PA Policies and Procedures

The program will consist of full-time days and occasional nights and weekends. A module schedule will be issued 1 week prior to the start of each semester for student planning purposes. Content experts from the medical community are utilized for lecturing to facilitate student learning which may require flexibility in scheduling.

Because of the intensity of the program, students are strongly discouraged from attempting to work. Students should bear in mind that any work undertaken outside the program is not covered by the student malpractice insurance required during the program. Course work and clinical experiences will not be arranged to accommodate any outside work.

The Physician Assistant Faculty will not function or substitute as a medical provider for physician assistant students.

The PA Program should be an educational experience for the student. Per program policy, at no time should a student work for the program, substitute, or function as instructional faculty or administrative staff in the didactic or clinical setting.

Should the circumstance arise, the student should contact the program immediately for resolution. The University may hire a PA Graduate Assistant position that is utilized for peer tutoring and module review.

The Westfield State University PA Program is engaged to pursue excellence; therefore, the program will collect and analyze data for continuous self-assessment. The following surveys/assessments will be conducted:

• Instructor Assessment Survey
• Professionalism evaluation
• Course evaluations
• Rotation logs
• Clinical Site evaluations
• Program evaluations
• Exit surveys
• PANCE scores
• Graduate surveys
• Employer surveys
• Faculty surveys

PA program curriculum is intensive and taught at an accelerated pace. Therefore, appropriate classroom and laboratory behavior is necessary to ensure a proper learning environment.

• In all professional settings, PA program faculty and staff should be addressed by their respective professional titles.
• Under no circumstances should the following activities take place in the classroom: dishonesty, disruption of class activities, expression of derogatory or disrespectful comments to instructors or classmates, confrontations with instructors or classmates, or displays of temper. Such behavior will be immediately referred to the Program Director for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the program.
• Cell phones may be carried during class for use as reference materials or for searches. All phones will be in backpacks during class or laboratory sessions as requested by the instructor. At no time will students engage in a telephone call, e-mailing, texting, or any other social media while in a classroom or laboratory setting. If it is essential that you receive urgent information, arrangements can be made with the program administrative assistant or course instructor.
• Students should feel comfortable asking questions in class. This requires the cooperation of the entire class.
• Each student is required to be covered by malpractice insurance each year in which they are enrolled in the PA program. The insurance is linked to tuition payment. Therefore, non-payment of tuition will result in a lack of malpractice insurance, which will prevent students from engaging in the didactic year or clinical rotations.
• Students are expected to secure their own transportation (reliable car) to class, laboratory, on or off-campus patient encounters, simulation exercises, and clinical sites.
• Some clinical rotation experiences in the clinical year may require travel to sites outside the greater local area. Students are responsible for all costs associated with these clinical rotations, including travel, parking, and living expenses.
• All students are required to have a University ID and to have their WSU name tag listing their name and "Physician Assistant Student" along with their WSU ID badge and any other identification mandated by the institution to which they are assigned or attending off-campus.
• A Student Encounter Form (Appendix H) will be used to document irregularities in academic and behavioral performance and will be included in the student’s permanent academic file.

Students in the PA program must achieve a grade of B minus (B-) (>79.5%) in PAS didactic and clinical courses to remain in good academic standing. Students who receive less than a B minus (B-) in one course may be offered the opportunity for course remediation. Remediation will require registration in an additional Redmedaition Course that must be passed for successful course completion. A Remediation Course fee will be assessed in the amount of one graduate credit. If course remediation is unsuccessful, a leave of absence or program dismissal will be recommended.  A student may only remediate one course per year.

Due to course scheduling, a leave of absence will result in delay in the program.  In addition, because the courses offered each semester are interrelated, students who join a new cohort are required pass a competency exam for prior learning, attend all courses in the semester that the failed course is repeated, attend all classes, and pass all evaluation requirements. Failure to achieve a B minus (B-) or better on a second attempt of a course following a leave of absence will result in recommendation of dismissal from the program. All coursework must be completed within five (5) years of matriculation.

