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-Tampa 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 with students via LMU-issued student email accounts. These changes are also published in the handbook.
To remain in good academic standing, normal academic progress in the didactic phase of the LMU-Tampa PA Program requires all students to achieve a minimum of 3.0 G.P.A. each semester.
|
ASSESSMENT AND MINIMUM GRADE STANDARDS |
|
|
Letter Grade |
Numerical Value |
|
A |
90-100% |
|
B |
80-89% |
|
C |
70-79% |
|
F |
≤ 69.99% |
Grade Point Average (GPA) equivalents are as follows:
|
COMPUTATION OF GRADE POINT AVERAGE |
|
|
Letter Grade |
Quality Points per Credit Hour |
|
A |
4.0 |
|
B |
3.0 |
|
C |
2.0 |
|
F |
0.0 |
Students must earn a final course grade of C or better to receive a course credit toward their degree and to continue in the program. Courses in which a student earns a grade below C do not count toward meeting MMS degree requirements and require an academic hearing by the faculty. Earning below a C in a course (< 70.0%) will prevent a student from being permitted to continue in the program. As a policy, the LMU-Tampa PA Program does not round-up any grades, including course examination scores and course GPAs.
Students are considered in good academic standing if they have met all the following criteria:
Students who do not meet the above standards will be placed on academic probation and are no longer in good academic standing. Students who are not in good academic standing will be sent to the SPC for recommendations.
Students who earn a final course grade below "C" in any given semester will be sent to the SPC for recommendations.
Students enrolled in the LMU-Tampa Physician Assistant Program must maintain adherence to the program’s standard of academic performance and professionalism.
Prior to matriculation and after receiving an admission offer, students must fulfill the following requirements to progress in the LMU-Tampa PA Program:
Curriculum Progression: The curriculum follows a sequential structure. Students must successfully complete all courses in a given semester before progressing to the next. Similarly, all didactic phase courses must be successfully completed before advancing to the clinical phase.
Clinical Phase Progression: Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs) within the clinical phase do not adhere to the traditional semester calendar. Student performance in each SCPE is evaluated by the Clinical Education Director (CED) upon completion of the experience to determine eligibility for the next rotation.
Student Progress Committee (SPC) Review: At the end of each semester (didactic and clinical phases), the SPC reviews each student's academic and professional performance. SPC recommendation for progression is required for students to enroll in subsequent semester courses and continue in the program. The SPC may convene more frequently, including during SCPEs, if a student is identified as being at risk for academic or professionalism probation or dismissal.
Any student failing any section of the summative process after two attempts will be held from graduation and will be remediated for a period of four-six weeks. A diagnostic assessment of the deficiencies will be performed by the Didactic Education Director and/or the Clinical Education Director. The Program Director will assign a faculty member experienced in the remediation process to assist.
Any learner failing the second attempt at remediation will be referred to the Student Progress Committee for further action, which may include further remediation or dismissal.
Students are responsible for all housing, transportation, and meal arrangements associated with clinical rotations as well as any costs incurred from those arrangements.
The LMU-Tampa PA Program is committed to maintaining and developing excellent clinical rotation sites and preceptors. The Program assumes all responsibility for establishing clinical rotation sites. Under NO circumstance will a student be required or permitted to contact and/or obtain their own clinical rotation sites. Any student who contacts a potential preceptor directly to plan for their own clinical sites will be referred to the SPC for disciplinary action. Although it is the responsibility of the Program and not the students to arrange clinical rotation sites, a student may suggest a new clinical site. The clinical team will make students aware of this option and disperse appropriate forms at a designated time during the didactic phase. Until the clinical team has this discussion with students, the students are asked to refrain from requesting preceptors or clinical sites. If a student chooses to submit a request at the designated time, the program will determine if the site is adequate for students to meet program learning outcomes and legal requirements. All final decisions on site adequacy are made by the clinical team.
Standard precautions are the minimum safety and infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, laboratory or technical skills training experiences in any setting where healthcare or healthcare training is delivered. These practices are designed to protect healthcare professionals (HCP) and prevent HCP from spreading infections to others. Students will be instructed in Standard Precautions early in the program during orientation and throughout the didactic phase of the program.
Compliance with all safety practices is not just a good procedure - it is a mark of your professionalism. Persistent failure to observe and practice Standard Precautions may result in adverse/disciplinary action for unprofessional behavior and referral to the Student Progress Committee.
For more information about the Standard Precautions/OSHA/Post Exposure and Reporting, review the attached PDF titles Standard Precautions.
