School of Health Professions
Program Policies
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Summary of PA program attendance policy
Attendance (in person) is鈥�mandatory鈥痜or all PA program classes, labs, activities, assessments, and clinical rotations. There are no online courses in the PA curriculum and there is no virtual attendance option. Lectures and other instructional activities are not routinely recorded or available to absent students. See the PA student handbook for policies, procedures, and further information on excused and unexcused absences.
Faculty members as health care providers
Program faculty members (including the Program Director, Medical Director, principal faculty, instructional faculty, and clinical preceptors) will NOT serve as health care providers for students in the program, except in an emergency situation.
Soliciting clinical sites
Students are NOT required to provide or solicit clinical preceptors or clinical sites. Students may suggest sites or preceptors and provide information to the Director of Clinical Education for consideration. The program will determine if the clinical site and preceptor(s) satisfy the requirements for rotation placement. Providing information and requesting a specific clinical site or preceptor does not guarantee that the student will be placed at the site or with the requested or proposed preceptor. The program has the final determination on whether a clinical site or preceptor meets the program鈥檚 requirements and on student placements and rotation schedule.
Student Services and Resources
Procedures for student access and referral to University and community services
It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to notify a faculty or staff member if they feel they need access or referral to services to help address personal issues which may impact their progress in the PA program. The faculty or staff notified will direct the student to the appropriate service or resource in a timely manner.
For emotional or mental health issues, students can access Student Counseling Services which provides free and confidential appointments for currently enrolled students. Students can schedule an appointment online, call 601-266-4829 (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm), or email counselingFREEMississippi. Walk-in and telehealth (Zoom) appointments are also available. The counseling service can also refer students for crisis help. Student can self-refer for crisis services by dialing 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or calling the helpnowTM crisis line at 601-266-4829 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
For help with medical issues, students can visit the Moffitt Health Care Center (Scott Hall, Hattiesburg) or the Gulf Park Health Center (117 Beach Park Place, Gulf Park campus).
Note: The student is responsible for costs and fees associated with community providers or services that require payment.
Additional information and resources (including academic help, financial help, health & wellness, social help, self-help, tech issues, recovery support, and help with complaints or appeals) are available online on the Student Help website.
鲍厂惭鈥檚 Student Help website is a central location for students requiring information, resources, services, or
access to a service provider for any issues (academic, financial, mental or emotional,
health & wellness, social, self-help, IT (tech) issues, recovery support or need to
file a complaint) which may impact their progress in the PA program.
In addition, any PA faculty or staff member can provide timely referral to a service
provider or their office staff within an appropriate time frame for the given situation.
For emergency assistance, dial 911.
Suicide hotline 鈥� dial 988.
For assistance in a non-emergency on campus, contact University Police at 601-266-4986.
Local Community and State Resources contacts (including local law enforcement, fire
departments, emergency management, medical facilities, counseling, and the Red Cross)
can be found here.
Student policies
- It is the Program鈥檚 policy that accepted or enrolled students are NOT required to work for the Program in any capacity under any circumstances.
- Students will NOT substitute for or function as instructional faculty (e.g. teach a class session in lieu of a faculty member) at any time while enrolled in the Program. Students will NOT serve as an instructor in any phase of the program under any circumstances.
- Students will NOT substitute for or function as clinical or administrative staff at any time while enrolled in the Program. Students will NOT provide administrative work at the Program nor provide clinical staff work while on clinical rotations. Clinical staff work includes performing any task not ordinarily assigned to a PA student such as filling in for or acting in the role of a nurse or medical assistant.
- Students must be clearly identified as a PA student (name tag, jacket patches or emblems, etc.) in all clinical settings to distinguish themselves from other health profession students and practitioners.
Faculty grievances and allegations of harassment
Information, policies, procedures, and resources regarding faculty grievances and allegations of harassment can be found here:
- USM Sexual Harassment Policy Statement
- USM Title IX office
- USM Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Labor Regulatory Compliance
- The University鈥檚 policy and procedures for faculty grievances can be found in the current faculty handbook (2024-2025), Chapter 7 鈥� Grievances and Appeals.
- In addition, the University鈥檚 employee handbook outlines the formal process for faculty filing a grievance in section 7.2.
Student allegations of harassment
Information, policies, procedures, and resources regarding student allegations of harassment can be found here:
These and other PA Program policies are outlined in detail in the PA Student handbook for enrolled students.