Per the graduate catalog: To be considered in good academic standing and to remain in a graduate program, students must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the course of study. In addition, students may not earn a B- in more than three courses. Students are immediately dismissed from a program if they receive two (2) F’s or more than three (3) grades of B- or lower.

All matriculated students are reviewed by DGCE within thirty (30) days after the grade submission deadline of the fall, spring, and summer II terms to ensure they are in good academic standing.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

A student is placed on academic probation if the overall cumulative GPA is below a 3.0, at the time of the DGCE review, or the student has received two grades of a “B-” or lower. The student will receive official written notification of academic probation status from the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education (DGCE). The student’s academic advisor and/or DGCE Program Chair is copied with this notification. Students on academic probation are required to meet with a faculty advisor or DGCE Program Chair to develop a written academic success plan for improvement and must submit a copy of this plan to DGCE within thirty (30) days of notification. Students without a written success plan on file will not be permitted to enroll in future terms.

Students placed on academic probation have two full terms (fall and spring) of enrollment to achieve good academic standing unless provided an extension by permission of the Graduate Program Chair and the DGCE Dean. Students on probation must complete all outstanding incomplete grades before enrolling in future terms. Students are required to repeat course(s) in which they have received a deficient grade (per the Deficient Grades and Course Repeat Policy) as soon as possible within their course of study. Academic probation may not be appealed.

Students are immediately dismissed from a program if they receive two (2) F’s or more than three (3) grades of B- or lower, and they have exhausted their course repeat option (below). Students on academic probation who do not achieve good academic standing within their two-term (fall and spring) time frame will automatically be dismissed from their program. Students may appeal academic program dismissal, please see academic dismissal appeals process for more information.

Course Remediation Policy

The performance of all students will be reviewed each by semester by the Promotions & Remediation Committee. For students who have demonstrated academic deficiency (<79.5%) in a program course, may be offered a remediation process. Students are only eligible for remediation in one course per year (one didactic course and one clinical course), as long as the remainder of the semester grades are a B minus (B-) or higher and the student is in good professional standing. Failure of a second course per didactic year will result in recommendation of a leave of absence or dismissal.

Remediation will be offered if the student demonstrated behavior, attitude, and ethics consistent with professional demeanor expected of a physician assistant student as determined by the Promotions and Remediation Committee.

The course coordinator will refer a remediation plan to the Promotions & Remediation Committee. If remediation is approved, students will be required to register for a Remediation Course with an assigned academic remediation plan and assessment by the Director of Didactic Education. The Remediation Course outlines the way in which a student will be expected to address any performance issues.

Remediation will include repeating some portion of the module, course or clerkship and reexamination. In all cases, the process of remediation content shall be at the discretion of the course coordinator, and the Director of Didactic or Clinical Education.

OSCE Remediation Policy

As part of the WSU PA Program Assessment process, all medical module courses will require that each OSCE assessment must be passed successfully to pass the course. If a student fails the OSCE, they will be offered one opportunity to remediate the OSCE. If they fail the repeat OSCE, that is considered a course failure, and they will be referred for course remediation or dismissal per program policy.

If a student fails four different course OSCEs on the first attempt, they will be referred to the Academic Advisor and  Program Director for discussion of areas of concern and planning. 

Failure of six first-time attempt OSCE failures will result in referral to the Program Director for dismissal.

Program Dismissal

Students that do not meet the program expectations will be recommended for dismissal to the Program Director by the Promotions and Remediation Committee:

• Students fail to achieve a course grade of B minus (B-) (>79.5%) or better after a Remediation Course is completed.
• Students fail to achieve 3.0 GPA after returning from a leave of absence.
• Lack of resolution of documented professional behavior issues.
• Failure of 2 clinical courses or failure to pass a repeated clinical clerkship.
• Academic Dishonesty.

