Physician Assistant Program
Student Life

Student Policies

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Student Handbook

All policies for the Primary Care Physician Assistant Program are listed in the Student Handbook and are subject to revision each year. The following are included therein, however, for a complete listing please refer to the

  • The Primary Care PAProgram at USC is a full-time program. It is strongly recommended that students not accept or continue outside employment while enrolled in the Program.

    Program schedules will not be adapted to the employment schedule of the student and students who choose to be employed while enrolled in the Program are still required to attend course activities and complete academic requirements. Failure to do so will lead to referral to the Student Progress Committee (SPC).

    Students will not be required to perform any clerical or administrative work or teaching on behalf of the Program. On occasion the faculty or staff of the Program may make a request for a student to perform volunteer activity, however students will not be obligated to volunteer and shall not be financially compensated for the activity. Student employment through the University work-study program will be governed by University policies.

  • The deferment policy considers extenuating circumstances that will interfere with the conditionally accepted candidates’ ability to engage and participate in our rigorous academic and professional PA program. In these circumstances, the individual may request a one-year deferment. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

    Deferments are only offered once and must occur prior to matriculating into the program.

    All deferment requests must be submitted in writing to the Program Director and a note from the student’s health provider must accompany the request. This policy is stated in the conditional admission offer granted to candidates. Deferment is only available to candidates prior to the start of orientation. Once the candidate attends orientation, they are officially considered students in the PA program and may not request a deferment.

    If you wish to request or discuss a deferment, you must contact the program immediately.

  • USC’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation incorporates a University-wide approach to preventing and responding to discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected characteristics, retaliation, and specific forms of harassment based on sex: sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and related forms of conduct. The Policy provides resources, supportive measures, and care to all USC community members – students, faculty, and staff – who make a report under the Policy, as well as fair and equitable Resolution Processes in response to a formal complaint of conduct prohibited under the Policy.

    Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation

    The Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC) (formerly the Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX or EEO-TIX) manages this policy.

    Questions on this policy may be directed to:

    Vice President for the Office of Civil Rights Compliance
    [email protected]

  • USC requires faculty, staff, students, volunteers and others affiliated with the university to report suspicion of wrongdoing promptly to the proper authorities for investigation.

    It is not your responsibility to determine if a situation indeed constitutes wrongdoing, but it is your personal responsibility to report those concerns. By refusing to turn a blind a, we stay true to the requirements of the law, our ethical commitments, and the highest values of USC.

    Crime

    If you witness a crime in progress on or near campus, or if a member of our community is in immediate danger, call the Department of Public Service (DPS) emergency line, from all locations, at (213) 740-4321.

    You may also report suspicious or criminal activity anonymously through the Trojans Care for Trojans program by text to 274637 (start the message with TC4T followed by a space) or the TC4T website; or you may report anonymously through the smartphone app TipSubmit.

    Crimes Involving Minors

    All USC employees, students, contractors and volunteers have a personal responsibility to report any instances of known or suspected abuse or neglect of children. Two reports must be made:

    First report

    DPS must be immediately notified at (213) 740-4321 (emergencies; immediate threat of danger) or (213) 740-6000. Use this number from all locations.

    Second report

    The second report must be placed to the Department of Children and Family Services Child Protection Hotline at (800) 540-4000, or to the LAPD (or your local law enforcement agency if you are outside the city of Los Angeles).

    Failure by any member of the university community to make these reports as soon as possible may result in discipline up to and including termination or dismissal. See the university’s Protecting Minors policy for more information.

    Those members of the university community covered by California’s Mandated Reporter laws should also review the university’s Mandated Reporters policy.

    Crimes Involving Elder Abuse

    Those members of the university community covered by California’s Mandated Reporter laws are obligated to report; how to do so depends on where the abuse occurred. See the university’s Mandated Reporters policy for comprehensive instructions.

    Crimes Involving Domestic Violence or Injury by Firearm

    Those members of the university community covered by California’s Mandated Reporter laws are obligated to report to local law enforcement in the jurisdiction in which the injury occurred. See the university’s Mandated Reporters policy for comprehensive instructions.

    Crimes Involving Sexual Assault

    For incidents or allegations of sexual assault involving USC faculty, staff, or students, the Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC) (formerly the Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX or EEO-TIX) must be notified at (213) 740-5086 or [email protected].  See the University’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation and OCRC’s website for more information.

