4. Guidelines and Procedures

The policies outlined in this handbook apply to all students, staff, principal faculty, and the PA Program Director. PA students are expected to follow all policies of the university as delineated on the University of South Florida Student Handbook webpage. Students are also expected to follow the guidelines set out in this handbook.

ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES

Students will attend all scheduled hours of instruction. All sessions and participation requirements in didactic courses and Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE) are mandatory. Recognizing that situations arise which require students to miss time from their course/clinical responsibilities, the procedures presented below will be followed when absence is necessary.

Punctuality

Students are expected to be on time for each scheduled class. Students should be seated and prepared to take notes at the time the lecturer is scheduled to speak and ready to begin.

Roll

Roll may be taken at the start of each day of class and may be taken at any time thereafter you are expected to be in class. Any time roll is taken and you are not present, it will be considered an absence.

Professionalism during Attendance

Students should be attentive and respectful to lecturers and instructors. Talking, "surfing the internet," communicating on social networks or causing general disturbances during class time is inappropriate and may be grounds for disciplinary action by the Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC).Part of the educational experience is to professionally participate in all didactic and clinical activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, performing exams on standardized patients. Any student who is unable or unwilling to participate in these required components may be subject to dismissal.

Dress Code

PA students, at all levels of education and training, are expected to maintain a proper professional image in their behavior and personal appearance at all times. During the pre-clinical years, PA students are expected to wear clean, appropriate apparel (shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, etc.) and shoes to all academic functions and on the premises of USF (all campuses).

All students must wear white lab jackets with their name and MCOM Physician Assistant Program designation embroidered on their coat, and ID badges during the clinical training years, and/or any time students have contact with patients, or are in the patient care areas. Shorts are not to be worn at any time when there may be interaction with patients. Men should wear shirt and tie, and women should wear appropriate dresses or slacks and blouses, as well as closed toe shoes at times when there may be interaction with patients.

Holidays and Religious Observances

All students, faculty and staff at the University of South Florida have a right to expect that the University will reasonably accommodate their religious observances, practices and beliefs. Students are expected to attend classes and take examinations as determined by the University. The University and Program will attempt, at the beginning of each academic term, to provide written notice of the class schedule and formal examination periods.

Any student who believes that he/she has been treated unfairly with regard to the above should contact the Program Director. (See section: Appeal Mechanism for Disciplinary Action or Dismissal)

Absences

Didactic Courses - Year 1

Unplanned or Emergency absences for Personal Illness, Family Illness, etc.

The student must contact both the course instructor by e-mail or telephone (see specific course syllabus) and the PA Program Office by e-mail or telephone (paprogram@health.usf.edu or 813-974-8926) to report his/her absenteeism on the first day of being absent. He/she should indicate if the reason is an emergency or unexpected illness. The student must also complete and submit the Student Absence Report Form. Specifics on planned and unplanned absences, as well as unexcused absences, are listed below. The completed Absence Report form will be kept as part of the student’s record.

If the student has an unanticipated unplanned absence on the day of an exam, he/she must contact PA Program Office by e-mail or telephone (paprogram@health.usf.edu or 813-974-8926) by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the exam. When the student returns to school he/she must fill out and sign the Student Absence From Exam Report Form. Documentation for the absence to be excused (e.g. physician’s note, accident report, etc.) will be at the discretion of the Program Director.

Students who miss an examination for any reason are required to contact the PA Program Office (974-8926) prior to returning to class to determine the date and time of the make-up examination. Dates and times of make-up examinations are determined by the Course Directors in consultation with the Academic Director.

In general, make-up examinations must be taken within 48 hours upon return from an unplanned absence. A second unexcused absence for a make-up exam will require referral to the Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC).

Planned Absence

Absence for attendance at a professional meeting or other educational or research related activity should be submitted via the Student Absence Report Form for approval to the Academic Director at least 3 weeks prior to the event. Each request for absence will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Personal travel plans should not be considered valid excuses for missing an exam.

To receive an excused planned absence for an exam, the student must submit a completed Student Absence From Exam Report Form form to the Academic Director. The Academic Director or designee will make the final determination to grant or deny the request and will inform the student of the decision.

Supervised Clinical Patient Experiences - Year 2

ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY

It is a demonstration of professional attitude and behavior. This behavior impacts all members of the healthcare team, including fellow students and patients. Any absence from the clerkship may have a direct impact on student performance, the broad-spectrum clinical experience, evaluation of professionalism, overall grade, and the successful completion of the clerkship.

Consideration will be given for activities such as elected student representation to various committees and/or organizations. The PA Program Clinical Director will respond to the student’s request in writing. Students who miss scheduled hours are expected to acquire the same level of competency as other students involved in the clerkship. Lectures, reading assignments and work load will not be re-created or offset to accommodate any absences.

The work schedule will be determined by your preceptor and students are required to work full time following the same schedule as their preceptors. Students will be required to take on call, nights, and weekends as designated by the preceptor. Holidays or university breaks do not apply to the clinical year.