Click here for more information regarding the Graduate Academic Dismissal Policy

A student wishing to withdraw voluntarily from the University must inform the PA Program Director. Further details about the University refund policy and procedures are found here.

Leave of Absence

• In the event a leave of absence is needed, students are urged to submit a request to the Program Director, and Registrar as soon as possible.
• In order to obtain a leave of absence, students must be in good academic standing.
• Leave of absence is granted for up to one academic year.
• Upon return, students will require additional documentation, competency exams for prior learning, and medical clearance as determined by the type of leave of absence.
• Please refer to the Westfield State University Graduate Catalog for further information.

“Academic Honesty, a necessary foundation of a learning community is expected of all students. Violations are unacceptable and are subject to academic penalties including failure of a course. A record of the violation is submitted to Academic Affairs; repeated violations may result in suspension or dismissal from the college. Violations of academic honesty include cheating on examinations, plagiarism, and submission of the same paper for credit in two or more courses.” Academic Honesty, (WSU Bulletin)

Students in the graduate program are expected to have high standards of integrity. Any graduate student who violates academic honesty through activity such as cheating or plagiarizing on examinations, papers, assignments or within a research setting is subject to dismissal from the program. Graduate students are required to follow departmental processes for field placements (e.g. prepracticum, practicum, internships). Failure to do so may be grounds for removal of students from the graduate program. Cases involving failure to follow process shall be referred to the Dean for adjudication.

Grade Appeals and Grievance Policy

Questions or concerns relating directly to a college course should first be raised with the course instructor. Program directors and department chairs are available to consult on appeals at the program level. If you have questions or concerns about the academic policies and regulations of the Graduate School, you should direct them in writing to the Dean. A formal appeal form may be found HERE.

Harassment Policy

Westfield State University does not tolerate any forms of harassment.

Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome verbal, non-verbal and/or physical behavior of a sexual nature that has the effect of interfering with student employment, academic or other status, of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. It is a form of sex discrimination that was made illegal by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 as amended, and under Chapters 151B and 151C of the Massachusetts General Laws.

Any member of the College community who believes she/he has been a victim of  harassment may initiate informal or formal complaint procedures with the University's Non-Discrimination Office. Full text of the current Sexual Harassment Policy is available in the Graduate and Continuing Education Office, the Non-Discrimination Office, Diversity and Affirmative Action Plan, and within the Student Handbook. Additional information on the full University Bullying and Harassment Policy can be found here. Further information or advice may be obtained by contacting the Dean of the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education.

All complaints of student mistreatment should be reported to the Program Director or the Dean of Students Office for assistance.

State and Federal Remedies

In addition to the above, if you believe you have been subjected to sexual harassment, you may file a formal complaint with either or both of the government agencies set forth below. Using our complaint process does not prohibit you from filing a complaint with these agencies. Each of the agencies has a short time period from alleged offense for filing a claim (EEOC-180 days; MCAD-6 months).

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”)

One Congress Street, 10th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
Tel. 617.565.3200

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (“MCAD”)

Boston Office: One Ashburton Place
Room 601
Boston, MA 02108

Springfield Office:
436 Dwight Street
Room 220
Springfield, MA 01103

Professional Liability Coverage

A professional liability insurance policy providing adequate malpractice coverage for each student must be in effect throughout their educational experience and must be sustained uninterrupted throughout the clinical year.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all practicing physician assistants and physicians to have minimum liability coverage of $1M/$3M.  Consistent with this requirement, all affiliated clerkship training sites require a minimum of $1M/$3M professional liability insurance coverage for each student.

The University, through payment of tuition, provides professional liability coverage of $1,000,000.00 per occurrence and $3,000,000.00 in the aggregate, ($1M/$3M), for claims made against students during their clinical clerkships.  This policy covers all program-affiliated student clerkship activities throughout the clinical year.  This policy DOES NOT cover a student for clinical or other activities, which are not directly associated with the PA Program or affiliated clerkship sites. 

The student should inquire with legal counsel if they should acquire additional malpractice insurance. 