    Violence in the Workplace

    Imminent threats must be reported immediately to DPS at (213) 740-4321 from all locations. Non-immediate threats must be reported to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance at (213) 740-5086.

    Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation

    Report to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance at (213) 740-5086. See the University’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation.

    Title IX and Age Discrimination

    Report to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance at (213) 740-5086.

    Danger to Self or Others

    If you are concerned that a student may be a danger to self or others, call the Student Counseling Service at (213) 740-7711, or use the TC4T website.

    If you are concerned that an employee is a danger to self or others, call the Center for Work and Family Life at (213) 821-0800.

    Misappropriation of University Assets, Accounting and Auditing Matters

    Reports may be submitted at the Report & Response website or by calling 213-740-2500. Reports may also be made directly to the Associate Senior Vice President, Audit Services, at (213) 740-8258. See the university’s Accounting and Auditing Complaint Reporting policy.

    Regulatory Violations

    Reports may be submitted at the Report & Response website or by calling 213-740-2500.

    NCAA Violations

    Reports must be submitted to the Office of Athletic Compliance at (213) 740-4577. More information is available at www.usctrojans.com/genrel/usc-recruiting-compliance.html.

    Staff Complaints

    Report to the Associate Senior Vice President, Human Resources, at (213) 821-8100.

    Faculty Complaints

    Report to the Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at (213) 740-6715.

    Student Complaints

    Report to Student Affairs at (213) 740-2421.

    Additional information

    Unsure Who to Call?

    Visit the USC Report & Response website, your front door to reporting and getting the support you need, or call 213-740-2500.

  • Required curriculum in the program can be not waived based on previous coursework. The PA program does not offer any advanced standing, and the entire 33-month program must be completed in full.

  • Tuition and fees are refundable only by processing a cancellation of enrollment or change of program application through the Office of Academic Records and Registrar by published due dates and are entirely at the option of the University. Informing your academic department or your instructor does not constitute withdrawal from the course. All withdrawals must be processed by Web Registration or through the Office of Academic Records and Registrar. Please refer to the following webpages for more information. Student Policies Information about Refund of Tuition is available in the University Catalogue.

    PA Program tuition fees and costs: http://www.keck.usc.edu/physician-assistant-Program/courses/tuition-and-fees/

    Tuition Refund Insurance:

    Elective insurance is available which provides full coverage for tuition and fees for students who suffer serious illnesses or accidents, which make it necessary for them to leave the University before the semester is completed. Further information and applications are available from the University Park Cashier’s Office and Registration and Records. Information is also available online at https://arr.usc.edu/registration-counseling/registration/usc-tuition-refund-insurance-program/. The Program is not involved in the tuition refund insurance program and processing paperwork to seek a refund is the responsibility of the student.

  • Attendance at the program’s Orientation Week is MANDATORY and formally transitions an accepted applicant formally to student status within the USC PA program. If there are unmitigated circumstances that may prevent you from attending the mandatory orientation (usually held the week before classes begin), and/or the first week of class, you must notify the Program immediately. The Program may exercise its right to rescind its admission offer to you.

    The Admissions Committee evaluates a large number of candidates (about 1,000) for a relative few interviews (about 200). Each year there are many more qualified candidates than we can possibly admit and, therefore, we are not able to offer admission to all of the competitive candidates who interview. In fairness to all the qualified candidates, we attempt to seat the class in a timely manner.

    If you believe that you will not be able to comply with the Deferment Policy, you may wish to withdraw your application and re-apply for the next academic year.

  • Withdrawal from a course or from the program requires action by the student. A student may withdraw from the Program whenever they no longer wish to be a student in the Program. To withdraw from the Program at any time, a student must make a formal written request and secure written permission from the Program Director. All withdrawals, both for a course or from the program must be processed through the Office of Academic Records and Registrar. Students are responsible for notifying the appropriate USC authorities (i.e. registrar, financial aid, etc.) of their withdrawal https://classes.usc.edu/term-20242/registration/. Students must adhere to all deadlines for course withdrawals found on the University registration calendar. https://classes.usc.edu/term-20242/calendar/

    Procedure for withdrawal from the Program:

    1. Written requests for withdrawal from the Program must be submitted to the Program Director.

    2. Appropriate forms must be completed and submitted to the USC registrar’s office.

    3. Students who withdraw from the Program either by their own volition or by administrative process must apply for readmission.

