NCE’s 2023-2024 fiscal year, illustrating how the College is following through with our commitment to the betterment of education on both a local and national level.
PA Student Role, Non-Substitution, and Non-Staff Employment Policy
Policy Title: PA Student Role, Non-Substitution, and Non-Staff Employment Policy Program: Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Effective Date: November 1, 2026 Last Reviewed: November 1, 2026 Review Cycle: Annually Responsible Office: Physician Assistant Program Director and PA Faculty Related ARC-PA Standard: A3.03 Policy Location: NLU Physician Assistant Program website
1. Purpose
The National Louis University (NLU) Physician Assistant (PA) Program is committed to maintaining a clear distinction between the educational role of PA students and the employment and professional responsibilities of program faculty and staff. This policy establishes that PA students do not substitute for or function as instructional faculty, clinical staff, or administrative staff . The policy is intended to protect the educational integrity of the PA Program, ensure appropriate supervision and accountability, and maintain compliance with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) Standards, Sixth Edition.
2. Policy Statement
PA students enrolled in the NLU PA Program are students and are not employees of the PA Program by virtue of their enrollment.
PA students shall not be required, assigned, or permitted to substitute for or function as:
1. Instructional faculty; 2. Clinical staff; or 3. Administrative staff.
Students may participate in educational activities that enhance their learning, such as peer tutoring, peer mentoring, student organizations, simulation activities, or other approved student- learning activities. Such activities must remain educational in nature and may not replace,
fulfill, or substitute for responsibilities assigned to faculty, clinical staff, or administrative staff.
A3.03(a) — Instructional Faculty
3. Students Do Not Substitute for or Function as Instructional Faculty
PA students shall not substitute for or function as instructional faculty in the NLU PA Program.
Students shall not independently perform faculty responsibilities including, but not limited to:
• developing or approving course content; • serving as the instructor of record; • independently delivering required course instruction; • establishing course learning outcomes or instructional objectives; • independently evaluating or assigning grades to other students; • making progression or promotion decisions; • determining student competency; • conducting official summative evaluations of other students; • serving as an official course coordinator; • serving as an official academic advisor for other students; • developing or approving examinations or other official assessments; • determining whether another student has successfully met a program competency; or • performing other responsibilities designated by the program to instructional or principal faculty. Students may assist with approved peer-learning activities , including peer tutoring or mentoring, when such activities are educationally appropriate and authorized by the program. Such participation does not confer faculty status or authority and does not permit the student to independently perform faculty responsibilities.
All official instruction, assessment, evaluation, academic advising, competency determination, and progression decisions remain the responsibility of appropriately qualified NLU faculty.
A3.03(b) — Clinical or Administrative Staff
4. Students Do Not Substitute for or Function as Clinical or Administrative Staff
PA students shall not substitute for or function as clinical or administrative staff of the NLU PA Program or its affiliated clinical sites.
During supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs), students function exclusively in their designated role as NLU PA students and participate in patient care for educational purposes under the supervision required by the program and clinical site.
Students shall not be used to:
replace employed clinical personnel;
• •
fill clinical staffing vacancies;
• provide clinical coverage in place of employees; • perform duties assigned to clinical staff as an employee; • substitute for a preceptor or clinical faculty member; • substitute for a physician, PA, nurse, medical assistant, or other clinical employee; • independently assume responsibility for patient care outside the student's educational role and authorized supervision; • perform administrative staffing functions for the PA Program; or • replace PA Program administrative or support staff. A student's prior healthcare employment, professional license, certification, or clinical experience does not alter this requirement. When participating in PA Program activities or SCPEs, the individual functions in the role of an NLU PA student . Students may participate in approved student activities, committees, peer mentoring, or other educational activities; however, such activities may not be used to meet staffing needs or replace the responsibilities of clinical or administrative employees.
5. Program Responsibility
The Program Director is responsible for implementation and oversight of this policy.
The Program Director ensures that faculty, staff, clinical preceptors, and students understand the distinction between student educational activities and faculty, clinical, and administrative employment responsibilities.
The Program Director and PA faculty monitor compliance through:
student orientation;
• • •
student policy acknowledgment; faculty and staff orientation;
• clinical preceptor communication and orientation; • review of clinical affiliation and SCPE expectations; • student advising;
faculty and staff meetings;
•
• review of student concerns or complaints; • review of clinical education concerns; and • periodic policy review against current ARC-PA Standards.
Any concern that a student is being asked to substitute for faculty, clinical staff, or administrative staff will be reviewed by the Program Director and addressed through the appropriate program and university processes.
6. Policy Acknowledgment
Students will acknowledge receipt and understanding of this policy during matriculation/onboarding and will be informed that:
1. They are enrolled as PA students and are not instructional faculty or program staff. 2. They cannot be required to substitute for instructional faculty. 3. They cannot be required to substitute for clinical staff. 4. They cannot be required to substitute for administrative staff. 5. Approved peer tutoring or mentoring does not constitute faculty employment. 6. Clinical education does not constitute employment as clinical staff. 7. Prior healthcare employment or credentials do not change their role as PA students during program activities. 8. Students must immediately communicate concerns regarding inappropriate substitution or staffing expectations to the Program Director or designated faculty member.
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