Health Insurance

Massachusetts law requires that all students have health insurance. Westfield State University complies with this requirement for all enrolled students. Westfield State University makes available a student health insurance plan to all enrolled students designed to provide protection against unexpected expenses or an accident or illness. Students with proof of comparable coverage may be exempt from the University health insurance policy. All Physician Assistant Program faculty, program director and medical director may not participate in the health care of any PA student. Although the faculty and medical director work clinically, they will not get involved in a PA student care unless it is an emergency situation with no other recourse or clinician. For additional information regarding the student health insurance plan contact the office of student services.

HIPAA Compliance

Prior to entrance into the clinical year, all students are trained in the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) which outlines medical privacy regulations.  Students will not be permitted to begin the clinical year without HIPAA training and documentation. Students must demonstrate continuous compliance with these regulations throughout the clinical year. Failure to do so may result in suspension or dismissal from the program.

Immunization Requirements

All immunizations are based on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) immunization guidelines for healthcare providers. The following immunizations are required for matriculation to the PA Program. The student must provide documentation to the PA Program that he/she is in compliance with the following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines:

• All childhood immunizations must be current.
• Measles/Mumps/Rubella: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that all full-time undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of year of birth, as well as all part-time and full-time graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in health science programs, have two doses of MMR vaccine. Laboratory proof of immunity is acceptable if immunization dates are unavailable.
• A completed Hepatitis B series of vaccinations and documentation of a protective titer (Hepatitis B Surface Antibody) are required. The series can be a 3-dose series of Recombivax HB or Engerix-B (dose #1 now, #2 in 1 month, #3 approximately 5 months after #2) or a 2-dose series of Heplisav-B, with the doses separated by at least 4 weeks. Get an anti-HBs serologic test 1-2 months after the final dose.
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) immunity is necessary. If you do not have chickenpox (varicella) documented, if you haven’t had varicella vaccine, or if you don’t have an up-to-date blood test that shows you are immune to varicella (i.e. no serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination) get 2 doses of varicella vaccine, 4 weeks apart.
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap or Dtap) immunization may be as many as five and must be within the last 10 years. Pregnant Health Care Workers need to get a dose of Tdap during each pregnancy.
• Annual influenza vaccine prior to the flu season.
• TWO negative Tuberculosis (TB) skin tests taken two weeks apart or an IGRA-test (QuantiFERON Gold test) is required prior to the start of the student’s didactic year and annually thereafter. The student must provide evidence and documentation to the Director of Clinical Education. It is the student’s responsibility to have the test repeated annually as long as patient contact continues. If the student has a Positive Test, the student must submit a report of a negative chest X-ray before the university certifies that immunizations are complete.
• Communicable Tuberculosis: Students with a positive X-ray for communicable tuberculosis may not attend classes until such time as a physician or the Department of Public Health documents that they are free of the disease in a communicable form. Documentation may be through submission of the report of a large X-ray film of the chest, taken not more than ninety days prior thereto, and such other laboratory and clinical examination as may be required for the exclusion in a communicable form. That documentation must be provided to the Program’s Director of Clinical Education in order to show that the student is able to return to clinical practice.
• Covid 19 vaccination required by most clinical sites.

Note: Immunizations are subject to change per CDC guidelines. 

In addition to the above requirements, we require an influenza vaccine annually prior to the flu season. 

In addition, be advised that some clerkship training sites may have immunization requirements beyond the general requirements noted above.  It will be the student’s responsibility to meet any additional immunization requirements of specific sites to which he/she is assigned.

Westfield State University Physician Assistant Immunization Verification Form

Westfield State University Physician Assistant students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites. Clinical site development is not required of students.  The Program maintains an active inventory of clerkship sites that are vetted for their clinical experience.  However, students interested in establishing an out-of-network clerkship may elect to do so within the constraints listed below. 

