The Student Progress Committee (SPC) is a standing committee of the Stanford University School of Medicine, Office of PA Education. The purpose of the Student Progress Committee is to provide all PA students with periodic and systematic reviews of their overall progress towards completion of the MS in PA Studies degree, as well as reviews on an as-needed basis. The committee will monitor student development and will provide guidance and recommendations as appropriate.

Stanford University School of Medicine has an obligation to evaluate the performance of each student on an ongoing basis from matriculation until graduation and to endorse each student as being suitable to meet the academic, professional, and technical standards for the practice of medicine. It is therefore the responsibility of the faculty – through this committee – to review any concerns regarding the ongoing satisfactory fulfillment of these standards.

A.    Membership:

      The Student Progress Committee is composed of MSPA Studies program faculty as well as E4C faculty members and Stanford community PAs.  All Student Progress Committee members are voting members unless that faculty or E4C faculty member is the faculty advisor/mentor for the student under review. A total of three voting members is required for a quorum. A quorum of voting members of the Student Progress Committee is required to be in attendance (either physically or virtually) for decision-making activities. Ex officio non-voting committee members may include (but are not limited to) the Associate Dean for PA Education, program medical directors and school of medicine leadership.

B.   General Operating Procedures:

1. The primary responsibility of the committee is to review the development and performance of each student on an ongoing basis in the areas of the fulfillment of academic, technical, and professional standards. This includes:
   1. Evaluation of achievement of all requirements for promotion;
   2. Identification of students not meeting requirements and/or expectations for academic, professionalism, or technical performance, and recommendation of individualized learning plans that support academic and professional development;
   3. Evaluation of achievement of required remediation;
   4. Taking such action (including deceleration, dismissal from the Stanford School of Medicine MSPA Studies program) as the Student Progress Committee deems appropriate under the facts and circumstances.
2. The Student Progress Committee generally will meet once quarterly. The chair may call additional meetings if necessary.
3. Except for the Student Progress Committee chair, the Faculty Advisors, the Associate Dean for Medical Education, and the MSPA Studies program medical directors and members of the committee will not discuss decisions or pending actions with students and may not be approached by students with inquiries.
4. The Student Progress Committee may also consider student petitions on various matters, including for example:
5. An extension of PA education beyond three years;
6. Leaves of absence that either individually or cumulatively exceed a total of one year;
7. Reinstatement.
8. The Student Progress Committee is staffed by a representative from the Office of PA Education.