Student Handbook

The Physician Assistant (PA) Student Handbook represents the culmination of standards and procedures relating to the Lipscomb University School of Physician Assistant Studies and its students, thereby serving in conjunction with and as a supplement to the Lipscomb University Graduate Student Handbook. This supplemental handbook has been created in an effort to define, publish, make readily available, and consistently apply all pertinent standards and procedures of the School of Physician Assistant Studies.

All students will be given access to digital versions of the PA Student Handbook and receive instructions for access. Each student will be required to sign an acknowledgment of receipt of the handbook at matriculation. The most current published digital version of the student handbook will supplant all previous copies or versions in its entirety unless otherwise noted. PA students are encouraged and expected to familiarize themselves with the contents of this handbook and abide by its tenets.

All program standards outlined in this handbook are officially published herein, readily accessible to all stakeholders, and shall be applied consistently across all program locations to all students, principal faculty, staff, and the program director. These standards govern all aspects of the academic program and student experience, ensuring equitable treatment and clear expectations for all members of the program community.

This commitment to transparency and consistency ensures that all program participants understand their rights, responsibilities, and the standards by which they will be evaluated throughout their academic journey.

The Lipscomb University School of Physician Assistant Studies reserves the right to modify, amend, or update the contents of its Student Handbook at any time without prior notice. Such changes may include, but are not limited to, standards, procedures, academic requirements, and other information pertinent to the program's administration.

The handbook will be reviewed and updated no less than annually to ensure that it remains current and reflects the most accurate information. Changes made during annual updates or academic year versions will not require written notice and will be incorporated into the next published version of the handbook.

If substantive changes to the handbook occur during a given academic year, the program/department will make reasonable efforts to communicate these changes in writing to all affected students. These changes may be made to reflect new laws, regulations, institutional policies, accreditation standards, or other necessary updates that support the program's mission and goals. While the program will endeavor to provide timely notice of such changes, it remains the responsibility of each student to regularly review the Student Handbook and other official communications from the program.

If there is any discrepancy between the handbook and current standards or procedures, the most recent version of the policies, as approved by the program, will prevail.