STUDENT
DECEMBER 2024
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICER
With scores of new initiatives and programming sponsored by the Student Affairs department at PCOM, here we provide a comprehensive look back at the team’s challenges, accomplishments, and impact. Ours is a dynamic field, bending, swaying, growing, and adapting to the needs of an ever-changing student body. To fully understand the effectiveness of targeted programming and to comprehend the depth of our work, it is important to reflect on the past year.
In this document, we attempt to capture the breadth of the PCOM student experience in 2023-2024 from the perspective of one department. From Orientation to Commencement and everything that falls in between, Student Affairs strives to connect with our students, making every effort to underscore the idea that we are one College with one purpose. Our efforts would be meaningless without the collaboration and support of the College community. Together we work to prepare students for this educational journey, ensuring that they have the necessary tools to navigate turbulent times and reach their health care goals.
This report reveals what we did, how we did it, and why we did it. By looking at the areas Career Support, Academic Support, Counseling and Wellness, to include the BIT, Student Life, and Milestone Events, Administrative Initiatives, Excused Absences, we tell the story of a department committed to the success of our students and prepared to tackle the idea of what support looks like.
Patience A. Mason, MEd Chief Student Affairs Officer
STUDENT AFFAIRS STAFF
Our office provides a variety of support programs and resources to help our students reach their personal and professional goals. We enhance the student experience by providing a safe space for personal counseling,
PCOM TEAM
Michael S. Lombardo, EdD, MBA, MS
Terry Tinsley
Robert Dustin, MA
Kareem R. Calliste, MPA
Ruth Conboy, DNP, LPC
Andrew Watson, PsyD, MA
Natashja James, BSW, MS, LPC, RYT
Danielle Bieber, MS, LPC
Stephanie Combs, MS
Jessica Neuman, MEd
Mark Cassidy, MS
Justin Rowling
Jennifer Adams
PCOM GEORGIA TEAM
Trina Bursey, MEd
Michelle Felix
Candace Tucker, NCC
Leanne Henry-Miller, LPC, MFT
Curnesia Bogans, LMFT
Shubha Kayarthodi, PhD
Diana Rowe, MS
a comprehensive plan for academic success, and a detailed outline for professional development. In addition, we offer many campus activities through our clubs, organizations, and leadership opportunities.
Executive Director of Student Affairs
Administrative Coordinator
Director of Student Affairs
Senior Associate Director of Student of Career Services
Senior Associate Director of Counseling
Assistant Director of Student Affairs, Personal Support Counseling
Personal Support Counselor
Personal Support Counselor
Associate Director of Student Affairs for Academic Support
Academic Support Specialist
Fitness and Recreational Manager
Health and Fitness Specialist
Health and Fitness Specialist
Director of Student Affairs
Administrative Coordinator
Associate Director of Career Services
Senior Associate Director, Student Affairs
Personal Support Counselor
Senior Associate Director, Student Affairs
Academic Support Specialist
PCOM SOUTH GEORGIA TEAM
Jerry Keeton, MPS
Michele Davis
Neva Thompson, EdD
Christin Zipperer, LPC, NCC
COLLEGE WIDE TEAM
Patience A. Mason, MEd
Denise Curran, MS
Kristal Lewis, MEd
Chad Walker, MEd
Ashley Jones, MBA
CAREER SUPPORT
Senior Associate Director of Student Affairs
Administrative Assistant
Academic Support Specialist
Personal Support Counselor
Chief Student Affairs Officer
Division Director Student Affairs
Testing and Absence Specialist
Assistant Director of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity
Events Manager
The Office of Student Affairs aims to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and resources that stimulate confidence to achieve career success. Students are encouraged to utilize career services provided by the Student Affairs office for any career-related conversations and concerns.
Our Career Counseling Staff collaborates across campuses, academic programs, and departments to provide students with career development services, activities, and resources.
NUMBER OF STUDENT APPOINTMENTS:
» PCOM: 14 (CT), 304 (KC)
» PCOM Georgia: 124 (CT), etc.
