The PAS program utilizes its comprehensive competency assessment program to evaluate its effectiveness in achieving its goals, as each goal aligns with one or more competency domains and program learning outcomes. Meeting these benchmarks ensures that students:

     a)   Acquire the knowledge and clinical skills necessary to provide effective patient care

     b)   Uphold the professional values and ethical behaviors expected of physician assistants

     c)  Develop the interpersonal skills necessary to communicate with patients and work effectively in interprofessional health care teams

     d)   Develop the skills necessary to appraise and assimilate medical literature applicable to clinical practice and to continuously improve patient care

By consistently meeting all program competency benchmarks, the PAS program ensures graduates are clinically competent, professional, collaborative, and committed to lifelong learning, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and healthcare quality.

The program defines its effectiveness in meeting its goals by meeting all program benchmarks for competency assessments aligned with each goal.

Program strengths are identified when benchmarks are met for three consecutive cohorts, with findings confirmed through data triangulation where a majority (>50%) of supporting data aligns with this conclusion. Areas needing improvement are identified when program benchmarks are not met for two consecutive cohorts, either at the individual or combined cohorts.

Goal #1: Medical Knowledge and Competence in Patient Care

To provide physician assistant students with the knowledge and clinical skills to deliver effective healthcare

The program effectively met its first goal, as all program benchmarks for competency assessments mapped to it were met. Click here for detailed information regarding program benchmarks and data on each competency assessment mapped to the first program goal. 

Although the program successfully met the competency benchmarks associated with the first program goal for three consecutive cohorts at the individual and combined campuses (Class of 2021, 2022, and 2023), this finding was not confirmed with the majority of data triangulation, so it was not identified as a program strength. While the quantitative and qualitative data from the Faculty/Staff Survey supported this outcome, mixed feedback emerged from the qualitative data on the SCPE Preceptor Evaluation of the Students, with positive and negative themes.  Additionally, some benchmarks were not met on standardized assessments, including PACKRAT I, PACKRAT II, and PANCE. 

Goal #2: Professionalism

To model the professional values and ethical behaviors expected of physician assistants

The program effectively met its second goal, as all program benchmarks were met for competency assessments mapped to it.  Click here for detailed information regarding program benchmarks and data on each competency assessment mapped to the first program goal.

Additionally, the program determined that its effectiveness in achieving the second program goal was a program strength, as the program successfully met the competency benchmarks associated with the second program goal for three consecutive cohorts at the individual and combined campuses (Class of 2021, 2022, and 2023) and the majority of data triangulation supported this finding.  Evidence included quantitative and qualitative data from the Faculty/Staff Survey, qualitative data from the SCPE Preceptor Evaluation of the Student, and results from standardized assessments, including PANCE.

Goal #3: Collaborative Practice

To develop the interpersonal skills necessary for physician assistant students to communicate with patients and work effectively in interprofessional health care teams

The program effectively met its third goal, as all program benchmarks for competency assessments mapped to it were met. Click here for detailed information regarding program benchmarks and data on each competency assessment mapped to the third program goal. 

Additionally, the program determined that its effectiveness in achieving the third program goal was a program strength, as the program successfully met the competency benchmarks associated with the third program goal for three consecutive cohorts at the individual and combined campuses (Class of 2021, 2022, and 2023) and the majority of data triangulation supported this finding. Evidence included quantitative and qualitative data from the Faculty/Staff Survey and qualitative data from the SCPE Preceptor Evaluation of the Student.  

Goal #4: Lifelong Learning

To develop the skills necessary for physician assistant students to appraise and assimilate medical literature applicable for clinical practice and to continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and lifelong learning

The program effectively met its fourth goal, as all program benchmarks for competency assessments mapped to it were met. Click here for detailed information regarding program benchmarks and data on each competency assessment mapped to the fourth program goal. 

Additionally, the program determined that its effectiveness in achieving the fourth program goal was a program strength, as the program successfully met the competency benchmarks associated with the fourth program goal for three consecutive cohorts at the individual and combined campuses (Class of 2021, 2022, and 2023) and the majority of data triangulation supported this finding. Evidence included quantitative and qualitative data from the Faculty/Staff Survey and qualitative data from the SCPE Preceptor Evaluation of the Student.