Students are expected to attend all scheduled clerkship didactic conferences, lectures, workshops, and daily patient rounds. Mandatory sessions and participation requirements in the clinical phase are determined by the individual clerkship. Recognizing that situations arise that require students to miss time from their lectures/clinical responsibilities, the procedures presented below will be followed when an unplanned absence is necessary.

In the event of an illness or emergency necessitating absence from the clinical rotation, students must notify both the PA Program Clinical Director (CD) and the clinical preceptor by 9:00am on the day of the absence. Students should make every effort to reach the clinical preceptor and CD rather than utilizing voicemail or email. Students are required to submit appropriate documentation supporting the reason for any unplanned absence(s).
Failure to report an absence the student will be required to make up the time missed from the clerkship and a 5 point deduction on the Clinical Preceptor End of Rotation Clinical Performance Evaluation.
Students are required to submit a written request for approval of any anticipated absence, to the CD, prior to the absence. The CD will communicate with the student regarding details of the anticipated absence, preceptor notification and preceptor approval. Students should not seek approval from the preceptor without prior approval by the CD lest this be considered an unexcused absence.
If a student misses up to five (5) days on any rotation, he/she must discuss with the preceptor ways to make-up the missed time. If there is no opportunity for the student to make up the missed days at that clinical site, the student must discuss make-up time at another clinical site with the CD. If there are no available clerkship site contiguous with the current cycle, the student will receive an Incomplete-grade until the hours have been made up.
In the event that a student misses more than five (5) days on any rotation for an excused absence, they will be required to repeat the rotation.
Students may be required by some clinical sites to engage in clinical or educational activities during the evenings and/or weekends.
If the preceptor or his/her designee is unavailable to work with the student for 2 or more scheduled clinical days (e.g. vacation, scheduled days off, etc.), the student is required to notify the CD so that an alternate assignment may be made.
Absence from a clinical site during a PA educational conference (e.g., AAPA, FAPA) for the purpose of conference attendance may be permitted with the permission of the CD. The student is still responsible for ensuring that any rotation benchmarks are not compromised by conference attendance.
Students are required to return to campus at the completion of each rotation for academic and professional activities such as case presentations, End-of-Rotation Exams, OSCEs, and other designated program endeavors.
Tardiness
- If a student arrives to the clinical site 30 minutes late or leaves the clinical site 30 minutes early, he/she is required to notify the Clinical Preceptor and the CD immediately.
- If a student accumulates lateness hours totaling 5 hours this constitutes 1 unexcused absence. The procedure and policy for unexcused absences will then be applied.
Second and fourth Fridays
- All students are required to return to campus on the clerkship’s second and fourth Friday afternoon from 1:00pm-5pm. During this time the students will participate in a four hour NCCPA PANCE Board Review. Students must report to the clerkship site in the morning and leave at noon for the scheduled review. Failure to report to the clerkship site in the morning will result in a 5 point deduction on the Clinical Preceptor End of Rotation Clinical Performance Evaluation.

PA Program Student Hours in Clinical Years

PA Program students are held to the following clinical hour’s guidelines:

Students are limited to a maximum of 80 duty hours per week including in-house call, averaged over four weeks.
Students must be given one day out of seven free from all clinical and educational responsibilities, averaged over four weeks.
Students cannot be scheduled for in-house call more than once every three nights, averaged over four weeks.
Students may not work more than 28 consecutive hours.
Students should be given at least ten hours for rest and personal activities between daily duty periods and after in-house call. Violations should be reported to the PA Program Clinical Director, Program Director or the Vice Dean of Educational Affairs.

Students, preceptors and faculty are not permitted to allow/require deviation from the above rules. Violations should also be discussed with the clinical preceptors, either directly or via the Clinical Director, Program Director and then with one of the deans if not satisfactorily resolved.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

A Leave of Absence is defined as a temporary break in a student’s attendance of five (5) days or longer.

Voluntary

Voluntary Leaves of Absence must be for a specified period of time with an expected date of re-enrollment.
A student in Good Academic Standing, without deficiencies, may request and be approved for a Leave of Absence for a fixed period of time to conduct research.
A student in Good Academic Standing, without deficiencies, may request and be approved for a Leave of Absence for a fixed period of time as a result of a health problem or other personal circumstances that prevent concentration on the academic program.

Involuntary

The Program Director may place a student on a Leave of Absence for good reason at his/her discretion. If a student disagrees with such action, he/she may ask the APPC for a review which shall be conducted with a hearing as established in Appeal Mechanism for Disciplinary Action or Dismissal section outlined below.
The APPC may recommend that a student be placed on a Leave of Absence if the student is judged to be capable of completing the PA Program within the allotted time limits of the PA Program, but has current academic or non-academic problems that make ongoing enrollment detrimental to the student’s best interest. If the student disagrees with the recommendation the same procedure for an appeal as outlined in Appeal Mechanism for Disciplinary Action or Dismissal will be followed.