Students are required to maintain personal health insurance during enrollment in LMU Physician Assistant Program. Proof of insurance coverage must be provided prior to orientation. Students are responsible for all personal health care costs incurred while enrolled in the PA Program. These costs may include but are not limited to immunizations, illness, PPD testing, health evaluation post exposure to a communicable disease, or other accidental injuries sustained during program mandated training activities. Due to the potential for exposure to infectious materials, insurance should cover screenings, diagnostics, treatments, and short- and long-term disability compensation that may result from any potential exposure. All screening, treatment, or disability maintenance costs that insurance does not cover will be the sole responsibility of the student. All covered, uncovered, or related costs are the exclusive responsibility of the student and not the responsibility of the Lincoln Memorial University.
All students must clearly identify themselves as Physician Assistant Students (PA-S) in all academic, clinical, and professional settings. This policy ensures transparency, maintains professional boundaries, and upholds patient safety. Specific requirements include:
Prohibited Misrepresentation:
* Students must never imply or state that they are physicians, residents, medical students, certified PAs (PA-C), or colleagues of clinical preceptors.
* Titles earned prior to matriculation (e.g., RN, EMT, Ph.D.) may not be used in any capacity during Program activities.
Identification Standards:
*A PA Student ID badge must be always worn in a visible location during:
o Clinical rotations,
o University-sponsored events,
o Any activity representing the Program.
* The program works with clinical sites to ensure that PA students are readily distinguishable from other learners and staff. This may involve specific dress code requirements, name tags, or other site-specific identification protocols.
Consequences for Non-Compliance:
* Violations of this policy will result in referral to the SPC for disciplinary action. Outcomes may include but are not limited to:
o Formal probation
o Suspension from the program
o Dismissal from the program
In the case where a student may need to take a leave of absence from the program for medical or personal emergencies. The request for a leave of absence must be submitted by the student in writing to the program director and a meeting must be scheduled with the program director to discuss the decision. The program director must first approve the leave of absence, for it to be official. If a student in the didactic phase takes a leave of absence, they will restart the Program with the next matriculating class and be required to retake all Program courses from the beginning at the sole cost of the student.
If a student in the clinical phase takes a leave of absence, they will restart clinical rotations at the beginning of the semester where they left off and have a delay in graduation for the length of time the leave of absence has been granted; they will not be required to retake all previous Program courses. Students who take any extended leave of absence may be required to complete additional assignments to ensure they are well- prepared to continue in the program.
All students must complete the LMU-Tampa PA program curriculum within 48 months. If a leave of absence will cause the student to go over the 48-month allotted time frame for program completion, the student will need to withdraw permanently from the program and reapply at a later date when they are able to fulfill the academic requirements.
Remediation is the process of addressing deficiencies in a student’s knowledge and skills, so that the deficiencies are corrected. Remediation is NOT Retesting. The purpose of remediation is to identify areas of student weakness, assist the student in overcoming those weaknesses, and provide an opportunity for the student to demonstrate achievement in the area(s) of identified weakness. Course Directors may initiate remediation measures at any time when an area of weakness is identified in a student.
A student receiving an “F” in a didactic assessment or “F” grade in a SCPE assessment, a failed end of rotation exam or failed OSCE will remediate the identified area(s) of deficiency. The specific remediation plan developed is at the discretion of the course instructor in collaboration with the Didactic Education Director and faculty advisor for didactic courses and the Clinical Education Director with collaboration of the faculty advisor and clinical preceptor for SCPE courses and may include but is not limited to:
Students will be reassessed after completion of the outlined remediation plan with an emphasis on areas of poor performance. The assessment activity may vary depending on the nature of deficiency and degree of remediation necessary. A successful remediation plan will include:
The responsible course director or codirector must document remediation efforts and outcomes and submit documentation to the Program Administrator in the respective year to be filed in the student’s official file.
The course instructor must notify the Didactic Education Director or the Clinical Education Director of any student needing remediation. The DED and CED will be responsible for notification to the Student Progress Committee (SPC) of any remediation plan. To ensure adequate rigor and consistency within the program, the SPC must approve remediation plans and remediation reassessments prior to implementation.
Unsuccessful remediation efforts will be forwarded to the SPC for review. The Committee may recommend appropriate courses of action, which may include the entire range of possible outcomes up to and including dismissal from the program.
Any student failing any section of the summative process after two attempts will be held from graduation and will be remediated for a period of four-six weeks. A diagnostic assessment of the deficiencies will be performed by the Didactic Education Director and/or the Clinical Education Director. The Program Director will assign a faculty member experienced in the remediation process to assist.
