Physician Assistant Policies

The Commonwealth University PA Program has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and harassment. The Program follows the university-wide PRP 4789 - Harassment and Discrimination Policy

The PA Program follows the Commonwealth University Policy regarding Refund of Tuition and Fees, which is here. The University reserves the right to change tuition and other charges at the beginning of any semester. The tuition cost for a full-time course load does not include expenses for other requirements such as medical equipment and supplies, laboratory fees, clinical tracking software fees, or other necessary subscriptions.

Deposits

Acceptance of the offer of admission to the PA Program is not complete until the applicant pays the $1000 enrollment deposit, which must be done within two weeks of receiving the email offer of admission from the graduate admissions office. Once the $1000 enrollment deposit is paid, if the applicant withdraws their enrollment, $500 of the deposit will be refunded if the withdrawal is 30 days or more before the start of the program.  If the withdrawal is less than 30 days, the entire enrollment deposit is forfeited and will not be refunded.

Students must not solicit clinical sites or preceptors. The Commonwealth University PA Program Clinical Coordination Team must coordinate clinical sites and preceptors for the Program-required rotations. Referrals of potential health system contacts may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Clinical Coordination Team. Student family members, including spouses, current or future family members, are also not permitted to solicit clinical sites or preceptors on behalf of the student or be clinician instructors.

Commonwealth University PA Students must:

• Wear an identification tag that identifies the student by first and last names as well as the words "Physician Assistant Student" in 16-point lettering while carrying out any responsibilities entailed in his/her clinical training.
• Sign all notes documented in patient records and all notes submitted to the program with "PA Student" or PA-S following student’s name. All entries shall be legible.

Immunizations

All students MUST have their immunizations, including tetanus, MMR, Varicella, Meningitis and Hep B up to date and documented prior to matriculation. Students are also required to obtain Varicella and Hep B titers and a two-step Mantoux test. Students enrolling at the University must submit a completed Medical History Report prior to matriculation. This information must be completed by a physician, including immunization data, and sent to Glennon Student Health Services. Documentation of immunizations and medical clearance will be provided to the PA Program by Student Health Services. Students may not enroll or attend classes or clinical assignments without a completed health form.

Commonwealth University COVID Vaccine Policy

The credentialing processes utilized by clinical partners affiliated with the PA Program and Athletic Training Program may include various medical requirements such as vaccination status for certain infectious diseases, clearance from a healthcare provider, drug screening, etc. Our clinical partners develop and maintain their own standards and policies, separate from those at Commonwealth University, to ensure the health and safety of their workforce and patients. Similarly, clinical partners are solely responsible for the credentialing process required for those involved in patient care within their facilities. As a component of this credentialing process, clinical sites may require that students provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of their participation in patient care as per the clinical site’s policies. Furthermore, clinical partners are not bound by an exemption determination made outside of their processes or by any other entity. Failure to comply with a clinical site’s requirement for vaccination may result in a student being denied a clinical rotation assignment and potentially lead to delayed academic progression or an inability to complete the PA Program or Athletic Training Program. If a PA student is unable to be placed in a clinical rotation due to a failure to meet health system requirements, the resulting gap in their rotation schedule may require retesting as outlined in the leave of absence policy found in the PA Program clinical handbook.

PA Students must notify the preceptor immediately of any sharps injuries or other biohazard contamination, and follow the regulations of their clinical site for immediate follow-up by a healthcare provider. Within 24 hours of any hazardous exposure, the student will complete the needle stick exposure form linked in Clinical Rotations I on Brightspace and notify the PA program director and the lead clinical coordinator by email that they have done so. Schedule follow-up with either a primary care provider, occupational medicine at the site (if provided and/or required), and/or the CU student health center, and forward diagnostic results related to the exposure to the CU student health center.