    4. Before withdrawing from the Program, a student should carefully consider the alternative of taking a personal or health leave of absence.

  • Students must complete and pass all didactic semester courses with a minimum of 75% to progress to the next semester of the Program. Students should refer to the course syllabi for specific course requirements which must be met to successfully complete and pass a course.

    To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of 3.0 and earn a “Credit” in all Credit/No Credit courses.

  • The goal of remediation is to fill a knowledge gap and does not affect or change the grade a student earned on an assessment, examination or course.

    Didactic phase: Students who fail an examination during the didactic phase of the program will participate in remediation at the end of the semester or at the start of the following semester. The purpose of the remediation is to address deficiencies in academic knowledge. Examinations may be given as part of the remediation plan; however, the grade earned during the semester will remain unchanged. Any student who fails remediation will be placed on academic probation and will be referred to LEAD for additional remediation.

    If a student fails a third semester remediation, then they will be placed on academic probation and paused from proceeding into the clinical year. They will be referred to SPC.

    Clinical phase: Students who do not successfully pass their end of rotation exam must complete a remediation activity provided by the Director of Clinical Education and demonstrate proficiency by retaking the failed assessment as outlined in Section VI of the Program Handbook.

    Deceleration is defined as the loss of a student from the cohort, who remains matriculated in the PA program. Deceleration means the student may not progress to the next semester but rather will join the next cohort of students the following year. Deceleration may be voluntary or mandatory.

    Voluntary Deceleration: Students initiate voluntary deceleration and must be approved by the Program Director. Once approved by the Program Director, deceleration is conditional upon ARC-PA approval. Voluntary deceleration is usually a proactive choice due to extenuating circumstances such as family emergencies, personal or mental health issues, or medical leaves of absence. For further information about program leave of absence, see section 2.27 :Deferral of Enrollment.

    Mandatory Deceleration: Students who are not meeting academic milestones may be delayed in their progress and may be decelerated. Deceleration after failing a course is at the discretion of the Student Progress Committee and is conditional upon ARC-PA approval. During the clinical phase of the Program, a student will be decelerated after failing to earn credit for three clinical courses, including any leaves of absence. Students who are offered deceleration are placed on academic leave and are placed on academic probation until removed by the SPC. Students must complete an individual academic success plan and meet with the SPC prior to returning to the classroom or clinical site.

    Repeating a course does not replace the failing grade earned in the course. Rather, the new grade is averaged into the student’s cumulative grade point average.

    Students repeating a course must consider the financial costs associated with this decision. It is highly recommended the student meet with the financial aid office to determine if financial aid will be available.

    Failure to receive a passing grade for the repeated course will result in dismissal from the program.

  • The Program reserves the right to require the dismissal of any student at any time before graduation if circumstances of a legal, moral, behavioral, ethical, patient safety concerns, health or academic nature justify such an action. Students may be dismissed from the Program without first having been placed on probation. Unprofessional conduct may constitute the sole reason for dismissal from the Program.

    Conditions that may result in dismissal, include but are not limited to:

    • Students who fail to attain a semester and/or cumulative GPA of 3.0
    • Students who fail one or more didactic or clinical courses
    • Students who fail a didactic or clinical course for the second time
    • Professional or behavioral misconduct or academic dishonesty
    • Failure to meet the essential technical standards of the Program, with or without reasonable accommodations

    Violations of the Student Code of Conduct

    Students dismissed from the University for failure to maintain registration may request to return to the program through a letter to the Admissions Selections Committee. This letter must be submitted no later than February 1st of the year prior to planned re-enrollment. The committee will be charged with reviewing the letter and the student’s file to determine if they should be allowed to return. If the committee determines that the student should be allowed to return, they will notify the student and Program Director of their decision within 30 days of receipt of the letter. In the event the committee denies the request, the student has the right to appeal to the Program Director who will have 30 days to review the submitted materials to ensure compliance with the policies and procedures. The Program Director will render an independent decision. Dismissed students may appeal the Program Director’s decision to the Dean of Keck School of Medicine in accordance with the procedures set forth in the USC Student Handbook regarding dismissal of graduate students.