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School of Health Professions - Student Handbook 2021-2022


PA Academic Policies, Progression, and Graduation

Academic Policies, Progression, and Graduation
Registration
Student must register for all course work prior to the start of each semester. Clerkship year students must register for clerkship courses prior to start date of the first clerkship of each semester. CRN numbers will be sent to students by the program staff prior to registration dates.
Tuition and fees are due at the time of registration. For further information concerning registration procedures, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs at (806)743-3220. Failure to register and pay all tuition and fees will result in administrative dismissal from the program.

Academic Advising
Upon enrollment, each student is assigned a faculty advisor to assist in understanding and abiding by PA Program policy and practice. Advisors must provide timely access for assistance and counseling regarding academic, professional or behavioral concerns or problems.
Each student should to meet with his/her academic advisor as needed for academic or professional concerns. It is advisable to meet with the academic advisor at the beginning of the program to provide background information to your advisor to best help assist during the program. Additional meetings with a student’s academic advisor will be scheduled on an as needed basis. If the student fails a written or practical examination or other assessment, it is the student’s responsibility to meet with the course instructor and academic advisor. Counseling sessions may be documented and placed in the student’s file.
The student’s responsibilities as an advisee in the advising process are:
  • To give thoughtful consideration to personal career goals so academic and professional goals can be coordinated and discussed with advisor (or other faculty member) as appropriate.
  • To be responsible for monitoring progress toward graduation and the requirements for certification and licensure.
  • To understand the basic structure of the curriculum and its requirements in order to ask meaningful questions.
  • To become familiar with the class schedule for each term to plan semester schedules.
  • To attend pre-registration meeting or make appointments with an advisor for registration counseling.
  • To be responsible for maintaining academic and clinical performance in accordance with University and Departmental requirements.
  • Title IX: While maintaining HIPAA and FERPA confidentiality, students are encouraged to notify the academic advisor or program director in the event of an illness, medical condition, or family condition (Title IX) that could potentially negatively impact the student’s ability to remain academically successful. Accommodations will only be provided as recommended and approved through Disability Services.
The School of Health Professions does not grade replace.

Academic Standing Definition
To remain in good standing, a student must meet the academic progression requirements of the PA program. If the criteria for good standing are not met, the student will be considered, “not in good standing” and will be placed on probation. It is the responsibility of the student to know his/her academic status and progression standards.

Semester Grade Reports
Grade reports are posted on the TTUHSC website each semester and can be accessed using the student’s e-raider account.

Credit By Examination
Credit by examination is not offered for courses in the PA program.

Academic Progression Standards
To progress in and graduate from the PA Program, a student must successfully:

  • Maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.8

  • Earn a grade of “C” or higher or “P” in all courses

  • Satisfactorily complete the didactic year coursework in order to progress to the clinical year

  • Satisfactorily complete all requirements of the clinical year including courses and summative examination requirements

  • Maintain satisfactory Professional Development Evaluations and adhere to all program, school, and institutional policies

Any student who does not satisfactorily meet the preceding standards will be referred to the Student Progression Committee (SPC) which will evaluate the student's performance and make recommendations to the Program Director which may include probation, remediation, or dismissal from the program.

The Student Progression Committee
The Student Progression Committee (SPC) is charged by the Program Director with the maintenance of the academic and professional standards of the TTUHSC Program. The committee has the responsibility to monitor student academic and professional performance as they progress towards graduation.
The committee is comprised of core faculty members of the TTUHSC PA program. The Associate Program Director acts as chair. Student academic and professional performance may be reviewed as needed with or without the student presence or knowledge. When evaluating student performance, the committee evaluates academic performance, grades, and professional development evaluation. Each case is reviewed on an individual basis.
Recommendations by the SPC may consist of, but are not limited to, probation, remedial action (which may or may not result in extended curriculum), or dismissal. The recommendation will be forwarded to and reviewed by the Program Director.
Notification of academic actions will follow current TTUHSC SHP Policy.
Specific review and actions may include the following:
  • Review and recommend appropriate action of any student not meeting academic progression standards. The review consists of a review of current performance as well as student and admissions file review. Meeting minutes and academic action letters will be forwarded to the Program Director for review and approval.
  • Review and complete professionalism evaluation each semester, or periodically as needed. Evaluations of any students will be forwarded to the Program Director for review.
  • Review individual results of program practical and summative examinations and forward individual letters of student performance to the Program Director for review.
  • Review cognitive or non-cognitive concerns brought to the attention of the committee by any faculty or staff member.

Probation, Remediation, Dismissal
In accordance with TTUHSC School of Health Professions Policy and the Standards established by the Accreditation Review Commission for the Education of Physician Assistants (ARC-PA), the PA Program recognizes certain didactic coursework and clerkships as fundamental for competency in clinical practice. Students who do not successfully complete all of the requirements of a didactic course or clinical clerkship as listed in this handbook under Academic Progression Standards are subject to Academic Dismissal in compliance with SHP Policy.
In accordance with the TTUHSC SHP regarding academic probation and the Standards established by the ARC-PA, the PA Program has established the following policies:

Academic Probation
A student not meeting the academic progression standards above may be subject to academic probation and will be referred to the SPC for review of the entire academic record. A recommendation for probation and/or remediation will be forwarded to the Program Director. A student may continue in the program if so determined by the Program Director. A student may continue in the program and must meet the academic progression standards and the terms of probation and/or remediation. .
  • Students may be placed on academic probation for a maximum of one semester during the PA program (including both the didactic and clinical phases of training). Meeting the conditions of academic probation a second time will result in dismissal from the program.
  • Students will be notified they are being placed on academic probation in accordance with the SHP Academic Probation Policy.
  • A student on probation may have difficulty being placed in clerkship course sites based on clinical site affiliation agreements. This may limit the ability of the program to schedule clerkship course sites and delay a student’s graduation.
  • A student on academic probation may not hold elected or student leadership positions in the student society.

Remediation


Course grade below C
A student not meeting the academic progression standards will be reviewed by the SPC to determine if remediation is possible. If so, the student may be offered a remediation plan at the discretion of the SPC and Program Director. Remediation may include, but is not limited to, repeating a course or clerkship course, completing additional study in a subject area, retesting, deceleration, or repeating summative evaluations. A remediation plan in conjunction with probation or an academic warning must be completed within the time frame designated and presented within the letter.

A student receiving a course grade less than “C” may be offered the following:
  • A one-time opportunity to repeat the clinical medicine/skills course or professional development course during the following semester by independent study, if instruction is available.
  •  A one-time opportunity to repeat the course(s) the next available offering which may be the next year. (recycle). If the course is a clerkship course, the next opportunity will be subject to scheduling and preceptor availability which will delay graduation.
Students at Academic Risk
Students identified at academic risk may be required to remediate. The course instructor, faculty member, or Program Director will identify the student at risk for failing based on course performance or other academic, behavioral or professional concerns.
A student may be offered a remediation plan that may include:
  • Required student advisement and/or evaluation.
  • Additional required study in a specific subject.
  • Additional required testing to demonstrate acquisition of learning outcomes. Maximum score on re-test is a maximum of minimum passing (70%).
  • A maximum of two courses may be remediated during the didactic year.
  • A maximum of one clerkship course may be remediated during the clinical year.
  • A maximum of one re-take may be offered for either portion of the Program Summative Examination. 
The course instructor, in conjunction with the advisor and/or Program Director, will develop a remediation plan. If remediation efforts are unsuccessful, or a student has multiple academic concerns, the student may be referred to the SPC for additional review and recommendations to be forwarded to the Program Director. A formal academic warning letter from the Program Director may be issued to the student.
Behavioral or Professionalism Concerns
A student identified with behavioral or professionalism concerns will have documented behavioral counseling with the academic advisor and/or program director.

Dismissal
A student may be dismissed from the PA program if:

  • The student acts in a manner detrimental to the safety or well-being of a client, patient, other student, or faculty.

  • Violation of the academic and non-academic policies of, TTUHSC, the SHP, or the PA Program.

  • The student does not maintain minimum academic performance standards of the PA program.

  • The student does not meet the competencies in clinical practicum in the specified manner and time.

  • The student does not meet the provisions of academic probation.

  • The student meets criteria for academic probation a second time during the program.

Dismissal will occur in compliance with the SHP Academic Dismissal policy.

Curriculum Graduation Requirements
At the end of the PA program professional curriculum, each student record will be reviewed by the faculty and Program Director to determine if the student has satisfactorily completed and achieved the standards and requirements of the PA program and each course. If the student has met all requirements for completion of the professional curriculum, he/she is then recommended for graduation from the PA program. The Program Director submits these names to the Department Chair for approval and forwards to the Dean, SHP and the TTUHSC Registrar for graduation and the granting of a degree.

Graduation under a Particular Catalog
A student is expected to complete the degree requirements set forth in a particular School of Health Professions SHP catalog. This will be the catalog in effect at the time the student enters the program. Its provisions are applicable during the following school year, September through August. However, a student who registers for the first time, or is re-admitted during a summer session is subject to the degree requirements set forth in the catalog effective for the fall semester immediately following the initial enrollment. A catalog issued later than the student’s first registration may be selected by the Chairperson in conference with the students.
 
PACKRAT Examinations
The PACKRAT is an assessment tool that is administered to help the student evaluate their academic progress and Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) preparation needs. Completion of the PACKRAT is a required component of the clinical year. The PACKRAT will be administered at the end of the didactic year and during the final phases of the clinical year. Students performing below the defined benchmark on the PACKRAT exams may be required to complete additional study. 

Summative Clinical Skills Practical and Written Examination 
Prior to completion of the clinical year, a summative evaluation consisting of a summative written and clinical skills evaluation will be administered. These exams are part of HPPA 6196 Professional Development V. Passage of both the summative clinical skills practicum and the summative written examination are required components for successful completion of the program.
Both the clinical skills practicum and the written summative examination will be administered within the last four (4) months of the clinical year.
Failure to pass either the clinical skills practicum or the written summative examination after two attempts will result in recommendation for dismissal.

Convocation and Commencement 
The SHP convocation and commencement ceremony is held in Lubbock, Texas on the campus of Texas Tech University. Although the PA students take part in this ceremony held during May, they do not officially graduate or receive their diplomas until the following August. Each student is highly encouraged to attend the ceremony. Graduation regalia is paid for by the student at the time of order.
 
Certification and Licensure
Students who complete the graduate program in PA studies will meet the academic and clinical requirements for certification by the NCCPA and state licensure. The Program Director verifies satisfactory completion of academic course work, clinical practicum and knowledge of skills requirements.

NCCPA Certification:
The program will forward eligibility to the NCCPA for PANCE examination. Students are permitted to take the exam 7 days after official diploma as defined on the published SHP academic calendar.
State Licensure: 
All transactions with state licensure boards are strictly the student’s responsibility. The program director will provide appropriate paperwork, upon request, to forward to the state board. Contents of the student file including official student advising/counseling documentation, professionalism evaluations, academic progression communications, and overall academic performance will be utilized for reported.
Credentialing and privileges requests:
Should be directed to the Assistant Clinical Coordinator. Requests will be
completed within 10 business days. Please allow additional time for requests of malpractice insurance coverage or claims.