Physician Assistant Studies Policies and Procedures

Agnes Scott College does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, or disability in the recruitment and admission of graduate and post-baccalaureate students.  This nondiscrimination policy also applies to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college, and to the administration of educational policies, scholarship, and loan programs and all other programs administered by the college.

Agnes Scott College is committed to providing a healthy learning and work environment that is safe and characterized by mutual trust and respect for all members of our community. This commitment, as well as the college’s obligations under federal law, means that the college will not tolerate discrimination against or harassment of any individual or group based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability or veteran status or any other prohibited factor under law.

Federal and State Civil Rights laws protect individuals from discrimination based upon all protected classes. Additionally, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects individuals from discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, in education programs or activities which receive federal financial assistance. Members of the community who believe they have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, including sexual misconduct or harassment, are encouraged to report these incidents. Third-party and anonymous reports are also welcome. Once the report has been submitted, the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion or the Title IX Coordinator will act accordingly, which will include a notification regarding receipt of report and further guidance on how the matter will proceed. After a thorough Initial Assessment of early information for the individuals involved, a decision will be made on whether a potential violation has occurred, whether the parties may resolve the matter informally, or whether a formal investigation is warranted.

Reports, comments, questions, or concerns should be communicated to:

FILE A BIAS CONCERN REPORT

FILE A TITLE IX GENDER-BASED REPORT

Students who do not wish to report sexual misconduct to the college may speak confidentially with on-campus and off-campus confidential resources.

The program defines, publishes, makes readily available and consistently applies its policies and practices to all students. In the event of any discrepancy between the College’s policies or procedures and those outlined in the PA Program Handbook, the PA Program’s policies will take precedence.

Program policies must apply to all students, principal faculty and the program director regardless of location. A signed clinical affiliation agreement may specify that certain program policies will be superseded by those at the clinical site.

The Agnes Scott Physician Assistant Program is responsible for securing all student rotation sites through a fully executed, or signed, affiliation agreement. Program policies must apply to all students, principal faculty and the program director regardless of location. A signed clinical affiliation agreement may specify that certain program policies will be superseded by those at the clinical site. The program is not in control, nor does it have input into policies, procedures, and protocols at clinical institutions. Each clinical partner determines its own process for accepting requests for exemptions. 

Any clinical opportunities that become available to a student on a clinical rotation that fall outside of the original assignment are subject to approval by the program director and require a current/valid school affiliation agreement.

PA students are not required to work for the program. Students must not substitute or function as instructional faculty. Students must not substitute for clinical or administrative staff.

Note: When on a clinical rotation, the student will not be utilized for administrative (front or back office) staff. If a student is asked to do so, they must notify the clinical team immediately. Review the Student Handbook for details. 

Adherence to standards of professional appearance is required and must be in line with that of a healthcare professional. Physician Assistant students must present themselves in an appropriate manner to patients, physicians, and other health care professionals at all times. 

PA students must be clearly identified in the clinical setting to distinguish them from other health profession students and practitioners. To be clearly identifiable as an Agnes Scott PA student, students are required to wear a well maintained short white coat while on clinical sites. Students are to display an Agnes Scott College PA identification badge, a patch embossed with the school logo, and the program-approved name tag at all times. Your student badge may also be worn, and any student identification provided by the clinical rotation site must be displayed according to their policy.

Health Screening Requirement

Prior to matriculation into the Physician Assistant Program all students are required to submit an updated medical examination form, which includes a current physical examination and TB screening.

Immunization Requirements

Students are required to meet the immunization and vaccination requirements of the College, clinical rotation sites, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prior to matriculation and the entire duration of the program. The Physician Assistant program adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers. 

All students must provide documentation that these immunizations have been completed prior to matriculation and must maintain documentation throughout their training. Records must be submitted to the third-party company that the College has partnered with for immunization compliance. Students will be expected to upload their health records into Exxat. The director of physician assistant operations or a designated staff member is responsible for reviewing student compliance.

