Evaluations are conducted by the faculty, your assigned clinical mentors and preceptors, members of the student Progress and Promotion Committee (PPC), and by academic committees and authorities. Standards for academic evaluation are applied to all students in a particular course of study. Such standards may be articulated, verbally or in writing as part of a course and included in course evaluation forms. Under academic standards relating to professional comportment, deficiencies in comportment give rise to adverse academic evaluations, grades and narrative reports of performance. Such matters are normally addressed in a remedial manner. However, if a faculty member, in the course of evaluating professional comportment, obtains evidence of wrongful misconduct by a student in violation of Program or University policy, the allegation will normally be pursued as a disciplinary infraction. The faculty evaluator may factor into the course evaluation the results of any such disciplinary case arising out of a particular course. Refer to the Professionalism Violations Policy for possible consequences of infractions.
Professionalism Policy Violations
The Professionalism Policy includes standards for academic, non-academic, and clinical behavior. The Professionalism policy represents general standards of behavior and illustrates ideals for which to strive; however, specific infractions reported by students, preceptors or faculty will be investigated with respect to both the magnitude and chronicity of incidents considered. It should also be understood that these general standards may not afford guidance in every conceivable situation or anticipate every possible infraction.
Non-Academic Violations of Professionalism Policy
Non-academic issues such as dress code or attendance policy violations may be resolved through the Didactic and Clinical Education Directors initially with a warning and then a professional citation. Inappropriate professional or personal behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following: excessive absences or disruptive behavior in class; inappropriate or disrespectful behavior toward fellow students, faculty, staff, preceptors, or staff/employees at clinical practice sites; inappropriate or disrespectful interaction with patients; and, unprofessional dress, language, or conduct as defined by the PA Program, clinical site or the University.
Attendance Policy Violations
The Didactic and Clinical Education Directors monitor the attendance of students during the academic and clinical years. Students with more than five (5) absences in the Didactic Year and three (3) in the Clinical Year, as outlined in the Attendance policy, will be referred to the Didactic and/or Clinical Education Director. If the student has more than five (5) absences in the Didactic Year and three (3) in the Clinical Year, after all documentation is considered, the student may be placed on professional probation. Students with continued willful infractions while on professional probation will be referred to the PPC for additional sanctions including, but not limited to, continued professional probation, remediation, deceleration, or dismissal from the Program.
Dress Code Violations and Other Non-Academic Violations
Students are to adhere to the dress code policy during school hours (8:00 AM-5:00 PM). Exceptions (e.g. dress down days) are permitted and students should follow the guidelines outlined in the dress code policy. Students may report dress code and other non-academic violations of other students to faculty, preceptors, or staff.
Once aware of the violation, faculty, preceptors and staff may choose to first counsel the accused student. The student may be asked to leave the class if the behavior is disruptive, sent home to change into appropriate attire, or refer the student to the Didactic or Clinical Education Director with a warning. However, in all cases the incident should be documented in the student’s Program file and submitted to the Office of Student Affairs for inclusion in the student’s University file. Minor non-academic violations will generally be resolved through the Didactic and Clinical Education Directors. However, the DED, CED, and Program Director can refer students to the PPC for repeated or severe non-academic violations of the professionalism policy for a professional citation.