Any learner failing the second attempt at remediation will be referred to the Student Progress Committee for further action, which may include further remediation or dismissal.
The LMU-Tampa PA Program curriculum is designed to be delivered on a full-time basis to students in a cohort.
In the event a student fails one or more didactic courses, the SPC Committee may recommend a deceleration. This allows the student to repeat the failed course(s) with the next cohort. All skills and knowledge must be maintained through the Program. Therefore, a decelerated student will be required to repeat all Program courses. The student is responsible for all tuition costs incurred by deceleration. A second failure after deceleration WILL result in a dismissal from the Program. All program coursework is still required to be completed within 48 months from the original date of matriculation.
Deceleration during the program is not an alternative to disciplinary action. Disciplinary actions may include, but are not limited to academic probation, university suspension, or dismissal from the program due to any professional or ethical violation
Deceleration may only occur in the following situations:
To proceed with the option of deceleration students must notify the LMU-Tampa PA Program and the SMS in writing within one (1) week of their notification of dismissal. Students will receive a course of action once the declaration request is approved by the LMU-Tampa PA Program.
Failed end-of-rotation exams and preceptor evaluations indicate serious lapses in competency achievement and will result in the evaluation by the Student Progress Committee. Delays in graduation are 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.
This policy defines the permissible roles and responsibilities of Physician Assistant (PA) students within the Lincoln Memorial University Tampa PA program, ensuring compliance with accreditation standards and maintaining appropriate learning experiences.
Purpose:
This policy clarifies the distinction between the educational role of PA students and the roles of faculty, clinical staff, and administrative staff. It emphasizes that students are learners and should not be used as substitutes for employed personnel.
Policy Statement:
PA students enrolled in the Lincoln Memorial University Tampa PA program must not be required to work for the program, nor may they substitute for or function as instructional faculty, clinical staff, or administrative staff.
Permitted Activities:
PA students may engage in the following activities as part of their educational experience:
Prohibited Activities:
PA students are prohibited from:
Enforcement: Violations of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, as outlined in the program's student handbook. Any student who believes they are being asked to perform prohibited activities should immediately report the concern to the Program Director.
Outside Employment: The rigorous, full-time nature of the Physician Assistant program, encompassing academic coursework, clinical rotations, and mandatory program events, requires students' full academic and professional focus. Therefore, outside employment during enrollment is strongly discouraged.
Program schedules will not be adjusted to accommodate work obligations. Students are advised to prioritize their education and explore available financial aid resources, including scholarships, loans, and institutional aid.
This policy ensures compliance with accreditation standards, safeguards patient safety, and maintains the integrity of the learning environment.
This policy outlines the procedures for student grievances and appeals at the LMU-Tampa PA Program and the School of Medical Sciences (SMS), encompassing academic (grade and dismissal), non-academic (program) and SPC decisions matters. The policy ensures due process and protects student rights while maintaining a professional and respectful environment.
Purpose: To provide a clear and comprehensive process for students to address concerns and appeal decisions related to academic performance, program actions, and Student Progress Committee (SPC) outcomes.
Policy Statement: LMU and SMS are committed to fair and equitable treatment of all students. This policy establishes a structured process for addressing grievances and appeals, ensuring that established policies and procedures are followed, factual and procedural errors are addressed, and all relevant information is considered.
Scope: This policy applies to all students enrolled in the LMU-Tampa PA Program.
Definitions:
General Principles:
Initial Appeal: The student must submit a written, dated, and signed appeal to the Didactic Education Director (during the Didactic phase) or the Clinical Education Director (during the Clinical phase) within five (5) business days of the grade posting or notification of dismissal.
Program Review: The Didactic/Clinical Education Director, in collaboration with the relevant faculty/preceptor, will review the appeal and render a decision within five (5) business days.
Appeal to Associate Program Director: If the initial appeal is not resolved, the student may submit a written, dated, and signed appeal to the Associate Program Director within three (3) business days of the Director's decision.
Associate Program Director Review: The Associate Program Director will review the appeal and render a decision within five (5) business days.
Final Appeal: If the appeal is still not resolved, the student may submit a written, dated, and signed appeal to the Assistant Dean and Program Director within three (3) business days of the Associate Program Director's decision.
Assistant Dean Review: The Assistant Dean will review the appeal and render a final decision within five (5) business days.
Submission of Grievance: The student must submit a written grievance to the Didactic or Clinical Education Director within five (5) business days of the program action/decision being appealed.
