The UF College of Medicine School of Physician Studies (COM SPAS) has policies about attendance to instill good habits that will be needed in practice, and because class participation is essential for developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for success as a physician assistant.
- In-person attendance is expected for all COM SPAS curricular activities including lectures, active learning, labs, and clinical rotations.
- Students are responsible for all content presented during educational activities.
- Course schedules are published in advance, and students are expected to utilize scheduled time off for personal commitments.
- The UF Academic Calendar is followed for Didactic Year, including Holidays.
- During Clinical Year, students will have scheduled time off for the following dates:
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- Thanksgiving Break– Wednesday November 26th at 5pm – Sunday November 30th.
- Winter Break – Monday December 22nd, 2025 – Sunday, January 4th, 2026
- *Other holidays in the clinical year are dependent on individual rotation requirements(for example, a student on Emergency Medicine would attend their rotation on Labor Day, while a student in Family Medicine might be scheduled for an outpatient clinic that is closed due to the holiday, so will not attend) Clinical Year students are expected to attend rotations in accordance with the sites operating hours and preceptor expectations.
- PA Students are allowed a designated amount of ATO (Approved Time Off) per semester. Reasons for utilizing ATO may include illness, appointments, special or family events, and conferences.
- Summer B: 2 days
- Fall: 3 days
- Spring: 3 days
- Summer A: 2 days
- Scheduled ATO (special events, conferences, etc.) should be requested at least 60 days prior to the event and submitted to the Director of Didactic Education or the Director of Clinical Education utilizing the appropriate attendance communication form. ATO needed for illness or emergent appointments should be submitted as soon as possible.
- Scheduled ATO may not be used and will not be approved for didactic or clinical year days with scheduled assessments, simulated patient encounters, or clinical procedures practice. Clinical year students may not use ATO on end of rotation “Clinical Days”.
- A student on ATO may access course content via webinar or recording, if available. Students using ATO are reminded that they are responsible for the educational content delivered during their absence.
- Unexcused absences, or absences over the limits set per semester, will be referred to the PSPC and may result in disciplinary action (dependent on circumstances).
- Religious Holidays:
- The COM SPAS recognizes that there are other holidays, both religious and secular, which are of importance to some individuals and groups.
- Students who wish to observe these holidays must complete the appropriate attendance communication form at least 60 days before the course or rotation begins, if applicable.
- The course director may provide the student with an alternative arrangement to make-up the missed day(s), on-call assignments, examinations, and other projects.
- The timing of make-up work is at the discretion of the course/rotation director and may fall during weekends, electives, or vacation periods.
- Missed days/assignments, for which make-up work cannot be completed before the course end date, will result in a grade of “Incomplete” until the missed work is completed. Students shall not be penalized due to absence from class or other scheduled academic activity because of religious observances.
- If a faculty member is informed of, or is aware, that a significant number of students are likely to be absent from class because of a religious observance, a major examination or other academic event should not be scheduled at that time.
- A student who is to be excused from class for a religious holy day is not required to provide a second party certification of the reasons for the absence. A student who believes that they have been unreasonably denied an education benefit due to religious beliefs or practices may seek redress through the student grievance procedure, see UF Regulation 4.012.
- Absences for Health Services:
- Students are encouraged to maintain their own personal health throughout PA School. This includes their dental, mental, and/or physical health.
- Ideally, students will make every effort to schedule these appointments at dates/times that do not conflict with educational activities.
- When this is not possible, students must submit their request for Approved Time Off (ATO) through the online attendance communication form.
- Absences for medical illnesses over the allotted ATO must be verified by a licensed ARNP, PA, MD, DO, or mental health provider.
- Upon approval, the course or clinical director will notify the student of makeup requirements and due date, if appropriate.
- Students will not be penalized for absence from class or other scheduled academic activities for medical reasons. This applies to absences for acute illnesses as well as to absences due to regularly scheduled ongoing treatment for dental, mental or physical health. Missed days/assignments, for which make-up work cannot be completed before the course end date, will result in a grade of “Incomplete” until the missed work is completed.
- Failure to communicate absences and follow the ATO request process represent concern for professionalism lapse.
- In the case of a serious medical illness to the student or a member of the student’s immediate family or personal/family emergency, special considerations may be required. Students are instructed to complete an attendance communication form.
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- The completion of this form does not guarantee an excused absence.
- The Director of Didactic Education or the Director of Clinical Education will provide the initial guidance on whether the absence meets the conditions of an emergent or serious situation.
- Consideration for leaves of absence will be in accordance with the COM SPAS Leave of Absence policy.
- The University’s definition of an immediate family member is defined as the person’s spouse, domestic partner, great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, brother, sister, child, grandchild, or grandparent, parent, brother, sister, child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of the spouse or domestic partner, or the spouse or domestic partner of any of them. This includes individuals for whom the student is the current legal guardian.
- Make-up Work
- Any graded assessment to include assignments, quizzes, or examinations missed during an unexcused absence cannot be made up.
- Quizzes, examinations, and assignments missed during an excused absence date may be allowed to be made up as per the policy in the individual course syllabi.
- Missed examinations may only be made up in accordance with existing examination policies. See COM SPAS Assessment Policy.
- Attendance Checks
- Student attendance can be tracked in several ways depending on the nature of the activity:
- Written sign-in sheet, QR Code or other electronic means
- Visual instructor verification
- Assignment/Quiz/Exam submission
- Any student signing in, recording as, or posing as another student risks immediate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the program.
- Any student signing in but not attending class risks immediate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the program. This is considered a violation of Program Competency 4.3 (Recognize the professional role and standards of practice of the PA.) and academic dishonesty and will be treated as such.
- Student attendance can be tracked in several ways depending on the nature of the activity:
- Attendance Violations
- A student may be subject to an unexcused attendance violation for any of the following reasons:
- missing class
- failure to check/sign in
- leaving early
- tardiness
- class disruption
- For unexcused attendance violations, the following actions will occur:
- For initial unexcused attendance concerns, the student will be notified by the Director of Didactic Education or Director of Clinical Education. A copy of the notification will be placed in the student’s file. The student will be encouraged to develop strategies to avoid additional unexcused attendance violations.
- The second attendance violation or missing of an assessment activity may be considered a professionalism violation and will be escalated to the PSPC.
- Students with excessive absences may face further disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the COM SPAS, by the PSPC.
- A student may be subject to an unexcused attendance violation for any of the following reasons:
*This policy will go into effect 6/21/2025