Physician Assistant Studies Student Handbook

The production of this document is the result of the considerable efforts of the faculty and staff of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies (PA Studies) at New York Institute of Technology (New York Tech).

The student handbook informs students of program policies and procedures. The program updates the student handbook periodically. The university also publishes the Student Handbook: U.S. Edition that covers college-wide policies and procedures along with other resources.

The PA Studies program at New York Tech reserves the right to make changes to this document at any time. Changes are anticipated, and students will be notified of all updates through their nyit.edu email. A form will be distributed requiring students to acknowledge that they have read, understand, and have had the opportunity to ask questions about the updated handbook's contents. Changes will also be announced through the program's CANVAS Commons.

Any statement in this document that refers to face-to-face interactions will also apply to virtual interactions should the need arise to convert to a virtual format.

Dear Students,

Welcome to our New York Tech's Physician Assistant Program! We are thrilled to have you join our community of learners. As you embark on this rigorous and rewarding journey, we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.

Our program is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and compassion necessary to excel in your future career as a Physician Assistant. We pride ourselves on a curriculum that not only covers the essential medical sciences but also emphasizes patient-centered care, ethical practice, and lifelong learning.

You are entering a profession that is both challenging and deeply fulfilling. The path ahead will demand hard work, dedication, and resilience, but it will also offer you unparalleled opportunities to make a difference in the lives of your patients and the communities you serve.

We encourage you to take full advantage of the resources, experiences, and expertise available to you throughout your time here. Whether in the classroom, on clerkships, or beyond, we are here to guide and support you as you grow into a competent, confident, and compassionate healthcare professional.

We look forward to watching you thrive in this program and ultimately contribute to the health and well-being of our society.

Best regards,
Dr. Wolf & Dr. Cotgreave

Welcome to the New York Tech Department of PA Studies! We are dedicated to ensuring your success in your physician assistant education.

Our program is designed to challenge and expand your personal and academic abilities, ultimately rewarding your hard work with thorough preparation for the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) and a career as a knowledgeable, skillful, and compassionate healthcare provider.

While the focus of your education is on primary care, our curriculum and clinical rotations span the entire medical field. Throughout your education, you will gain valuable insights into your strengths and areas needing growth.

This handbook is your guide to understanding our program policies. We anticipate updates and will keep you informed of any changes. Should you have any questions or concerns about this document, please reach out to the program chairperson, any faculty member, or your assigned faculty mentor.

Your success is our highest priority, and we eagerly anticipate the day you join us as colleagues.

Sincerely,
The Faculty and Staff of the New York Tech PA Program

Faculty

Frank Acevedo, M.S., PA-C, DFAAPA
Assistant Professor

Anoma Zehra Ahmed, M.B.B.S., M.S.,PA-C, DFAAPA
Associate Professor; Director of Admissions

Yennie Armand, M.S., PA-C
Assistant Professor; Director of Clinical Education

Jaclyn Cotgreave, Ph.D., PA-C
Assistant Professor; Program Director

Kathy Garcia, M.S., PA-C
Clinical Assistant Professor; Director of Student Activities

Shinu Kuriakose, DHSc, PA-C
Associate Professor

Daniel Moscato, M.S., PA-C
Assistant Professor

Kristine A. Prazak-Davoli, M.S., PA-C
Associate Professor

Sara Winter, M.S., PA-C
Associate Professor; Director of Didactic Education

Corri Wolf, Ph.D., PA-C, RDN
Associate Professor; Assistant Dean, School of Health Professions; Chair, Department of PA Studies

Timothy Robinson, D.O., M.B.A.
Medical Director

Staff

Catherine Tesoriero
Manager of Operations, Associate Director of Clinical Education

Stella Leandrou, M. Ed.
Physician Assistant Program Development Manager

Jeanne Renz
Senior Specialist

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistance (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the New York Institute of Technology Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the New York Institute of Technology. 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 2029. 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.

The program's mission is based on the fundamental principles of New York Institute of Technology, the PA profession, and the belief that access for all persons to quality healthcare is a right:

• Mission Statement
• Goals and Outcomes

View New York Institute of Technology's mission, vision, and goals.

The Department of PA Studies is a constituent part of the School of Health Professions at New York Institute of Technology. The PA program was established in September 1997 and received Accreditation Provisional status in October 1999 as a Bachelor of Science degree program in Physician Assistant Studies. The first class began in August 1999, and 20 students graduated in August 2001. On February 15, 2005, the New York State Education Department recognized two modes of entry into the PA program—a three-year Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Physician Assistant Studies and a six-year combined Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences/Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program (B.S./M.S.). The M.S. program admits up to 60 students every fall. Priority in enrollment is given to students from the B.S./M.S. track who have met the requirements to transition into the graduate phase. The remaining seats are open to external applicants.

Students entering the M.S. program are required to have a bachelor's degree with a strong emphasis in science and mathematics or be matriculated from the B.S./M.S. track. All students entering the master's degree PA program must show evidence of proficiency in the sciences and have completed all admission requirements.

The M.S. degree program completion requirements include four traditional semesters of didactic studies followed by 48 weeks of supervised full-time clinical practice experiences (clinical clerkships) at selected clinical settings. The three academic years (30 month) professional program is divided into two didactic years and one clinical year. The design and sequencing of the didactic coursework are structured to provide students with carefully crafted incremental steps toward developing their cognitive and psychomotor abilities. Over the span of two academic years, didactic courses progressively cultivate higher-order thinking skills, crucial for the transition to clinical practice and supervised clinical practice experiences in the third year. The curriculum is crafted to establish a foundational understanding for the study and application of clinical medicine.

During the didactic and clinical phases, students have opportunities with standardized patient (SP) contact experience and medical simulation in the The Ferrara Center For Patient Safety and Clinical Simulation.

The supervised clinical practice experiences take place at nationally renowned facilities across the broader metropolitan New York area, encompassing Long Island and urban sites within New York State and occasionally out of state. The program's notable strength lies in the multitude and variety of its affiliated clinical sites.

The collaborative environment within the School of Health Professions enriches the academic experiences of faculty and students alike. New York Tech PA students are afforded the opportunity to participate in interprofessional educational activities, collaborating with peers from osteopathic medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, exercise science, and physical therapy. This early involvement fosters a profound appreciation for the collaborative essence of the PA profession throughout their academic journey.

Candidates to the program are required to read and sign these technical standards, which reflect reasonable expectations for PA students and graduates in performing common functions, with an emphasis on the safety and welfare of patients.

Student Progression Committee

The Student Progression Committee (SPC) aids the PA program in dealing with student academic and disciplinary problems by making recommendations and providing guidance to the program director/chair of the PA program regarding these matters. These recommendations may include dismissal, deceleration, or various forms of remediation. The SPC is composed of representatives of the program's principal faculty, faculty from other departments within the School of Health Professions, and other members as deemed appropriate by the chairperson. A student in jeopardy due to professional or academic issues will be given an opportunity to present their case and any mitigating circumstances to the committee. The date and time of the SPC meeting will be communicated to the student in advance. All documentation will be placed in the student's program file.

Professional behavior refers to the characteristic conduct that reflects the commonly held values and beliefs of the PA profession and the college. At all times, students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and abide by the highest standards of academic honesty, ethics, and professional conduct.

The following are considered essential requirements for PA students and are part of students' academic review:

Personal Hygiene, Grooming, and Timeliness

• The protection of the patients and students necessitates a high standard of personal and professional hygiene and cleanliness.
• Dress codes and grooming requirements must be followed.
• The student must be punctual and perform work in a reliable and timely manner.

Interpersonal Relations and Collegiality

• The student demonstrate professional maturity by attending to the patient's needs over self-interest.
• Students must use self-assessment and metacognitive skills, as well as exercise humility and compassion, to provide patient-centered care regardless of the situation.
• The student must be able to maintain mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, student peers, faculty, staff, and other professionals consistently, even in high stress, ambiguous, and uncomfortable situations.
• The student must be able and willing to examine and modify his or her behavior when it interferes with productive individual or team relationships.
• The student must be able to manage patients with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful, congenial, personal manner so as not to alienate or antagonize them.
• The student must be able to interact productively, cooperatively, and in a collegial manner with individuals of differing personalities and backgrounds while remaining an active contributor to the process of providing healthcare by demonstrating the ability to engage in teamwork and team building.
• The patient's well-being requires that the student be able to accept direction and supervision.
• The student must recognize personal limitations and establish healthy boundaries to support healthy partnerships
• The student must possess skills and experience necessary for effective and harmonious relationships in diverse academic and working environments.
• The student must always maintain patient confidentiality as well as comply with all HIPAA requirements.