» PCOM South Georgia: 16 (CT)
EVENTS (IN HANDSHAKE):
» PCOM Georgia: 14
» PCOM South Georgia: 3
» PCOM: 1
» College Wide - 129 (this includes the Residency Fair and Match Panel)
» By Host:
• PCOM: 125
• Employers/Organizations: 22
COLLABORATIONS
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
» MCAT Panel (PCOM, PCOM Georgia)
COUNSELING/WELLNESS
» Spill The Tea (PCOM Georgia)
» Love On Deck (PCOM South Georgia)
» Clerkship Panel (PCOM Georgia)
In addition to these events, other wellness events were promoted through Handshake
STUDENT CLUBS/ORGANIZATIONS
» Resume, CV and Cover Letter Workshops (PCOM)
» Branding Workshop (PCOM)
» CV Workshops (PCOM, PCOM Georgia & PCOM South Georgia)
» Mock Interviews (PCOM, PCOM Georgia & PCOM South Georgia)
» Speaker Sessions (PCOM Georgia & College Wide)
» Match Panels (College Wide)
DIVERSITY
» Serve as Advisor to Brothers in Healthcare (PCOM)
» First Gen (PCOM Georgia)
» Workplace Culture (College Wide)
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT/RESEARCH
» Graduation Surveys (College Wide)
» Alumni Speaker Series (College Wide)
ADMISSIONS
» Bio to DO series for students applying to medical school: Application Process, Personal Statement Writing, DO Student Panel (PCOM Georgia & PCOM South Georgia)
ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS
» DO: Dr. Woodruff, Clinical Education, and GME (College Wide)
• Host virtual residency fairs, webinars, workshops, and other career development sessions
• Advise students during Match Week for SOAP and assist in hosting Match Day
• Created and maintained a DO Career & Residency Events calendar and Road to Residency email account
» Pharmacy: Dr. Mandy Reece (PCOM Georgia)
• Support career development sessions, including Residency Week activities
• Promote events on Handshake
» Physical Therapy (PCOM Georgia)
• Professional Engagement course on Job Search, Interviewing, and Compensation Negotiation
» Biomedical Sciences (PCOM Georgia)
• SciComm course on Professional Communications
• Bio to DO Series for students applying to med school (Application Process, Personal Statement Writing, Mock Interviews, DO Student Panel)
PLATFORMS UTILIZED
HANDSHAKE
• One-on-one sessions using Handshake video platform
• Newsletters with career-related updates, tips, events, and resume-building suggestions
• Student Job Applications (254 total)
+ Traditional: 224
+ Work Study: 30 (jobs were no longer posted after August 2023)
» Student Users
• New Account Activations: 286 students
• Total Account Logins: 494 students
• Handshake marketing declined after the platform was rolled out to students.
BIG INTERVIEW
» New Users: 37
» Total Users: 41
Does not include Big Interview Medical users CANVA INSTAGRAM
MEDICAL STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALULATION (MSPE) AND ELECTRONIC RESIDENCY APPLICATION SERVICE (ERAS)
Student Affairs provides operational support to the Senior Advisor to the Provost
Operational Support for DO Residency Program: In addition to providing Career Support for the graduate programs, Student Affairs collaborates with Dr. Tina Woodruff to provide operational and data collection support for the DO Residency Program. Operational support includes maintaining and editing databases for the five residency application systems, uploading documents such as transcripts, MSPEs, and LORs (military students only), collecting residency data, Careers in Medicine registrations, etc.
The department processes approximately 1,700 residency documents during an application year. In addition to managing residency accounts for around 1,300 students (second-years have active applications during first year) and alumni, the department creates about 500 Careers in Medicine accounts for M1 students annually.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
The Academic Support and Enrichment program within Student Affairs develops and delivers programs that promote student engagement and academic excellence. The mission is to create a holistic academic support environment across all PCOM campuses that empowers students to achieve their academic and professional goals through proactive and personalized support services. The program encompasses academic success coaching, learning support, time management resources, peer tutoring and mentoring, review sessions, practice questions, board preparation mentoring, peer panel discussion, workshops, and more. Students from all academic programs can access the academic support resources through the intranet portal myPCOMAcademic Resources page.
