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Board Offers Background on By Patrick T. Knott, PhD, PA-C Several weeks ago, the ARC-PA sent PA programs copies of the new Standards. Their release has led to much discussion, and since the decision to endorse the Standards ultimately rests with APAP’s member programs, my intention is to provide some background that may be helpful. The Association’s ARC liaisons have also included an article for this edition of the APAP Update in which they detail a number of changes that were made in the Standards. During its revision process, the ARC received hundreds of verbal and written comments and considered them seriously. As you will see in the commissioners’ article, changes were substantial and addressed many of the concerns and ideas offered during the comment period. APAP is grateful for this tremendous undertaking on the ARC’s part. The ARC has now indicated that the time for input and comments has passed and requests a final endorsement of the new Standards. Among the many changes, Standard A1.01a — which requires that the sponsoring institution must “be accredited by a regional or specialized and professional accrediting agency to award graduates of the PA program a baccalaureate or higher degree” — has prompted the lion’s share of the recent discussion and debate. The new language revises previous wording, which referred to “senior colleges,” to clarify the ARC’s intent that programs must be sponsored by institutions that can offer at least a bachelor’s degree. Although this standard will not affect existing programs in community colleges, it will preclude any new programs from opening in community colleges that do not offer the baccalaureate degree. To be eligible for accreditation in the future, new programs must be sponsored by or located at institutions granting at least a bachelor’s degree. Since APAP’s Degree Task Force released its report in 2000, debate has centered on whether PA education, which is competency-based, should lead to an academic degree, and if so, whether a post-baccalaureate degree should be awarded — in accordance with the Association’s vote that PA education was at the graduate level. Since that time, many programs that offered an associate or bachelor’s degree have developed affiliation agreements with other colleges or universities in order to award their students a graduate degree at the end of their PA training. The ARC has decided, however, that as new PA programs develop, the degree-granting institution must be primary; and that programs should be located at the degree-granting institutions, which should have the responsibility for oversight of the programs. Many of APAP’s community college members are particularly concerned that implementation of Standard 1.01 will reduce new opportunities for financially disadvantaged students to gain access to PA training, since tuition is traditionally lower at community colleges than at other academic institutions. Those members have suggested that the Association withhold its endorsement of the Standards with the hope of enacting change on this particular issue. Their data demonstrates that PA programs established at community colleges have had a good record of recruiting a diverse population of students and may have more flexibility to admit those from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, the data do not suggest that access to the profession for minority or disadvantaged applicants rests solely with the community college PA programs. A variety of our member programs successfully address the issue of access through their participation in local, state, and national diversity initiatives. The board remains committed to improving access to the profession and to developing strategies with member programs to increase the Association’s efforts in this area. After considering a broad range of input about the entire Standards document, the board recommends that the membership endorse it. This decision is based on the board’s commitment to and participation in the Standards revisions process and the content of the document as a whole. Like the ARC’s other sponsoring organizations, APAP strongly supports the concept of graduate education and believes the new Standards are consistent with the Association’s position that PA education is at the graduate level. However, unlike some of the ARC’s other sponsoring organizations, our members are the primary stakeholders in this process. As in the past, each program will have the ability to vote on the endorsement of the Standards. The ARC’s next meeting is in September. For our decision to be recorded before that meeting, we will have to conduct an electronic vote this summer. An additional benefit of a pre-September vote would be that all members could be heard, not only those who would have been present at the November Education Forum. The board will consider the option of an electronic vote at its May meeting. I am pleased to have been able to share some insight into the board’s discussion of the Standards with you. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I look forward to seeing many of you in Orlando. |
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APAP Update - May 2005 |