Handling Stress, Setting Priorities, and Time Management

• The student must be able to handle the stress inherent in a healthcare career.
• The student must be able to use good judgment during his or her healthcare educational experience.
• The student must be able to demonstrate the ability to set priorities during their healthcare educational experience.
• The student must have the emotional maturity and stability to function effectively under the stress inherent in medicine and adapt to unpredictable or rapidly changing circumstances.
• The student must possess attributes that include compassion, empathy, altruism, and tolerance.
• The student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, exercise good judgment, and prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients.
• The student must demonstrate the ability to identify and set priorities in patient management and in all aspects of his or her professional work.
• The student must demonstrate time management skills by consistently meeting all deadlines.

Honesty and Integrity

• The student must possess attributes that include integrity, honesty, and responsibility.
• The student must be forthright concerning errors or uncertainty.
• The student must be accountable to patients, society, and the profession.

Maturity and Dedication

• The student must be dedicated to pursuing excellence and acquiring knowledge and skills required for practice.
• The student must have the maturity and discipline required for the competent delivery of healthcare services.
• When a student denies that there is a problem, professes that he/she is not responsible for the problem, or fails to engage in any behavior that reflects that he/she cares, is concerned, or intends to try to improve his/her performance, the faculty may use this information to come to a more expeditious decision to dismiss.

In summary, a PA student should consistently demonstrate the following:

• Ethical conduct, integrity, and honesty
• Concern for others, self, and the rights of privacy
• Responsibility to duty
• An appearance appropriate to the clinical professional
• Ability to recognize one's limitations and accept constructive criticism
• Punctual attendance at all program and clinical activities
• Adherence to all deadlines
• Respect for interpersonal relationships with patients, their families, faculty, staff, and peers
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times

Any program faculty, staff, or preceptor can initiate a discussion regarding professional behavior and escalate the issue to the department administration following the chain of command.

PA Department Procedure and Outcomes on Breaches of Professionalism

Any breach of professionalism, as described above but not limited to, which may occur during a student's tenure (didactic and clinical years) within the program will result in the following:

• A meeting will be convened to include the student, the complainant, along with the student's faculty mentor or other department faculty as deemed appropriate.
  1. Should the faculty mentor be the complainant, an additional program faculty member should be included in the initial meeting. The program director/chair must be notified of this infraction and the outcome of the meeting in writing (email is acceptable).
  2. For each infraction, a Breach of Professionalism Form (BOP) must be completed by the program faculty, staff, or preceptor. The original form and electronic copy will be filed in the student's record.
  3. Three breaches of professionalism will result in a meeting with the SPC.
  4. If the faculty and mentor determine that the incident is egregious enough to warrant an SPC meeting at any point (and override Item #3 above), they will discuss it with the program director/chairperson, and a decision will be made whether to call an SPC meeting.
  5. All recommendations for action by the committee will be submitted to the program director/chair and academic and/or clinical directors of the program in writing (email is acceptable). A copy will be placed in the student's program record.
  6. If the charges against the student are supported, the committee may recommend any of the following, but are not limited to:
     • SPC may request a presentation, essay, or other appropriate action that allows the student to reflect on the infraction(s) and demonstrate their understanding of such infraction
     • Recommendation for possible probation (due to lack of professionalism), suspension, or dismissal from the program
  7. The student will be automatically placed on professional probation after three infractions or sooner should the SPC recommend this or if the program director/chair deems it appropriate after discussion with the SPC and/or principal faculty. Probation may run throughout the student's matriculation in the program.
  8. A fourth infraction will result in an automatic dismissal from the program
  9. If the student demonstrates that they have understood and met the requirements imposed on them following the breach in professionalism, the program director/chair and the principal faculty will consider taking them off probation. A letter of this decision will be sent to the student and will be a permanent record in their file.

Please refer to the Clinical Year Handbook for additional details that relate to clinical rotations.

Procedures outlined in New York Tech's Student Code of Conduct may be followed as applicable.

The program chair/department chair, in consultation with the Student Progression Committee reserves the right to dismiss students from the program for reasons that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Inability to remain in good academic standing
• Academic dishonesty
• Behavior endangering others' safety or well-being
• Disrespectful behavior toward patients, faculty, staff, other students
• Excessive unexcused absences/lateness
• Unprofessional behavior, includes but is not limited to the following:
  • Violation of patient confidentiality
  • Violation of AAPA Guidelines for Ethical Conduct (Appendix A)
  • Violation of clinical clerkship policy and procedure
  • Violation of State and Federal regulations

Alternatively, violations of professional conduct may also be handled in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy.

Students will be required to successfully complete a criminal background check prior to matriculation in the program, and periodically thereafter. This will be done at the student's expense. Additionally, students will be periodically required to successfully pass a urine drug screen (UDS). This will also be at the student's expense and may include random UDS. Failure to comply may be interpreted by the program as equivalent to failing a UDS and result in disciplinary action including expulsion from the program.

Certain legal issues, professional reprimands, and/or criminal convictions may preclude a student from being accepted by clerkships and thus may impact the student's ability to successfully complete the program, delay their program completion date, and impede their ability to achieve certification and/or licensure.

A student will be notified by the program director/department chair or their designee of recommendations for dismissal, either for academic, professional, or disciplinary reasons. The student may appeal the chair's decision in writing to the Dean of the School of Health Professions, outlining the reason for the appeal. The appeal must be submitted to the dean, within five (5) business days of the chair's initial notification of dismissal.

The PA program honor code will be presented to each class at the beginning of the program, and students will be asked to sign it and New York Tech's Student Honor Code Pledge (see Appendix B). The honor code is presented to the student at the beginning of each exam on Examplify. The word "exam/examination" refers to any type of assessment in any course; for example quizzes, midterms, finals, etc. In addition, refer to the directions under the Examinations section of this document.

The New York Tech PA Studies program is designed to provide students with the necessary academic and clinical skills resulting in competent, confident, compassionate, and efficient clinicians. New PA graduates will become skilled members of an integrated healthcare team, providing diagnostic and therapeutic patient care with physician collaboration.

Through a critical, continuous, and dynamic self-assessment, the program continuously identifies and implements changes necessary to meet the standards as outlined in the most updated edition of the ARC-PA's Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education. Additionally, we are guided by the Core Competencies for New Physician Assistant Graduates developed by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) (Appendix J). These competencies are intended to guide programs to create their own program learning outcomes.

The Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession published by PAEA serves as a map for PAs in developing and maintaining professional competencies at various points in their clinical practice (see Appendix J).

National PA Organization Websites:

• aapa.org
• arc-pa.org
• paeaonline.org
• nccpa.net

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The first two years (didactic phase) of the PA program are presented as an integrated curriculum over the course of four semesters, consisting of the following:

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The courses offered in the didactic year include assessments such as quizzes and examinations, oral and written case presentations, and performance of lab and physical diagnostic skills. Syllabi will provide the students with the criteria that will evaluate their performance within each course. The faculty will review the syllabus on the first day of class and clarify any questions the students may have. It is the student's responsibility to ask for clarification of any points during this time or within the first week of the course. Grades are also impacted by attendance and lateness as detailed in course syllabi. Please view Appendix H for the grading scale.

Implicitly, program syllabi also include the following statements:

• Any student who does not understand and/or accept the contents and terms of this syllabus must notify the course professor in writing within one (1) week after receiving this syllabus.
• Any student in a course who, because of a disability, needs an accommodation to complete the course requirements should contact the staff at the Office of Counseling and Wellness who will then determine if an accommodation can be made. Counseling and Wellness staff will notify, when appropriate, the program director/department chair, director of didactic education, PA department administration, and course professor(s). An accommodation agreement is made between the Office of Counseling and Wellness and the individual student. The student is responsible for notifying and arranging assessment schedules with the center.
• Attendance, examinations, tests, and assignments are all requirements for the successful completion of this course.

The words examination and assessment are used interchangeably throughout this document and in the program.

Examinations will be administered as indicated by each course syllabus. Date changes may occur, and students will be notified of the change(s) as soon as possible. Quizzes may be announced or unannounced. The course instructor may administer one or more quizzes as listed in the course syllabus. Quizzes are used as a formative evaluation tool to provide both students and faculty with information regarding students' understanding of course material and cognitive knowledge to date. These results are used to provide guidance to students on areas of weakness in a particular topic and for them to adjust their study methods.

The course instructor will schedule the time allotted for each exam. New York Tech's Office of Academic Affairs requires that all final examinations be offered in the last week of the semester, except courses consisting of multiple modules or sub-courses. The final examinations for multi-module courses will be held at the end of each module. Due to unforeseen circumstances, these policies and procedures may be changed by the institution and program at their discretion. Students will be given advance notice of these changes.

Information regarding the exam format will be made available to the students. All students who have been deemed to require extended time as per the Americans with Disabilities Act, on examinations and quizzes will take these assessments at the Counseling and Wellness Center located in the Student Activity Center. It is the student's responsibility to inform the Counseling and Wellness Center of their exam schedule and keep the course instructor and department apprised of this communication.

