ARC-PA Standards
A3.03 Policy: Soliciting clinical sites
Students in the NU PA program is not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. The NU PA program recruits, develops, maintains and determines student placements for all supervised clinical practice experiences (also known as SCPEs or clinical sites). Coordinating supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs/clinicals) by the program’s faculty involves identifying, contacting and evaluating sites and preceptors for suitability and student safety as a required (core) or elective rotation experience.
Students may suggest or provide information regarding potential preceptors or clinical sites to the program’s faculty, but no student will be required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. Any clinical site or preceptor recommended to the program by a student must be reviewed, evaluated and approved for educational suitability and student safety by the program.
A3.12a ARC-PA accreditation status
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Northwest University School of Physician Assistant Medicine Program sponsored by Northwest University.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-northwest-university/.
A3.12b Evidence in effectiveness in meeting goals
The hyperlink below will be updated with evidence of the program’s effectiveness in meeting its goals as students matriculate and progress through the program.
https://www.northwestu.edu/school-pa-medicine/mission
A3.12c Current annual PANCE report provided by NCCPA
Students who successfully complete the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program are eligible to become certified through the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE).
https://www.northwestu.edu/school-pa-medicine/nccpa-pance-accreditation
A3.12d Required curricular components
https://www.northwestu.edu/school-pa-medicine/curriculum
A3.12e Academic credit offered by program
There is no opportunity to enter the Program with advanced standing. No prerequisite coursework or professional experience may substitute for any part of the PA Program curriculum. Advanced placement will not be granted under any circumstances.
All students who are granted admission to the program must fulfill all program requirements. Clinical rotations are designed to provide medical experiences and patient encounters and are referred to as Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE). These experiences form the basis of the clinical and socialization processes for adaptation to the roles and functions of a PA.
A3.12f Estimates of cost (tuition/fees)
https://www.northwestu.edu/school-pa-medicine/tuition
A3.12g Program required competencies
https://www.northwestu.edu/school-pa-medicine/program-outcomes
A3.12h Services related to distant campus
Not Applicable
A3.12i Student attrition information
https://www.northwestu.edu/school-pa-medicine/nccpa-pance-accreditation
A3.13a Admissions practices favoring individuals/groups
Northwest University School of PA medicine acknowledges the following preferences:
- Northwest University (NU) graduates who complete all application materials and meet all minimum admission requirements will be guaranteed an interview during the admission process.
- Qualified veterans who complete all application materials, meet all minimum admission requirements, have served in the military, and are in good standing will be guaranteed an interview during the admission process.
A3.13b Admissions requirements (education/experience) & A3.13d Admissions requirements (academic standards)
Applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements to be eligible to apply for admission to the PA program. All requirements must be met prior to CASPA application deadline (December 1st 11:59 pm EST).
- Completed bachelor’s degree
- CASPA Minimum GPA (3.0) – Total and Science
- Completed Academic Prerequisite Coursework
- Documented minimum of 2,000 hours of Patient Care Experience
- Three Letters of Recommendation
https://www.northwestu.edu/school-pa-medicine/admission-requirements
A3.13c Practices for advanced placement
There is no opportunity to enter the Program with advanced standing. No prerequisite coursework or professional experience may substitute for any part of the PA Program curriculum. Advanced placement will not be granted under any circumstances.
All students who are granted admission to the program must fulfill all program requirements. Clinical rotations are designed to provide medical experiences and patient encounters and are referred to as Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE). These experiences form the basis of the clinical and socialization processes for adaptation to the roles and functions of a PA.
A3.13e Technical standards
https://www.northwestu.edu/school-pa-medicine/technical-standards
A1.02j Student grievances/harassment
https://www.northwestu.edu/title-ix
A1.02k Tuition refunds/fees
A3.04 Not working for program & A3.05 Student cannot function as faculty or staff
The NU PA Program strongly discourages any form of employment during the duration of the program. The 28 months of the program is intensive and requires full-time attendance in both didactic and clinical components. Outside work obligations will not be considered an acceptable excuse for poor performance or absence from any program-related activities.
In order to avoid practices that might conflict with the professional and educational objectives of the PA program, and to avoid practices in which students are substituted for regular staff, the following policy shall be in effect with regard to service work:
- Students will not be required to work for the program.
- Students may not substitute for or function as primary instructional faculty. Students with specific prior knowledge, experiences and skills may assist faculty in demonstration and laboratory sessions to share their knowledge and skills.
- Students may not substitute for or function as clinical or administrative staff members within the program.