Counseling Services

Counseling Services is a component of the Department of Academic Development and Counseling. Counseling is provided to students with personal, emotional, or academic adjustment concerns. Professional counselors assist students with questions about achievement, educational progress, interpersonal relationships, self-image, social skills and other potentially stressful or emotionally disturbing experiences. Services are provided daily during regular working hours. Students at the Clearfield and Harrisburg campus locations will have availability to screening and limited services via video conference software available at all locations or Zoom from their own computers. Students at these campus locations will have the option to utilize video conferencing kiosk stations or videophones between their home campus and Lock Haven or travel to Lock Haven for certain services. The counseling center has significantly expanded services available via videoconferencing, primarily utilizing a HIPAA-compliant version of Zoom. Students may be referred to off-campus agencies and private practitioners by Counseling Services staff when desired or as needed.

Student Health Services

Glennon Student Health Services provides outpatient consultation for students experiencing health difficulties at any campus. Students attending the Clearfield or Harrisburg campus locations are required to travel to Lock Haven for services that cannot be obtained via phone or phone consultation. Staff members are available at Glennon Student Health Services (570-484-2276) Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8am and 8pm, Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm, and Saturday between the hours of 10am and 2pm. Treatment is free of charge. Lock Haven and branch campus student health records are maintained at Glennon Student Health Services on the Lock Haven Campus. Documents to be added to student health records (i.e. immunizations) can be faxed to Student Health Services at 570-484-2522. A listing of available healthcare providers for the Clearfield, and Harrisburg campus locations can be obtained through the PA program office.

In addition to our prerequisite criteria, the Admissions Committee highly values applicants who have healthcare experience, additional science preparatory coursework, research experience, and align with the mission of our program. However, we will review all applicants who meet our prerequisite criteria regardless of additional preparatory work.

Healthcare Experience

The Admissions Committee recommends that all applicants observe or directly worked with a physician assistant for a minimum of 40 hours. We also recommend all applicants obtain direct quality human patient care experience of a minimum of 400 hours. Common examples of direct quality patient care experience include but are not limited to: athletic trainer, behavioral health technician, certified nursing assistant, clinical pharmacist, dietician, emergency medical technician, medical assistant, medical scribe, medical technician, military medic, nutritionist, paramedic, physical therapist, physical therapy aide, radiology technician, registered nurse, respiratory therapist, and sonographer. We will consider other health care experience as well, including volunteer experience. Applicants will have an opportunity to describe their clinical experience in their application.

Please note that clinical experience completed in a veterinary medical setting or those experiences that do not require direct patient will be noted but not formally considered in our review.

When reporting experience hours, applicants should report only the number of hours completed at the time of application. Anticipated hours should not be included in the application and will not be considered during the review process.

Please note, virtual shadowing or observation hours will not be considered.

Research Experience

The Admissions Committee encourages applicants to include research experience. We will consider all research, but strongly recommend research that aligns with the mission and goals of our program. There is no expiration date for research experience.

Mission

The Admissions Committee values applicants with the following experiences that align with the mission of our program:

• Pennsylvania residents
• Underserved Exposure
  • Applicants living or working in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    • https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/document/hpsa-and-muap-shortage-designation-types
• Life Experience
  • Examples including but not limited to experiences such as cancer diagnosis, English as a second language immigrant (ESL), caring for a parent of loved one, personal experience with overcoming hardships or adversity, or a significant injury
• Service
  • Examples including but not limited to domestic and international mission trips, military service, coaching, mentoring, elderly companionship, food pantry, blood drives

Science Prep

The Admissions Committee values students who have achieved a grade of 3.0 or better in additional higher-level science courses including but not limited to biochemistry, physics, immunology, neurobiology, advanced biology courses

Of Note: Our admission committee also values applicants who have obtained post baccalaureate coursework and repeat applicants who have shown increased efforts to improve their application.

Advanced Placement/Credit by Examination

• Prerequisite Courses
  • Prerequisite courses may be fulfilled by College Board Advanced Placement (AP) testing, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) testing, and faculty departmental credit. The University's policies regarding these tests will control the awarding of credit.
• Professional (MHS in Physician Assistant Studies) Courses
  • No advanced placement or credit by examination is granted for PA program courses, modules, or clinical experiences.