Assigned seating during tests is at the discretion of the proctor or instructor. Once an instructor has announced that the time allotted for an examination, quiz or practical exam is over, all students must cease any exam activities immediately. Failure to do so may result in the student receiving a grade of zero.

Written exams are administered through ExamSoft. Students are responsible for installing the Examplify software on their laptops/iPad, and for ensuring that their computer is fully compatible, charged, and updated as needed. Training will be provided but students are responsible for understanding the exam-taking and exam-submitting procedures. A practice quiz is available on Examplify at all times for the student to practice/refresh the steps required to login and submit a test. The password for the practice quiz can be emailed to the students.

Any irregularities during an examination will be noted and recorded on the Breaches of Professionalism Form (BOP) by the instructor and brought to the attention of the student, faculty mentor, and chair. The student may be referred to the PA SPC or university student conduct panel for possible dismissal. The BOP form and report describing the incident will be added to the student's file

Procedure for In-Person Assessments

The following should be adhered to when taking an examination:

• The only items permitted on the table in front of you are the device you will use for Examplify and the provided mini-whiteboard or scrap paper.
• All personal belongings (including but not limited to: backpack/book bag; handbag; phones, water bottles, coffee mugs/cups) are to be placed on the side, back, or at the front of the classroom.
• All phones must be turned off (not merely placed on vibrate). Any sound or vibration from a phone will result in a zero score on the quiz or exam for the phone's owner.
• You may not wear any electronic/digital watches (e.g. Apple watch, Fitbit etc.)
• Other than religious headwear, you are not allowed to wear any hats, caps etc.
• There is no drinking or eating during an exam.
• You may only use the provided whiteboard or scrap paper.
• You may only use foam earplugs, no AirPods, etc.
• During test-taking, please refrain from the habit of "mouthing" the words as you read. It will be considered suspicious behavior.

Students may not leave the room during an examination. If a student leaves the room, he/she must hand in/log out of their examination before leaving and it will be considered completed. Whiteboards should be completely erased before returning to the cabinet.

EXam reviews with the class will be held at the instructor's discretion. Any attempts at unauthorized distributing or receiving of test questions attempts to access the test or the exam review outside of the scheduled administration period, or any attempts to copy, photograph, or otherwise duplicate examination items, including distributing examination questions in any format, is considered a breach of academic integrity and a violation of the honor code.

Any student found to have violated the honor code will be brought up to the SPC and may be recommended for dismissal.

If a student is absent on the day of or the day before an examination due to illness or a personal event, an email must be sent to the course instructor, program administration, and program director/chair within 24 hours. Proper documentation may be requested for the absence to be considered excused, and a makeup exam may be administered. Makeup exams are administered at the course instructor's discretion for excused absences. The student will be given written notice of the date, location, and time of the makeup examination.

An excused absence is granted only for one of the following reasons, or at the discretion of the program director/department chair:

• A personal illness requiring medical attention. A signed medical note from a healthcare provider (MD, DO, PA, NP) indicating their credentials is required.
• Illness of an immediate family member. A signed medical note from a healthcare provider (MD, DO, PA, NP), including their credentials, is required.
• Death of an immediate family member. A signed medical note or obituary notice may be required.
• Religious observance. Refer to the New York Tech policy regarding religious observances.

See Absences below for further details.

Should a student not have an appropriate reason for an absence the day before or the day of an examination, or has not documented the absence to the satisfaction of the instructor and program chair, the student may not be given the option to take the exam, and a grade of "0" (zero) will be averaged into the final grade for the course.

The course instructor will contact any student who receives a failing grade (grade less than 70) on a written exam, practical, or clinical encounter within five business (5) days of releasing the grades to the class to set up an appointment to discuss the failure. A one-on-one examination review will be scheduled, and during this review, the Strengths and Improvement Opportunity Report (SIO report) may be made available to the student. This report will provide information about the student's exam and topic/category/task area related to the incorrect questions.

The student will receive supplementary resources to facilitate proficiency in the information and a remediation assignment to demonstrate proficiency. The student should contact the instructor for any additional clarification regarding the remediation plan should they have questions. Remediation should be completed before the next assessment in that course is administered. The grade on the remediation assessment will not change from the original assessment grade. Quizzes are exempt from remediation. See course syllabi for course-specific details.

An academic contract that includes the remediation process and assignment will be conveyed to the student by the instructor via their nyit.edu email or in person and documented on a remediation form for the student’s record. This document will be shared with the student's faculty mentor and director of didactic education. A student must pass the remediation assignment or assessment to demonstrate proficiency. If the student does not demonstrate proficiency, the student may be given additional opportunities to remediate the material. A SPC meeting may be convened if such a situation should arise to determine the outcome and make recommendations to the program director/chair. It may be determined that the student should decelerate or be dismissed from the program.

All students who received a grade between 70 to 79 should also meet with the instructor to discuss their performance. Remediation and re-assessment are not required for these students. Students who receive a score below 80 on an assessment are encouraged to also meet with their faculty advisor and/or the director of didactic education if different from the exam instructor.

Remediation of a Final Examination

Final course grades must be submitted to the registrar within 48 hours of course completion. If a remediation is required of a final examination or assessment (i.e. patient write-up, practical), the following process will be followed:

1. The student will receive the grade they have earned in the course. The remediation would not change the grade as noted above.
2. The remediation will take place within two weeks of the course's end.
3. The student must meet with the instructor and verbally agree that they understand and accept that remediation must take place within the allotted time, even though a grade has been submitted to the registrar. The faculty will complete and submit a Remediation Report Form documenting this, and an electronic copy will be saved in the student's file.
4. If the student does not comply with this policy and breaks the contract, it will be considered a breach of professionalism. Please refer to the section on PA Department Procedure and Outcomes on Breaches of Professionalism

A student must resolve all remediations from the didactic year before they can progress to the next semester.

Remediation Policy for the Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (Clinical Year)

Please refer to the Clinical Year Handbook.

If a student fails a course, they will receive a grade of incomplete. The student will undergo an instructor-led remediation of any failed assessment, followed by a cumulative comprehensive exam developed and administered by the course instructor(s). This exam must be scheduled within two weeks of the final grade notification unless the college is closed. Remediation for semester-end failures must be completed successfully to progress to the next semester. Upon passing the comprehensive assessment, the student will receive a minimum grade of C and will be placed on academic probation. Failure to pass another course will result in automatic dismissal from the program regardless of cumulative GPA (see section on academic standing).

For Clinical Medicine I, II, and III sub-courses/modules, students must remediate and reassess failed sub-courses without changing the final exam grade. Failure in remediation may lead to a recommendation for an Academic Standing Committee Review.

A student must resolve any incomplete grades from the didactic year before they can progress to their clinical year.

Policy for the Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (Clinical Year)

Please refer to the Clinical Year Handbook.

To maintain satisfactory academic standing as a PA student, a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 must be maintained. The college identifies students that fall below a 3.0 GPA and places them on academic probation until the GPA reaches 3.0 or above. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. Any student falling below a 3.0 GPA must meet with their faculty mentor and director of didactic education for review and the development of a plan for success, as needed.

• A student with a first semester GPA of less than 2.7 will be dismissed from the program.
• A student with less than a 3.0 semester GPA will be placed on academic probation.
• A student on probation for a semester GPA below 3.0 who receives 3.0 or higher in the subsequent semester will no longer be on probation as long as their cumulative GPA is equal to or greater than 3.0.
• A student receiving a semester GPA less than a 3.0 for two consecutive semesters, with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0, will be dismissed from the program.
• Any student who has received a grade of C during a previous semester as a result of completing a cumulative comprehensive examination will be placed on academic probation regardless of cumulative GPA.
• A student on academic probation is not eligible for a comprehensive exam and is dismissed from the program if they fail a course in any subsequent semester.
• A student failing a second course during the didactic phase of the program will not be eligible to take the cumulative comprehensive exam in that second didactic course and is automatically dismissed from the program.
• A student failing two courses and/or Clinical Medicine sub-courses (and any combination thereof) in a single semester is not eligible to take a cumulative comprehensive exam and will be dismissed from the program.
• Students are required to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to progress to the clinical phase. If this is not achieved, they will be referred to an SPC for consideration if eligible for deceleration, probation, and/or possible dismissal from the program.
• Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the clinical year. Failure to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 will result in a referral to an SPC. Please refer to the Clinical Year Handbook for further details.
• A student must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to graduate from New York Tech.
• Failure is deemed any grade less than a C.

Note: All courses must be passed before a student may continue in the program or progress to the next semester.

See the School of Health Profession's Grade Appeals Procedure.

For the program's grade scale refer to Appendix H. Change of grade requests must follow the Registrar's guidelines for disputing grades.