1. All PA students are required to have evidence of Tuberculosis testing.  The program will accept any of the following documentation: 
   • Negative TB skin test or negative T-Spot or QuantiFERON Gold blood test.
   • In the event of a positive TB test, latent TB infection or TB disease, students must have a negative chest x-ray at the time of diagnosis or treatment. If a student has had TB disease, medical evaluation that the student has been treated for TB disease is required. 
   • PA students must receive follow-up TB testing annually. Prior to the start of the first clinical rotation, students will provide documentation of a negative two-step TB skin test (Step 1 within the last 12 months and Step 2 within the last 90 days) or negative T-Spot (within the last 12 months) or QuantiFERON Gold blood test (within the last 12 months).
2. Complete Hepatitis B immunization AND positive Hepatitis B Surface Antibody titer
   • If Hepatitis B Surface Antibody is negative, a Hepatitis B Surface Antigen will be required
3. Two (2) MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella) vaccinations (immunization record required) OR positive blood titers for all three components (lab report required)
4. Positive Varicella (chicken pox) IgG titer (lab report required)
5. Complete Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis) vaccination AND recent Tdap (booster) within the past 10 years (immunization record required)
6. Influenza vaccination is required for the current annual flu session. If the influenza vaccine is contraindicated, you are required to to wear a mask while at the clinical site
7. Complete Polio vaccine immunization or positive polio titer
8. Covid:
   • A completed covid vaccination series is required for the Physician Assistant Program as it is required for clinical rotation sites.
   • COVID-19 testing (if applicable)

Agnes Scott PA program does not offer international clinical rotations.

Prevention

Prior to embarking upon rotations, students are to review the OSHA Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) for Bloodborne pathogens. 1910.1030. Any needle stick or exposure to bodily fluids constitutes a health and safety concern for the student. Students must notify their course director, preceptor, or supervisor immediately if an exposure occurs.

Accidental Exposure

In the event of an accidental exposure (needle stick, splash, TB exposure etc.), students should follow three basic principles:

1. Remove or dilute the infectious material and institute first aid measures as appropriate.
2. Remove soiled clothing.
3. 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 lens wearer).

Incident Reporting

• Notify the course director, clinical preceptor, or supervisor present immediately, followed by notification of the director via phone or email.
• YOU MUST BE EVALUATED IMMEDIATELY BY A MEDICAL PROVIDER for treatment and evaluation for prophylaxis. Utilize a local hospital Emergency Department for 24-hour accessibility or an Urgent Care with extended hours, depending on the time of your exposure.  If the facility in which you are assigned has protocol in place for testing you as a student, we encourage you to utilize their services. Knowledge of a facility’s policy should be obtained during the orientation process, from the office manager, or assigned supervisor.
• Assess the infection risk, which will include 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. 
• Obtain the name and medical record number of the patient source, if applicable.  For accidents with microorganisms for which serological tests are available, a base-line serum sample should be obtained at the time of occurrence.
• Submit the Student Exposure Form on Exxat within 24 hours. 

All medical or health care (emergency or otherwise) that a student receives will be at the expense of the student.

The protocols set forth by the clinical site will supersede those set forth by the College and must be followed as directed. Clinical sites are under no obligation to provide the student with free medical care and students will be held responsible for all costs related to care and treatment. Students must also notify the director of physician assistant operations within two hours of the exposure and complete the Student Exposure Form on Exxat within 24 hours.

The program director, medical director, and the principal faculty do not act in the capacity of a health care provider for students in the physician assistant program. In the event of a medical emergency with a student, the program faculty follow College processes and procedures regarding sick or injured students or employees. Upon hire, physician assistant program faculty and staff are informed that acting in the capacity of health care providers for students is not within the scope of their duties and responsibilities. Students are responsible for purchasing and maintaining personal health insurance, and the College provides services to students through its student health services.

Office of Accessible Education 

Agnes Scott College views disabilities as an integral part of the rich diversity of our community. The College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all students and complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008. The Office of Accessible Education collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to help create an inclusive educational environment for students with disabilities. We also engage in outreach across campus to promote a welcoming and accessible environment. Accessible Education provides accommodations, services, and resources to students with varying disabilities including psychological, medical, physical, or learning specific. Academic accommodations may include but are not limited to the use of accessible textbooks or readings, a note taker, extended time for examinations and quizzes, a reduced-distraction environment for examinations and quizzes, or use of word processing for examinations.  

Process for Requesting Accommodations

1. Students requesting Academic Accommodations should submit the New Student Application along with supporting documentation from their treating health care provider. Please see the Documentation Guidelines for additional details. Please note that the requesting student should not delay completing the New Student Application out of concern for not having the right documentation. Office of Accessible Education staff will discuss specific third party documentation needs during the Welcome Meeting and steps the student can take after the meeting.
2. After submitting the New Student Application, the information will be reviewed and assigned to an Office of Accessible Education staff member. This process takes up to two business days. Once the requesting student has been assigned to a staff member, the student will be sent a “Schedule your Welcome meeting with OAE '' email to their Agnes Scott email account. The email will have contact information for the assigned staff member and information for how to schedule the appointment. Initial appointments last approximately 45-60 minutes.
3. During this meeting the OAE staff member and student will discuss reasonable accommodation based on the submitted documentation and how the student will implement the accommodation(s). OAE staff will also discuss campus and community resources that you can utilize as part of your success network, and next steps.
4. OAE will then provide instructors with a Course Accessibility Letter. Students should collaborate with their instructors to determine how the accommodations will be implemented in their course. A student should meet with their instructors as early as possible to discuss accommodations and other specific arrangements or questions that they may have about the course.
5. Students should complete any other requests that were discussed during their OAE appointment prior to the close of the first class meeting or as early as possible (i.e. books in alternate format, scheduling test accommodations, etc.)
6. When questions, challenges and concerns arise, students should contact the Accessible Education staff at accessibility@agnesscott.edu or 404-471-6440.