Petition for Readmission Following Leave of Absence

The student must notify the Program Director and the Academic or Clinical Director of intent to resume enrollment in writing at least one month prior to return to medical studies.
Students who are on a Leave of Absence specified by the APPC must fulfill all requirements specified in their letter from the APPC prior to return to medical studies.
Students placed on Leave of Absence may maintain such status for a maximum of two (2) years. In order to return to enrollment the student must petition the APPC within the time period allowed. The APPC will consider petitions for readmission regardless of the reason enrollment was discontinued. When petitioning to the Committee the student must submit information that will support that return to enrollment is justified. This is required regardless of the reason for leave.
Petitions for readmission may be considered at any regular or called meeting of the APPC. The time of readmission will be based upon that which is deemed most appropriate to the student’s status and schedule by the APPC. Students may be required to repeat parts of the curriculum that have previously been successfully completed.
Readmission may be denied if all available positions are filled even if a student meets all other qualifications for admission.

ACADEMIC GUIDELINES

Communication

E-mail is the official method of communication between the PA Program faculty and all students. Therefore, it is your responsibility to check your USF Health e-mail account daily. Timely response to e-mail correspondence is expected.

Faculty/PA Student Learner Compact

Preparation for a Physician Assistant career demands the acquisition of a large fund of knowledge and a host of special skills. It also demands the strengthening of those virtues that undergird the provider/patient relationship and that sustain the profession of medicine as a moral enterprise. This Compact serves both as a pledge and as a reminder to teachers and learners that their conduct in fulfilling their mutual obligations is the medium through which the profession inculcates its ethical values.

Guiding Principles

DUTY Physician Assistant educators have a duty, not only to convey the knowledge and skills required for delivering the profession’s contemporary standard of care, but also to inculcate the values and attitudes required for preserving the medical profession’s social contract across generations.

INTEGRITY Learning environments conducive to conveying professional values must be suffused with integrity. Students learn enduring lessons of professionalism by observing and emulating role models who epitomize authentic professional values and attitudes.
RESPECT Fundamental to the ethic of the practice of medicine is respect for every individual. Mutual respect between learners, as novice members of the medical profession, and their teachers, as experienced and esteemed professionals, is essential for nurturing that ethic. Given the inherently hierarchical nature of the teacher/learner relationship, teachers have a special obligation to ensure that Physician Assistant students are always treated respectfully.

Commitments of Faculty and Program Administration

We pledge our utmost effort to ensure that all components of the educational program for Physician Assistant students are of high quality. As mentors for our students, we maintain high professional standards in all of our interactions with patients, colleagues, and staff.
We respect all students as individuals, without regard to gender, race, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation. We will not tolerate anyone who manifests disrespect or who expresses biased attitudes towards any student..
We pledge that Physician Assistant students will have sufficient time to fulfill personal and family obligations, to enjoy recreational activities, and to obtain adequate rest. We monitor the time required to fulfill educational objectives, including time required for “call” on clinical rotations, to ensure students’ well-being.
In nurturing both the intellectual and the personal development of Physician Assistant students, we celebrate expressions of professional attitudes and behaviors, as well as achievement of academic excellence.
We do not tolerate any abuse or exploitation of students.
We do not allow students to substitute or function as instructional faculty. Students with specific prior knowledge, experience and skills may assist faculty in didactic and laboratory session to share their knowledge and skills, however, students are not to be the primary instructor or instructor of record for any component of the curriculum.
We encourage any student who experiences mistreatment or who witnesses unprofessional behavior to report the facts immediately to appropriate faculty or staff. We treat all such reports as confidential and do not tolerate reprisals or retaliations of any kind.

Commitments of Students

We pledge our utmost effort to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors required to fulfill all educational objectives established by the faculty
We cherish the professional virtues of honesty, compassion, integrity, fidelity, and dependability
We will honor the accomplishments and sacrifices of the faculty who help direct our learning, and respect the effort of the faculty as they help us become physicians and colleagues
We pledge to respect all faculty members and all Physician Assistant students as individuals, without regard to gender, race, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation
As Physician Assistants in training, we embrace the highest standards of the medical profession and pledge to conduct ourselves accordingly in all of our interactions with patients, colleagues, and staff.
In fulfilling our own obligations as professionals, we pledge to assist our fellow students in meeting their professional obligations, as well.

Violations of Faculty Learner Compact

Student reporting of faculty violations of conduct, as it relates to students, shall be to the Program Director. An alternate site of reporting is through the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs. Violations of the standards of conduct by faculty as enumerated in the Faculty Medical Learner Compact or of University Policies shall be relayed to the Faculty Affairs for appropriate action. Please see Grievance Policy.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

The faculty and director of each course/SCPE (for simplicity the term "course" will be inclusive of courses and SCPEs) define the criteria for acceptable academic performance in that course. Evaluation of academic performance may include (but is not necessarily limited to) measuring the student’s knowledge, measuring how the student applies such knowledge to specific problems, evaluating the judgment a student employs in solving problems and assessing the quality of the student’s psychomotor skills, professional conduct, ethical behavior and interpersonal relationships with medical colleagues, patients and patients’ families.

Students must receive a passing grade in every course to be recommended for promotion and graduation. Any student with a deficient grade, who is granted approval by the Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC) to remediate the deficiency, must complete the required remedial coursework with a passing grade. Remediation requirements will be determined by the appropriate Course Director and approved by the Program Director and the APPC.

