Physician Assistant Studies: Program Mission, Goals, and Competencies
Northeastern State University (NSU) is a regional university founded on the rich heritage of the Cherokee Nation and committed to developing diverse, knowledgeable and well-trained graduates. The Physician Assistant Studies Program is part of a broad university plan for developing and implementing programming that provides direct benefit to the regional needs of northeastern Oklahoma. The 27- month physician assistant studies curriculum will consist of 75 credit hours in the didactic year housed on NSU's Muskogee Campus and 35 credit hours in the clinical phase of training conducted through regional medical centers including Northeastern Health System, the Cherokee Nation, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Northeastern Oklahoma Community Health Centers, and Saint Francis Health System, among others.
Mission Statement
The mission of the NSU PA program is to produce competent and compassionate
physician assistants for northeastern Oklahoma. The program is dedicated to improving
access to quality healthcare for medically underserved communities, with particular
attention to rural areas and communities that reflect the rich cultural heritage and
history
of the region.
Program Goals
University Goal: Educational Partner of Choice
New PA Program Goal 1: Provide rigorous, high-quality PA education that prepares graduates for certification and entry-level clinical practice.
Measure 1: Maintain first-time PANCE pass rate at or above national average.
| Cohort | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| First-Time PANCE Pass Rate | 89% | 95% | 95% |
| Goal Met? | No | Yes | Yes |
Measure 1 Benchmark: First-Time PANCE Pass Rate at or above National Average
Measure 1 Strength Benchmark: Annual first-time PANCE pass rate for the program is ≥ 2% higher than the national
average first-time PANCE pass rate for three consecutive years. If the national first-time
PANCE pass rate is ≥ 98%, the strength benchmark will be 100% first-time PANCE pass
rate.
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Measure 2: Preceptor Evaluations of Students
| Cohort | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Number of students evaluated | 19 | 19 | 20 |
| Average cohort score on preceptor evaluations across all SCPEs | 94% | 92% | 97% |
| Goal Met? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Measure 2 Benchmark: Annual average cohort score on the Preceptor Evaluation of the Physician Assistant
Form is ≥ 3.5 (70%) across all SCPEs
Measure 2 Strength Benchmark: Annual average score ≥ 4.5 (90%) on the Preceptor Evaluation of the Physician Assistant
Form for three consecutive years
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Goal 1 is considered met when a minimum of one of the two measures meets or exceeds its benchmark, and the remaining measure is not below the area-in-need-of-improvement threshold.
Goal 1 is considered a program strength when both measures meet their established benchmarks and at least one achieves the strength benchmark for three consecutive years.
Goal 1 is considered an area in need of improvement when one or both measures fall below their established benchmark, or any single measure meets the area-in-need-of-improvement threshold.
University Goal: Enhance Workforce Connections
New PA Program Goal 2: Ensure graduates are career-ready and prepared to serve underserved communities (Health Professional Shortage Areas and/or Medically Underserved Areas) through education, clinical experiences, and strategic partnerships with healthcare providers and community organizations.
Measure 1: Maintain participation of active local/regional guest lecturers for didactic instruction
| Cohort | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Annual participation of active local/regional guest lecturers: | 15 | 55 | 42 |
| Goal Met? | No | Yes | Yes |
Measure 1 Benchmark: Maintain participation of ≥20 active local/regional guest lecturers annually.
Measure 1 Strength Benchmark: Maintain participation of ≥30 active local/regional guest lecturers annually.
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Measure 2: Host workforce engagement events during clinical student callback days
| Cohort | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Annual callback day workforce engagement events: | Data Unavailable |
Data Unavailable |
7/8 Callback Days |
| Aggregate Cohort Rating: |
Data Unavailable; Data Collection Began 5/2025 | Data Unavailable; Data Collection Began 5/2025 | 4.18/5.0 (Data only available from 6/8 Callback Days in 2025) |
| Goal Met? |
N/A | N/A | Yes |
Measure 2 Benchmark: Host workforce engagement events at ≥ 4 of 8 callback days annually, and aggregate
cohort ratings are ≥ 3.5 out of 5.0 on all post-event surveys.
Measure 2 Strength Benchmark: Host workforce engagement events at ≥ 6 of 8 callback days annually, and aggregate
cohort ratings are ≥ 4.5 out of 5.0 on all post-event surveys.
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Measure 3: Clinical sites in a Health Professional Shortage Area and/or Medically Underserved Area
| Cohort | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Percentage of clinical rotation sites in a HPSA and/or MUA: | 96% | 89% | 92% |
| Goal Met? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Measure 3 Benchmark: At least 50% of clinical rotation sites are located in a Health Professional Shortage
Area and/or Medically Underserved Area.
Measure 3 Strength Benchmark: ≥ 60% or more of the program’s clinical rotation sites are located in a Health Professional
Shortage Area and/or Medically Underserved Area for three consecutive years.
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Measure 4: Percentage of cohort completing a rotation in a Health Professional Shortage Area and/or Medically Underserved Area
| Cohort | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Percentage of cohort with at least one clinical rotation in a HPSA and/or MUA: | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Goal Met? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Measure 4 Benchmark: At least 85% of the cohort will complete at least one clinical rotation site in
a Health Professional Shortage Area and/or Medically Underserved Area.
Measure 4 Strength Benchmark: ≥ 95% of the cohort will complete at least one clinical rotation site in a Health
Professional Shortage and/or Medically Underserved Area for three consecutive years.
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Goal 2 is considered met when a minimum of three of the four measures meets or exceeds their
established benchmarks.