NUMBER OF STUDENT APPOINTMENTS
» PCOM: 1,485
» PCOM Georgia: 508
» PCOM South Georgia: 161
WORKSHOPS
» PCOM: 3
» PCOM Georgia: 10
» PCOM South Georgia: 4
TUTORING SESSIONS
» PCOM: 1,938
» PCOM Georgia: 1,684
» PCOM South Georgia: 510
COLLEGE WIDE REVIEW SESSIONS
» Total: 8
PRE-MATRICULATION SESSION
» PCOM and PCOM Georgia: 100 + students each session
» Total: 4 sessions
PROGRAMMING AND INITIATIVES
» The Academic Support Team conducts workshops on:
• Smart Study Strategies
• Managing Study time
• Test Taking strategies
• Overcoming Test Anxiety
• Dealing with Stress and Imposter Syndrome
• Neurobiology of Learning
» Learning and Study Strategies (LASSI) as part of pre-matriculation to assess learning and study strategies- to serve as a baseline.
» Academic Resource webpage developed as part of establishing the Academic Success Center.
COLLABORATIONS
Counseling/Wellness
» Carried out Counseling Team and Mental Health Task Force activities
» Collaborated with the mentor house system
Equity and Title IX
» Serve as an advisor for accommodation students in all programs
» Collaborated to identify and recruit note-takers for accommodation students
Career Services
» Collaborated to do an MCAT prep panel (PCOM Georgia)
» Collaborating to restart Health Career Collaborative
» Served as a Match advisor for Match Week (PCOM Georgia)
Registrar and Deans Office
» Leave of Absence (LOA) students tracking and assisting with student success, providing outreach and connecting peer tutors and returning students
Student Clubs/Organizations
» AEL Society with peer tutor help, MCAT prep peer tutors, MCAT prep panel (PCOM Georgia)
Diversity
» Opportunities Academy
» First Gen Panel (PCOM South Georgia)
Institutional Advancement/Research
» Collaborated with the Alumni Office to recruit alumni as peer mentors (PCOM and PCOM Georgia)
COUNSELING AND WELLNESS
Confidential, individual counseling at no cost is offered to assist students with personal issues whether or not impact their academic success. Students may meet with a counselor in person or online. Group support sessions, workshops, and consultations are also available to help students adjust to professional school, increase selfconfidence, manage depression and anxiety symptoms, and navigate relationship conflicts. All counselors are licensed and required to complete professional continuing education training in relevant clinical areas.
NUMBER OF STUDENTS APPOINTMENTS
» PCOM: 195 total students for a total of 596 sessions
» PCOM Georgia: 83 total students for a total of 329 sessions
» PCOM South Georgia: 58 total students for a total of 223 sessions
Academic Departments
» DO
• Assist with pre-matriculation programs the summer before classes begin
• FIRE (PCOM South Georgia)
• Serve on the Academic Counseling Team
• Collaborated with faculty to host Board Review sessions (PCOM) and Board Prep Panel (College Wide)
• Coffee & Questions: weekly Board prep discussion by M3 and M4 students
» Pharmacy
• Pre-matriculation Program
• Physical Therapy (PCOM Georgia)
• Assisted with Study Hall for the DPT Class of 2027 (PCOM Georgia)
» Biomed
• Lectured in Scientific Communication course on Smart Study Strategies (PCOM Georgia)
EXTERNAL COLLABORATIONS
» Center for Disease Control (CDC) - Biomed research track students worked on dissertations at CDC research labs (PCOM Georgia)
» Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) - Working on a collaboration to reserve PhD seats for Biomed students wishing to transfer to a PhD program (PCOM Georgia)
PLATFORMS UTILIZED
» Simply Book.me
» LASSI
GROUP SESSIONS & CLASSROOM VISITS
» PCOM: 6 (ABA, EdPsych, PsyD, Biomed, PA, DO)
» PCOM Georgia: 4 (DPT, PA, Bio-Medical, DO and Pharmacy)
FACULTY & STAFF TRAININGS & ATTENDANCE
» Responding to Students in Distress: 63 attendees
» Mental Health First Aid: 44 attendees
» Coping Skills: 57 attendees
