NLU_PA_Program_Clinical_Handbook 10-30-26 (002)

8. Clinical Site Employment Students may not use their employment relationship with a clinical site to substitute for required PA Program clinical education. When participating in a supervised clinical practice experience, students must function in their designated role as NLU PA students and comply with all program and clinical-site requirements. Students must not represent employment activities as PA Program educational activities unless specifically approved by the program, and must comply with applicable requirements regarding student identification and supervision in clinical settings. 9. Professional and Academic Responsibility Students who elect to maintain employment remain responsible for achieving the academic and professional standards of the PA Program. Employment does not reduce or modify the program’s expectations regarding academic performance, professional behavior, attendance, clinical performance, competency development, patient safety, examination performance, assignment completion, clinical documentation, professional communication, or timely completion of program requirements. Students are expected to make appropriate personal, financial, and employment decisions before and during enrollment to ensure that they can meet the demands of the program. 10. Financial Hardship The program recognizes that students may experience financial challenges during graduate education. Students experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to utilize appropriate National Louis University resources, including financial aid, financial counseling, student support services, and other available resources. The program will make reasonable efforts to direct students to available University resources; however, financial hardship or employment obligations do not alter the academic and clinical requirements of the PA Program. 11. No Accommodation for Employment Students are expected to understand that choosing to work while enrolled is a personal decision and does not create an obligation for the program to accommodate the student’s employment schedule. The program will not: change required class times because of employment; provide alternative examination times solely because of employment; modify clinical rotation schedules solely because of employment; excuse absences caused by employment;