Policies

Complaints Against the Program that Fall Outside Due Process

The faculty and staff of the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies strive to demonstrate a high level of ethical values and professionalism in all its activities. In some cases, a situation may generate complaint for which no formal grievance process exists. The complaint should be written, signed, include details about the complaint and documented evidence and mailed to:

Program Director, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Sacred Heart University
5151 Park Avenue
Fairfield, CT 06825

Please include contact information so the Program Director can reach you in order to address the complaint.

The following outlines the process for handling a complaint against the Program:

  1. When possible, the Program Director will discuss the complaint directly with the party involved within 14 business days. The expectation is that the complaint can be satisfactorily resolved by this discussion. The Program Director will provide a written description of the resolution to the person complaining.
  2. If dissatisfied with the outcome of the discussion with the Program Director, or if the complaint is against the Program Director, the complainant may submit a written complaint to the Dean, College of Health Professions. The Program Director will provide the Dean with a written summary of previous discussions where applicable. The Dean will discuss the matter with the Program Director and complainant separately and may schedule a joint appointment or conference call with the Program Director and complainant in attempt to reach a solution. The Dean will provide the complainant and the Program Director with a written letter outlining the solution reached through this step.
  3. If the complainant remains dissatisfied after step two, the last line of complaint is to the Provost, who serves as the Chief Academic Officer of Sacred Heart University.
  4. Any letters or documentation associated with the complaint from the complainant, the Program Director, Dean or Provost will be kept in a folder marked “Complaints against the Physician Assistant Program” kept in program files for a period of five years.

Complaints against the Program regarding Compliance with ARC-PA Accreditation Standards

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) is the commission accrediting all PA Programs. To contact the ARC-PA regarding a complaint associated with accreditation standards, visit their website.

Public Comments or Complaints against the Program Regarding Regional NECHE Accreditation

The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) is the regional accrediting body for colleges and universities in New England. NECHE receives both public comments and complaints. Public Comments consist of observations about the quality of the University and its programs based on an individual’s experience. Comments must be substantive but need not include evidence and may be written or emailed. Complaints must be written, signed and meet NECHE’s criteria for complaints. NECHE’s complaint criteria, procedures for filing complaints and links may be found on the Comments & Complaints webpage.

Public Comments or Complaints against the Program to the Connecticut Office of Higher Education Accreditation

The Connecticut Office of Higher Education is responsible for quality review of independent colleges located in Connecticut. If you believe that the University or the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program has not fulfilled its promises, you may file a complaint with the Office of Higher Education:

Office of Higher Education
450 Columbus Blvd, Ste 510
Hartford, CT 06103-1841
860-947-1800

Student Work Policy

Students are discouraged from working while in the PA Program due to the robust nature of the PA program. In the event a student chooses to work, they are not permitted to miss or reschedule lecture, lab sessions, journal clubs, seminar sessions or any part of their didactic or clinical educational requirements. The program has the right to recommend termination of employment based on academics that fall below the minimum University and program requirements.

Additionally, PA students are not permitted to be employed by or perform clerical or administrative tasks for the PA program.

Background Check

Successful completion of the MSPAS program includes satisfactory completion of the clinical education component of the curriculum. The majority of clinical sites now require students to complete a criminal background check prior to participating in clinical education placements. Some facilities may also require fingerprinting and/or drug screening. State licensure laws may also restrict or prohibit those with criminal convictions from obtaining a professional license to practice following graduation. Thus, students with criminal convictions or backgrounds may not be able to obtain required clinical education experience(s) thereby failing to meet the academic standards of the program. 

It is therefore the policy of PA Studies program that all admitted students planning to enroll in the MSPAS Program must consent, submit to and satisfactorily complete a criminal background check before registration for courses as a condition of matriculation. Matriculation will not be final until the completion of the criminal background check with results deemed acceptable to the program director or MSPAS Director of Clinical Education. 

All expenses associated with the criminal background check are the responsibility of the student. Students who do not consent to the required background check, refuse to provide information necessary to conduct the background check or provide false or misleading information in regard to the background check will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including refusal of matriculation or dismissal from the program. 

Criminal background information is strictly confidential, for use only by authorized MSPAS program faculty and/or administrative staff and shall be retained only until the student graduates or is dismissed from the program.

Sacred Heart University Dismissal/Academic Appeals

A student whose matriculation has been terminated has the right to petition the Dean of the College. Such a petition should carefully delineate any information or extenuating circumstances that are currently unknown to the Committee which may influence a decision. The petition must include a plan for remediating deficiencies and for avoiding further academic or behavioral problems in the future. If the Dean of the College does not receive a petition by the deadline specified in the letter of termination, it will be assumed that the student has waived their right to such reconsideration. If a petition is received as per protocol and in a timely manner, the Dean of the College will then forward a student appeal to the Professional Performance Committee for review and a recommendation.

Dismissed students have the option to appeal if they believe their academic deficiencies are due to extenuating circumstances or computational errors in calculating their GPA or academic progress. The appeal should include some reflection on the cause of the poor performance, documentation of any extenuating circumstances and a plan of action for improving performance if the student is admitted back into the University. 

The appeal and all supporting documentation of the appeal must be presented within seven (7) business days after receipt of the formal dismissal letter via email. The student will also receive a delivery confirmed via tracking or certified mail of the dismissal letter. Appeals letters are to be sent via email to the PA Program Director, SHU MSPAS PPC and the Dean of the College of Health Professions. The Dean’s contact information is available at: Office of the Dean of CHP.

The College of Health Professions Professional Performance Committee will make a recommendation to the Dean. The Dean will then make a final decision on the appeal.