The Director of Clinical Education has the authority to approve or deny any out of network request. All out of network clinical sites will need to be equivalent in experiential learning to currently approved in-network clerkships.  Out-of-network clerkships may not be observational only experiences. All WSU PA program documentation must be completed by the proposed clinical site including affiliation agreement for all clinics and/or facilities, preceptor profile including CV and licenses, and site evaluation. Students will be required to submit an Out-of-Network Clerkship Request form to the Director of Clinical Education.

The following policy refers specifically to Westfield State University. Other policies may exist at clinical sites and will be distributed at those sites. Please refer to the Infection Control Policy in Appendix F in the Student Handbook for additional information.

Exposure Determination

A.  Westfield State University Physician Assistant Program faculty and students in the course of their teaching or learning may be involved in exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials through skin, eye, mucus membrane or parenteral contact.

Exposure does not include incidental exposures that may take place at the school and that are neither reasonably nor routinely expected to incur in the normal school duties.

The term ‘other bodily fluids’ and ‘other potentially infectious materials’ refer to semen, vaginal secretions, cerebral spinal fluid, plural fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, and any other body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, as well as any fixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living or dead).

The Health Center is located in Scanlon Hall. Graduate students are not eligible to use the Health Center on campus, but the Center will assist/direct students to appropriate medical facilities. The Counseling Center is located in Scanlon Hall, 2nd Floor Pike and will refer students to appropriate resources that are available.

The PA Faculty will assist PA students in obtaining timely access to mental health care by contacting the counseling center, Dean of Students Office, or the University STAT team.

The technical standards for admission and graduation of the Westfield State University Physician Assistant Studies Program are stated below and contained within the Student Handbook linked to at the top of the page. Westfield State University and the Physician Assistant Program are committed to meeting the special needs of students within established legal and institutional guidelines. However, the integrity of the medical curriculum and the required mental and physical capabilities to fulfill the obligation of that education must be sustained.

Observation

Students must have appropriate visual and auditory capacity to observe and participate in lectures and demonstrations in the classroom, laboratory and clinical setting. Students must be able to observe the patient accurately at a distance and close at hand while observing verbal and nonverbal signs. Sensory skills to perform a physical examination are required which include functional vision, hearing, smell and tactile sensation. These skills are required to properly observe the patient's condition and to perform adequate and appropriate evaluation. These evaluations include but are not limited to inspection, auscultation, palpation, performance of special physical examination techniques and use of diagnostic tests and instruments.

Communication

Students must be able to effectively relate to patients, conveying a sense of compassion and empathy. They must be able to clearly communicate in academic and health care settings with patients, family members and other healthcare professionals to obtain and convey information regarding the patient's status. Students must be able to read and write English effectively in order to fulfill academic requirements and maintain accurate and legal clinical records on patient care. Students must be able to read and efficiently, accurately and legibly record in legal documents such as patient records. Students must be able to elicit an appropriate history and physical exam from patients and concisely and clearly communicate with the medical team.

Sensory and Motor Coordination and Function

Students are required to possess sensory and motor skills sufficient to independently elicit information from patients using palpation, auscultation, percussion and other manually based diagnostic maneuvers.  Students should be able to conduct laboratory tests and carry out diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Students should possess and execute appropriate motor movement to provide basic medical care in a general medicine environment and coordinate fine and gross muscular movements to treat patients in emergency situations. Students must be able to move freely about patient care environments and must be able to move between settings such as clinics, classroom buildings and hospitals. Physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study is required. This includes, but is not limited to, long periods of sitting, standing or moving which are required in a variety of classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences.

Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrated and Quantitative Abilities

Students should possess the following abilities: an aptitude for rapid problem solving, the capability to assess and interpret medical information independently, evaluate physical examinations, and formulate a logical diagnosis and effective medical treatment plan. Students must possess good judgment in patient assessment, the ability to incorporate new information, understand comprehensive three-dimensional relationships and curricular threads, and retain and recall pertinent information in a timely fashion. When appropriate, students must be able to identify and communicate the limits of their knowledge to others. Students must be able to read and understand the medical literature.