Program Review: The grievance will be reviewed by the appropriate program or university committee, or if none exists, the Assistant Dean and Program Director. The student will be invited to attend the meeting to present their case. A decision will be rendered within five (5) business days of receipt of the appeal.
Appeal to Dean of the School of Medical Sciences: If the student wishes to challenge the program's decision, they may submit a written appeal to the Dean of the School of Medical Sciences within five (5) business days of the program’s decision.
Final Decision: The Dean's decision is final.
Visit the SMS Policies at SMS Policies (lmunet.edu).
All students MUST provide proof of health insurance prior to Each student’s personal health insurance policy must remain active throughout their participation in the program.
Students are financially responsible for the cost of all health care services they may require while enrolled in the program, including any health care services required as a result of their participation in scheduled program activities (e.g., TB testing, immunizations, treatment of injuries, pathogen exposure evaluation and treatment).
The following health requirements are mandatory and must be fully complied with prior to matriculation.
Tuberculosis
One of the following completed within the past 12 months is required:
* Two-step TB skin test (administered 1-3 weeks apart)
* QuantiFERON Gold blood test (lab report required)
* If positive results, submit a clear chest x-ray (lab report required)
Immunizations
Students must be current on all required immunizations. Either record of immunization or serologic proof of immunity must be provided for all listed conditions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for health care personnel, to include, but may not be limited to:
Hepatitis B: BOTH of the following are required:
o A complete vaccination series AND
o A positive antibody titer (lab report required)
o If your titer was negative or equivocal, you must repeat the series and provide a 2nd titer.
Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR): One of the following is required:
o 2 vaccinations: The first vaccination MUST be administered AFTER the age of 1 regardless of vaccination type. Vaccinations can be a combined MMR vaccination, however if individualized vaccinations are submitted you MUST submit 2 vaccinations for Mumps and Measles and 1 vaccination for Rubella OR
o Positive antibody titer (lab report required) for all 3 components. If your titer was negative or equivocal, you must receive 1 booster vaccine (administered after your titer) and provide a 2nd titer.
Varicella: One of the following is required:
o 2 vaccinations OR
o Positive antibody titer (lab report required)
o If your titer was negative or equivocal, you must repeat the series.
Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis: One of the following is required:
o Documentation of a Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) vaccination administered within the past 10 years OR
o Documentation of a Tdap vaccination administered from any time AND a Td (Tetanus & Diphtheria) booster administered within the past 10 years. Renewal will be set for 10 years from the most recent vaccination. Upon renewal, a Td booster is required.
Influenza
Students will be required to obtain influenza immunization annually while enrolled in the program.
COVID-19
For those receiving updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, persons aged ≥5 years without immunocompromise are recommended to receive 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine dose, irrespective of previous COVID-19 vaccination history. For those receiving updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccines, persons ages ≥12 years without immunocompromise are recommended to receive 2 updated COVID-19 vaccine doses if previously unvaccinated and 1 updated dose if previously vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine. For those who have received previous COVID-19 vaccines, the updated vaccine should be administered ≥2 months after receipt of the most recent dose.
Other Immunizations
Students may occasionally be involved in patient care activities that require additional immunizations or disease prophylaxis (e.g., international rotations). It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the PD/CED to determine if any additional precautions are necessary.
Clinical sites may require additional vaccinations and documentation.
Students who have a medical contraindication for specific vaccinations may have additional requirements mandated (e.g., students who have a medical contraindication for influenza vaccination may be required to wear a mask during the entire influenza season). Some clinical facilities do not permit students who have not had the influenza vaccination or Covid-19 vaccination for medical reasons, even with use of a mask. Changes in clinical site requirements may necessitate changes in clinical rotation assignment or the inability to be placed on clinical rotations.
Historical documentation without primary source evidence of tuberculosis screening, immunizations and/or serologic proof of immunity will not satisfy the program’s documentation requirements.
The following qualify as legitimate proof of immunization/TB testing status:
o Copies of the applicant’s medical record(s) on which administration and results of tuberculosis
screening data is recorded.
o Copies of the applicant’s medical record(s) on which administration of the immunization series is documented by the immunization provider (including immunization cards signed by the administering health care professional/agency).
o Copies of the laboratory report(s) documenting results of serologic testing for immunity (antibody test results).
o Copies of the applicant’s medical record(s) or a letter from the applicant’s health care provider
documenting immunization non-conversion and explaining the process by which that
conclusion was reached.
Immunization records must be submitted to the CORE compliance tracking system, NOT to the Physician Assistant Department. The PA program will access CORE to ensure completion of required immunizations and TB screening of all students. Students will be provided access to CORE online files.