Upon being summoned, your first action must be to immediately contact the program administrative staff, who will provide an official letter requesting postponement. The program letter will include your term of study and curriculum to obtain a postponement until after your anticipated graduation date. Failure to follow this procedure may jeopardize your ability to avoid jury duty during your studies, which may then affect your graduation date.

Students who are current residents of New York are allowed to postpone jury duty until after graduation. For further information, please refer to your current residence county's website, but do not request a postponement until you have received a letter from the program:

• Nassau County
• Suffolk County
• City of New York

If you are summoned to jury duty in your home state, it is your responsibility to inform them that you are currently residing in New York.

Attendance at all lectures, laboratories, medical facility assignments, and clinical clerkships is mandatory unless the student receives written permission from the course instructor and program director/chair of the program (email is acceptable). Student attendance during the didactic and clinical years will be recorded. Please refer to each syllabus for specific details on attendance.

All scheduled classes follow Eastern Time (ET).

Vacations and time off are published in advance and students are expected to utilize this time for personal commitments. All absences for any other reason, regardless of length of time, must have the prior written approval of the course instructor(s) and program director/department chair. Requests will be considered on an individual basis, and the student must receive documentation from the chair course instructor(s) for the absence to be considered excused.

An excused absence is granted only for one of the following reasons or at the discretion of the program director/department chair (acceptable written documentation should be provided):

• A personal illness requiring medical attention. A signed medical note from a healthcare provider (MD, DO, PA, NP) indicating their credentials is required.
• Illness of an immediate family member. A signed medical note from a healthcare provider (MD, DO, PA, NP), including their credentials, is required.
• Death of an immediate family member. A signed medical note or obituary notice may be required.
• Religious observance. Refer to the New York Tech policy regarding religious observances.

Any unreported absence or absence which does not fall into the above categories or is not otherwise excused at the program director/department chair's discretion, will be considered unexcused and will be recorded in the student's file.

Absences due to emergencies or illness must be reported within 24 hours in an email to the instructor(s) and the director/chair. The program admin must also be copied on the email (pas@nyit.edu).

Absences on the first or last day of a clerkship, course, lecture series, or before a scheduled examination, break, vacation, or weekend are considered unexcused unless prior written approval has been granted or falls into the categories listed above. Should such an absence occur becuase of a sudden, unavoidable event, the program director/department chair, course faculty, director of clinical education, clinical year faculty, and program admin must be notified as soon as possible and provided with an explanation for the absence. Documentation to verify the events may be requested.

A student whose absence is determined to be unexcused will be required to provide a written explanation documenting the reason(s) for the absence, as well as why it was not reported to the program or considered excused, as outlined above. The written explanation must be given to the course instructor(s), program chair/director, and director of didactic education, who may meet with the student to discuss the situation further. The student may be required to provide additional information where needed to evaluate the nature of the absence or in the case where more than three (3) unexcused absences have been reached. The faculty will then determine if the matter will be referred to a Student Progression Committee (SPC). The SPC will deliberate on what action should be taken in this matter and if the student should be placed on probation. Any subsequent unexcused absence may be grounds for dismissal from the program.

Students are responsible for all materials covered during class regardless of the reason for their absence or lateness.

Policy for the Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (Clinical Year)

Please refer to the Clinical Year Handbook.

If a student anticipates a future period in which they may be late to class, the student is obligated to provide a written request or email to the program director/chair and course instructor(s) for the anticipated lateness. The anticipated lateness will not be considered excused unless the student receives written or emailed permission from the program chair and course instructor(s).

Lateness is both a disturbance to the class and discourteous to the instructor and classmates and should be avoided whenever possible. The program director/department chair and director of didactic education will be informed of the student's lateness, and the event will be noted in the student's file.

In all circumstances, it is the student's responsibility to make up any work that was covered during his/her absence. A student who is late more than eight times during the three years of the program will be subject to probation, and subsequent lateness may be the reason for dismissal from the program. Individual faculty will report to students who are late to the program office. Please refer to each individual syllabus for more detailed information on the consequences of lateness.

Should a student be late or absent on the day of any examination, they must follow the absence policy described above.

If a student arrives late for an assessment, the ending time for the assessment will not be extended and the student will not receive any additional time to complete the assessment. The student will be required to stop all exam-taking activities at the same time as the rest of the class.

A student may miss no more than 10 business days during the program. A student requiring an absence over 10 business days must request a leave of absence (LOA). If eligible, they may be allowed to decelerate to the following academic year (see section below: Leave of Absence/Deceleration policy).

If a student is granted a leave of absence mid-semester of the didactic phase, on their return, they must repeat all coursework pertaining to that semester's curriculum when they last attended (see below).

Should a student miss two or more weeks from a clinical clerkship due to an excused absence, they will be required to repeat that clerkship prior to graduation. See Clinical Year Handbook for further details.

In the event a leave of absence becomes necessary and is granted to the student, any tuition refund will be based on New York Tech's refund policy, and the student will provide all necessary paperwork and notifications in a timely manner.

ARC-PA defines deceleration as "The loss of a student from the entering cohort, who remains matriculated in the PA program." A student may request deceleration to the subsequent academic year/cohort, space permitting. The decision to grant the student's request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the program director/chair and faculty. The student must be in good academic and professional standing at the time of the request. Formal documentation will be required before a leave of absence (LOA) can be granted.

Students who are failing one or more courses at the time of the withdrawal are not considered in good academic standing and will not be considered for deceleration. A student will not be considered for deceleration if on academic probation or is in breach of professional conduct. The program grants no more than one approved deceleration.

Prior to Return:

The student must notify and confirm to the program of their intent to return three months before the agreed start date/semester. This must be done via email and/or certified mail and addressed to the program director/department chair of the Physician Assistant Studies program. Failure to comply with this procedure will result in the student forfeiting their seat. The student will be responsible for all financial obligations and or penalties resulting from this forfeiture.

If the program does grant the student's request to decelerate, the student must understand that returning to the program will be dependent on the following:

1. Depending on the individual's circumstance, they may be required to pass (score ≥ 70) a written comprehensive exam developed by the New York Tech faculty that includes select coursework from courses they took prior to decelerating. Based on the results, they may be required to audit certain courses or remediate certain material upon their return; in either case, the previous course grade will not change. There may be circumstances in which a condition of deceleration requires the student to repeat all courses taken prior to deceleration without the opportunity to take a comprehensive exam. In that case a change in grade may occur based on the final course grade achieved upon return to the program. The student will be notified of any applicable examination or remediation requirements.
2. The student must pass a practical exam (with a score of 70 or above). This exam will require the student to successfully perform a history and physical examination based on the organ systems covered before the student decelerated.
3. If the student left mid-semester in the didactic phase, on their return, they must repeat all coursework pertaining to that semester and any new courses that may have been added to the curriculum since they last attended.
4. The student may be required to demonstrate proficiency in clinical or procedural skills if their deceleration occurred prior to the start of the clinical year.
5. A background check may be required at the expense of the student.
6. All immunizations, vaccinations, healthcare forms must be updated as required by the PA program and New York Tech.
7. The student will be responsible for all financial obligations.
8. The student will be subject to the rules and regulations in effect as published in the Student Handbook at the time of their return to the program.

In the event the student was granted deceleration due to medical reasons, medical clearance is required by a licensed medical professional in accordance with program technical standards and university policies.

If a student misses four consecutive months during their clinical rotations, they may be subject to the same stipulations above at the discretion of the program (Items 1–8), prior to matriculation into the clinical year. Please refer to the Clinical Year Handbook for any additional requirements that may affect continuation in the clinical year.

A student may withdraw from the program for medical or personal reasons. It is strongly recommended for the student to consult with the Registrar, Financial Aid, and the Bursar's Office before initiating a withdrawal. Questions regarding financial liability should be explored before submitting paperwork to the PA program office. A student requesting a withdrawal from the program should notify the program chair and director of didactic education or clinical education in writing stating the reason(s) for their request. Further information regarding withdrawing can be found in the instructions of the Request to Withdraw from All Courses form.

Students should not assume that filing a withdrawal form implies that a Leave of Absence has been granted. The student must receive official notification of approval from the Office of the Registrar the withdrawal and the PA program for the LOA.

The date of withdrawal is computed from the date that both signatures are affixed to the withdrawal form. Dependent upon the date of withdrawal, a student may be entitled to a refund of tuition. The refund policy is subject to change by the institution. Please see the New York Tech Academic Catalog for the current policy.

All students, including students in their clinical year, must check their email at least twice a day to make sure any urgent correspondence from faculty/instructors/staff or the institution is not missed. It is advised to have email checked by 8 a.m. and again at 8 p.m.