Behavioral and Social Attributes

Students must possess the physical and emotional health required for the application of his/her intellectual ability and the employment of sound judgment in an appropriate and prompt manner. Students must be able to function effectively under physically taxing workload and in times of physical and mental stress. Students must display compassion, sensitivity, honesty and concern for others while maintaining professional integrity at all times. Students are required to adapt to changing environments, have good interpersonal skills, flexibility and be self-motivated. Students must have the ability to accept constructive criticism and handle challenging interpersonal relationships during training. Students must be able to develop mature sensitive and effective relationships with colleagues, patient and other members of the healthcare profession.

The Westfield State University has set the following core competencies required of all students to successfully complete and graduate from the program. The WSU PA Program used the Consensus statement of the four principal PA Professional organizations as to the requirements determined as required for entry-level PAs (see Appendix P).

1. Medical Knowledge: Demonstrate the attainment of core medical knowledge determined by the profession and apply this evidence-based knowledge to patient care in a variety of clinical settings as an entry-level practitioner.
2. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Possess the ability to effectively communicate with various populations, including but not limited to other health care providers, members of the health care team, patients and their families, and the community.
3. Patient Care: Be able to provide compassionate, appropriate, equitable, high-quality patient care in a variety of settings as an entry-level practitioner. Elicit appropriate patient histories and competently perform physical examination as well as other clinical procedures considered essential in the area of practice.
4. Professionalism: Demonstrate the professional attributes of a high-quality health care provider through personal behaviors, interpersonal interactions with the healthcare team, patients, families, and the community. Demonstrate the ability to apply an ethical framework in medical decision-making, practice evaluation, and altruism to their profession, community and society.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to guide Westfield State University Physician Assistant (PA) students in the responsible, ethical, and professional use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. This policy ensures AI is used appropriately to support learning while upholding patient privacy, academic integrity, and the professional standards expected of future PAs.

Scope

This policy applies to all WSU PA students in:

• Didactic coursework
• Clinical rotations
• Simulation and laboratory training
• Research, assignments, and assessments
• Any WSU- or clinical-site–approved electronic systems

This policy works in conjunction with WSU academic integrity policies, the PA Program Student Handbook, and all clinical site regulations.

Definitions

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Any system that generates, predicts, or analyzes information (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Med-PaLM, Perplexity, or clinical decision support tools).
• Generative AI: Tools that create text, images, or content based on prompts.
• Clinical AI: Software integrated into electronic health record (EHR) or hospital systems to support diagnosis, documentation, or workflow.

Acceptable Use

Academic Use

WSU PA students may use AI to support learning in the didactic phase for:

• Summarizing complex topics
• Generating study questions or rationales
• Brainstorming ideas for written work
• Clarifying medical terminology or concepts
• Drafting outlines for assignments if allowed by the instructor

All academic AI use must meet the following requirements:

1. Disclosure: Students must state in the assignment if AI was used and for what purpose.
2. Verification: Students are responsible for fact-checking AI content against evidence-based resources.
3. Instructor Compliance: Some assignments may prohibit or limit AI use; these rules take precedence.

Clinical Use

Students may use only clinical-site–approved AI tools while on rotation. Permitted uses include:

• Learning from clinical decision support tools integrated into the EHR
• Practicing differential diagnoses or case-based reasoning outside of actual patient care
• Enhancing understanding of clinical guidelines

Students may not enter any patient information into non–WSU or non–clinical-site–approved AI platforms.

Prohibited Use

WSU PA students may not:

• Enter any Personal Health Indicators or identifiable patient information into public or consumer AI tools.
• Use AI to generate or complete clinical notes, SOAP notes, H&Ps, or rotation assignments unless explicitly authorized.
• Submit AI-generated work as their own without disclosure.
• Use AI to fabricate references, sources, clinical data, or case details.
• Rely on AI for medical decision-making in patient care.
• Use AI during exams, quizzes, or practical evaluations unless explicitly permitted.