Goal 2 is considered a program strength when a minimum of three of the four measures meet
or exceed their established benchmarks for three consecutive years.
Goal 2 is considered an area in need of improvement when two or more measures fall below
their established benchmark or when any single measure meets the area-in-need-of-improvement
threshold.
University Goal: Ensure Student Success
New PA Program Goal 3: Provide targeted academic and professional support to promote student progression
and readiness for clinical practice through consistent faculty advising, early academic
intervention, and monitoring of attrition rates.
Measure 1: Faculty Advising
| Cohort |
2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Goal Met for Didactic Phase: | No | No | No |
| Goal Met for Clinical Phase: | Yes | No | No |
| Goal Met? | No | No | No |
Measure 1 Benchmark: 100% of students are assigned to a faculty advisor with at least 1 documented meeting
per student per phase of the program.
Measure 1 Strength Benchmark: 100% of students are assigned to a faculty advisor with ≥ 3 documented meetings
per student per phase of the program.
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Measure 2: Early academic intervention success rate for any didactic student whose cumulative GPA is <3.5.
| Cohort | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Percentage of didactic students’ whose GPA improved by the next semester: |
Data Unavailable; Early Academic Intervention Policy implemented for Cohort 2026 | Data Unavailable; Early Academic Intervention Policy implemented for Cohort 2026 | Data Unavailable; Early Academic Intervention Policy implemented for Cohort 2026 |
| Goal Met? | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Measure 2 Benchmark: ≥90% of students’ cumulative GPA will improve by the end of the didactic phase after
support measures are put in place.
Measure 2 Strength Benchmark: 100% of students’ cumulative GPA will improve by the end of the didactic phase after
support measures are put in place.
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Measure 3: Overall Attrition Rate
| Cohort | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Overall Attrition Rate: | 0% | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| Goal Met? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Measure 3 Benchmark: < 15% of students per cohort are lost to attrition
Measure 3 Strength Benchmark: ≤ 5% of students per cohort are lost to attrition for a period of 3 consecutive
years.
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Goal 3 is considered met when at least two of the three measures meet or exceed their established
benchmarks and the remaining measure does not fall at or below the area-in-need-of-improvement
threshold.
Goal 3 is considered a program strength when at least two of the three measures meet or
exceed the strength benchmark and no measure is below its benchmark for three consecutive
years.
Goal 3 is considered an area in need of improvement when two or more measures fall below
their established benchmarks, or any single measure meets the area-in-need-of-improvement
threshold.
University Goal: Invest in Employees and Facilities
New PA Program Goal 4: Support faculty and staff development that meet evolving educational needs.
Measure 1: Funded Professional Development Activities
| Calendar Year | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| 100% of faculty/staff attend/participated in ≥1 opportunity/year | No | No | No |
| Goal Met? | No | No | No |
Measure 1 Benchmark: 100% of faculty and staff attend/participate in ≥1 opportunity/year
Measure 1 Strength Benchmark: 100% of faculty and staff attend/participate in ≥1 opportunities/year for 3 consecutive
years
Area in Need of Improvement: Failure to meet the benchmark for two consecutive years.
Goal 4 is considered met when the measure meets or exceeds the established benchmark.
Goal 4 is considered a program strength when the measure meets or exceeds the strength benchmark
for three consecutive years.
Goal 4 is considered an area in need of improvement when the measure reaches the area-in-need-of-improvement
threshold.
*Data through 2025
Competencies
At the time of successful completion of all elements of the curriculum of the NSU PA Program, and when the degree of Master of Physician Assistant Studies is conferred by the university, graduates will be able to accomplish the following:
- Medical Knowledge (MK): Physician assistants are expected to understand, evaluate,
and apply the following in the clinical setting:
- MK1: Etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathologic process, and epidemiology for medical conditions
- MK2: Signs and symptoms of medical and surgical conditions
- MK3: Appropriate screening and diagnostic studies
- MK4: Interventions for prevention of disease and health promotion/maintenance
- Interpersonal Skills (IP): Physician assistants are expected to:
- IP1: Use effective communication skills to elicit and provide accurate information
- IP2: Demonstrate compassionate and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families
- IP3: Counsel and educate patients and their families
- IP4: Work effectively with physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide patient-centered care
- Clinical and Technical Skills (CTS): Physician assistants are expected to:
- CTS1: Accurately and adequately document information regarding care for medical, legal, quality, and financial purposes
- CTS2: Locate, appraise, and integrate evidence from scientific studies to support patient care decisions and patient education
- CTS3: Perform an appropriate medical history and physical exam
- CTS4: Perform medical and surgical procedures essential to the specialty
- Professional Behaviors (PB): Physician assistants are expected to:
- PB1: Recognize and appropriately address personal biases, gaps in medical knowledge, and physical limitations in themselves and others
- PB2: Effectively interact with different types of medical practice and delivery systems
- PB3: Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities that contribute to health care disparities regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, race, intellect, sexual orientation, or ability to pay
- PB4: Demonstrate emotional resilience and stability, adaptability, flexibility, and tolerance of ambiguity and anxiety
- PB5: Engage in commitment to ethical principles
- Clinical Reasoning and Problem-Solving Abilities (CRPSA): Physician assistants are
expected to:
- CRPSA1: Interpret history and physical findings and diagnostic studies to formulate differential diagnoses and implement patient management plans
- CRPSA2: Manage general medical and surgical conditions to include pharmacologic and other treatment modalities
- CRPSA3: Apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical literature and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness
- CRPSA4: Apply the concepts of population health to patient care