Requirements for Graduation

For a student to be recommended for graduation, he or she must have satisfied the PA Program faculty and the APPC in terms of ability and professional behavior by obtaining a passing grade in all courses of the established curriculum leading to the MPAS degree. In addition, the student must have made the appropriate arrangements to discharge all financial obligations to the university. The only exception is the repayment of loans that have a specified maturity date.

Unsatisfactory Performance

Unsatisfactory academic performance (one or more deficient grades) by a student will be reviewed by the Physician Assistant Program Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC). Unsatisfactory academic performance may be subject to dismissal from PA Program. VA scholarship benefits will be terminated for VA students for unsatisfactory progress.

Academic Honesty Guidelines

All students are required to abide by the USF Academic Dishonesty and Disruption of Academic Process Guidelines that have been accepted by the university and are displayed in detail in the USF Student Handbook.

Consequences

Punishment for the violation of any of the academic honesty guidelines will depend on the seriousness of the disruption.

Appeal

Students have the right to appeal disciplinary actions to the appropriate committee through the APPC. Such appeals must be submitted in writing within ten (10) business days of notification of the decision.

Requirement to Report Criminal Incident

Students are required to report any interaction with the police resulting in an arrest or being brought before the criminal justice system within fifteen (15) days of the incident. This requirement is independent of whether or not there is a conviction involved. Failure to report any incident will result in action by the APPC for unprofessional behavior. APPC action may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the PA Program.

PROFESSIONALISM GUIDELINES

Professionalism is an essential part of the practice of medicine, and the PA Program is committed to assisting the development of professional attitudes and values in all our students. There are numerous components to professionalism, including reliability, adherence to ethical principles and effective collaboration with others (including peers, supervisors, patients, families and other members of the health care delivery team).

All constituents of the program are expected to demonstrate professional behavior, defined by the program and college's mission, vision and values which are behaviors consistent with expectations of the public and the profession. For the Physician Assistant profession, these values and behaviors are delineated in the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

AAPA Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant

NCCPA Code of Conduct

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDENT PROGRESSION, ADVANCEMENT AND DUE PROCESS

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Physician Assistants must demonstrate the knowledge and skills in order to provide high quality patient care in a variety of clinical settings. In order to achieve this goal, the faculty and director of each course/SCPE (for simplicity the term course will be inclusive of courses and SCPEs) define the criteria for acceptable academic performance in that course. Evaluation of academic performance may include (but is not necessarily limited to) measuring the student’s knowledge, measuring how the student applies such knowledge to specific problems, evaluating the judgment a student employs in solving problems and assessing the quality of the student’s psychomotor skills, professional conduct, ethical behavior and interpersonal relationships with medical colleagues, patients and patients’ families.

Students are subject to dismissal from the program if they do not achieve academic good standing under established rules.

Advancement of Students with Satisfactory Performance and Graduation

Requirements for Advancement

For promotion from Year 1 to Year 2: A student must have obtained a passing grade in all required courses that comprise the Year 1 curriculum.

Students with Unsatisfactory Performance

Remediation and Deceleration Procedure

Failure of One Course

A final grade < 75% in any one course (other than Clinical Medicine I, II and III) constitutes failure of that course. The student will be placed on academic probation at that time and will be required to complete any remedial work prescribed by the faculty. Remediation may result in the student’s delayed graduation depending on the level of remediation and the time frame required for completion.

If the student fails to prove competency or successfully remediate, the student will receive an F in the course and further remediation, if allowed, must be by repetition of the course. Students are allowed to repeat a course only once. A second failure in the same course may result in a student being recommended to the Dean for dismissal from the Morsani College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program.

Failing two courses

A final grade <75% in two courses will result in referral to the PA-APRC and dismissal from the program from enrollment in the MCOMPAP or other academic action as deemed appropriate by the USF MCOM Physician Assistant Program Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC)

Clinical Medicine I, II, and III

A grade below 75% in any of the modules in this course is considered a failure for that particular module. In such case the remediation policy for this course is as follows:

Failure of one module

- - The student will be referred for counseling, tutoring, special individualized assistance (Please see section Referrals to Counseling, Tutorial, and Study Skills directly below this section).
  - The student will be given a remediation test one week after the original test date.
  - The student MUST pass the remediation test with a minimum of 75% in order to continue in the course.
  - The highest grade awarded on a remediation test will be 75%
  - If the student fails the remediation test he/she will continue in the course and will have to take a weighted comprehensive exam composed of 100 multiple choice questions.
  - The content of the exam will be 50% on the module that was failed and the remainder of the module subjects covered in that semester will be equally distributed in the remaining 50%.
- - The comprehensive exam will be given on the last day of final exams
  - Failure of the comprehensive exam will constitute failure of a course and the student will:

Failure of second module

- - The student will be given a remediation test one week after the original test date.
  - The student MUST pass the remediation test with a minimum of 75% in order to continue in the course.
  - The highest grade awarded on a remediation test will be 75%
  - If the student fails one remediation test but passes the other he/she will continue in the course and will have to take a weighted comprehensive exam composed of 100 multiple choice questions.The comprehensive exam will be given on the last day of final exams.
  - The content of the exam will be 50% on the module that was failed and the remainder of the module subjects covered in that semester will be equally distributed in the remaining 50%.
  - Failure of the comprehensive exam will constitute failure of a course and the student will:
  - Be referred to the Physician Assistant Program Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC)
  - Be placed on a decelerated track and
  - Have to repeat the course the next time it is offered and will not be allowed to continue onto the subsequent Clinical Medicine course.
- - If the student fails both remediation tests he/she will continue in the course and will have to take a 150 multiple choice weighted comprehensive exam comprised of 150 multiple choice questions.
- - The comprehensive exam will be given on the last day of final exams
  - Failure of the comprehensive exam will constitute failure of a course and the student will:
  - Be referred to the Physician Assistant Program Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC)
  - Be placed on a decelerated track and
  - Repeat the course the next time it is offered and will not be allowed to continue onto the subsequent Clinical Medicine course.

Failure of three modules

- - This is looked upon as a serious deficit of knowledge.
  - The student will not be allowed to remediate the third module and will be referred to the Physician Assistant Program Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC)
  - The student will either be:

Referrals to Counseling,Tutorial,and Study Skills Service

The APPC may recommend a student receive tutoring, advising or professional referral for a variety of situations. If a student is directed to arrange for such services, but does not do so, the APPC may evaluate the student’s professional attitudes. If a student is directed to seek these referral services, the student has a choice of choosing internal or external resources. Verification that the student has utilized these referral services may be required. In addition, the APPC may require that the student have his/her counselor/physician submit information and/or recommendation to the APPC Chair relating to the student’s academic progress.

Grade Appeal Process

Basis for Appeal

A student may appeal a course grade if the student has evidence that the grade was assigned in an erroneous manner. This is not a process for appeal of established departmental grading policies. The following procedure provides guidelines for the appeal process. All persons concerned with this process should make every attempt to adhere to the approximate time schedule outlined in the following description of the appeal process.

Appeal to the Faculty Member for Review of the Assigned Grade

Within one week after the receipt of the grade, the student may appeal in writing to the responsible faculty member any assigned grade that they dispute. The faculty member will review the course grading guidelines with the student to ensure that the process is understood and has been followed. If it is found that the assigned grade is incorrect in the judgment of the faculty member, he/she will initiate the appropriate change. If the change is made at this point, the matter is concluded. The faculty member will respond in writing to the student within ten (10) school days of the student’s request for review.

Note: All actions related to the appeals process are expected to be taken within two (2) weeks of receipt; however, in instances where holidays or vacation intervene, action must be taken within ten (10) weekdays on which classes are held.

If the faculty member is no longer with the University, the student shall confer with the course director or Academic Director who will then make every effort to receive written input concerning the matter from the former faculty member. If it is not possible to receive information from the former faculty member regarding the grade, then the student may appeal the grade as described below and the course director or Academic Director will represent the interests of the faculty member who issued the grade.

Appeal to the Academic Director

If the question of the assigned grade cannot be resolved between the student and the faculty member, the student may appeal in writing to the Physician Assistant Studies Program Academic Director. This appeal must be made within ten (10) school days following the initial faculty member review. The student shall include all relevant information relating to the appeal with the written appeal. After receiving such an appeal in writing from the student, the Academic Director shall review with the faculty member the substance of the student’s appeal and seek to determine its validity.

If it is determined that the assigned grade is, in his/her judgment, inappropriate, the Academic Director should recommend to the faculty member that the grade be changed. The faculty member may or may not concur with the recommendation.

The Academic Director will notify the student in writing, within ten (10) school days of receipt of the appeal, whether or not the assigned grade will be changed by the faculty member. If the grade is changed to the student’s satisfaction, the matter is concluded. If the grade is not changed, the Academic Director will advise the student of the right of appeal to the Program Director.

If the student elects to appeal, copies of all written communication mentioned above shall be sent by the Academic Director to the Program Director as described below.

Appeal to the Program Director

If the question of the assigned grade cannot be resolved between the student and the faculty member, the student may appeal in writing to the Physician Assistant Studies Program Director. This appeal must be made within ten (10) school days following the initial faculty member review. The student shall include all relevant information relating to the appeal with the written appeal. After receiving such an appeal in writing from the student, the Program Director shall review with the faculty member the substance of the student’s appeal and seek to determine its validity.

If it is determined that the assigned grade is, in his/her judgment, inappropriate, the Program Director should recommend to the faculty member that the grade be changed. The faculty member may or may not concur with the recommendation.

The Program Director will notify the student in writing, within ten (10) school days of receipt of the appeal, whether or not the assigned grade will be changed by the faculty member. If the grade is changed to the student’s satisfaction, the matter is concluded. If the grade is not changed, Program Director will advise the student of the right of appeal to the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs.

If the student elects to appeal, copies of all written communication mentioned above shall be sent by the Program Director to the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs as described below.

