Didactic PA Standards

Professional standards for dress code include appropriate dress and proper attention to personal hygiene.  

All members of the university community are expected to maintain standards of modesty and decency in dress consistent with professional employment expectations. Concerns regarding appropriate attire will be referred to the Office of Student Affairs. 

Women 

• Dresses and skirts must be knee-length at a minimum.

• Blouses and pants are appropriate as long as the blouse isn’t low-cut and the midriff is not exposed.

• Leggings, denim jeans, t-shirts, shorts, sweat suits, spaghetti straps, strapless tops, and hats are not permitted.

• Shoes must be professional and moderate in heel height. Slides and flip-flops are not permitted.

• Cologne and perfume should not be worn so as to not disturb others or provoke allergic reactions.

Men

• Button-down collared shirts or polos are expected with dress slacks.

• Belts must accompany dress slacks.

• Denim jeans, t-shirts, shorts, sweat suits, and hats are prohibited.

• Shoes must be professional and closed-toed.

• Facial hair must be neatly trimmed.

• Cologne and perfume should not be worn so as to not disturb others or provoke allergic reactions.

Specific Dress Requirements

• Head coverings are only permitted if worn for medical conditions, safety purposes, or established religious or cultural customs.

• At times, students may be required to maintain short nails for specific physical examination techniques.

Scrubs

Students may wear program-approved scrubs, which must be embroidered with the school’s logo and purchased from the designated vendor, in the following situations:

• Semester I: During the first semester, students are permitted to wear program scrubs to classes and the anatomy lab. Alternatively, students may elect to wear non-program scrubs in the anatomy lab.

• Physical Exam and Procedure Labs: Program scrubs may be worn on days that involve physical examination or procedure labs.

• Special Circumstances: The PA Program may occasionally authorize the wearing of program scrubs on specific days not included above due to special circumstances or events. These days must receive prior approval.

Note: Non-program scrubs are permitted only in the anatomy lab and are not acceptable substitutes for program scrubs in any other situation.

On-time attendance is part of demonstrating professional behavior and is mandatory for all classes, lectures, labs, and other designated program activities.  Absences require timely notification of the program office and course director.  All tardies, early departures, and absences require the completion of the student absence process outlined below:

1. Complete the Student Attendance Form and submit to the Director of Student Affairs. If the student requests the absence to be excused, he/she should submit documentation with the form. 

   • Excused absences are those that have both a valid reason for the absence AND proof of excuse (i.e., medical note). 

   • Unexcused absences are those without a valid reason or proof of excuse.

2. The Director of Student Affairs will determine if the absence is excused or unexcused based on the reason for absence and proof of excuse. Individual faculty members are not responsible for determining the nature of any absences.

3. The form will be returned to the student in order to gather course coordinator signatures.

4. After the student collects all required signatures, he/she will return the completed form to the Director of Student Affairs.

5. The absence will be entered into Progress IQ.

The instructional faculty will determine the timeline for any make-up work. Assessments can only be made up if the absence is excused. Excused absences are those that have both a valid reason for the absence AND proof of excuse (i.e., medical note). 

If a student has more than two (2) unexcused absences in any course, they must go to the Progression and Accountability Council (PAC) for further consideration.  If a student has more than three (3) excused absences in any course, they must go to the PAC for further consideration.  Meeting with the PAC for attendance reasons (excused or unexcused) will allow the faculty to ensure that students meet the requirements of the program. Excessive unexcused absences may result in corrective action.