- Students may not be hired as employees for any private or public practice, clinic, or institution to perform any medical services during any time they are part of the PA program including during the time the student is under the sponsorship of a specific practice, clinic, or institution during a SCPE.
- Students are not to be engaged in solicitation of SCPE preceptors or preceptor locations and will agree to be assigned by the Clinical Education Manager the appropriate SCPE rotation. If the PA student has a potential clinical site from their hometown or a potential job opportunity after graduation, the program will attempt to make the necessary accommodations to allow the PA student to engage in the SCPE rotation.
- Students may not take the responsibility or place of qualified staff (administrative or clinical) in any medical setting.
- Students may not be given any payments, stipends or other remuneration for medical services performed as part of the PA program.
- Students may volunteer their medical services to charitable, humanitarian or community services organizations in their own time. Such activities are not to be considered a component of the curriculum. Students may not represent themselves as PA students of NU, and NU accepts no liability from such activities. The student malpractice insurance does not cover non-curricular activities.
A3.06 PA student identification
- An identification badge bearing the student’s photograph will be created for each student upon matriculation into the PA program.
- The student ID badge must be worn to every clinical experience and the picture, name, and title of physician assistant student are to be clearly visible. In addition, some clinical sites/agencies/institutions may issue temporary student identification cards to be worn in accordance with their policy. The student will be responsible for adhering to each site/agency/institution policy
A3.07 Health screening and immunization
The program requires that all students maintain documentation of immunizations as recommended by the CDC for healthcare providers. Therefore, all PA students must provide records of CDC-recommended immunizations to the program prior to contact with any patient in the didactic year, updated verification before starting the clinical year of the program, and yearly thereafter for any student extending enrollment in the program. The student must notify Northwest University School of PA Medicine of a need for a vaccine medical exemption or religious accommodation immediately to determine eligibility for clinical rotation placement. Due to clinical site constraints, the only religious exemptions considered will be for the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Hepatitis B immunization: evidence of a complete 2-or 3-dose Hep B series and evidence of immunity with a titer, or Hepatitis B waiver declaring the Hep B vaccine series is in progress.
- Influenza: Evidence of flu shot annually.
- MMR: Evidence of 2-dose MMR or evidence of positive Measles, Mumps, Rubella titers.
- Varicella: Evidence of Varicella immunization or evidence of positive varicella titer
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis: Tdap evidence; if over 10 years old, evidence of a Td booster.
- COVID Vaccination: The program recommends that all students obtain a current vaccine booster. Our partner healthcare systems require students to show either proof of an up-to-date COVID vaccination or proof of a valid medical or religious exemption. A medical or religious exemption must be submitted by the student to seek approval from the healthcare organization. The program will not submit exemptions on behalf of any student and will not approve any exemptions. Northwest University School of PA Medicine cannot guarantee that any student will be able to complete their clinical rotation if a health system will not approve an exemption. If an exemption is not approved, a student will be ineligible for clinical placement, and their academic progress will be held until the student is determined to be eligible and allowed to advance in the clinical rotation schedule. Due to the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 response, this policy is subject to change at any time.
- Tuberculosis Screen: Though not an immunization, students must have a two-step PPD (with negative results) within the last year; a negative PPD will need to be current for the entire duration of the program. This documentation OR a negative chest X-ray must be supplied to the program. The QuantiFERON Gold TB blood test may be used as an appropriate substitution in lieu of the two-step PPD (and annually thereafter) and for students having previously been vaccinated with BCG.
- International travel: The PA student must adhere to the CDC guidelines regarding international vaccination requirements outlined on the website. The CDC guidelines, based on the country of travel, list the required vaccines to legally enter the assigned country. The PA program will require all students to obtain the necessary vaccination requirements and show valid proof to progress with the SCPE elective rotation. The cost of the additional vaccines will be the responsibility of the PA student.
Facilities and hospitals may require additional immunizations and titers which students must obtain prior to starting SCPEs at those sites. Information regarding these additional requirements will be made available to students on the student SCPE tracking site.
- All costs incurred in complying with this policy are the responsibility of the student.
- Students will be required to sign a release of liability that releases NU from any liability related to illness contracted, adverse reactions from vaccinations, and inability to complete clinical rotation secondary to vaccine status.
**The immunization policy is subject to change at any time to comply with ARC-PA Standards, Northwest University, hospital policies, or the CDC guidelines. The NU School of PA Medicine will make every attempt to notify its students of these changes in a timely manner. **
A3.08 Student exposure to hazards
It is the policy of Northwest University School of PA Medicine to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students at all times. In the event of an incident or exposure, all PA students are required to follow specific procedures to ensure their safety, seek appropriate medical attention, and report the incident promptly to the Course Director/Instructor and/or Didactic Education Manager or Dean.