• Computers, tablets. and other electronic devices: Computers in the classroom environment should be used for exams, note taking or instructor approved activities only. Web surfing, instant messaging, shopping etc. are not allowed and will result in loss of computer and other electronic devices privileges for the student(s) involved and potentially the entire class.
• Breaks: Students should take advantage of formal breaks offered during lengthy classes. Only in rare instances should it be necessary for a student to leave and return to the classroom during a non-designated break time.
• Punctuality: Students should be on time for class and remain the entire session. If the student is going to be late or needs to leave early, arrangements should be made with the instructor prior to class. See absentee and lateness section for more information.
• Cell phones and other electronic devices: All electronic devices must either be switched off, or kept on vibrate or silent mode during class sessions and assessments. Text messaging or taking calls during class or clerkship assignment is prohibited. Certain apps are useful for clerkships but these should be used with the permission of the preceptor.
• Visitors: The program has a no guest policy. This is in keeping with the New York Tech policy that states that students who are not enrolled in the course may not audit or attend classes.
• Conversations: If students have questions, they should ask them at appropriate times and avoid talking and participating in other conversations during classes.
• Recording: Recording any class or lecture is an exceptional event and should not be undertaken without prior and written permission of the professor (see Appendix I, Permission to Record Lectures). Permission to record must be sought from the professor well in advance. Sufficient reason and documentation should be presented at the time of the request. Recording and transmission of classroom lectures and discussions by students is therefore not permitted unless written permission from the class instructor has been obtained. When authorized, recording lectures or class presentations is solely for individual or group study with other students enrolled in the same class. Permission to allow the recording is not a transfer of any copyright in the recording. The recording may not be reproduced or uploaded to publicly accessible web environments. Recordings, course materials, and lecture notes may not be exchanged or distributed for commercial purposes, for compensation, or for any other purpose other than study by students enrolled in the class. Public distribution of such materials may constitute copyright infringement in violation of federal or state law. Violation of these laws may subject a student to disciplinary action under the university's standards of conduct.
  • Exceptions: It is not a violation of this policy for a student determined by the Office of Accessibility Services to be entitled to educational accommodations, to exercise any rights protected under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, including needed recording or adaptations of classroom lectures or materials for personal research and study. If you have a disability that necessitates recording of a class, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services for further help and assistance. The restrictions on third party web and commercial distribution apply in such cases.

Etiquette for Attending Virtual Lectures or Meetings

• You must log in with your New York Tech account. The faculty has the right to remove you from the lecture if you are not identified.
• Your video must always be on unless otherwise directed (a blurred background is acceptable).
• Sit at a workspace/desk to attend virtual lectures. You should not be sitting in bed.
• Be appropriately dressed and groomed.
• Do not eat during the lecture. Beverages are acceptable.
• Make sure there are no distractions around you that will disturb the faculty or the rest of the class.
• Wear headphones to avoid causing audio feedback interference.
• Mute your microphone unless speaking to the instructor/class.

The program utilizes OneDrive, Zoom, VoiceThread, ExamSoft, Examplify, and other technologies for many of the courses. Posting of PowerPoint lectures and other resources are provided at the instructor's discretion and are for student use only. Unauthorized use of course materials is prohibited.

New York Institute of Technology utilizes Canvas as the Learning Management System (LMS).

ExamSoft's customer support line for the Examplify software provides assistance with their software platform for exam taking. Issues pertaining to their software should be referred to them first.

The Academic Technology Services (ATS) Team supports New York Tech students in all campus technology. You can visit the computing lab for assistance, or contact ITS on your campus:

Long Island
Harry Schure Hall, 2nd Floor
516.686.1188

New York City
Edward Guiliano Global Center
1855 Broadway, Room 701C
212.261.1677

nyit.edu/itshelp
516.686.1188

For Internet connection problems on campus, the ITS Help Desk must be contacted from the location that the problem is occurring. This will allow the technician to employ on-the-spot diagnostics in solving the issue.

The School of Health Professions believes in the importance of supporting the student in transitioning into the role of a professional. As such, students are expected to participate in relevant extracurricular activities. The school requires all students enrolled in the graduate professional programs to participate in six (6) professional activities throughout the course of their three years of professional-phase studies, and undergraduate students in the School of Health Professions are expected to participate in one activity per semester*. A list of appropriate activities will be available in each department and students will be notified as new activities arise.

* This statement applies to the undergraduate nursing and health sciences programs that are a part of SHP.

What Qualifies as a PEP Credit?

Specifically, what qualifies for PEP credit will be determined by each department, as opportunities differ depending on discipline; however, general New York Tech activities such as Center for Sports Medicine presentations; attendance at Aletheia and/or SOURCE; presentations by Career Services; participation in Relay for Life; New York Tech and NYITCOM seminars and presentations etc. would all qualify. Specific to each discipline are activities such as continuing education, participation in professional association meetings, presentations at conferences, participation in fundraisers (MS Walk, etc.), and participation in community health fairs. There are more than enough activities available on campus and in the health professions that a student can meet the 1–2 required PEP activities/year (see PA PEP credit requirements below).

If an activity is not a New York Tech-sponsored or campus event, it will need to be pre-approved and sent electronically to the Director of Student Activities and Community Outreach via email.

Generally, events deemed mandatory by the department, a clinical clerkship, or a part of the curriculum, will not be accepted for PEP. There may be some rare exceptions, and this will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Which course will these PEP credits be applied to in the PA program?

You are required to complete the PEP credits for your cohort as detailed below. This requirement will be included as part of your PHAS 754 course requirements and will be listed in the syllabus. It will receive a Pass/Fail grade. You will NOT be able to complete the total number of PEP credits in one single semester. At least one PEP credit activity is reported each didactic semester, and at least two PEP credit activities are required for the clinical year. Six (6) PEP credit activities are required for PHAS 754 completion and graduation.

Tracking in the PA Department

Record keeping of PEP activity will be kept by the PA program administrator and made available to the PA faculty. Prior approval and proof of attendance will be required for each submission. PEP activity will be monitored and recorded using the department's CANVAS Commons.

Students must also keep a copy of their participation for their own records.

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The New York Tech PA program clinical clerkships are designed to provide students with educational and clinical training in the core areas of medicine. It is organized to permit the greatest degree of educational exposure in practical, clinical environments as a means to develop general knowledge and critical thinking processes in areas of patient diagnosis and management. Students receive supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) in the following settings: inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, and the operating room. Supervised clinical practice experiences also provide students with patients seeking medical care across the lifespan. Prior to the conclusion of the second didactic academic year, the clinical year faculty and administration will hold orientation sessions to review the Clinical Year Student Handbook policies, procedures, and additional technology requirements.

The student learning outcomes (SLO's) are based on the Physician Assistant Competencies expected of the profession at a level for practice at entry-level proficiency.

The Clinical Year Team, directed by the Director of Clinical Education and assisted by clinical year faculty and administration, will conduct one or more clinical clerkship orientation workshop(s) for students prior to the start of clinical clerkships.

The final year of the PA program consists of 48 weeks of clinical rotations. Students are assigned to designated preceptors at various clinical sites so that they may further their didactic knowledge with practical, hands-on clinical exposure. The clinical component requires the student to complete their training in the following areas:

The New York Tech PA program Clinical Year Handbook will be provided to students entering the clinical phase. Please refer to the Clinical Year Handbook for other clerkship year policies.

Students must register and complete PHAS 754 Comprehensive Assessment for Clinical Practice in their final spring semester. This course will measure if the student has achieved the necessary medical knowledge, interpersonal skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, clinical and technical skills, and professional behaviors to enter clinical practice.

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Tuition and fees are listed on the Estimated Program Cost page on our program website. The following should be noted, when viewing the costs:

• New York Institute of Technology reserves the right to change or modify its schedule of tuition and fees.
• Professionalism and advocacy are key components to successful students and graduates. Students are required to become members of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) and the New York State Society of PAs (NYSSPA), both for professional reasons as well as to allow opportunity for significant scholarships otherwise not available.

Refer to the Financial Aid section of the website for information about government sources of financial aid. Further advice may be obtained from counselors in the Office of Financial Aid.

Information regarding various scholarships available to qualifying students can be found on the New York Tech website. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for further information.

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New York Tech holds its commencement exercises in May of each academic year and PA students are scheduled to complete the program prior to commencement. Students who do not complete the program until after commencement will be eligible for a subsequent graduation date. Graduation is dependent upon the successful completion of all the program course work. It is the student's responsibility to review their degree audits each semester to ensure that all courses are completed and the appropriate grades have been documented on the degree audit. Degree audits—also referred to as Student Advisement Reports (STAR)—can be accessed online through the my.nyit.edu. Students are required to meet with their faculty mentor each semester to review their STAR reports. Each student must keep a hard copy of this report for each semester.

The program and the Registrar review all student records prior to notifying the State Education Department of the student's graduation. Any deficiencies must be reconciled with New York Tech before any student records are forwarded to the State Education Department. The Registrar will not process any licensing/certification documents or confirm your graduation if there are outstanding coursework, fees or bills in your bursar account.