Accommodations or status will not be indicated on academic transcripts. In order to receive accommodations in a class, students with sensory, learning, psychological, physical or medical disabilities must provide their instructor with the Course Accessibility Letter. New letters are provided each semester. Students with a history of a disability, perceived as having a disability, or with a current disability who do not wish to use academic accommodations are also strongly encouraged to register with the Office of Accessible Education.  

For additional information please visit the Accessible Education website at https://www.agnesscott.edu/academicadvising/accessible-education/index.html.

In the event that a student is identified as experiencing academic difficulties, the student will meet with the course director and/or faculty advisor as soon as possible. In certain circumstances, the program director may be involved during these meetings as well. Prior to this conference, the student should conduct a personal self-assessment focusing on potential sources of difficulty and identifying possible plans for improvement. Following these gatherings, the faculty will promptly assist the student in identifying institutional resources and/or student services to assist the student in their continued success in the program, which may include referral for professional counseling offered at the Agnes Scott College.

Confidential counseling services are offered for all enrolled Agnes Scott students by licensed clinicians. Services include individual and group counseling, consultation and referral services, outreach, and programming. Students seek counseling for a variety of concerns including managing relationships, handling family problems, coping with stress, handling a crisis, eating and/or body image concerns, improving study skills, improving time management, increasing self-esteem, and dealing with alcohol and/or drug concerns.

Individual counseling involves one-on-one meetings with a counselor and sessions may vary in time.  Group counseling is offered on an as-needed basis and involves three or more students meeting with one or more counselors to deal with shared concerns.

The center’s wellness educational programs include stress reduction, prevention of illness, self-care, and promotion of and encouragement of positive health practices. Reference materials on wellness issues are also available.

In order for a student to remain in good standing while enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program, the student must obtain a minimum letter grade of “C” in all coursework/supervised clinical practice experiences (clinical rotations) and maintain a semester and cumulative grade point average (GPA) of ≥ 3.000 (on a 4.000 scale). Although a letter grade of C is considered passing, students earning multiple letter grades of C may indicate knowledge gaps and put those students at risk for not reaching the required academic standards for continued advancement in the PA Program. In addition, the student must uphold the expected professional standards of an Agnes Scott PA student. If a student does not maintain these requirements, they may be placed on probation or dismissed from the program. 

Remediation Policy (A3.15c)

The Physician Assistant Program curriculum occurs in a sequential format, with each course and semester building on the prior course and semester. Essential skills are learned and assessed throughout the didactic year and are required competencies for advancing to clinical year and to becoming a Physician Assistant. Any student failing to achieve a passing grade on an assessment, examination, or course is subject to remediation. ARC-PA defines remediation “as a program-defined process for addressing a student’s knowledge and skill deficiencies. The process is measurable and can be documented. It’s required for students who don’t demonstrate mastery in a subject.” The type of remediation is individualized to the student based on the identified knowledge and skills gaps. Remediation can help students improve student mastery of medical knowledge and skills of the profession and maintain the minimum requirements for progression through the program. Remediation may take the form of a written multiple-choice examination, written assignment, oral examination or discussion, practical examination, written response to questions missed on selected assessments, or faculty advising sessions, but will be consistent for all students requiring remediation for the same learning activity/assessment. 

Deceleration Policy (A3.15c)

Deceleration is defined by ARC-PA as “the loss of a student from the entering cohort, who remains matriculated in the physician assistant program.” The Agnes Scott College Physician Assistant Program is designed to be delivered on a full-time basis to students in a cohort and therefore does not decelerate students for academic, professionalism, or behavioral conduct issues. Under special consideration and in lieu of an extended LOA, the Academic Performance Committee may convene and recommend deceleration if the student’s medical knowledge/skill is determined to be compromised by an extended absence. Deceleration is defined by the Program as the process in which an enrolled student is no longer permitted to progress through the curriculum with his or her current cohort, but is permitted to return with the next cohort.The deceleration policy is not a remediation plan and will only be granted to students in good standing. The recommendation of deceleration is at the discretion of the committee and is decided on an individual, case-by-case basis. Students typically must complete the PA program in 24 months. If deceleration is permitted, the time to completion of the program should not exceed 36 months. 

