The School of Physician Assistant Studies has firm policies about attendance in order to instill good habits that will be needed in practice, and also because class participation is essential for developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for success as a physician assistant.
- Attendance is expected for all program lectures and activities.
a. In-person attendance is encouraged for all program lectures and activities. - Students are responsible for all content presented during educational activities.
- Students are assigned to an attendance cohort, Orange or Blue.
a. The days marked orange or blue are on your calendar and will remain static throughout the year.
b. All students must attend classes that are marked mandatory (see below).
c. Students must attend in person on the days designated on the calendar with their color cohort and may attend either in person or remotely (unless marked mandatory, in-person) on days that are not designated as their color cohort. - Vacations and time off are published in advance, and students are expected to utilize scheduled time off for personal commitments. We follow the UF academic calendar for the Didactic Year.
a. Personal commitments include (but are not limited to) vacations, routine medical or dental appointments, weddings, etc.
b. Absences should be requested prior to planning conference trips.
c. Students may request a one-to-one switch with another student for their attendance cohort day; however, the switch must be approved prior to the absence. - A student who is ill may attend class via Zoom if the activity is offered in a hybrid format. If you feel sick, please stay at home. Follow guidance from the CDC, the Florida Department of Health, and UF Health.
a. Students must fill out the attendance communication form if it is their cohort’s day to be present in class. - Students are expected to have their cameras on when attending class remotely. Virtual backgrounds are permitted. Please see this link for more information on virtual backgrounds.
- Individual students with academic performance concerns, professionalism infractions, or prior attendance violations may be subject to a Directed Attendance Plan. These additional requirements may include additional mandated in-person attendance or attendance check-ins for non-mandatory activities.