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CMSV 300 Professional Review Committee

Policy Name: Professional Conduct Review Committee

The Professional Conduct Review Committee (PCRC) is designed to assess and review the actions of a student within the University of Mount Saint Vincent Master of Science Physician Assistant Program. The review is initiated when an incident has arisen that brings into question a possible violation of the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308).

The PCRC consists of 5-members drawn from the ranks of full-time and/or part-time principal and adjunct faculty members of the program.  The program director will not be part of the PCRC for reasons of determining findings. The PCRC will be chaired by a principal faculty member chosen by the program director who was not directly or indirectly involved with the initial referral to the PCRC. A decision rendered by the PCRC requires a majority vote. The PCRC will formally meet within seven (7) days of receiving notification of a student violation of the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308) from a faculty member, described as principal or adjunct faculty, instructor, clinical preceptor, or clinical department chair.

A member of the PCRC who observed, or was a participant in, the circumstances that gave rise to a referral for a finding of a violation of the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308), or the sanction imposed, or the complaint the student violated the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308), must recuse him or herself from the committee for purposes of that appeal or complaint, as the case may be. Another faculty member will be substituted for the recused committee member for the purpose of determining the validity of the complaint and/or subsequent appeal. Advisors to, and representatives of, the student (including attorneys), friends, classmates, and family members of the student, are not permitted to participate in the business of the PCRC.

Procedures
Upon receipt of possible violation forwarded to the Chair of the PCRC, the PCRC may conduct an investigation as it believes is appropriate under the circumstances. The complainants written notice of a possible student violation will either be affirmed by majority vote or the PCRC or it will be determined there is no reasonable basis for the finding of violation of the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308).

Referral of Findings
Upon subsequent review and investigation of the initial referral to the PCRC, the findings of the PCRC will be forwarded to the chair of the Academic Performance Committee (APC) along with their recommendations for any sanctions or notice of ‘no violations found.’ The chair of the APC will present these findings to the full APC committee with 3-days for review.

A member of the PCRC who observed, or was a participant in, the circumstances that gave rise to a referral to the PCRC for a possible finding of a violation must recuse him or herself from the APC for purposes of that appeal or complaint, as the case may be.

Appeal Process
The student may appeal the finding of a violation of the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308) and/or the sanction imposed by the APC upon referral from the PCRC. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the program director within seven (7) business days of the date on which the sanction-imposed finding was formally rendered to the student in question. If the appeal is not submitted to the program director within seven (7) business days, the findings of the APC will be final and any sanctions imposed will become part of the permanent student file. The decision of the program director, with regard to the appeal process, will be final.

Notice of ‘No Violation Found’
If a no violation decision is rendered, the PCRC will confer with and request that the complainant in question review the matter and, if the complainant concludes it is appropriate, the violation notice will be vacated and expounded from the student file.

If the faculty member, as described above, does not agree with the no violation decision the PCRC will refer the matter to the chair of the APC, who will present the findings to the full APC, and who will then review the matter and make the final decision taking into account the recommendation of the PCRC. During the period the matter is being reviewed by the APC, the course instructor may vacate or modify his or her finding of a possible violation.

Sanctions
Upon the investigation and review by the PCRC, a decision was rendered that the student in question did violate the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308), the PCRC may recommend to the APC that the following sanctions be considered:

  • Issuance of a ‘Notice of Professional Warning’
  1. Student will be duly notified that any further violations incurred of the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308) during this period will result in either: upgrade of ‘Professional Warning’ to ‘Professional Probation’ or referral for possible dismissal from the program due to continued violations.
  2. Along with the issuance of the ‘Professional Warning,’ the student will be required to complete a remediation project that directly addresses the violations of the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308).
  3. The ‘Notice of Professional Warning’ will be removed from the student’s file upon successful completion of the program without any further incidents or violations.
  • Issuance of a ‘Notice of Professional Probation’

Professional Probation
Professional Probation is a status designated by the APC when a student violates one of the conditions set forth in the sections on Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308) as outlined in the student handbook and the program policies and procedure handbook.

  1. This will become part of the student’s permanent file and be available to employers, future graduate programs, etc. upon request of student file.
  2. Any further violations incurred of the Standards for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior (CMSV 306) or the Academic Integrity Policy (CMSV 308) will result in possible dismissal from the program.