» Students & Anxiety: How to Help: 47 attendees
» Intersectionality in Teaching & Student Work: 44 attendees
» Students & Disordered Eating to Faculty & Staff on July 7 (52 attendees)
» Question, Persuade and Refer suicide prevention training for faculty and staff (14 trained)
COLLEGE WIDE WELLNESS INITIATIVES/ WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS
» Carebridge/Healthiest You Overview Webinar
» Mental Health Kick-Off event: September
» QPR suicide prevention training for student leaders August & September (148 trained)
» Test Anxiety October
» School Wide Visual Arts Contest: January
» Bedtime Bootcamp: March
» My Battle with Anxiety: A story of hardship, loss and resilience with Dr Foti: April
» Stigma to Strength Faculty and Staff Panel event: May
» Monthly Counseling Newsletters
CAMPUS-SPECIFIC PANELS
» Harmony in Hustle: Student insight on life balance: PCOM South Georgia January
» Resilience Panel: PCOM Georgia February
» Clerkship Transition Panel: PCOM Georgia March COLLABORATIONS
Clinical Education
» Monthly reflective session during Radiology rotation (PCOM)
» Monthly narrative medicine session during Family Medicine rotation (PCOM)
Admissions
» Wellness Resources Virtual Event
Faculty and Campus Security (PCOM, PCOM Georgia, PCOM South Georgia)
» Identifying & Responding to Students in Distress Training
Office of Institutional Research, Program Deans & Faculty (PCOM, PCOM Georgia, PCOM South Georgia)
» Mental Health Survey
Psychology Department and HR (PCOM, PCOM Georgia, PCOM South Georgia)
» Happier You
Academic Support & Equity & Title IX (PCOM, PCOM Georgia, PCOM South Georgia)
» Mentoring Training Session
» Overcoming Test Anxiety
Diversity and Community Partnerships (PCOM, PCOM Georgia, PCOM South Georgia)
» Meditation Open House
» Mental Health Kick-Off
» Stigma to Strength Panel
Student Services and Dean Office (PCOM, PCOM Georgia, PCOM South Georgia)
» LOA Tracking, Monitoring and Check-ins
Wellness Representatives, & Student Organizations (PCOM, PCOM Georgia, PCOM South Georgia)
» Stress-Free Activities (Spill the Tea & journaling, yoga classes, meditation sessions, pet therapy, make it and take it aromatherapy)
Dr. Wilkins and PsyD students
» Sleep Hygiene Bootcamp
Clinical Education & Career Services
» Clerkship Transition Panel (PCOM Georgia)
Physician Assistant
» Behavioral Medicine Lecture (PCOM Georgia)
EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMMING
» Carebridge & HealthiestYou: Promotion of monthly Support Sessions and webinars
» Rogers Behavioral Health: Test Anxiety Workshop (PCOM)
» Dr. Michael Foti Inspiring Testimonial on Overcoming Anxiety (PCOM, PCOM Georgia, PCOM South Georgia)
ASSESSMENTS, EVALUATIONS AND SURVEYS
» Carebridge Utilization Reports
» HealthiestYou Utilization Reports
» Climate Survey
» Orientation Evaluation
» Mental Health Satisfaction Survey
» Pre- matriculation Survey (DO, PharmD)
PLATFORMS UTILIZED
» Titanium: Electronic medical record
» Doxy-me: Video platform for virtual one-on-one sessions
» Google Meets/Zoom: Host virtual events
» Calendly: For scheduling student appointments
» Canva: Create event flyers, social media posts, and newsletters
» Red Cap: Create satisfaction surveys
BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION TEAM (BIT)
In 2022, the College established a Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT). The PCOM BIT is a cross-functional, multidisciplinary assessment group that will coordinate the College’s resources to address the needs of students experiencing significant behavioral disturbances to recommend collaborative and purposeful interventions aimed at helping students achieve success. The case management platform Maxient was also purchased and is being used to safely and efficiently secure communication and data related to confidential information.