See the Graduate Catalog for more information on withdrawing from the college.

Academic Dismissal

Academic dismissal is a status designated by the Academic Performance Committee and recommended to the program director.

Students will be subject to review for academic dismissal from the PA program for the following reasons :

• A student does not maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA at end of each year of PA program
• A student earns a final course grade below a “C” in any course during the didactic or clinical phases of the PA program.
• A student is unable to meet the minimum technical standards necessary to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an entry-level physician assistant.
• A student is unable to complete an agreed upon remediation plan for any course, including summative examinations.

Professional Dismissal

Professional dismissal is a status designated by the Academic Performance Committee and recommended to the program director.

The Academic Performance Committee may recommend dismissal from the PA program in the following circumstances:

• A student violates professionalism standards or poses a threat to the Program and College operations, scholarship, and service.
• A student's behavior poses a threat to the mental or physical safety of students, faculty, preceptors, and/or patients.
• A student violates the principles related to the Agnes Scott College Student Handbook and Agnes Scott College Community Code of Conduct.

The intensity and continuity of the PA Program requires the full-time attention of the student. Due to the extensive training and time commitments within the program, the administration does not recommend or approve outside employment and/or additional school work (e.g. enrollment in courses outside of the Program).

Agnes Scott College does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, or disability in the recruitment and admission of graduate and post-baccalaureate students. This nondiscrimination policy also applies to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college, and to the administration of educational policies, scholarship, and loan programs and all other programs administered by the college.

Agnes Scott College is committed to providing a healthy learning and work environment that is safe and characterized by mutual trust and respect for all members of our community. This commitment, as well as the college’s obligations under federal law, means that the college will not tolerate discrimination against or harassment of any individual or group based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability or veteran status or any other prohibited factor under law.

Federal and State Civil Rights laws protect individuals from discrimination based upon all protected classes. Additionally, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects individuals from discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, in education programs or activities which receive federal financial assistance. Members of the community who believe they have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, including sexual misconduct or harassment, are encouraged to report these incidents. Third-party and anonymous reports are also welcome. Once the report has been submitted, the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion or the Title IX Coordinator will act accordingly, which will include a notification regarding receipt of report and further guidance on how the matter will proceed. After a thorough Initial Assessment of early information for the individuals involved, a decision will be made on whether a potential violation has occurred, whether the parties may resolve the matter informally, or whether a formal investigation is warranted.

Reports, comments, questions, or concerns should be communicated to:

FILE A BIAS CONCERN REPORT

FILE A TITLE IX GENDER-BASED REPORT

Students who do not wish to report sexual misconduct to the college may speak confidentially with on-campus and off-campus confidential resources.

Agnes Scott College strives to address student concerns in a responsive and prompt manner. Students are encouraged to resolve concerns themselves by first talking directly with the college representative involved. The vice president for student affairs and dean of students is available as a resource for students who have complaints. The college acknowledges, however, that students have a right to file a formal complaint against the college through any of the procedures listed here.

Agnes Scott College strives to address student concerns in a responsive and prompt manner. Students are encouraged to resolve concerns themselves by first talking directly with the college representative involved. The vice president for student affairs and dean of students is available as a resource for students who have complaints.

Student complaints are defined as grievances or general dissatisfaction with the college and/or its employees. 

Agnes Scott distinguishes between student complaints and student appeals of college policies and decisions. A student’s appeal, whether for an exception to a policy, of a decision made by a judicial body or of a financial aid award, is not considered a student complaint. There are specific procedures in place for students who wish to make an appeal; these procedures vary according to the type of appeal. Information about appeal procedures can be found in the relevant sections of the Student Handbook and/or the Agnes Scott College undergraduate and graduate catalogs.

Separate policies and/or procedures for disputing final grades and for reporting violations of the college’s Title IX, discrimination and consensual relationship policies are found in the Agnes Scott College undergraduate and graduate catalogs and/or the Student Handbook.

In addition, there are multiple processes in place for students who have a complaint about another student. These include through the Honor System and through informal conflict resolution processes via residence life for residential community standards concerns or via the dean of students for non-residential concerns. Students seeking guidance on resolving a complaint against another student should contact the vice president for student affairs and dean of students to discuss informal options. If a formal process is necessary, the student will be referred to other processes available at the college.

Reference the PA Program Handbook for additional policies and procedures.