Minimum Academic Standards

All degree-seeking students must meet the minimum academic standards of the institution.  The minimum academic requirement for continuation in a graduate or doctoral program is a 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).

Satisfactory Progress

• Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.90 at the end of the first didactic semester.
• Students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.00 at the ed of the second didactic semester.
• Each student must earn a cumulative 3.00 GPA in the didactic component of the program to be eligible to proceed to clinical rotations.
• If a student has failed to maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA during the didactic phase of the program, the faculty will determine which of the following is appropriate under the given circumstances: 
  • Dismissal from the program
  • Probation 
  • Suspension 
  • Deceleration/remediation, including, but not limited to, repetition of courses/modules, special didactic and/or clinical assignments, additional clinical rotation experiences, more frequent evaluations or examinations, and other activities as deemed appropriate by the faculty and staff.
• Each student must attain an overall cumulative GPA of ≥ 3.00 in the PA Program to receive the Master of Health Science degree.

Graduation Requirements

• Each candidate for graduation, after successful completion of all program requirements, must be recommended by the PA Program to the Dean of the College of Health Professions for graduation.
• To obtain the necessary PA Program recommendation, candidates must:
  • Complete all non-modular courses with a grade of C (2.0 GPA) or higher o Complete all modules with a grade of C+ (2.3) or higher, and all clinical assignments with a grade of B- (2.7) or higher 
  • Pass all pass/fail examinations
  • Participate fully in all required program activities
  • Meet the Physician Assistant Program Goals and Objectives, PA Student General Clinical Goals and Objectives, and all Rotation Objectives
  • Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes necessary for successful practice as a physician assistant
  • Earn a cumulative GPA of ≥ 3.0 in all program course work.

Upon successful completion of the above requirements, the candidate will be awarded the Master of Health Science degree by the University.

Warning, Probation and Retention Standards

• Students must earn a grade of C (2.00) or higher in all non-modular courses, and a grade of C+ (2.30) in all core modular courses. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program. At faculty discretion, a student earning less than these minimum grades may be permitted to complete an individualized, formative module remediation assignment. If the assignment is completed in a satisfactory manner the grade may be increased to the minimum passing grade. See Module/Course Remediation Policy below.
• Students who earn a cumulative GPA of less than a 3.00 following any semester will be placed on academic probation.
• Students may also be placed on a non-academic probation should, in the opinion of the faculty; they fail to meet minimum competencies required for practice despite maintaining a cumulative 3.00 GPA.
• Probationary students may be limited in the number of credits they may carry in any subsequent semester/term. The program will determine the credit hour load and courses/modules that each probationary student will be permitted to carry.
• Probationary students are urged to repeat courses/modules in which low grades were earned. See repeated courses policy below.
• Students who remain on academic probation for more than one semester will be provided with an academic notification that stipulates the conditions under which the student can remain matriculated in the program. Should the student fail to agree to or abide by the terms set forth in this contract, they will be dismissed from the program.
• In addition, a student who is on academic probation for two consecutive semesters will be deemed to not be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) according to University standards. Failure to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress will result in suspension of federal financial aid. An appeal may be filed demonstrating a clearly defined plan to achieve satisfactory academic progress and, if successful, federal aid may be reinstated.