STRUCTURE
During the 2023-2024 school year, each BIT team (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) met biweekly (or as needed to address emergencies) to discuss
student concerns. During the meeting, discussion include a course of action for the student of concern and the necessary recommendations are made to ensure that the student is connected to resources and receiving the help they needed. On average, cases are opened, discussed, and submitted with recommendations within 2-3 business days and completely closed within a two-week period. For students that need extended monitoring, there is an update given biweekly until the BIT feels confident that the student can be removed from the list.
A soft launch of BIT was done with faculty/staff via email in April 2024. A full rollout will occur in 2025. The BIT will continue to partner with counseling, academic advising, and clubs and organizations to market BIT. In addition a BIT web site was created to facilitate accessibility online.
RESOLUTIONS BASED ON THE CASE CREATED DATE OF THE FILE ID OCCURRING IN THE PERIOD FROM AUGUST 1, 2023 THROUGH JULY 31, 2024 BY ADMINISTRATOR (MIN. 15 FILE IDS)
STUDENT LIFE
PCOM offers a wide array of opportunities for students to connect with classmates and the College outside of the classroom. This includes participation in student government, student organizations/clubs, intramural/club sports, wellness events, community service projects, and more. Studies have shown that increased participation outside of the academic classroom leads to both stronger performance inside the classroom and a greater sense of connection to the institution — both of which increase student retention.
NUMBER OF CLUBS:
» PCOM: 67
» PCOM Georgia: 46
» PCOM South Georgia: 27
CLUB EVENTS
» PCOM: 325
» PCOM Georgia: 219
» PCOM South Georgia: 94
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS/ INITIATIVES
» PCOM
• Minimum of 82 specific club events totaling over 212 CLUB hours (not including individual
students). An additional 18+ fundraising/supply drives (food drives, clothing drives, fundraising sales, etc.). This list also does not include events and initiatives held by Academic Councils or the Student Government Association (SGA) exec board (monthly MANNA events + 2 large-scale community outreach days) or clubs that are specifically focused on community service — PCOM Hearts, DO More, RISE Philly, Medicine for Education — which all do many more community service events than are included here).
» PCOM Georgia
• 482.5 hours of community service. In addition, volunteer opportunities that are advertised via our student community service liaison; those projects are not tracked for participation.
» PCOM South Georgia
• 288 hours of community service. Participated with the Community Wellness Initiative to provide information at local community events, including the Sunbelt Ag Expo, YMCA Rugged Run, Art Center of Moultrie 5K, and Moultrie Police Department Trunk or Treat.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
The following charts depict the organizational structure on each campus. While the councils may differ from campus to campus based on the academic programs offered, the general structure is consistent throughout the college.
PCOM STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION/CLUB STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
PCOM SOUTH GEORGIA STUDENT LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
RECREATION AND FITNESS
PCOM
» Open daily from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (adjustments to the hours of operation depend on the academic calendar). Students and staff have access to Fitness Center, Outdoor Track, Outdoor Fitness Equipment, Game Room, Lounge, and Basketball Court. Fitness & Wellness Staff conduct personal consultations, fitness classes, and recreational sporting activities in person or virtually.
Usage for the 2023/24 year totaled approximately 21,800: Includes faculty, staff and students.
PCOM GEORGIA
» Open daily from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm. The facility underwent a renovation in 2023 to update old machines, new paint, flooring, and mirrors. No tracking for usage.
PCOM SOUTH GEORGIA
» Students are provided free memberships to the Moultrie YMCA’s two locations. The main location is open Monday through Thursday, 5:00 am to 9:00 pm; Friday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm; Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; and Sunday, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Additional location is open 24 hours a day.
» Students now have on-campus recreation and fitness opportunities with the addition of a new multipurpose sport court and walking trail.
