Any student who has been decelerated and subsequently has six failing exam grades (i.e., < 70%) during a single semester will be referred to SPC for dismissal from the program. Any student who has been decelerated and subsequently fails a course will be referred to SPC for dismissal from the program.
  
   
  Didactic Cumulative Evaluation
  Students must pass all didactic cumulative assessments before progressing into the Clinical Phase of education. The Director of Didactic Education reviews the score reports for all students who fail one or more components of the didactic cumulative examination and submits a report to the SPC outlining areas of weakness. The SPC reviews this report and determines appropriate action to ensure that the student demonstrates the minimum requirements to allow the student to progress. At that time, the SPC may recommend any and/or all of the following actions/requirements:
  
  * Remediation before starting the Clinical Phase of Training
  * Academic Probation during the Clinical Phase of training
  * Program Director, Director of Didactic Education, and/or clinical team choosing the student’s elective rotation based on the documented area(s) of deficiencies in knowledge
  * Delay in progression to the Clinical Phase to allow remediation of the deficiency in knowledge.
  
  Mandatory remediation assignments are at the discretion of the faculty mentor, course director, Director of Didactic Education, or Program Director. Should the student be given mandatory remediation assignments, completion will be reported to the chair of the SPC by the person who made the assignments, and the student will be invited to meet with the SPC for follow-up discussion before entering the clinical phase of training. This may result in a delay in the student entering the Clinical Phase, a delay in graduation, and may exceed the maximum 54 months of training allowed from matriculation as reported in the LMU-Harrogate PA Student Catalog. The SPC will review documentation recorded in the Didactic Phase for the student and determine progression for the student.

• expands Clinical Phase - Academic Probation   Clinical Phase - Academic Probation

  Progression in the LMU-Harrogate PA Program is contingent upon mastery of program objectives, course content, learning outcomes, and demonstration of professional behaviors consistent with health care professionals. In addition, students must continue to meet technical standards and competency minimum performance. Students placed on Academic Probation during the clinical phase of training will remain on Academic Probation until all clinical requirements for the clinical phase have been met.
  
  Clinical Phase- Student Progression
  Students must pass all didactic phase courses before progressing to the clinical phase. If a review of the Preceptor Evaluation of Student Performance indicates deficits in either Clinical Performance or Professional Conduct, a change in future site(s) placement may be made whether the student receives a passing grade for the rotation.
  
  Any student who does not meet the expectations of the clinical preceptor as documented on the Preceptor Evaluation of Student Performance will automatically fail the rotation, regardless of any numerical score earned.
  
  Termination of a rotation by a Preceptor or Faculty Member because of poor or inadequate performance or lack of professionalism on the part of the student shall be an automatic “F” for that rotation, and the student will be referred to SPC for further action.
  
  If the conduct or performance of the student is deemed unsafe or inappropriate by the Clinical Site or Program Faculty, the student will be removed from the rotation and referred to the SPC for further action.
  
  Clinical Phase – Course Failure
  Any clinical year course failure (as defined by the Clinical Handbook) will result in the student being referred to the SPC. This meeting will occur promptly after the final course grade has been determined (criteria in the clinical handbook) and the clinical team notifies the SPC chair. At that time, the SPC will recommend placement on Academic Probation for the duration of the clinical year and retake the failed course after the clinical year before graduation.
  
  * Any two clinical course failures will result in dismissal from the program. 
  
  Clinical Summative Evaluation(s) – Remediation
  The SPC reviews documentation for every student who fails any component of the summative evaluation.  At that time, the SPC may recommend any of the following actions/requirement(s):
  
  * Remediation of the summative evaluation
  * Delay in graduation for failure to complete competencies
  * Completion of a second PANCE review course before taking the PANCE, paid for by the student
  * Independent review of specific content on the PANCE Content Blueprint before taking the PANCE
  * Mandatory mentoring meetings with Program Faculty
  * Use of other Program/Institutional resources
  * Progression to Graduation
  

• expands Follow-up on SPC Recommendation(s)   Follow-up on SPC Recommendation(s)

  The SPC monitors student progress in and compliance with all SPC decisions. The SPC may meet with students to determine if the student has met all the SPC requirements for removal from academic/professional probation and/or progress in the Program. The SPC can remove the student from academic/professional probation and allow the student to progress in the Program. Failure to meet SPC requirement(s), in whole or in part, may result in the following:* Continued Academic/Professional Probation
  * Continued mentoring by Program Faculty
  * Use of other Program/institutional resources
  * Other (e.g. use of resources external to the institution)
  * Dismissal from the Program
  
  Definitions of SPC Decisions/Recommendations
  Academic/Professional Probation is defined as a demonstration of academic/professional deficits of such magnitude as to warrant disciplinary action(s) and/or more frequent monitoring by Program Faculty. Academic/Professional Probation may result in a delay in graduation and/or failure to complete the Program curriculum within 54 months of initial matriculation. Some state licensing and hospital credentialing boards may decline to grant licensure and credentialing to graduates with a history of academic/professional probation while enrolled in a professional training program.
  