Module/Course Remediation Policy

• A student who is unable to attain the required C+ (2.30) for modular courses, or C (2.00) for non-modular courses may at the discretion of the faculty be provided with an opportunity to remediate deficiencies and therefore the module grade.
• The maximum grade that may be assigned under this policy is a C+ (2.30) for modular courses and a C (2.00) for non-modular courses. Repeated Courses Policy
• As per PASSHE Policy (PASSHE Policy #SA-022B-2009)
  • Graduate students can repeat a single course for grade improvement only once.
  • Graduate students will be limited to a maximum total of two repeats across the program.
  • The most recent grade (regardless of whether it is higher or lower) will be the grade used for the GPA calculation.
• Courses/modules may be repeated under the following circumstances:
  • At the discretion of the faculty, students earning less than a C (2.00) in any non-modular program course, or less than a C+ (2.30) in any module may be dismissed from the program, or required to repeat the course/module, or be assigned other remediation activities. If permitted, the student will be required to repeat the designated course/module in the next semester it is offered, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
  • No student will be allowed to postpone repetition of a program course for more than one year.
  • It is the responsibility of the student to present to the program all facts and circumstances that would justify repetition of the course.
  • It is the responsibility of the faculty to determine if there is a reasonable chance for the student's continued success in the program if allowed to repeat the course.

Withdrawal

• A student may withdraw from a program course/module only with permission of the program director.
• Students may withdraw from the PA Program at any time by following the established University policies for Program withdrawal.

Dismissal/Suspension from the Program Procedural Issues

• Decisions of the program regarding dismissal/suspension will be final.
• Academic dismissal/suspension, based on a student not achieving the required grades in a course, a semester, or overall GPA can only be appealed through the University’s grade appeal process found in the Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg Student Handbook. Students will be made aware of academic dismissal through the Office of the Registrar. Students may also be dismissed from the program for violation of any University, College, or Program rules, regulations, policies, or procedures.
• At the discretion of the program, a violation may result in counseling of the student, a verbal warning, a written warning, remediation, probation, suspension, dismissal from the program, or other action as deemed appropriate.
• The student will be notified in advance of any action by the PA Program that might result in dismissal or other action from the program. The student has the responsibility to present to the program all reasons that would mitigate against dismissal or other action.
• Appeals of decisions made by the PA Program regarding student dismissal will follow the same procedures set forth in the University’s Academic Honesty Policy found in the Commonwealth University-Lock Haven Student Handbook with the following exceptions:
  • The formal hearing will be held before the full-time, tenure-track faculty; and
  • Decisions regarding sanctions will be made by a simple majority of the full-time tenure track PA Program faculty present for the hearing; and
  • Votes that result in a tie will be decided by the Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.
• Students are encouraged to seek the council of their faculty advisor, the department chair, and the university ombudsman in cases that may adversely affect continuation in the program.
• The Graduate Handbook and the Commonwealth University Student Handbook are valuable resources that students are encouraged to review for a full understanding of university and program policies. Students may also seek advocacy through the office of the Dean of Student Affairs.
  • Student Complaint Procedures - Students may find procedures for filing complaints in the following university policies:
    • PRP 3592 - Academic Grievance Procedure
    • PRP 4862 - Student Non-Academic Grievance Policy

Criteria for Academic Dismissal/Suspension

• Deficient Semester GPAs: Receipt of a semester GPA below a 2.70, in any semester, will result in dismissal from the program.
• Deficient Cumulative GPAs: The following cumulative GPAs must be accomplished at the end of each semester during the didactic year or the student will be dismissed from the program:
  • Summer 2.90; Fall 3.00; Spring 3.00.
  • Any student with a cumulative GPA below these cutoffs may petition the faculty to be placed on suspension from the University for up to one year with the opportunity to repeat up to two courses for a new grade during the next offering of those courses. These course repeats will replace the original grades for those courses and will be used to calculate a new semester and cumulative GPA.
    • Academic dismissal from the PA Program may be appealed to the Department Chair, then Dean of the College of Health Professions.
    • Students on suspension may petition to the Dean in writing for reinstatement within 20 days of the suspension. If approved, the student can be readmitted on probation for the following semester/session. Should the student fail to raise his/her GPA above a 3.00 during this semester, he/she will be dismissed from the program.
• Deficient First-year GPA: In order to progress into the clinical phase of training, students must achieve a cumulative GPA of ≥ 3.00.
• Deficient Second-Year GPA: Students must maintain a 3.00 GPA at all times during the clinical phase of training to remain in good academic standing. Should a student fall below a 3.00 GPA they will be placed on academic probation. Failure to attain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 at the end of the following semester will result in dismissal from the PA Program.
• Time Limitation Violation: If it becomes impossible for a student to complete the PA Program’s requirements within the four-year time limitation the student will be dismissed. The four-year time limitation begins when the student first matriculates into the PA Program. Restarting the program after a leave of absence for any reason does not reset the clock.