FOOD PANTRY
» PCOM: Located on the second floor of the Student Activity Center. Oversight by Student Affairs and the Nutrition in Medicine Club. Food/supplies are checked weekly. Re-stocked through food drives. Use of the new Alumni fund will be helpful.
» PCOM Georgia: Located in the Student Government/Meditation Suite of the main campus. Food/toiletry are refilled weekly for students to retrieve as they need. A new fund is available via the Alumni department that helps pay for items to restock the pantry.
» PCOM South Georgia: Located in the cafeteria area of the building. Dry goods and nonperishable items are located in cabinets, and perishable and refrigerated items are located in the adjacent refrigerator. Food items are replenished weekly. A new fund is available via the Alumni department that helps pay for items to restock the pantry.
» Faculty and staff donations are accepted on all campuses.
NEW STUDENT COMMUNICATIONS
Communicating with incoming students is one of the most essential practices in transitioning new students to the campus environment. Student Affairs uses the Getting Started page on MyPCOM to acclimate new students to the PCOM environment. Confirmed students receive their PCOM Network Accounts within 48 hours
of Admissions releasing them as confirmed. Although account creation is an automated process, once the students have their network account, questions start coming in. The department responds to over 900 questions annually from new students.
MILESTONE EVENTS
ORIENTATION
The resources and expectations of graduate and professional schools differ significantly from those of undergraduates. During orientation, administrators, faculty, and staff present the expectations of a rigorous academic program. Online training modules, mentoring meetings, and diversity exercises help to strengthen safety, well-being, and inclusion efforts. We direct students to the College internet portal for access to resources, provide their academic calendars and syllabi, notify them of graduate and professional-level student expectations, and introduce them to the individuals and departments positioned to help them navigate this environment.
» Faculty and Friends Support Engagement Panel Oreintation for individuals who support students on this journey.
WHITE COAT
The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage ritual that welcomes new graduates into the medical profession and other health-related fields. Students are encouraged to reflect on the meaning of the white coat and their commitment to service. The families are invited to celebrate this milestone.
APPROXIMATE ATTENDANCE AT EACH WHITE COAT CEREMONY:
» Physician Assistant: 60 students; 180 guests (PCOM); 35 students; 100 guests (PCOM Georgia); 60 students, 180 guests (PCOM South Georgia)
» Physical Therapy: 30 students; 100 guests
» Osteopathic Medicine: 270 students; 810 guests (PCOM); 140 students; 420 guests (PCOM Georgia)
» Pharmacy: 30 students; 100 guests
» Medical Laboratory Science: 15 guests; 100 guests
MATCH DAY
Match Day is a national day where medical students discover their matched specialty. It is typically held on the third Friday in March. Students are given a sealed envelope with their matched residency that are only able to open on this date and time.
APPROXIMATE ATTENDANCE AT EACH MATCH DAY:
» Osteopathic Medicine: 150 students; 450 guests (PCOM); 75 students; 225 guests (PCOM Georgia); 58 students, 174 guests (PCOM South Georgia)
New students are directed to use newstudents@pcom. edu as a dedicated email address for questions. This not only ensures we can respond timely to any questions but also allows us to track where students are struggling for information, and gives us insight as to where we need to add additional details posted on Getting Started.
No reports since we didn’t use Marching Order in March of 2024
COMMENCEMENT
Commencement is a ceremonial event that marks the culmination of an individual’s academic journey, celebrating their successful completion of their course of study. During the ceremony, graduates don traditional caps and gowns, and receive diplomas or degrees in recognition of their hard work and dedication.
APPROXIMATE ATTENDANCE AT EACH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY:
» PCOM: 500 students; 3,000 guests
» PCOM Georgia: 350 students; 2,800 guests
» PCOM South Georgia: 75 students; 1,125 guests
EVENTS PLATFORMS UTILIZED
» Google Meet: Meet with students for virtual sessions
» WordPress: Host StudentAffairsEvents.pcom.edu website for all events.