  Students placed on probation are required to adhere to the following rules to be considered for progression in the LMU-Harrogate PA Program:
  
  * Students on probation may NOT participate in mission trips
  * Students on probation MUST fulfill the requirements of the SPC
  
  The SPC will meet with students placed on probation periodically (but not less than each semester) to evaluate the student’s progress in the LMU-Harrogate PA Program and compliance with SPC recommendations. The SPC can remove the student from probation if the student has complied with the SPC requirements and has had no further academic/professional issues.
  
  
  Remediation is defined as the Program’s applied process for addressing deficits in a student’s knowledge, skills, and professional conduct such that correction of deficits is measurable and can be documented. Remediation may result in a delay in beginning SCPEs, a delay in graduation, and failure to complete the Program curriculum within 54 months of initial matriculation.
  
  Dismissal is defined as an SPC-initiated immediate discontinuation of the student’s enrollment in the Program where the student is not eligible to re-enroll without re-application to the Program. Students dismissed for professional deficits are not eligible to reapply to the Program.
  
  Deceleration: Students who are decelerated in the didactic phase will not progress to the next semester with their current class. Instead the student will restart the didactic phase of the LMU-Harrogate PA Program with the next matriculating class. Students must take all courses in their return. Students who are decelerated in the clinical phase will have a delay in graduation.
  
  Graduation from the Program does not guarantee successful PANCE passage, state or national licensure, employment, or hospital credentialing. Some state licensing and hospital credentialing boards require documentation to support the applicant’s written explanation for a delay in graduation and may decline to grant licensure/credentialing to graduates with a history of disciplinary action, including academic/professional probation, while enrolled in a professional training program.

• expands Dismissal Policy   Dismissal Policy

  The LMU-Harrogate PA Program reserves the right to dismiss any enrolled student or rescind an offer of admission to any matriculating student found to betray the values and integrity of LMU, the Program, the PA Profession, and/or the community. Circumstances warranting dismissal or rescinding of an offer of admission may be of an academic, professional, or legal nature. Enrolled students who are dismissed must complete an exit interview with the Financial Aid Officer and must return their LMU- Harrogate PA Student name badge and parking tag to the Campus Police and Security Team. Failure to do so will result in the Program withholding all records pertaining to the student’s attendance.

  
  Readmission/Reapplication Policy
  * Any student dismissed from the Program for academic deficits is eligible to reapply to the Program. The Program does not offer automatic readmission for any student dismissed for academic deficits.
  * Any student dismissed from the Program for violation of the Student Code of Conduct is not eligible to reapply to the Program.

• expands Appeals Process   Appeals Process

  If a student chooses to appeal the SPC recommendation(s), they must submit a letter explaining the reason for the appeal to the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs (ADAA) within five (5) business days of receiving written notification of the SPC recommendation(s). The SMS Associate Dean handles the appeals process without the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs.
  
  The Appeals Committee comprises SMS faculty members from each of the School’s PA programs. The SMS ADAA may make Limited, one-time reassignments should a conflict of interest arise. All Appeals Committee meeting proceedings are confidential and closed to anyone not part of the Appeals process. In rare cases, the Appeals Chair may ask the student to meet with the Appeals Committee. In such cases, only the student will be allowed to attend; no family members, friends, or legal entities are allowed. Meeting minutes are recorded and maintained by the Appeals Committee Chair. No other forms of recording shall be permitted by the student or committee members. Appeals Committee members should not discuss the student or the case details before or after the meeting with each other or with non-committee members. Only information presented in the scheduled meeting may be considered in the appeals decision.
  
  Appeals must fall into one of the following three categories and be specified in the student’s letter: 1. The SPC sanction imposed is disproportionate to the violation; 2. The processes utilized by the SPC were flawed; or 3. New evidence exists that was not available at the SPC meeting, and the evidence would have likely altered the outcome. The SMS ADAA reviews the SPC recommendation(s) and the student’s letter of appeal. If, after investigation, the SMS ADAA determines if the student’s appeal meets the above criteria, all materials reviewed by the SPC, the student’s letter, and any new evidence is forwarded to the Appeals Committee. The SPC’s recommendation(s) regarding a professional conduct deficit(s) remains in effect throughout the appeals process. An SPC recommendation to stop progression in or to dismiss the student from the program for an academic deficit(s) will be suspended throughout the appeals process. For example, if the SPC recommends dismissal for an academic deficit(s) part way through a Didactic Phase semester, the student may continue to attend learning activities and complete course assignments and assessments throughout the appeals process.
  
  The Appeals Committee reviews the SPC recommendation(s), the student’s letter of appeal, and any new evidence provided by the student (if applicable) and determines if the SPC’s original recommendation(s) should be upheld or if an alternate recommendation is needed. The Appeals Committee does not meet with or consider testimony from representatives for the student or entertain any information not relevant to the reason the student met with the SPC.

  
  Within three (3) business days following the Appeals Committee meeting, the student will receive notification of the Appeals Committee’s decision regarding the original SPC recommendation(s) and relevant instructions/expectations via the student’s University-issued email account. The ADAA will pass this information to the student via email. Additionally, the Chair of the Appeals Committee will send an official letter to the student through U.S. Mail.
  
  Once the Appeals Committee has met and made its decision, the Chair will have 24 hours to inform the ADAA of the decision. The Appeals Committee Chair also forwards the decision(s) to the SPC Chair.