Program Policies

Program policies are published, readily available, and consistently applied to all students, principal faculty, staff, and the program director regardless of their location.

Lenoir-Rhyne University PA program policies apply for all students, principal faculty, staff, and the program director regardless of their location.

The program publishes, makes readily available, and consistently applies a policy that PA students are not required to work for the program.

Lenoir-Rhyne University does not require MSPAS students to work for the program. Lenoir-Rhyne University Physician Assistant students cannot be employed by the Physician Assistant program at any time.

The program publishes, makes readily available, and consistently applies a policy that PA students do not substitute for or function as:

1. Instructional faculty
2. Clinical or administrative staff              

Lenoir-Rhyne University does not allow MSPAS students to work for the MSPAS Program as faculty, primary instructor, instructional faculty, or clinical/administrative staff. Students are not allowed to perform clerical or administrative work for the program. When students are on clinical rotations, students cannot substitute for clinical or administrative staff during the supervised clinical practice experiences.

The program publishes, makes readily available, and consistently applies a policy that requires PA students to be clearly identified in the clinical setting to distinguish them from other health profession students and practitioners.

LR MSPAS Student Policy Manual Section 6.8 Dress Code for Classroom, Lab and Clinicals

“All students must wear professional attire with your Lenoir-Rhyne University lab coat and Lenoir-Rhyne PA student issued name tag in a visible location for patient encounters/clinical experiences. Students may also receive an additional badge/ID from a clinical site that they will be expected to wear to further identify themselves as a PA student.”
 

The program publishes, makes readily available, and consistently applies policies addressing student exposure to infectious and environmental hazards before students undertake any educational activities that would place them at risk. Those policies:

1. Address methods of prevention
2. Address procedures for care and treatment after exposure
3. Clearly define financial responsibility

LR MSPAS Student Policy Manual Section (4.11.6, 4.11.7, 4.11.8, 10.3.11.2, 10.3.11.3)

The program publishes, makes readily available, and consistently applies policies that preclude the program director, medical director, and principal faculty from participating as healthcare providers for students in the program, except in emergency situations.

LR MSPAS Student Policy Manual Section 4.11.8 Injury or Medical Emergencies of a Student During Program Activities

The principal faculty, program director and medical director cannot act as healthcare providers for students except in an emergency.

LR MSPAS Student Policy Manual Section 9.2.3.1 Student Health Services 

The MSPAS Program does not permit students to ask or seek medical advice or treatment from any principal faculty, the medical director, or the program director, except in the case of an emergency.
 

The program publishes, makes readily available, and consistently applies written procedures that ensure timely access and/or referral of students to services addressing personal issues that may impact their progress in the PA program.

LR Health & Wellness website including TimelyCare, Health Center, Counseling Services, and Disability Services resources and contact information.

LR BEAR Central (Belonging, Equity, Access and Retention) offers resources and services to set you up for academic success. BEAR Central offers services for all undergraduate and graduate students, including undergraduate advising, undergraduate and graduate student success services, writing and speaking services, tutoring services, peer academic coaching and faculty academic coaching, among other services.

LR Student Support & Outreach The Office of Student Support and Outreach assists students in overcoming obstacles by connecting them with the resources and services that support their long-term success. The Student Care Referral form is available to all faculty and staff to report any student need, including the following:

• Academic success, e.g., excessive absences or grade issues.
• Financial issues.
• Food or housing insecurity.
• Personal health and well-being, social connection, etc. 

Once a referral is submitted, the Office of Student Support and Outreach will contact the student quickly and work to connect them with available resources. Concerns that are strictly academic in nature will be referred to BEAR Central for follow-up.
 

The program publishes, makes readily available to current and prospective students, and consistently applies a policy stating that PA students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.

Program Policy for Soliciting Clinical Sites

Prospective and enrolled students are not required or permitted to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.

To meet program and accreditation standards, the director of clinical education and PA Studies program is responsible for identifying, contacting and evaluating clinical sites and preceptors for suitability.
 

The program publishes, makes readily available to current and prospective students, and consistently applies policies based on current CDC health professionals’ recommendations and applicable state or country mandates for:

• Minimum immunization and health screening of students

LR MSPAS Student Policy Manual Sections (4.5.2, 4.5.2.1)

The sponsoring institution and program’s announcements and advertising accurately reflect the program offered.

The Lenoir-Rhyne University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program announcements and advertising accurately reflect the program offered. The program updates the PA program website regularly.