Cognitive and Behavioral Reasons for Dismissal

• Honesty or Ethical Violations: Violation of the University’s Academic Honesty Policy or the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession may result in dismissal from the program.
• Behavior: Any behavior that could prohibit the student from becoming a Physician Assistant under the laws of Pennsylvania may be grounds for dismissal.
• Attendance and Punctuality: Failure to meet attendance and punctuality standards established by faculty and/or preceptors may be grounds for dismissal.
• Professional Appearance: Failure to respond to warnings for violation of professional appearance standards may be grounds for dismissal.
• Charts: A student whose charting is repeatedly disorganized, inaccurate, irrelevant, incomplete, inappropriately altered, or reflects less than an adequate understanding of patients' problems may be considered for dismissal.
• Knowledge: A student whose knowledge is inconsistent with the point reached in the curriculum, unable to discuss common pathological processes with accuracy, or demonstrates significant gaps in fundamental concepts may be dismissed from the program.
• Clinical Judgment: A student whose decisions and recommendations regarding patient care are often dangerous, wrong, or ineffective, or who does not seem to learn from his/her mistakes may be dismissed from the program.
• Clinical Management: A student who contributes little to the patient management plan, or fails to follow the patient closely may be dismissed from the program.
• Team Participation: A student whose attitude or behavior undermines the team effort, or fails to demonstrate consideration of the feelings, limitations or contributions of other team members may be dismissed from the program.
• Professional Relationships: A student whose attitude or behavior is unacceptable to colleagues, demonstrates a failure to cooperate, or otherwise makes a poor professional impression may be dismissed from the program.
• Relationships with Patients: The student who demonstrates an inability to establish appropriate rapport with patients, or otherwise demonstrates an inability to effectively communicate with patients may be dismissed from the program.
• Fraternization: Students are not permitted to date or have sexual relationships with their patients. Violation of this policy will result in immediate dismissal from the program.
• Knowledge of Limitations: A student who demonstrates an inability to recognize his or her own limitations as a clinician, oversteps established limits, or through attitude or behavior jeopardizes the welfare of the patient may be dismissed from the program.

Outside Employment Policy

• The two-year PA program is concentrated and intense. The program discourages students from employment during either the didactic year or clinical year.
• One part time graduate assistant is employed by the University at each campus location to assist with the technical needs of speakers in the classroom and to facilitate security of classroom equipment as well as assist faculty with other instructional needs that may arise.
• Students are not required, nor are they allowed, to perform clerical or administrative work for the program. Students do not have access to any student or faculty files or to any other sensitive information. (A3.04)
• During clinical experiences students are not to substitute for regular clinical or administrative staff.
• Students who choose to be employed during the program must be aware that:
  • Your job must never get in the way of your studies. Employment will never be considered as a valid excuse for those who have trouble coming to class, attending any PA Program required functions, studying, taking tests, or poor academic performance.
  • The PA Program’s lecture schedule and testing schedule can change without advance notification and students must stay flexible for changes. Employment will not be considered a valid excuse for failure to comply with program schedules in these areas.

The University Grievance Policy and Procedures shall apply to all program students, faculty, and staff. Grade Appeal Policies are likewise found in the Commonwealth University Graduate Catalog. In the absence of a specific appeal policy for disciplinary action taken by the program, including dismissal, students may appeal in writing to the department chair first, then to the Dean of the College of Health Professions or the Dean of Graduate Studies within 5 working days of the decision.

• PRP 3592 - Academic Grievance Procedure
• PRP 4862 - Student Non-Academic Grievance Policy