Appeal to the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs

If the grade is not changed to the satisfaction of the student at the departmental level, the student may appeal the assigned grade, in writing, to the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs. This appeal must occur within ten (10) school days of receipt of the decision of the Program Director. The Vice Dean for Educational Affairs may discuss the case with the student, Program Director, Academic Director, and the instructor who taught the course. Following these discussions, the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs may make a recommendation for resolution to the faculty member, the student, and the Program Director. If the suggested resolution is an acceptable solution to all parties, the matter is concluded. If not, then a Hearing Committee will be appointed. The Vice Dean for Educational Affairs may appoint a Hearing Committee upon receiving the initial appeal. The appeal will be handled as expeditiously as possible by the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs.

When the decision is made to establish a hearing to investigate an appeal, the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs shall convene an ad hoc committee comprised of three senior members of the faculty of the PA Program who had not previously been involved in issuing the grade or the appeal process and three physician assistant students, all of whom shall have voting privileges. This Committee shall elect a chairperson and hold a hearing concerning the appeal at a time acceptable to all participants. At this hearing all material relevant to the appeal shall be presented by the student, the Chair of the PA-APRC, and the faculty member issuing the grade or raising the concern. Others may be requested to assist the Committee. The student may request to have another individual present for support.

The Hearing Committee will submit to the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs a written report containing a recommendation for a specific course of action regarding the student’s grade appeal. If the Committee cannot reach a conclusion, the written report will be submitted to the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs who will consider the reason(s) why the committee failed to reach a decision. The Vice Dean for Educational Affairs will then recommend a solution, which may or may not contain some or all of the recommendations of the Hearing Committee. As delegated authority of the Dean, the decision of the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs is final.

Appeal Mechanism for Disciplinary Action or Dismissal

Disciplinary action of a student from the APPC may be appealed by the student for reconsideration of the action taken. If the disciplinary action of the APPC is to dismiss the student from the PA Program, the student must appear before the committee.

Request for Hearing

The request must be received in writing within ten (10) school days following the date the student was informed of the decision. Requests to appear before the Committee should be submitted to the Program Director.

Appeal of APPC Hearing Decision

The hearing will address evidence of the student’s performance or professional behavior. The student has the right to be present for the appeal and may be accompanied by a person or persons of the student’s choice to provide support and counsel to the student. The person(s) may not act as the student’s attorney. Alternatively, the student may request that another faculty member, who is not a member of the APPC, serve as their advocate. That individual will be present at the Committee meeting only while the student is present. Immediately following the hearing, the APPC will decide upon a specific recommendation. Recommendations of the Appeal Committee are final in all decisions except cases where dismissal has been recommended. If the decision is to uphold a previous dismissal decision, the recommendation will be forwarded to the Program Director. The Committee shall inform the Program Director (or a designee) of the vote and present a report of discussions leading to the decision at the earliest time possible and no more than ten (10) school days after the decision has been made.

Petition for Readmission Following Dismissal

A student who has been dismissed from the PA Program, and who is no longer enrolled in the program, may seek readmission by written request to the Program Director. Such requests require compelling data to support an argument for reinstatement and may be made no sooner than one year after the date of dismissal.

Consideration of such a request, if accepted by the Program Director, will be reviewed by the APPC and faculty members of the PA Program (to be appointed by the Program Director ad hoc). That Committee will make a recommendation to the Program Director for his/her consideration and action. The decision of the Program Director is not subject to appeal.

MISTREATMENT OR ABUSE

Student Mistreatment or Abuse

Students are encouraged to discuss any and all issues of physical, emotional, psychological or sexual abuse without fear of retribution. The student may contact any faculty or staff member with whom he/she feels comfortable which may include the PA Program Director, Clinical Director, Academic Director, or any Principal Faculty. In addition, the student may directly contact the USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention (see below).

Sexual Harassment

In conformance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Florida Educational Equity Act, and the USF policy on the topic, it is the goal of the USF MCOM PA Program to create and maintain a work and study environment that is positive and free of discrimination. In order to help provide such an environment, faculty, staff and students must be aware that sexual harassment is sex discrimination, and is unacceptable conduct that will not be tolerated at the university as defined in USF policy 0-008, Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment is defined as conduct of a sexual nature or with sexual implications, which interferes with an employee’s or student’s status or performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment. This conduct may include, but is not limited to the following:

Inappropriate touching; the display of sexually explicit or suggestive materials; use of sexually explicit or suggestive language or gestures; and subtle pressure for sexual activity, as well as demands for sexual favors or physical assault. Sexual harassment is a serious form of abuse.

The student is encouraged to directly contact the USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention with any concerns.

Sexual Battery

Sexual battery is a crime under the laws of the State of Florida and will not be tolerated at the USF MCOM as defined in USF Policy 0-014, Sexual Battery. As an integral part of academic performance, medical students are expected to maintain the high standards of professional and personal conduct traditionally associated with the practice of medicine. Any act such as sexual battery is a violation of University Policy, which in the case of medical students, is viewed as professional misconduct and is a violation of academic standards. As such, any professional misconduct is subject to disciplinary action under the PA Student Advancement Policies, Procedures and Due Process.

MCOM PA students who are victims of actual or threatened violence can obtain assistance from the /wiki/spaces/MCOM/pages/19396592255. Additionally, PA students should refer to the USF Policy concerning Sexual Battery.

Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention

The USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention is available to assist all USF students or employees who are victims of actual or threatened violence, including but not limited to battery, assault, sexual battery (date rape, acquaintance rape, stranger rape) and attempted sexual battery.

Police reports are strongly encouraged; however, reports are not required for information and referral assistance.

The USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention will assist by providing information, support and guidance in the following ways:

Crisis intervention
Emergency shelter, medical help and counseling referrals
Assistance as needed
Services available on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Resources - Important Numbers

Police Emergency: 911 or 813-974-2628

USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention

Office Location: SVC 0067

- Telephone: 813-974-5756
- Crime Victim Hotline: 813-974-5757

Hillsborough County Crisis Lines

- Crisis Line: 813-234-1234
- Sexual Abuse Line: 813-238-7273

Mistreatment or Abuse Violations by faculty

Reporting of alleged faculty or preceptor abuse violations, as it relates to students, shall be made to the Program Director of the PA program. An alternate site of reporting is through the Academic or Clinical Director. Alleged abuse violations by faculty shall be relayed to the Faculty Affairs Dean (currently Senior Executive Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs) for action based on University Policy.

GENERAL PROCEDURES

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in July of 1990, with its provisions becoming effective at various dates thereafter. The ADA expands the rights of the disabled and augments existing anti-discrimination laws. Title III of the Act relates to anti-discrimination by entities engaged in public services and applies to the relationship between students and colleges and universities. The PA Program complies with provisions specified in the ADA.

Enrolled Students with Disabilities

All students with documented disabilities will be afforded appropriate accommodations as determined by the USF Students with Disability Services. The approval must be coordinated by the Academic and Clinical Affairs Directors based upon recommendation from the Office of Students with Disability Services (SDS [Deborah McCarthy, Director, SVC 1133, 813-974-4309]). http://www.usf.edu/student-affairs/student-disabilities-services/accommodations/index.aspx

Accepted students who have disabilities will be expected to achieve a comparable level of competency to that required of other students for progression and graduation.

In order to receive special accommodations, it is the responsibility of the student to provide appropriate professional documentation showing the nature of their disability and request accommodations. Upon request, the PA Program or SDS will provide recommendations to applicants concerning professionals who are skilled in conducting evaluations for individuals who believe they may have a disability.

Student Health

As in all institutions, student health is the ultimate responsibility of the individual student. All students are required to have health insurance throughout their enrollment in the PA Program. During the orientation process students are counseled about appropriate avenues for receiving medical care. Available options include continued care by the student’s personal physician, the University Student Health Center or the USF Physicians Group. No one in the PA Program shall have access to student medical records without signed release from the student. PA Program principle faculty, the program director and the medical director must not participate a health care providers for students in the program, except in an emergency situation.

Prior to matriculation all students are required to provide the following to the Medical Health Administration Office for review:

Students must have health insurance in effect at all times during enrollment at PA Program. Policy information on basic health insurance policies will be available at orientation for students who do not have current health insurance. Certification of current health insurance is required for each year of enrollment.
Students must undergo a physical examination conducted by the student’s personal physician. prior to starting school. Complete the Physical Exam Verification Form and return it to the Medical Health Administration Office. Matriculating students will be informed of the deadline in which this form is due
Students must provide documented evidence of immunity to specified communicable diseases listed on the Communicable Disease Prevention Certification Form. All documentation must be in English.

Medical Health Administration Timeline

Annual Requirements provided through Medical Health Administration (MHA) – PA students

All students must complete the following requirements prior to matriculation:

Tuberculosis: Documentation of an initial “2-Step” Tuberculin Skin Test (TST/PPD). The 2^nd Test must be at least 1 week and no longer than 12 months from the initial testing. A current “Negative” TST within 6 months of visit to USF is also required. This current test result can serve as the 2^nd Step if administered within 12 months of the previous test date. Individuals with a history of a “Positive” TST/PPD skin test must submit documentation of a negative chest x-ray within 12 months of visit to USF and a current Screening Questionnaire for signs/symptoms of TB.
Rubella (German Measles): Serologic documentation of a positive Rubella immune titer OR immunization with at least one dose of live Rubella or MMR vaccine after 12 months of age.
Rubeola (10 day Measles): Serologic documentation of a positive Rubeola immune titer OR immunization with two doses of live Rubeola or MMR vaccine administered after 12 months of age separated by 28 days or more.
Mumps: Serologic documentation of a positive Mumps immune titer OR immunization with at least two doses of live Mumps or MMR vaccine after 12 months of age.
Varicella (Chicken Pox): Serologic documentation of a positive Varicella titer OR two Varicella immunizations (given 4 to 8 weeks apart). This requirement is satisfied only by a positive titer or the vaccine series.
Hepatitis B: Serologic documentation of a positive (QUANTITATIVE) Hepatitis B surface antibody titer following completion of the Hepatitis B vaccination series of 3 injections. You must provide documentation of the Vaccine series AND the Positive Antibody Titer to meet this requirement.
Influenza Vaccination: Flu vaccination will be required each year. This vaccine will be provided for you at no cost beginning in October of each year through the USF Health Medical Health Administration office or from our clinical affiliates.
Adacel™ or BOOSTRIX® Vaccine Booster:Documentation of an AdultTETANUS/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine booster is required. Tdap was licensed in June 2005 for use as a single dose booster vaccination (i.e. not for subsequent booster doses). The current CDC recommendation states “Healthcare personnel, regardless of age, should receive a single dose of Tdap as soon as feasible if they have not previously received Tdap and regardless of the time since last Td dose”. After receiving Tdap, personnel should receive routine booster shots against tetanus and diphtheria by existing guidelines (every 10 years).
Meningitis: Documentation of immunization with one dose of Meningitis vaccine OR a completed and signed USF Student Health Services Medical History Form (Block B #4, checkbox, signature) declining receipt of the meningitis vaccine.

