Current & Prospective Students: PA Tampa

In addition to having access to program faculty for academic advising and mentoring, students have access to the Office of Academic Support. The Tagge Center for Academic Support aids with study skills, time management, stress management and wellness, test anxiety management, and test-taking skills. Students may self-refer or be referred by program faculty. https://www.lmunet.edu/academic-support-services/index

Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence

LMU’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) provides students with training and resources on how to utilize LMU’s online learning management platform and other digital technology. https://www.lmunet.edu/ctle/students/index

Accessible Educational Services

The Office of Accessible Education Services works with Program faculty to provide accommodations for learning and assessment activities. Students are responsible for requesting services and are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Accessible Education Services prior to matriculation and as soon as possible after a condition that may qualify for accommodations arises. Contact the office at https://www.lmunet.edu/student-life/accessible-education-services/

Career Services

LMU’s Office of Career Services assists students with constructing curriculum vitae (CV) and employment interview preparation. https://www.lmunet.edu/career-services/index

PA Job Bank

The LMU SMS Office of Alumni Services maintains an online PA Job Bank for graduates. Visit
PA Job Bank (lmunet.edu) to see the positions advertised to LMU-SMS graduates.

Medical Services

Except in emergency situations, the Program Director, Medical Director, and Program Faculty may not participate as health care providers for students in the Program.

Local Healthcare Facilities

HCA Florida Brandon Hospital/Physicians
Address: 119 Oakfield Dr. | Brandon, FL 33511
Phone: 813.681.5551
Website: https://www.hcafloridahealthcare.com/locations/brandon-hospital/physicians

Advent Health Emergency Department
Address: 305 East Brandon Blvd. | Brandon, FL 33511
Phone: 813.548.8600
Website: https://www.adventhealth.com/hospital-and-emergency-room/adventhealth-brandon-er

Brandon Area Primary Care PA (Family Practice/Internal Medicine)
Address: 500 Vonderburg Dr. Ste. 311W | Brandon, FL 33511
Phone: 813.654.2445
Website: https://www.brandondocs.com/

MaxHealth
Website: https://mymaxdoc.com/

AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine
Website: https://www.adventhealth.com/practice/adventhealth-medical-group

TGH Urgent Care
Phone: 813.925.1903
Website: https://www.fasttrackurgentcare.com/locations-and-hours/brandon/

AdventHealth Urgent Care
Address: 10222 Bloomingdale Avenue |Riverview, FL 33578
Phone: 813.515.5814

Mental Health Services

LMU’s Office of Mental Health Counseling provides students with counseling for mental health concerns and assistance in managing stress. https://www.lmunet.edu/counseling/index.

LMU Counselling Services are provided to help students with any non-academic issue that is impeding a student’s progress. At student mentee meetings, problems may be identified for which a student’s mentor will provide timely referral to services. Students may also self-initiate an appointment. Common reasons to seek services orto be referred for counseling include but are not limited to sadness; personalsituationsthat are causing social or academic difficulties; roommate or dating issues; stress or anxiety; eating disorders; low self-esteem; family issues; social anxiety; alcohol/drug issues; anger control or just having a safe place to discuss life’s challenges and identify healthy ways to deal with them.

Counseling appointments are confidential and free of charge to all LMU students. Appointments are conducted via message, chat, phone, or video depending on student preference. To initiate an appointment, use one of the methods below:

StudentLife App Download Instructions

1. Text “Hello” to 61295

2. Go to www.StudentLifeServices.com Search for and select "Lincoln Memorial University" as your school.

3. Call 1-855-695-2818

To access counseling after business hours, call 866-640-777. If students have difficulty initiating services, please contact LMU Counseling at 423.869.6277. If students are experiencing a mental health emergency and need immediate assistance and are not able to access counselling services, they are encouraged to immediately call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention number at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Policy and Procedure for Faculty and Students

Faculty advising is designed to be vertically progressive through the course of the curriculum. General advisement begins with such topics as transition to adult learning and differences between undergraduate and graduate education. Over time, there are greater discussions about such topics as readiness for clinical practice and professional development, including faculty and student self-assessment. Student- specific advisement topics will usually include discussion of current course grades and overall GPA, study habits, test-taking skills, and any other aspects of PA education that are particularly difficult for the student. It is critical that any weaknesses or academic problems be identified proactively, and interventions initiated to maximize each student’s opportunity for success.

Each student is assigned a member of the faculty as his or her academic advisor. The role of the Faculty Advisor is to monitor student progress in the program and to serve as the student’s advocate. Each student is encouraged to meet with his or her Faculty Advisor at a minimum of once every semester.

However, when an academic problem arises, students are required to promptly meet with their Faculty Advisor.

Within two weeks of the program’s beginning, students are expected to meet with their faculty advisor to complete their Introductory Advisement Session. During the initial “in person” meeting, admissions data and any potential areas of concerns about the student’s pre-enrollment performance will be discussed with the student including study skills, learning styles, and the quality and quantity of study sessions. Additionally, the program will also provide group advisement sessions in the form of a study skills and time management seminar provided at the beginning of the didactic phase of the program.

