By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
Alabama State University and Saint Elizabeth University (SEU), announced on Nov. 28 the establishment of a combined educational program culminating in a baccalaureate degree from ASU and a Physician Assistant degree (M.S.) from SEU as both schools signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement.
This is the first agreement of its kind that SEU has signed with a historically black college or university (HBCU).
Under the agreement, up to three eligible ASU students will be interviewed during their junior year for early admission into the SEU program.
The President of Alabama State University, Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr., led a delegation from Montgomery to the SEU campus in Morristown, N.J. to experience its state-of-the-art PA classrooms, fully equipped 12-bed clinical assessment lab and patient simulation rooms, as well as a demonstration of a wide range of high-fidelity manikins and a virtual dissection table.
“At ASU, we pride ourselves on offering bridges to success for our students so they may seek and obtain career-preparatory educational opportunities through partnerships such as the one that was established today with Saint Elizabeth University,” President Ross said. “This agreement will not only benefit our students academically, it also will allow them to grow as pre-professionals as they engage in SEU’s exemplary program.”
HOW IT WORKS
The ASU-SEU educational program consists of ASU’s students obtaining four-years of undergraduate study in the Bachelor of Science in Biology program at ASU (with ASU granting the student’s baccalaureate degree) and SEU awarding the M.S. in its Physician Assistant degree to the Alabama State students upon the successful completion of the 28-month program at Saint Elizabeth’s, explained Dr. Gary B. Crosby, President of Saint Elizabeth University.
“We are very excited to have Alabama State University as our first HBCU collaborator in developing and graduating new physician assistants. Our two institutions are united in providing a high-quality education to students of diverse ages, backgrounds and cultures, making this educational program a perfect fit for both our students and communities,” President Crosby said “We look forward to welcoming our first ASU students to the program.”
CREATING A PIPELINE FOR SUCCESS
To be interviewed for the program in their junior year, ASU students must have a cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.4 and an overall cumulative GPA of 3.2, and be on track to complete all required prerequisite courses with a 3.0 (B) or better. Candidates must complete their bachelor’s degree requirements at Alabama State University by June 1 prior to the first year of entering Saint Elizabeth’s PA program and must matriculate into SEU’s program not longer than 1.5 years from their conditional acceptance.
Candidates also must meet the following requirements by March 1 of their senior year at ASU:
Complete a minimum of 300 direct patient-care hours
Complete a minimum of 16 physician assistant shadow hours
Complete a minimum of 50 community service hours
Submit scores for the Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT)
Complete a Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant (CASPA) application
ASU STUDENT INTERVIEWS BEGIN IN EARLY 2023
Under the new agreement, the first ASU students will be interviewed in February 2023 for conditional admission to the SEU Physician Assistant program in Fall 2024.
“This is yet another way that the University is working to enhance the education and career opportunities for our students,” President Ross stated.