To graduate, students must fulfill the following requirements:

• A cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0
• Successful completion of all didactic courses
• Successful completion of all clinical clerkships
• Completion and approval of master's project
• Satisfactory standard of professional conduct
• Successful completion of Summative Evaluation
• Successful completion of PEP requirements
• An application for graduation must be completed on my.nyit.edu
• Bursar account clearance

The Office of the Registrar can provide further information regarding graduation procedures and policies.

Students who successfully graduate from New York Institute of Technology's Physician Assistant Studies, M.S. program are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) for certification. After passing the PANCE, PAs are issued NCCPA certification and can use the PA-C designation until the certification expiration date (approximately two years).

This is an essential first step towards obtaining licensure to practice as a PA in one of the 50 United States and Territories. New York Tech PA program graduates who pass the PANCE meet the education requirements stipulated by New York State and are thus eligible to apply for New York State Licensure.

Each of the other 49 U.S. States and Territories may have specific educational requirements for a certified PA to be eligible for licensure in that location. Although many states have similar requirements, the New York Tech PA Department is unable to determine whether graduates are eligible for licensure in states other than New York. A student seeking to practice in a state other than New York should review the educational requirements set by the state's licensing board.

After students have successfully completed all course requirements of the program, the program will assist in completing the required state(s) licensing paperwork for the student's state(s) of choice. It is the student's responsibility to provide such licensing paperwork to the program, in a timely manner that takes into consideration the necessary processing time. It is also the student's responsibility to fully investigate their state licensing requirements (as outlined by that state's licensing board), and to complete such requirements.

To register for the PANCE, students must provide the following information to the program director/chair and the program administrator: the student's name (exactly as indicated on the picture ID the student will be using for the board exam) and birthdate. Students will be notified if additional information is needed. Using the information provided, an account will be created by NCCPA that will allow the student to register for the PANCE.

The program provides continuous and ongoing professional development. Prior to graduation and during the final year the PA program will provide information to the students on career development including items such as resume writing, job searching, interviewing skills, contract negotiations, and other issues impacting successful employment as a PA. New York Tech Office of Career Success and Experiential Education office works closely with the department to offer their services.

The following constitutes general guidelines for letters of recommendation:

• Commonly, two (2) letters, including the program director/chair's, are sufficient.
• Letters of recommendation are provided at the faculty and program director/chair's discretion and permission.
• Letters from clinical site preceptors, section heads, and well-known attending physicians or PAs carry more weight. These should be pursued wherever possible.
• Please request permission from faculty and preceptors prior to listing them as a reference.
• After one year of employment, letters of recommendation should not be solicited from the program unless there are extenuating circumstances.

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All students of the PA program must understand and accept the following:

• The healthcare facilities to which the student may be assigned for clinical rotations or other patient experiences have immunization requirements for their healthcare workers as a condition of employment. As a New York Tech PA Studies student learner in their facilities, students must comply with all healthcare screening and other requirements imposed as a condition of the healthcare affiliation agreement. Clinical-affiliated sites require health records, titers, and immunization documentation for a student to utilize that site.
• If the student is unable to confirm immunization status or unable to obtain immunizations due to personal, religious, or medical* reasons, the New York Tech PA program cannot guarantee placement at a clinical site and this may limit the student's ability to successfully complete and graduate from the program.
• Certain immunizations or screenings are required on an annual basis and the cost for these is the sole responsibility of the student.

* In some situations, the clinical site might accept certain medical reasons for not receiving a vaccination, but this will be at the discretion of the site. The clinical site may require a waiver form to be signed by the student prior to starting the rotation.

Students in the PA Studies program will be required to upload all required documents to CastleBranch. The program will not have access to details of your health records but will be informed that you have met the program, clerkship and institutional requirements to matriculate and progress through the program. Students are responsible for their original documents and must keep digital copies of all lab reports and other documents that may be required by the program or a clerkship site.

Students will use the forms below:

1. Annual Health Assessment Form (Appendix C). This document must be updated annually.
2. Titers and Vaccination Form (Appendix D). This document must be submitted upon entering the program.
3. Non-Immune Status Form (Appendix D). Complete this if non-immunity is indicated on the Titers and Vaccination Form.
4. New York Tech Student Immunization form. This form is required to be filled out specifically for New York Tech. This is in addition to all other immunization documents required to be uploaded to CastleBranch.
5. COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements. Please follow the instructions for NYITCOM and the School of Health Professions on the page.
6. Annual Flu vaccination (Appendix E). It is strongly recommended that each student receive a flu vaccine annually, unless contraindicated. The student is to discuss this with their primary care provider. Students beginning their clinical clerkships are required by all institutions to show proof of vaccination on an annual basis. This may be waived if there are extenuating circumstances (e.g. contraindications, etc.) but it will be dependent on each institution.

It is recommended that all students get a personal healthcare provider in the area to provide basic medical needs. The principal faculty, program chair and the medical director must not participate as healthcare providers for students in the program except in the case of emergencies.

Students must carry a health insurance policy for the full time that they are enrolled in the three years of the program. Verification of health insurance must be uploaded to the student's CastleBranch document tracker account annually.

Should a student be exposed to a blood-borne pathogen, students are responsible for any and all of the costs associated with exposure. Students should, of course, utilize their health insurance for this purpose. However, students may elect to purchase health insurance that would not necessarily cover any or all of these costs and would then be responsible for all costs personally.

All New York Tech School of Health Professions students must have health insurance beyond accidental coverage. The cost of the New York Tech insurance plan will automatically be charged to your student account each academic year upon registering for Fall classes. If a domestic student has comparable health insurance coverage available, such as through a parent's plan, the student may be eligible to waive the coverage. For further information and the deadline for waiving, please view instructions on the Health Insurance webpage.

Questions regarding New York Tech insurance plans should be directed to the Office of Counseling and Wellness.

While on clinical clerkship, students are covered under clinical, site-specific professional liability insurance provided by New York Institute of Technology. Please refer to the Clinical Year Student Handbook for further details.

Personal appearance is extremely important in facilitating acceptance by patients, their families, and other health professionals. Students are expected to appear well groomed at all times and observe customary standards of hygiene and professional attire. The program designates mandatory dress as follows for both the didactic and clinical years.

White Jackets and Identification Badges

• A clean, short, white consultation jacket.
• The New York Tech PA program arm patch will be affixed to the left sleeve of the jacket, centered, and 1½ inches below the shoulder/sleeve stitching seam. Two patches are initially supplied by the program, but additional patches can be provided at the student's expense.
• A New York Tech photo identification badge will be worn or accessible at all times while on New York Tech's campus and clinical clerkships. Some clerkship site policies may supersede these requirements and the student is expected to follow the site's policy.
• Facilities may require additional site- or facility-specific identification to be worn.
• Students are to wear, prominently displayed, identification badges/cards in accordance with the program and facility rules.

Clothing

• Shoes must be clean and in good condition. Women's heels should be no higher than three inches. Open-toed shoes, Crocs™, sandals, or shoes that will slip off the feet pose a safety problem and are not acceptable in any setting. Male students must wear dress socks with shoes.
• Prescription glasses, protective eyewear, reading glasses, and contact lenses are the only eyewear permitted while in class or on rotation. Novelty contacts and sunglasses are not permitted.
• Hats, scarves, or head coverings of any type are not permitted unless necessary for medical or religious reasons.
• Extremely brief or revealing clothing is not permitted, and proper undergarments should be worn. Pants should be worn at the natural waistline, and undergarments should not be visible. Shirts, tops, blouses, and dresses should have sleeves and a collar (for male students), or a modest collar line that does not show shoulders or cleavage (for female students). The length of skirts, dresses, etc. must not be shorter than three inches above the top of the knee. All shirts, tops, and blouses must either overlap the bottom garment or be tucked inside the bottom garment.
• Sweatpants, shorts, capris, leggings, and yoga pants are not permitted at any time. Jeans are only permitted on assigned dress-down days, within strict guidelines.
• Business attire or clean navy blue scrubs are permitted to be worn. Please refer to laboratory course syllabi for laboratory dress requirements.

General Items

• All students should consider the image projected to patients and others regarding hairstyle and length. Beards and mustaches may be worn trimmed. Long hair must be tied back neatly during laboratory classes and on clerkships.
• Excessive or loose jewelry, including piercings, is a safety risk for students as well as the patient, and their use is discouraged during any clinical site participation.
• Fingernails should be kept clean and trimmed, and not exceed ¼ inch past the end of the finger, as appropriate for healthcare professionals. Artificial nails/wraps or acrylic overlays are not permitted. Polish may be worn if neat and not chipped unless otherwise noted on syllabi. Multicolored nail polish and designer paintings/decals are inappropriate.
• Tattoos of a nature that bring discredit to the program are prohibited. Tattoos that are obscene, sexually explicit, or advocate discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin are prohibited. In addition, tattoos that symbolize affiliation with gangs, supremacist, or extremist groups, or advocate illegal drug use are prohibited.
• Students should not wear excessive perfume, cologne, aftershave, or powder.
• Hair longer than shoulder length for all students must be pulled back and contained in a suitable manner. Hair should be clean and always arranged so as not to interfere with patient care activities.
• Students should have good daily hygiene that includes clean teeth, hair, clothes, and body, including the use of deodorant. Clothing should be clean, pressed, and in good condition.