Program Director, principal program faculty, medical director, or program staff WILL NOT participate as health care providers for students enrolled in the program and WILL NOT have access to any student health information other than that defined in this policy.
All costs associated with meeting the above immunization requirements are the sole responsibility of the student.
Student health records are confidential and are not accessible to or reviewed by Program Faculty or staff except for immunization and tuberculosis screening results.
Except in an emergency, the Program Director, Medical Director, and Principal Faculty may not participate as health care providers or behavioral health counsellors for students in the Program.
Team Members:
Assistant Dean and Program Director: Chair
Associate Program Director: Co-Chair
Medical Director, Didactic Education Director, Clinical Education Director and Principal Faculty Advisor, SMS representation, University member (ad hoc when addressing specific student concerns – i.e. (Director of Admissions), LMU Preceptor or higher administration, Didactic Administrative Assistant Coordinator and Clinical Coordinator.)
A faculty member may refer a student to the SPC due to an academic and/or a professional concern. Reasons to be referred to the SPC include, but are not limited to, cheating, violating student conduct expectations, course failure, dress-code violations, examination policy violations, unexcused absence, violating HIPAA policy, criminal activity, inappropriate self-identification, violating the student employment policy, lack of professionalism, and disruptive behavior in the classroom.
The SPC Co-Chair schedules the meeting and sends an invitation to the student via LMU email informing the student of the date, time, and location of the meeting, the reason(s) for the meeting, and all the SPC committee members who will be present at the meeting. Students are notified a minimum of three days prior to the meeting. Students are encouraged to meet with their faculty mentor to answer any questions or discuss concerns prior to the SPC meeting. If a student fails to appear before the SPC, the matter will be resolved in his/her absence.
SPC meetings are closed to anyone other than the student, called witnesses or individuals relevant to the proceedings, and the SPC committee. All SPC proceedings are to remain confidential by all parties present. SPC minutes are recorded and kept in the student’s file.
During the first part of the meeting, the committee will discuss any concerns with the student and ask clarification questions of the student. The student will have the opportunity to answer questions and to submit any information they believe is relevant. Following the discussion, the student will be excused from the room while the SPC Committee deliberates. During this time, the committee will discuss the student's situation, make any necessary decisions, and determine the best course of action to support the student's academic success. All decisions are made by a simple majority vote. The SPC Chair does not participate in voting unless a tie occurs.
Following a thorough review, the SPC will determine recommendations regarding student success, progression, or disciplinary action. These recommendations will be communicated directly to the student by the SPC Chair. The Chair retains the authority to approve, disapprove, or request further information for clarification prior to finalizing any recommendation and/or action. The Co-Chair will also send a letter via e-mail to the student and a copy to the Program Director delineating all recommendations and any follow-up dates or actions that are to be taken.
Students who are placed on probation by the SPC are required to adhere to any guidelines that have been determined by the SPC. This may include, but is not limited to:
The SPC will reconvene with students who have been placed on probation within 45 days to reevaluate the student’s progress and compliance with recommendations. The SPC may remove the student from probation and reinstate all privileges if the student has complied with the SPC recommendations and has met university and program academic/professional requirements.
Students wishing to appeal a SPC decision must adhere to the established Academic or Non-Academic Grievance Policy. SPC Grievance/Appeal Process (See SMS Appeals policy: https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical- sciences/sms-policies)
If a student encounters difficulty meeting course objectives or maintaining acceptable grades due to unexpected illness or other significant problems or impairment. IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY THE DIDACTIC EDUCATION DIRECTOR AND/OR THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
The student must provide the PA Program Director with written notification via email and follow withdraw procedures through the LMU Registrar as outlined in the Student Academic Catalog. Any student who leaves the Program for any reason MUST go through the proper check-out procedure before their withdrawal is final. The check-out procedure is as follows:
A student who withdraws from the program while in good academic standing may re-apply for re-admission into the program; however, re-acceptance after withdrawal is not guaranteed. The former student must re- apply in its entirety and compete with that cohort of applicants also seeking admission into the program.
In the Didactic Phase or Clinical Phase, the Didactic Education Director/Clinical Education Director will meet with the student to discuss the circumstances which contributed to the student’s poor Academic or Professional performance. The student will be referred to the Student Progress Committee for review WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR DISMISSAL FROM THE PROGRAM pursuant to departmental policy in response to a failed course, professional or administrative violation. The Student Progress Committee will review the student’s overall progress, the instructors’ evaluation of the student in the course(s) involved and all other applicable information. After completing its review, the Student Progress Committee will:
