Program Policies

Return to Physician Assistant Studies Home Page

The complete list of program policies is available to students upon admission in the Physician Assistant Studies Student Handbook.

Student Employment Policy

The PAS program is a rigorous academic and clinical program. It is expected that students will have a full-time commitment to their academic course of study. PAS students may not work for or teach within the PAS program in any capacity—volunteer or paid positions. During Year Two, while on clinical rotations, students are not permitted to substitute for clinical or administrative staff. 

The PAS program strongly discourages students from holding outside employment while enrolled in the didactic or clinical years due to the time commitment required for the program. In the case that a student finds it necessary to hold outside employment while taking courses or during clinical rotations, they should contact the Program Director in writing, who will then refer the notice to the Student Progress Committee. Expectations, assignments and due dates are not changed for students who are employed.

Didactic class and clinical rotation schedules will not be modified to accommodate any individual student’s outside commitments.

Immunization and Student Health Policy

Health Insurance: All PAS students are required to maintain health insurance, at their own expense, for the duration of the 24-month program. Proof of health insurance will be requested at the time of the deposit upon admission. Current documentation must be on file with the PAS program and the Dominican University Wellness Center while enrolled in the program.

Physical Examination: All PAS students are required to have a physical examination within one year prior to matriculation, and again before they begin their second year in the program. The physical examination form can be found here. Forms from healthcare providers are accepted if they cover the same information on the PAS program's form. The completed and signed form must be uploaded by the student to the Wellness Center portal before the first day of class.

Immunization Requirements: Students are required to adhere to the CDC-immunization guidelines for health care personnel. Proof of immunity titer* levels must be on file with the Wellness Center

*Titers are blood tests that measure the antibodies in a patient's blood to determine if they have immunity to a disease, or if further vaccination is required.

Proof of immunity by titer level must be on file in each student's Wellness Center portal. Records of immunizations, titers, physical examination records, and all other personal health records are kept on file within the Wellness Center only. The PAS program personnel do not have access to these records. It is the student's responsibility to send a verified immunization record from the Wellness Center to the program. All required testing and examinations are the financial responsibility of the student.

The PAS program director, medical director, faculty and/or staff will not (except in case of emergency) provide medical treatment to physician assistant students. The PAS program office staff and/or faculty will not keep or have access to student health records.

Criminal Background (CBSO) Check and Urine Drug Screen Policy

The PAS Program requires a Criminal Background/Sex Offender (CBSO) check and urine drug screen (10 panel) of each student prior to matriculation into the program. Accepted students will be given instructions for completing the Criminal Background/Sex Offender check. The CBSO must be repeated prior to the start of the clinical year (Year 2) of the program. All CBSO checks are done at the expense of the student.

Urine Drug Screening is required prior to enrolling in classes in the program. The initial urine test will be completed by Certified Background prior to matriculation. An additional urine drug test through Certified Background also will be required prior to participation in clinical rotations (Year 2). All Urine Drug Screen testing is done at the expense of the student.

Information obtained for the purpose of and during the CBSO and Urine Drug Screen will be retained by the PAS program office separate from other student educational and academic records. Confidentiality will be maintained consistent with FERPA and any other appropriate guidelines.

Grievous report in criminal background check or a positive Urine Drug Screen for non-prescription drugs may be grounds for withdrawing the offer of admission or dismissal from the program.

Professionalism

Dominican University PAS students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner in the classroom, at clinical sites, on campus and at all other times. Students are expected to arrive punctually and participate in all didactic activities and submit all assignments on time. Conventional wisdom is to plan to arrive 15 minutes early each day so unexpected delays such as weather or traffic are accounted for. Student are expected to interact with each other, faculty, staff and patients and their families in a manner that reflects the Dominican University values of integrity, fairness, respect, community, responsibility and truthfulness.

Student professionalism is one of the six NCCPA core competencies for physician assistant students. and will be assessed and graded in both the clinical and didactic year and at the end of each semester by the Student Progress committee. Serious or repeated breaches of professional behavior will be referred to the Program Director for review and action, up to, and including dismissal from the program. Additional information regarding evaluation mechanisms for the clinical year will be delineated in the PAS Student Handbook and will be given to each student at matriculation.

Refund Policy

The Physician Assistant Studies Program will follow the Dominican University Refund policy and procedure guidelines. Withdrawal from the program during the:

• 1st week: 100% refund of tuition
• 2nd week: 80% refund of tuition
• 3rd week: 60% refund of tuition
• 4th week: 40% refund of tuition
• 5th week: 20% refund of tuition
• After the 5th week: no tuition will be refunded

Program fees will not be refunded. In order to receive a tuition refund, withdrawal from the program must be done officially by informing the program director in writing of the intent to withdraw and by completing a withdrawal forms, for all necessary classes, for the Office of the Registrar.

For additional information, please see Dominican University Refund and Requirements for Withdrawal policies.

Accreditation Statement

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Dominican University Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Dominican University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2030. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.

View the ARC-PA Student Attrition Report on our Outcomes webpage.

Return to Physician Assistant Studies Home Page