Student Health Resource Services

PA students may be seen by our staff at the USF Health Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare. Physician fees incurred at the Center by medical students that are not covered by insurance payment will be billed to the student. Students will be billed for the cost of supplies, lab work sent outside of the Center, and for elective procedures. If the student’s private insurance company does not cover the cost the student is responsible for payment. This practice also applies to the student’s spouse and children.

An appointment with a USF Physicians Group physician can be arranged by calling the appointment line at 974-2201. Students should identify themselves as PA students when requesting an appointment. (There are a sufficient number of providers to ensure that students will not need to be seen by a provider who is also responsible for grading the student – thus avoiding any conflict of interest issues.If students have an emergent medical problem, follow the emergency procedures in your health insurance policy.

Blood-borne Pathogen Exposures and Exposures to Communicable Diseases

Policies and procedures concerning blood-borne pathogen exposures and exposures to communicable diseases (e.g. tuberculosis, chicken pox) are in place at each of the major clinical teaching facilities. During orientation of the program, as well as before beginning in a clinical facility, an overview of procedures is presented. Try to familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures of each clinical facility and carefully comply with all requirements in case you are injured or exposed to communicable disease.

All needle sticks and other exposures to blood or other potentially infectious body fluids should be immediately reported to your preceptor, PA Program Clinical Director and to the employee health nurse at the facility where the incident occurs.

The employee health nurses at affiliated hospitals are provided before entering the clinical facility.

Health Requirements for Patient Contact

TB Screening

First year PA students submit immunization documentation to MHA prior to orientation
Done at the beginning of the clinical year for PA students

N-95 Fit Testing

First-year PA students undergo Fit Testing during the first week of school by MHA and Environmental Health & Safety
Done at the beginning of the academic year for second year PA students

Bloodborne Pathogen Education/Training

First-year PA students undergo Blood borne Pathogen Education/Training during the first week of school by MHA and Environmental Health & Safety
Done at the beginning of the clinical year for PA students

Influenza Immunization

All PA students will be annually vaccinated during training beginning in October by MHA or USF MCOM clinical affiliates.

Student Exposures at the USF Affiliated Practice Sites:

The Employee Health Departments at the affiliated practice sites will evaluate students who report significant exposures to blood/body fluids and communicable diseases while on rotation. Significant exposures include needle sticks, sharp injuries, non-intact skin and mucous membrane exposures to blood, body fluids or exposures to airborne communicable diseases.

Exposures should be handled as follows:

The student should report the exposure to his/her instructor immediately.

The student fills out the employee section of the affiliated site’s Employee Incident Report.
The instructor fills out the supervisor section of the Employee Incident Report.
The student takes the completed incident report to Employee Health as soon as possible after the exposure. The student should bring the following information on the source patient: name, medical record number, diagnosis, and room number.
Student reporting a needle stick/sharp injury from a patient must be evaluated within one to two hours for appropriate prophylaxis. In these cases, if Employee Health is closed, the student should contact the site’s nursing supervisor.
The student will be provided with the following evaluation:
First aid treatment as necessary.
Investigation of the source patient and HIV and hepatitis tests as necessary.
Baseline lab work. Follow-up tests at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months will be offered. There will be no charge for the required lab tests.
Employee Health will provide the appropriate prophylaxis.

Communicable Illness

Students with an illness or medical condition that may be communicable to patients or staff should not be allowed patient contact.
If the student is unsure whether he/she should be in patient contact areas, please refer the student to Employee Health Services. If necessary, the student will be evaluated by staff at Employee Health to determine work status.
Persons with the following medical conditions should not be allowed patient contact without a medical clearance:

Active chicken pox, measles, German measles, herpes zoster (shingles), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis
Diarrhea lasting over three days or accompanied by fever or bloody stools
Conjunctivitis
Group A streptococcal disease (e.g. strep throat) until 24 hours of treatment received
Draining or infected skin lesions
Oral herpes with draining lesions

Chemical Dependency

Students who are identified as having a chemical dependency are referred to the HELPS Program for consultation and then referral to the Florida Professional Resources Network (PRN). Successful entry into and treatment via this program will result in no additional action against the student. Should a student be dismissed by the PRN for non-compliance, action will be referred to the APPC and may result in dismissal from the PA Program.

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