NU School of PA Medicine follows the guidelines made by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding the use of Standard/Universal Precautions to prevent the spread of infection and reduce occupational exposure to blood and body fluid pathogens.
All students are required to have personal health insurance to cover the expenses of any health care or treatments in case of an injury within or outside the clinical setting.
Incident or Exposure Reporting Procedure
a. Didactic Instruction
Faculty and Program Notification – The student should immediately notify the onsite faculty member. Faculty, the dean, and the Medical Director WILL NOT participate as healthcare providers for students enrolled in the program, except in an emergency situation. After medical care has been addressed, the student and faculty member must complete an Incident Report Form (Appendix H or Eagle Site) for the PA Program, as well as the Northwest University Student Report of Injury Form (found on Eagle under Student Development / Forms and Documents / Student report of Injury).
The Incident Report Form will be placed in the student’s record.
b. Clinical Instruction
Enrollment in PA and medical educational programs often yields unintentional exposure to diseases such as viruses that are unavoidable. It is the student’s responsibility to pursue healthcare and treatment advice, including a timeframe for safe return to SCPE site, from their medical provider, should the need arise.
It is the policy of the NU School of PA Medicine to follow the guidelines made by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding the use of Standard/Universal Precautions to prevent the spread of infection and reduce occupational exposure to blood and body fluid pathogens.
Usually before matriculation, but always before patient care or laboratory experiences, including on-campus learning activities, students MUST undergo training focused on potential hazards, standard precautions, and safety procedures related to chemical and bloodborne pathogens exposure. NOTE: As part of the supervised clinical practice experience, students may be required to complete additional site-specific safety or security training.
When hazardous exposure to chemical agents or blood or body fluids occurs, the incident must be immediately reported. After initial first aid and safety procedures (limiting exposure and risk) have been completed – e.g., thorough hand washing, flushing of mucous membranes, etc.:
- Events occurring at clinical sites are reported to the Clinical Education Manager, and a SPAM Incident Report Form is completed within 48 hours of the incident.
In all exposure instances, medical evaluation, treatment of injuries, and evaluation focused on risk limits should be conducted immediately at:
- Any local occupational medicine clinic, urgent care clinic, or if warranted, the emergency room.
- If an emergency, call 911 for rapid treatment and transport to the nearest emergency room; and,
NOTE: neither the clinical agency nor NU is responsible for the cost of the care involved in the treatment, maintenance, or surveillance of exposure to blood or body fluids.
Accidental Exposure to Infectious Diseases Incident Reporting
The procedures for care and treatment after exposure to infectious or potentially infectious blood and/or body fluid remain the student’s financial responsibility.
NU PA students exposed to blood or body fluids (e.g., from a needle stick or scalpel injury or splashing of body fluids in the eye, the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, or on non-intact skin) must adhere to the following exposure protocol for proper workup, counseling, and follow-up.
In the event of accidental exposure (needle stick, splash, TB exposure, etc.), students should follow these basic principles:
- Remove or dilute the infectious material and institute first aid measures as appropriate.
- Remove soiled clothing.
- Thoroughly wash skin and mucosa by washing with copious amounts of water and soap. Contamination of the eyes requires immediate flushing with water or ophthalmic saline irrigation solution for 15 minutes (remove contacts first if you are a contact wearer).
- The student will notify the preceptor and the Clinical Education Manager.
- THE STUDENT MUST BE EVALUATED IMMEDIATELY BY A MEDICAL PROVIDER for treatment and evaluation for prophylaxis.
- The student should utilize a local hospital Emergency Department for 24-hour accessibility or Urgent Care with extended hours, depending on the time of exposure and the geography of the clinical rotation assignment. If the facility in which the student is assigned has a protocol for testing students, the School of PA Medicine encourages the student to utilize those services.
- Along with the medical provider in the facility above, a student should assess the infection risk, including an evaluation of the type and amount of infectious material, the mode of transmission, the portal of entry, and the general and specific conditions of the host. The student should obtain the name and medical record number of the patient source. For accidents with microorganisms for which serological tests are available, a baseline serum sample should be obtained at the time of occurrence.
- The student must submit an Incident Report Form (found on Eagle) within 48 hours.
NOTE: All expenses incurred related to an exposure are the sole responsibility of the PA student. Clinical sites and Northwest University and NU School of PA Medicine are not liable for the cost of exposure testing.
Students should follow the guidance of their evaluating clinician based upon established guidelines and have appropriate interval follow-ups.
OSHA standards 1910-1030 require the record of the exposed student to be kept for the duration of the status as a student plus 30 years. These copies reside with the student and the healthcare provider.
Effects of Infectious/Environmental Disease or Disability:
Students who contract infectious/environmental disease or disability will be reviewed individually based on the status of their individual cases. Students whose disease/disability necessitates an extended leave will require a medical deceleration granted by the SPC and Executive Committee.
A3.09 Program faculty cannot provide health care
Physician Assistant students are required to maintain health insurance throughout the program as agreed and verified by the student with post-acceptance requirements.
Principal faculty, the Program Director, and the medical director may not provide health care for students except in cases of an emergency. A preceptor will not see a student as a patient while assigned to them except in case of an emergency.
In a life-threatening emergency, call 911. In a non-life-threatening medical emergency the following local clinical partners are available
Local Hospital Emergency Rooms
| Evergreen Health 12040 NE 128th St., Kirkland (Totem Lake) 425-899-1700 | Overlake Medical Center 116th Ave NE, Bellevue 425-688-5000 |
Urgent Care Facilities
| Redmond Urgent Care – Extension of Evergreen Hospital 8980 161st Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052 425-883-3333 Hours: Monday-Thursday – 7am – 7pm Friday – 7am – 6pm Saturday – 9am – 3pm Sunday – Closed | Redmond Urgent Care – Extension of Overlake Hospital 17209 Redmond Way, Redmond, WA 98052 425-635-6400 Hours: 7am – 11pm (7 days a week) |
| Redmond Urgent Care – Extension of Swedish Hospital 18100 NE Union Hill Rd, Redmond, WA 98052 425-498-2165 Hours: Monday-Friday – 8 am – 8 pm |
A3.10 Timely access and referral to student services
Local Counseling Services
Various counseling services are available to support a student’s progress in the PA program. NUhope is a community counseling program offered by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. PA students may utilize these services at a minimal cost. More information can be found at the NUhope website: NUhope Community Counseling Center
If you are having a mental health crisis or concern, please contact the 24-hour King County Crisis line by calling 206-461-3222 or texting 741741. If you need medical attention, please contact your primary care physician, or dial 911 for an emergency.
A3.15a Required academic standards
Standards of Academic Progress
Physician assistant education is competency-based which means that students must achieve an acceptable final grade in each course. Every student is expected to meet the following standards of academic progress in each semester and/or enrollment period to be designated as making satisfactory academic progress in the program and to be considered “in good standing” in the program. Failure to meet all standards in any semester will result in consequences described in the following section.
- To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a minimum semester grade point average of 3.0. A semester GPA of less than 3.0 will prompt a review by the Student Progress Committee.
- Academic performance less than 3.0 in any given semester will also be addressed by the Graduate College.
- Any final course grade below a “C” will be considered a failure of that course or SCPE.
- Every student must achieve a “Pass” or “Satisfactory” evaluation on all non-letter graded assignments and projects designated as required.
- Any exam or assignment grade a student receives below a “C” will constitute a failing grade and is subject to remediation as defined in the remediation policy.
- A course grade of “F” cannot be remediated but must be corrected by retaking the course at the discretion of the Student Progress Committee.
PACKRAT exam
The PACKRAT exam is a 225-question, multiple-choice examination that allows for student self-assessment and program evaluation. This examination is created by PA educators and exam experts and provides data to students and the program on student progress and how they compare with their peers. The examination provides reports by student, by class, by topic and task, including national comparative statistics. This examination is given at the conclusion of the didactic phase and again near the end of the clinical year. Completing the exam is mandatory but will not be used in determining any student grade or as a component of the program’s summative evaluation process.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience Evaluation
During the clinical phase of the program, students are evaluated using a number of instruments to assess medical knowledge, interpersonal skills, clinical and technical skills, professional behaviors, and clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities. Evaluation instruments include, but are not limited to, preceptor evaluations, patient logs, end-of-SCPE examinations, OSCEs. Detailed information regarding assessment and evaluation during the clinical phase is outlined in the Clinical Education Handbook.
Incomplete grades
The grade of Incomplete (I) will be approved only when circumstances occur, such as serious illness that prevent the student from completing course work or when there is an unavoidable delay in receiving a course grade due to remediation. To remove a grade of “I” the student must complete the coursework within one year from when the “I” was given. If a student does not complete the required course work within the prescribed time period, the grade “I” will automatically convert to a letter grade of “F”.
In the clinical phase, a student who fails to complete all requirements of a supervised clinical practice experience will receive an incomplete “I”. The incomplete will revert to a satisfactory letter grade once all requirements have been completed or a failure if SCPE requirements are not satisfactorily met.
Depending on the circumstance that led to the incomplete grade, the Student Progress Committee may be involved in the decision-making process.
Completion Deadlines
The didactic phase is designed to be completed in four semesters. A student required to remediate components of the didactic phase may delay entry into the clinical phase by one or more rotations. All didactic courses must be completed prior to starting supervised clinical experiences.
The clinical phase consists of seven core SCPEs and two elective SCPEs. Each SCPE is five weeks in duration. A Senior Seminar course will be taken during the final four months of the curriculum and will serve as a summative examination process.
All curricular components must be completed within three months of the university graduation date in order to participate in the December graduation ceremony with the current cohort. Delays beyond three months will require the student to participate in the graduation ceremony for the next cohort.
The length of any approved leave of absence will be considered by the Dean. During the didactic phase, leaves of up to one year may be expected with each course only offered one semester each year. Leaves approved during the clinical phase will consider the needs of the student and availability of SCPEs remaining to be completed. A leave of absence for personal reasons including student health issues may be approved for multiple periods. The program must be completed in no more than four years.
Academic/Professional Misconduct
The hallmark for all physician assistant students is professional and academic integrity. The administration and faculty adhere to these standards and believe it is the obligation and responsibility of the program to impart these values to the student as an emerging professional. As such, the program enforces NU’s Policies for Academic Misconduct and expects that the student is responsible for being familiar with and adhering to the requirements for academic integrity and classroom conduct. Specific academic dishonesty policies are further defined in each program course syllabus.
A3.15b Requirements for progression and completion
Completion Deadlines
The didactic phase is designed to be completed in four semesters. A student required to remediate components of the didactic phase may delay entry into the clinical phase by one or more rotations. All didactic courses must be completed prior to starting supervised clinical experiences.
The clinical phase consists of seven core SCPEs and two elective SCPEs. Each SCPE is five weeks in duration. A Senior Seminar course will be taken during the final four months of the curriculum and will serve as a summative examination process.
All curricular components must be completed within three months of the university graduation date in order to participate in the December graduation ceremony with the current cohort. Delays beyond three months will require the student to participate in the graduation ceremony for the next cohort.
The length of any approved leave of absence will be considered by the Dean. During the didactic phase, leaves of up to one year may be expected with each course only offered one semester each year. Leaves approved during the clinical phase will consider the needs of the student and availability of SCPEs remaining to be completed. A leave of absence for personal reasons including student health issues may be approved for multiple periods. The program must be completed in no more than four years.
A3.15c Policies/procedures remediation and deceleration
Remediation for a Failed Assessment – Didactic
Remediation refers to any additional training, supervision, or educative assistance beyond the required instruction and training provided to the cohort as a whole. The remediation process is designed to improve the students’ knowledge, skills, and professional attributes needed to successfully meet or exceed the graduation requirements. The goal of remediation is to promptly identify and address areas of academic, clinical, or professional deficiencies and collaborate with students for improved outcomes.
This remediation process will be clearly documented to include the nature of the deficiency (i.e., faith integration, medical knowledge, interpersonal skills and communication skills, clinical and technical skills, professionalism and ethics, clinical reasoning and problem-solving), the remediation plan, and expected outcomes. During the remediation process, faculty will document extra time, effort, and resources utilized to correct the identified deficiencies. A clear timeline will be established for remediation monitoring and completion. Students who fail to progress towards successfully meeting the learning objectives, course outcomes, or program standards will be placed on academic probation, and potentially dismissed from the program as applicable according to the established policies and procedures.
Remediation plan:
1. A grade of less-than 70 percent on assignments/exams or less-than 80 percent on practical or skills-related testing demonstrates concern about the mastery of content for the assessment, and the student will be required to participate in a formal remediation plan to be considered for continuation in the program.
2. Formal remediation will, at a minimum, follow these steps:
a. The Course Director/Instructor will meet with the student to review and identify deficiencies from the assessment.
b. The Course Director/Instructor will consult with the Didactic Education Manager to develop a remediation plan. The remediation plan may include, but is not limited to:
i. Reading assignments
ii. Review of lecture material
iii. Individual focused faculty-lead tutoring
iv. Reassessment (i.e., retest, reexamination etc.)
v. Referral to Student Services (i.e., counseling services)
c. The Course Director/Instructor must evaluate the student’s proficiency upon completion of the remediation plan. The assessment of proficiency on remediated subjects is at the discretion of the Course Director/Instructor with the approval of the Didactic Education Manager or the dean. The final grade on any remediated assessment may not exceed the minimum passing grade (70 percent for assignments/exams, 80 percent for practical or skill testing).
d. The Course Director will complete the Remediation Form which outlines the remediation process and outcome(s) of the remediation effort. This documentation, and any supporting documentation, will become a part of the student’s official file.
e. The Course Director will notify the Director of Didactic Education, the dean, and the Academic and Professionalism Progress Committee of the remediation efforts and outcomes.
3. All formal remediation must be completed by the established time as documented on the Remediation Form.
Deceleration
Deceleration is the process of attrition from a student’s current cohort while remaining matriculated in the Physician Assistant Program and restarting with or joining the next cohort. Students being decelerated may be required to retake some courses within the curriculum, even if the course was successfully completed during its first attempt. The Student Progress Committee will determine if a student who has taken a leave of absence or been subject to remediation which results in the need to repeat a course(s) is eligible for deceleration as part of their review of student performance. Students are not permitted to opt in to a delayed or decelerated plan of study.
A student unable to progress forward in the program due to academic failure may be decelerated with approval from the Student Progress Committee by withdrawing from the program and restarting the program with the next cohort. The student who has been decelerated for a failed course does not have to re-apply for admission and will be allowed re-entry into the first year of the program, contingent upon all other program requirements being met. Upon re-entry to the academic program, the student is routinely placed on academic probation for the following semester. A student may be given only one opportunity to restart the program.
A3.15d Policies/procedures withdrawal and dismissal
Voluntary Withdrawal
A student who voluntarily withdraws from the program for any reason must submit a request to the dean for approval. A student that withdraws from the program must be in good academic standing to qualify. The student must submit a written request prior to withdrawing from the program and must be approved to qualify for re-admission. Voluntary withdraw by a student must include the following: 1) A detailed explanation of the reason, 2) A plan of re-admission to the program, 3) A plan of corrective action.
If a student does not obtain approval by the dean prior to withdrawing from the program, the student will not be allowed to re-enter the program. A written notification of this denial with be sent out to the student from the dean of the program.
Dismissal
An action whereby a student is dismissed from the NU PA Program due to failure to adhere to program standards, including but not limited to academic, clinical, and/or professional standards. Dismissal will occur after reviewing the student’s academic and/or professional deficiency by the Student Progress Committee. The dean will receive a recommendation from the SPC and make the final determination. Any student subject to dismissal by the SPE will receive a formal letter from the dean. The NU Student Appeals and Complaints Policy can be found Eagle – https://eagle.northwestu.edu/academics/office-of-the-provost/student-academic-appeals-policy/
Examples where dismissal may occur include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cheating
- Plagiarism
- Conviction of a felony
- Moral turpitude
- Positive drug & alcohol screen/violation of drug & alcohol screen/background check
- One course below 70%
- Inability to maintain cumulative GPA above >3.0
- Significant professional conduct violation(s)
- Excessive absences
A3.15e Policy for student employment
The NU PA Program strongly discourages any form of employment during the duration of the program. The 28 months of the program is intensive and requires full-time attendance in both didactic and clinical components. Outside work obligations will not be considered an acceptable excuse for poor performance or absence from any program-related activities.
A3.15f Policies/procedures for student mistreatment
The Northwest University School of PA Medicine program does not tolerate any mistreatment of students by the dean, medical director, faculty, staff, clinical preceptors or other students. This can include, but is not limited to, personal criticism of students, any discrimination, not consistently enforcing policies among students, exploiting power differential to control the student or have them do personal tasks, hazing, or making remarks or decisions that stereotype learners. If the student perceives any mistreatment, they should first attempt to discuss it with the offender. If the student doesn’t feel safe approaching the offender, they should discuss the concern with their academic advisor. If there is no resolution with their advisor or the advisor is the offender, they should discuss their concerns with the Didactic Education Manager (if in didactic phase) or Clinical Education Manager (if in clinical phase). If there is still no resolution the student should ask to meet with the Dean.
A3.25g Policies/procedures for student grievances/appeals
https://eagle.northwestu.edu/academics/office-of-the-provost/student-academic-appeals-policy/
A1.02i Faculty grievances/harassment