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Program Goals

The Physician Assistant Program at DeSales University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community.

1. Maintain PANCE pass rates higher than the national average. 

  • Measure: PANCE first-time taker cohort pass rate  
  • Benchmark: Above national average 
  • Success of Goal:
Cohort  DeSales Pass Rate National Pass Rate
2018 100% 98%
2019 100% 93%
2020 99% 95%
2021 99% 93%
2022 95% 92%

2. Prepare graduates to obtain employment within the first six months following program completion.

  • Measure: Job Placement
  • Benchmark: 90% of graduates placed in six months
  • Success of Goal*: 
Cohort  Job Placement Rate 
2017 96%
2018 100%
2019 91.4%
2020 93%
2021 100%
2022 Results Pending

*Results based on Graduate Survey 

3. Foster and maintain collaborative connections between the students and faculty. 

  • Measure: Student to Faculty Ratio 
  • Benchmark: Better than National PAEA Average 
  • Success of Goal:
DeSales Student: Faculty Ratio  National PAEA Student: Faculty Ratio  Source 
11:1 14.4:1 PAEA Program Report 34
11:1 13.3:1 PAEA Program Report 35
11:1 Results PendingPAEA Program Report 36

*Data updated to coincide with current PAEA Program Report

  • Measure: 
    • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Collaborative Connections between Faculty and Students); 
    • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Collaborative Connections between Faculty and Students) 
  • Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on both assessments 
  • Success of Goal:
Cohort Faculty Survey  End of Didactic Survey 
2021 4.86 4.36
2022 4.76 4.72
2023 5.00 4.49

4. Provide early clinical experiences to complement classroom teaching. 

  • Measure: 
    • Exit Survey (Value of Friday Morning Rotations) 
  • Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0  
  • Success of Goal:
Cohort  Exit Survey 
2018 4.5
2019 4.24
2020 4.36
2021 4.77
2022 4.60
  • Measure: 
    • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation with Simulation);
    • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation with Simulation)
  • Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on both assessments 
  • Success of Goal:
Cohort  Faculty Survey  End of Didactic Survey 
2021 4.77 4.47
2022 5.00 4.56
2023 4.91 4.60

5. Develop critical thinking skills.

  • Measure: 
    • Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Critical Thinking Skills 2019-2021, Knowledge for practice 2022 cohort and beyond);
    • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Problem Solving Skills/Critical Thinking);
    • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Problem Solving Skills/Critical Thinking)
  • Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on all three assessments
  • Success of Goal:
Cohort  Preceptor Evaluation of Student
(Critical Thinking Skills) 
Faculty Survey  End of Didactic Survey 
2019 4.69 N/A N/A
2020 4.68 N/A N/A
2021 4.71 4.86 4.67
2022 4.76 4.64 4.53
2023 Pending 4.82 4.49

6. Provide education on and/or experiences with diverse and vulnerable populations. 

  • Measure: 
    • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Education/Experience with Diverse and Vulnerable Populations);
    • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Education/Experience with Diverse and Vulnerable Populations);
    • Graduate Survey (Education/Experience with Diverse and Vulnerable Populations) 
  • Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on all three assessment
  • Success of Goal:
Cohort  Faculty Survey  End of Didactic Survey  Graduate Survey 
2019 N/A N/A 4.74
2020 N/A N/A 4.44
2021 4.57 4.28 4.54
2022 4.64 4.58 Pending
2023 5.00 4.32 Pending

7. Emphasize a focus on interprofessional education and practice. 

  • Measure:
    • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Interprofessional Team Care)
    • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Interprofessional Team Care)
  • Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on both assessments
  • Success of Goal
Cohort  Faculty Survey  End of Didactic Survey 
2021 4.64 4.42
2022 4.73 4.69
2023 4.73 4.49

8. Support the diverse backgrounds of all program constituents including students, staff, and faculty.

  • Measure: Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum; End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum  
  • Benchmark: Better than Program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on both assessments 
  • Success of Goal:
Cohort  Faculty Survey  End of Didactic Survey
2021 4.57 4.38
2022 4.64 4.73
2023 4.90 4.53
  • Measure:
    • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Institutional Support of DEI)
  • Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0  
  • Success of Goal:
Cohort  Faculty Survey 
2021 4.36
2022 4.64
2023 4.90

 

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Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS)
Gambet Center