Academic counseling will include a review of the student’s progress in meeting the PA Program’s academic and professional objectives, along with any other issues or concerns raised by the student. Prior to each scheduled advisement session, the advisor will collect comprehensive data concerning their advisee's performance including grades on various assessments, instructor feedback and any other relevant information. The students study skills, learning styles, and the quality and quantity of study sessions will also be reviewed at advisory meetings to identify areas for potential improvement. After the Introductory Advisement Session, students are to formally meet at least twice per year in person with their advisor. The content of academic advisement will be documented on the Program’s Student Advisement Form and maintained in the student’s program file.

The Student Progress Committee (SPC) will convene at key junctures throughout the academic year to comprehensively assess each student's progress. These key meetings include:

Mid-term: To evaluate progress and identify any potential challenges.
End of each term: To review academic performance and discuss any necessary adjustments.
End of the didactic phase: To assess readiness for clinical experiences.
Prior to graduation: To ensure all program requirements have been met.

At each meeting, the committee will:

Review student performance data: Including grades, attendance, and other relevant metrics.
Gather input from course instructors: To gain insights into student performance and identify any areas of concern.
Receive updates from student advisors: On academic, personal, and professional development.

If a student is identified as experiencing academic or other difficulties impacting their well-being, the following will occur:

Advisor-student meeting: The assigned advisor will meet with the student to discuss concerns and develop a plan for improvement.
Documentation: All advisor-student meetings will be documented using the Student Advisement Form.
Academic Improvement Plans: If necessary, Academic Improvement Plans will be implemented to support student success in accordance with program remediation policies.
Notification: Advisors will notify the Director of Student Success (DSS)when they identify a student experiencing difficulties.
Consultation: Advisors could consult with Director of Student Success (DSS)for guidance on developing and implementing support plans.
Referral: If a student's needs are beyond the scope of the advisor's support, they will refer the student to the Director of Student Success (DSS) for more specialized assistance.
Follow-up: Advisors will follow up with students to monitor their progress and provide ongoing support.

Students requiring remediation will be asked to meet with advisors more frequently. Advisors will frequently interact with advisees via email, especially those in the clinical phase of study. Advisors will follow students throughout the curriculum to integrate the didactic and clinical phases. Students on Learning Contracts will require longitudinal follow-up and assessment of subsequent progress.

Students seeking additional support may self-refer or be recommended by faculty to meet with the Director of Student Success (DSS). The primary role of the DSS is to provide guidance and resources to enhance academic success.

Meetings are primarily conducted via Zoom, with in-person appointments available upon request. Discussions may include strategies for managing test anxiety, improving time management skills, and identifying individual learning preferences.

FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES

Each student is assigned a Faculty Advisor for the duration of the program. The role and responsibilities of the advisor include but are not limited to the following:

Provide communication between the student and faculty.
Meet with students at least once every semester.
Meet with students if problems arise, g. academic or professional difficulties.
Know the student advisee’s grades, skills, and professional conduct.
Assist the student in meeting the educational objectives of the program.
Discuss strengths and areas for improvement.
Suggest improvements in time management and study skills as needed.
Develop and implement, in collaboration with course instructors, remediation plans to address identified skills or knowledge deficiencies in students.
Analyze the various summative evaluations used to assess academic performance, clinical skills, and professional/behavioral This includes an exploration of how these evaluations contribute to measuring students' overall proficiency, their ability to apply knowledge in practical settings, and their adherence to professional standards and ethical behavior.
Identify additional faculty member(s) who will be easily accessible if a student wishes to discuss a problem of a personal or professional nature.
Record meetings with student advisee in student file.
Refer to appropriate services including but not limited to the Counseling Services, Center for Access and Academic Success, Student Health Services etc., as needed.
Enable the student to identify the materials necessary to achieve the educational objectives and professional standards of the Program.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Discuss areas of strength and areas for improvement with the advisor.
Complete a Student Self-Assessment.
Help plan a course of action to remediate deficiencies and capitalize on strengths.
Meet with advisor at least once every semester.
Meet with advisor on an as-needed basis when problems arise.
Make an honest effort to follow the plans derived from the session.

EXAMPLE OF OUTPUT FROM ADVISING SESSIONS (NOT COMPREHENSIVE)

Referral to Director of Student Success
Referral to Counseling Center
Referral to Health Care Provider
Student addresses time management skills/make changes to allow additional study time
Adjustment of Study Habits
Behavior Modiﬁcation
Speciﬁc Remediation Program
Discuss Availability of Tutoring Services
Begin Exercise Program/Other Stress Reduction Techniques
Career Goal Reexamination

PA Mentorship Program through the Office of Alumni Services

The LMU SMS Office of Alumni Services provides a mentorship program to assist current LMU-SMS PA Students with networking. The mission of the LMU-SMS Physician Assistant Mentorship Program is to connect Physician Assistant alumni mentors with current LMU-SMS PA Students wishing to network with PA professionals to learn more about job opportunities and specialty choices. The LMU-SMS Physician Assistant Mentorship Program provides current PA students with an opportunity to correspond with alumni PAs with similar interests so that they may provide support and guidance as students begin their job searches. Visit the PA Mentorship Program (lmunet.edu) and click “Request a Mentor” to request a mentor.