» Marching Order: Name calling and ticket distribution for all students, family and guests.
» Adobe Acrobat: Design commencement program books.
COLLABORATION
INTERNAL
» Individual Programs: Deans and Faculty
» Institutional Advancement
» Office of the President
» Office of the Provost
» Department of Public Safety
» PCOM Printing Solutions
» Internal Student Affairs members on all three campuses
» Office of Legal Affairs
» Students and their Leadership
» GOMA/POMA
» Office of Marketing and Communications
» Office of Information Technology Services
ADMINISTRATIVE INITIATIVES
Operational support is provided for all department projects and functions through the Administrative Coordinators. Some of the more notable contributions include:
BUDGET
Budget spreadsheets were created for each area so that each team would be better able to manage and maintain budgets for their respective units.
EXAM ADMINISTRATION AND (ADA) SUPPORT-COORDINATION
Testing Center Accommodation/Make-Up Request Forms were created and utilized in submitting requests to use the testing center. This increased communication establishes an organized system to ensure exams are proctored with work-study students.
EXCUSED ABSENCES
Students can request an absence to be excused for missing mandatory sessions for reasons such as sudden illness, hospitalization, death in the family, family emergencies, military leave, or academic travel, including poster presentations and conference attendance.
The centralized excused absence request form for DO and Biomed Students was implemented in January 2024
THE CAMPUS WORK-STUDY PROGRAM
With an increase in the number of approved students with accommodations, more proctors were hired to accommodate the increased use of the testing center and office assistants were hired to assist with walk-in student questions. the students practiced a total of 664 exams in Georgia.
PLATFORM UTILIZED
» Zoom & Google Meet: Town halls and group informational sessions
» Canva: Created signs, event flyers, social media posts, and newsletters
» Instagram: Promoted events and student engagement through reels, stories, and lives
» CapCut: Edit video for social media post for social media, and event tutorial videos
along with a supporting email address exclusively for everything pertaining to excused absences. Previously, each campus utilized its own separate forms to collect requests.
At the conclusion of the 2023-2024 academic year, Student Affairs received a total of 1,955 requests (see chart below for campus breakdown):
EXCUSED ABSENCE REQUESTS PER CAMPUS
In collaboration with the Medical Education Center of Excellence, the DO and BioMed handbooks for the 2024-
2025 academic year have been updated to reflect the changes in the excused absence process.
PROJECT COLLABORATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS
Collaboration is an essential element of the Department of Student Affairs. Developing and implementing effective programs and supporting student success requires the work of many. Collaboration occurs across the department and is structured according to student needs, impact, and relation to long-term and short-term College and departmental goals. There are numerous examples of effective partnerships, including Orientation planning, New Student Communications, DO Residency Application Process, and the Behavioral Intervention Team. Some of the department’s larger collaborative projects are listed below:
STUDENT AFFAIRS ONGOING COLLABORATION EFFORTS:
» Behavioral Intervention Team
» DO Residency Application Process
» Mental Health Taskforce
» Academic Support/Tutoring
» New Student Communications through MyPCOM Getting Started
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION:
» Departmental participation in reviewing the new ERP program
» Departmental participation in the 2024 Middle States Accreditation Review
» Departmental participation in the 2024 COCA site visit
» Departmental participation in planning Academic Calendar move to trimesters
» Departmental participation in Information Security Cyber Incident Response Tabletop Exercise
» Annual Compliance trainings for all students via Safe Colleges
EXTERNAL ENTITIES COLLABORATION WITH EXTERNAL:
» Collection of data for AACOM: M1 and M4 annual surveys. Return rates, M1: PCOM 99%, PCOM Georgia 94%, PCOM South Georgia 82%; M4: PCOM 100%, PCOM Georgia 91%, PCOM South Georgia 70%.
» Collection of data for Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, M4 annual surveys (92.9% return for 2024)
» Medical Student Advocate Program with Lankenau Medical Center: 25 students volunteered a total of 880 hours. This program provides patients with assistance for non-medical needs to improve health outcomes.