Body
Unit Policy
Title
Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program: Policy on Student Employment
Introduction
Purpose
This Policy addresses Physician Assistant ("PA") Program ("Program") Student ("Student") employment while enrolled in the Program.
Scope
This Policy applies to all Students.
Policy Statement
The Program's curriculum ("Curriculum") presents an intensive, full-time course of study that requires Students to devote substantial time and attention to academic, clinical, and professional responsibilities. In acknowledgment of the Program's rigor and in furtherance of its commitment to support and foster Student success, the Program has established this Policy to minimize activities that may interfere with a Student's educational performance, clinical training, or progression through the Program.
Students who are employed while enrolled in the Program will not be granted exemptions from Curriculum requirements, extensions on Program deadlines, scheduling modifications, or adjustments to Rotation assignments due to their employment. A Student's employment status will not be considered as a mitigating factor when assessing the Student's academic and professional progress. The Attendance Policies for the Preclinical and Clinical Phases of the curriculum apply to Students, regardless of employment status.
Additionally, Students may not function in a paid capacity on their Rotations. Students involved in paid work while enrolled in the Program may not present themselves as doing so on behalf of the Program.
Students may not substitute or function as instructional faculty, clinical staff, or administrative staff for the Program while enrolled in the Program. A Student will not be required to work for the Program at any time while enrolled in the Program.
Military Service
Students with military service obligations while enrolled in the Program should promptly confer with their Course Directors, Academic Advisors, and other relevant faculty about those obligations. Students with such obligations should notify the Curricular Phase Director (i.e., Director for Preclinical Education or Director for Clinical Education) for the Phase for which they will need an adjustment related to their military service. Curricular Phase Directors will assist Students in submitting any required documentation through the appropriate University office(s).
Definitions
Academic Advisor: The faculty member assigned to a Student to provide academic and professionalism counseling and assist in understanding the structure and operations of the Program and University.
Administrative Staff: Those individuals providing administrative, secretarial, or clerical help to the Program.
Course Director: Faculty member primarily responsible for the organization, delivery, and evaluation of a course.
Instructional Faculty: Individuals providing instruction or supervision during the didactic and/or clinical phases of the Program at less than 50% effort (FTE), regardless of faculty status or rank. This includes roles such as guest lecturer and adjunct faculty (paid or unpaid). Clinical Instructional Faculty are also considered the preceptor(s) of record. Trainees may not function as Instructional Faculty.
Reasonable Accommodation: A reasonable change to the work or academic environment, to an academic requirement, reasonable provision of auxiliary aides or services, or to a University policy, procedure, or other requirement that allows a Qualified Employee to perform the Essential Functions of their position or allows a Student to participate in their academic or extracurricular program. An accommodation that constitutes an Undue Hardship, or Fundamental Alteration or that eliminates an Essential Job Function is not a Reasonable Accommodation.
Rotation: A Supervised Clinical Practice Experience for which there are published learning outcomes and Student evaluation mechanisms.
Student Services: Services aimed at helping Students reach their academic and career goals. Such services typically include academic advising, tutoring, career services, disability services, financial aid, student health, computing, and library resources and access.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs): Supervised Student encounters with patients, either in-person or by telemedicine, that include comprehensive patient assessment, involvement in patient care decision-making, and result in a detailed plan for patient management. The Program also refers to SCPEs as "Rotations".
Technical Standards: Nonacademic requirements for participation in an educational program or activity. They include the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities required to satisfactorily complete all aspects of the Program's curriculum and enter the profession.
Related Requirements
External Regulations
Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Name: Administrative Support Specialist
Telephone: 919-962-8008
Email: paprogram@unc.edu
Publication Details
- Issuing Officer: Kathleen Hanlon, PA Program Director
- Effective Date: January 1, 2027
- Review Cycle: Even-numbered years
- Next Review Date: January 1, 2028