Dress-down days may be granted at the discretion of the program chair/director.

Students who do not comply with the dress code may face dismissal from the class or clerkship site. They will be expected to return the same day with proper attire. All missed time must be made up.

Enforcement of the dress code is at the sole discretion of the faculty and/or program chair/director.

NOTE: The faculty and clinical preceptors can dismiss students from clinic sites for failure to comply with this dress code.

The PA program faculty and staff have a vested interest in the success of each student's educational process. To ensure that all students reach their greatest professional and academic potential, program personnel and students have the responsibility to communicate regularly with each other. Whenever a student has a concern, they should contact a staff or faculty member or department administration to resolve any problems as soon as possible. The faculty will refer the student to the professional counselors at the New York Tech Counseling and Wellness Center as appropriate.

Each student will be assigned a faculty mentor, who will be available for guidance. Degree audits, also referred to as Student Advisement Reports (STAR), can be accessed online through my.nyit.edu. Students are required to meet with their faculty mentor each semester. Each student is required to submit their STAR reports to the Director of didactic education, and the department administrator at pas@nyit.edu at the beginning of each semester. Refer to these instructions for further guidance.

The student should meet with their faculty mentor periodically during each semester to discuss the student's progress, especially when the student's progress is in question or in jeopardy. Students are strongly encouraged to speak with their faculty mentor should they encounter any academic or personal difficulties. The program director/chair and director of didactic education are always also available for counsel.

The New York Tech PA program has developed a proactive student mentoring process that requires students to meet at least once per semester with a faculty mentor to discuss the student's strengths and weaknesses and overall progress in the program. Areas for student improvement will be identified, and a summary of suggested actions recorded on the Student Assessment by Faculty Mentor report.

In addition to educational counseling, the director/chair and faculty of the PA program have the ability to provide students with information on professional and career counseling. Faculty mentors who feel that a student is in need of professional or personal counseling or special services will make this concern known to the program director/chair immediately. The faculty will refer the student to the Office of Counseling and Wellness and the program director/chair may make recommendations and referrals to other appropriate institutional services.

Faculty members are usually available before and after classes, during office hours, and by appointment. Unless a course instructor provides his/her telephone number, it is inappropriate for a student to call them at home. If a student must reach an instructor on the instructor's personal phone, the department staff may serve as an intermediary.

Students may, at times, have difficulty recognizing when professional counseling is in order. To that end, the following is a partial listing of behaviors students should recognize that may indicate the need for counseling:

• Becoming unusually demanding or dependent on others
• Unable to concentrate, study, sleep
• Becoming unnecessarily preoccupied with external affairs (money, housing, personal relationships)
• Resorting to inappropriate behaviors such as outbursts, continuous daydreaming, crying, and inappropriate speech
• Resorting to drug use and/or alcohol usage as coping strategies
• Developing speech impediments, or becoming disorganized
• Excessive lateness or absences from school
• Losing interest in personal grooming or personal hygiene
• Developing inconsistencies between classroom performance and test performance, showing a marked decline in performance
• Exhibiting limited participation in class, with marked inhibition and withdrawal from social circumstances

Students are advised to meet with their faculty mentor as soon as possible in the event they face any academic or personal problems. It is only when there is good communication between the faculty and student that problems can be swiftly and effectively resolved, enabling the student to reach their goal of becoming a successful PA.

You're always welcome at the Learning Center, located on both the Long Island and New York City campuses, for one-on-one or small group peer-tutoring in a variety of academic subjects. The center also offers skill-building workshops and test preparation sessions, as well as a lending library of calculators, tablets, and other equipment that help with your studies.

New York Tech Counseling and Wellness takes a holistic approach to helping you stay healthy. Contact the center for counseling, accessibility services, a schedule of workshops, lectures, outreach activities, and other programs open to the university community.

New York Tech Office of Career Success and Experiential Education is a resource for educational and employment services. Career counseling, vocational testing, and individual resume assistance is also available. Visit Career Success and Experiential Education for more information.

Long Island
Student Activity Center, 2nd Floor
career@nyit.edu
516.686.7527

New York City
26 W. 61st St., Room 211
career@nyit.edu
212.261.1537

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No form of gender-based misconduct will be tolerated at New York Institute of Technology. Please refer to the university's Gender-Based Misconduct and Title IX Policy for definitions and reporting procedures, as well as contact information for Title IX coordinators.

In addition to gender-based misconduct, New York Tech prohibits all forms of unlawful discrimination or harassment pursuant to its Non-Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Policy. Any incidents of discrimination or harassment should be brought to the immediate attention of the program director/chair, who will initiate an investigation that may result in appropriate disciplinary actions.

On All New York Tech Campuses

New York Institute of Technology is committed to the safety of our entire campus community. Professional security teams are ready to protect you in any emergency. Visit Campus Safety and Security to familiarize yourself with the steps to take when encountering campus emergencies.

On Clinical Rotation Sites

Each clinical rotation site follows their protocol and policies of safety. This information is included in the orientation of students when they first report to the site. If the student should feel unsafe at any time while on their clinical site, they must notify the preceptor, the security at the site, and the Director of Clinical Education and program immediately.

A college photo identification (ID) card must be obtained from Campus Security as soon as possible after registration and arrival on campus. The ID card must be worn at all times while on campus and at clinical sites and must be presented on demand to any college official. The card can be used to check out library materials, enables the holder to a discount or free entry to campus events, and is needed to gain entry to all computer laboratories, the program classroom, the anatomy laboratory, residence halls and some buildings after hours. Funds can be added to the card for food, copy services, and on-campus purchases. Visit OneCard Account Portal for more information.

Students are required to wear these ID badges conspicuously at all times while at clinical clerkship sites. Some clerkship site policies may supersede these requirements, and the student is expected to follow the site's policy. Loss of the identification badge is to be reported as soon as possible, so that a new one may be issued.

Our students' New York Tech ID should indicate that they are a PA student. Please contact the program administrative staff if this is not indicated.

The college provides notification of emergencies via mobile phone text messaging. This is the preferred method for receiving important alerts, including on-campus emergencies. To receive access to the emergency notification service, please visit New York Tech Alerts.

The PA program highly recommends that students become involved in the PA Student Society (PASS) at New York Tech. Students are also encouraged to become actively involved in the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA), the New York State Society of Physician Assistants (NYSSPA), and the American Academy of Physician Associates. (AAPA).

Students are the future of the profession, and it is through these organizations that students can remain currently apprised of the progress and current issues of their profession. Professional associations set standards for the profession and work for the practitioner in a number of ways: attendance at professional meetings, advocacy, lobby activities, continuing education, information, consultation, publications, product discounts, grants, loans, scholarships, and the opportunity for professional growth and recognition. Students also benefit from receiving various professional publications, such as the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Associates, through their membership.

Scholarships are also available, on a competitive basis, through the New York State Society of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Associates, as well as a myriad of other professional organizations.

The purpose of the Student Society is multifold. It exists to create a pre-professional organization to enhance professional growth. It serves to act as a forum for students to express their views and ideas. It supports active participation of PA students at both the state and national levels, the New State Society of Physician Assistants (NYSSPA) and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). Participation in the society provides an opportunity to develop solutions to problems that are broad based on a student level and motivate students to further promote their medical education and experience. It seeks to cultivate and promote leadership qualities in the PA community. It provides the opportunity to establish the beginnings of a network of contacts to be taken to the professional arena after graduation.

The society stresses the importance of giving back at the community level by improving healthcare in the local community. This takes on many forms such as fundraising, blood drives, and others. The society honors the academic traditions of medicine as well as affirms the sound and ethical responsibilities and practices of the PA profession.

Student Society

• President: Nicholas Ticali
• President-Elect: Caroline Petrozzo
• Secretary: Kayla Greene
• Treasurer: Sara Page
• Communications: Lily Giarrizzo
• Director of External Affairs: Jonathan Wu
• AAPA Representative: Alexandra Paglino
• NYSSPA Representative: Nidhi Patel

Class of 2025 Representatives

• Tommy Le
• Sara Salama

Class of 2026 Representatives

• Olivia Duhon
• Zane Vincent

Founded in 1968, the American Academy of Physician Associates is the national professional society for PAs. It represents all medical and surgical specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the majority of the U.S. territories and within the uniformed services. AAPA advocates and educates on behalf of the profession and the patients PAs serve. It works to ensure professional growth, personal excellence, and recognition of PAs, and to enhance their ability to improve the quality, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of patient-centered healthcare. Visit AAPA to learn more about the profession.