Any use of AI that violates academic integrity or clinical professionalism standards is strictly prohibited.

Privacy & Confidentiality

PA students must follow:

• HIPAA regulations
• Westfield State University privacy policies
• All clinical-site confidentiality policies

Students must ensure that:

• No patient identifiers are shared with AI tools unless the tool is formally approved by a clinical site.
• All case discussions used in AI prompts for educational purposes are fully de-identified.

Academic Integrity

AI is a tool, not an author. Students must be able to:

• Explain and defend all submitted work
• Demonstrate their own reasoning on assessments
• Cite or acknowledge AI according to instructor guidelines

Improper AI use may be considered an academic integrity violation under WSU policy.

Professional Responsibility

PA students are responsible for:

• Critically evaluating all AI-generated content
• Verifying medical information with reputable clinical sources
• Seeking clarification from faculty, preceptors, or supervisors when uncertain
• Maintaining clinical judgment independent of AI suggestions

Students must never use AI output in place of supervised medical decision-making.

Training and Support

The PA program will:

• Provide orientation on safe and ethical AI use
• Offer guidance on evaluating AI-generated information
• Reinforce professional expectations consistent with the PA Competencies

Students are encouraged to stay informed about AI-related updates issued by WSU or clinical partners.

Policy Violations

Violations of this policy may result in:

• Reassignment or resubmission of academic work
• Grade penalties or academic integrity sanctions
• Clinical remediation or removal from clinical sites
• Disciplinary action in accordance with WSU and PA Program policies

Repeated or serious violations may place the student at risk for dismissal from the program.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline expectations for the recording of lectures and instructional activities within the Westfield State University (WSU) PA Program. This policy ensures protection of intellectual property, maintains a respectful learning environment, and supports students with approved accommodations.

General Policy on Lecture Recording

Recording of any lecture, laboratory session, small-group activity, or other instructional event is not permitted unless explicit permission is granted by the course instructor prior to the recording.

• Permission must be requested in writing (email is acceptable).
• Approval is granted at the discretion of the instructor and may be limited to specific sessions or content areas.
• Instructors reserve the right to deny or revoke permission at any time if recording is determined to disrupt learning, compromise confidentiality of patients, students, or others, or violate professional standards.

Limitations on Use and Distribution

Any approved recording is subject to the following restrictions:

1. Educational Use Only
   • Recordings may be used solely for personal academic study by the student who received permission.
   • Recordings may not be used as an adjunct for the arguing of exam grades and content.
2. Prohibited Redistribution
   • Students may not share, post, publish, sell, or otherwise distribute recordings in any format (audio, video, screenshots, transcripts, etc.).
   • This includes, but is not limited to, posting on social media platforms, file-sharing sites, messaging apps, commercial services, or study repositories.
3. Intellectual Property Protection
   • Recorded content is the intellectual property of the instructor and/or the WSU PA Program. Unauthorized use or distribution constitutes a violation of program policy and may result in disciplinary action.
4. Prohibition on Recording Clinical Content
   • Recording any patient-related content, standardized patient encounters, clinical skills sessions, or clinical environments is strictly prohibited.

ADA Accommodations

The PA Program is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities for all students.

• Students with documented disabilities who require recording as an approved accommodation must work with the accessibility/disability services at Banacos Center.
• When recording is granted as an official accommodation:
  • Instructors will be notified of the accommodation.
  • Students must still follow all distribution and usage restrictions.
  • Recordings made under ADA accommodations may not be shared with other students or used for any purpose beyond the accommodation.
• In limited circumstances, instructors may provide alternative reasonable accommodations if recording is not feasible due to confidentiality, sensitive material, or regulatory requirements.

Violations

Unauthorized recording or distribution of instructional material may result in:

• Professionalism citations or remediation
• Referral to the Program Director or Academic Honesty Committee of the Graduate Education Council.