AAPA maintains survival guides on their Student Resources page and, as a student member, you are encouraged to take advantage of the guides to assist you in your education (member login required).

• Didactic Phase Survival Guide
• Clinical Phase Survival Guide

AAPA's mission is to provide quality, cost-effective and accessible healthcare as well as to support the professional and personal development of PAs. The AAPA pursues these goals through government relations and public education programs, research and data collection efforts and continuing education activities.

The Academy's policies are set by the House of Delegates, which meets once a year and is implemented by it's Board of Directors. The House of Delegates is made up of representatives from the chartered chapters, the Medical and Surgical Congresses, and the Association of PA programs.

For membership information or further information regarding the PA profession, contact:

Contact AAPA for membership information, or further information regarding the PA profession.

Student membership, and subsequently graduated membership, in The New York State Society of PAs (NYSSPA) is strongly recommended to keep you informed of New York State legislative issues regarding the PA profession.

For membership information and an application, go to the NYSSPA website.

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Free parking is available on the New York Tech Long Island (Old Westbury, N.Y.) campus. A parking permit is required and must be obtained at the security office. When students are required to participate in activities at hospital or clinical sites, the parking policies of the individual facilities will prevail. It is the student's responsibility to ask about the facility parking policies prior to going to the site, so that they will be prepared and on time for their site rotation.

For important information regarding parking, refer to Parking and Vehicle Policies.

NYITCOM Medical Library and other campus library hours and policies are posted at the New York Tech Library.

While on rotation, students may have access to libraries located at the clinical sites. Students are personally financially responsible for all borrowed materials. Any outstanding library materials must be returned or reconciled with the library before a student is allowed to receive a grade for that clerkship or progress to the next semester or graduate.

Both online and in hard copy, the NYITCOM Medical Library in the Rockefeller Building contains numerous medical and healthcare professional books and journals that provide current, valuable medical information. Your valid New York Tech ID card is necessary for admittance. A list of texts for each course is provided in the course syllabi.

Required and recommended course books are listed in the course syllabi. The program provides the university bookstore and medical library with a listing of course books prior to the start of each semester. To view your book list, log into the bookstore portal.

Personal Professional Equipment (PPE)

Many clinical sites require that students be fit-tested for N95 masks. Students may also be required to have their own additional PPE; the program will attempt to assist with these supplies whenever possible.

Students are not required to work for the program in any capacity.

• The PA program does not allow students to substitute for instructional, clinical or administrative staff, regardless of their prior knowledge, education, or experience.
• Students are not to be the primary instructor or instructor of record for any component of the curriculum under any circumstances.
• Students will not be permitted to serve as instructors during didactic courses, labs, or supervised clinical practice experiences.
• Students cannot be used to substitute for regular or administrative staff under any circumstances during clinical rotations.

If a student is required to work for the program in any capacity, they must contact the director of clinical education or program director/chair immediately.

Any form of employment during the duration of the program is strongly discouraged. The program requires full-time attendance in both didactic and clinical components, and outside work obligations will not be considered an acceptable excuse for poor performance or absence from any program-related activities.

Student Tutoring Program

Each semester, the principal faculty of the program identifies students who have performed exceptionally well in the previous semester or year. They are offered an opportunity to tutor students in the following cohort. This is strictly on a voluntary basis, and the tutors are strongly advised to discontinue their participation in this activity at any time, without repercussions, if they feel their own progress in the program is in jeopardy or for any other reason. The number of hours and the subject areas they tutor in will be discussed with the academic coordinator and director/chair.

Please refer to the university's Accessibility Procedure. For further information regarding disability-related services, contact:

Office of Accessibility Services
Student Activity Center, Room 307
516.686.4934

Please refer to the university's Alcohol and Other Drug Policy.

Please refer to the department's Social Media Policy for guidelines.

Please refer to the smoking policy on New York Tech campuses.

We all share responsibility for the health and safety of all in a classroom environment. Please follow all infection control workplace policies as established by the college. All institution infection control workplace policies will be enforced. These workplace policies may differ from federal, state, and local ones.

All students entering the program are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to be able to participate in program activities

The classroom must be kept neat and clean at all times. Please make sure you clean up after yourselves and each other. Eating is strictly prohibited in the classroom. Beverages are allowed. The classroom is a "nut-free zone" as there are students with severe allergies in the class.

The laboratory courses provide a venue in which to practice clinical skills. Students are expected to practice with each other in a professional manner by providing comfort, dignity, and respect.

There will be faculty to supervise the lab practice times. Students are responsible for the equipment and materials in terms of safety, maintenance, and cost. Students are responsible for reporting any program equipment in need of repair to either a faculty member or to the lab supervisor. No one other than New York Tech students are allowed in the classroom or lab. Students are responsible for putting equipment away after use and cleaning their work areas. The PA classroom/lab must be kept clean and orderly. No food, drinks, trash, or clothing should be left on desks, chairs, or counters. Storage areas must be periodically cleaned. These are all student responsibilities. Students are not permitted to take photos, videos, or any recordings during lab practice times.

The gross anatomy lab experience creates a body of knowledge that permeates the basic foundation of education that is universal to all patient care. The faculty and staff of the Anatomy Lab are dedicated to serving the needs of authorized users within the PA program. The cadavers are under strict control of The State of New York. Cadavers are donated and the remains of cadavers are cremated. The remains are either returned to the family or scattered at sea, as requested. No cadaver is deemed acceptable for the anatomy laboratory if death was due to a major communicable disease. All cadavers are embalmed so there is no special risk of infectious disease.

The gross anatomy laboratory is available to authorized users only and strictly enforced. Access to the lab is through a magnetic lock, which your ID badge will be programmed to open. Guests are not allowed. The Anatomy Lab door and windows are never to be propped open.

Students are not permitted to take photos, videos, or any recordings of cadavers. Cadavers are to be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. Verbal or written communications, including social media posts of any kind that make reference to a cadaver in an insensitive or dehumanizing manner will not be tolerated, and may be justification for automatic and immediate dismissal from the program.

You are given the opportunity to provide ongoing anonymous feedback regarding your coursework and the faculty. Near the end of each didactic semester, you will receive electronic notifications from the Office of Institutional Research, with instructions on how to complete end-of-semester, anonymous faculty evaluations. During the clinical year, students are required to electronically complete a Student Evaluation of Clinical Site (SECS) at the end of each clinical rotation.

The Department of PA Studies suite is located in Room 352 on the third floor of the Riland Center.

Due to privacy concerns, it is requested that students wait in the hallway if a faculty member is not immediately available. Waiting in the suite is not permitted, as student records may be exposed and faculty discussions may be overheard concerning a fellow student.

Messages for the PA faculty, advisors, or members of the PA society, should primarily be transmitted via email (preferred), phone, and voicemail. Contact information can be found on your course syllabi and in the faculty directory.

As an added measure, emails may be copied to the program administrative specialist at pas@nyit.edu. Students may also call the department at 516.686.3881 to leave a message or to schedule an appointment with the director/chair.

Non-urgent and non-confidential documents may be left in faculty and staff mail slots located in Room 334 on the third floor of Riland Center.

Student records are securely stored in the PA office and electronically in assigned drives on New York Tech servers. Only program faculty and staff with a legitimate educational need for such records have access to these records. Students may request access to their personal records by sending an email to their faculty mentor and copying (cc.) the program director/chairperson or academic coordinator. Students are prohibited from access to academic records or other confidential information of other students or faculty.

The content of student files includes evidence that a student has met published admission criteria, institution and program health screening and immunization requirements, documents related to student performance while enrolled, remediation efforts and outcomes, summaries of any formal academic/behavioral disciplinary action taken, and documentation that the student has met requirements for program completion.

Students are prohibited from viewing letters of recommendation in their CASPA application and other sources in which they have previously signed a letter of release.

After graduation, student records are kept in the PA office for two additional years, after which the records will be forwarded to a secure offsite storage facility. In accordance with the university's Record Retention Policy, student files will be retained for a total of seven (7) years after graduation.

Student medical records, health and immunizations forms, and certificates are not kept by the program. All the above documents must be uploaded to each student's individual CastleBranch portal, and students are responsible for retaining their own physical and electronic copies.

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Download the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the PA Profession.

Download the Student Honor Code Pledge.

Download the Annual Health Assessment Form.

Download the Titers/Vaccination Form.

Download the Non-Immune Status Documentation.

Download the Meningococcal Meningitis Immunization Response Form.

Download the Influenza Vaccination Form.

Refer to the program's Social Media Policy.

Download the Waiver of Mandatory Attendance Form.

Download the Permission to Record Lectures.

Download the Competencies for the PA Profession.

Download the Health Clearance Form (Didactic).

Download the Health Clearance Form (Clinical).