PA Student Groups
Class Officers
Class officers are important individuals who help establish collegiality and professionalism between and among the members of the class, faculty and staff, Program, and University. Class Officers speak on behalf of the class to faculty and administration. Officers will be elected within the summer term after the start of the Program. COPHS’ Student Affairs office will help establish officer elections for the class.
Students may run for President – the class President (or designee) serves as representative to the Health Sciences Student Assembly, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Physician Assistant Club – PAC
The Physician Assistant club (PAC) serves as the official organization for the PA students and those individuals interested in the PA profession. All PA students are encouraged to be members of the PAC. The MPAS-1 class officers will serve as the PAC officers.
PA Student Ambassadors – PASA
The PA Student Ambassadors (PASA) program was established to provide the Program with a group of volunteer students who have the skills and training necessary to help conduct special Program functions and represent the PA Program at Program, College, and University events and to the community at large. Our PA Student Ambassadors are current PA students who assist with admission and student life programs. This program is open to all Butler PA students. Students apply for service and are chosen by student leaders to serve.
Ambassadors can serve as tour guides, panelists during information sessions, advisers during orientation and registration, and much more. They will be available to serve as hosts at special receptions.
Ambassadors will assist with recruitment events throughout the year and will inform prospective students and parents interested in the Butler PA Program about all facets of life at Butler – the academic program, faculty and students, social opportunities, as well as student organizations and services. They will help personalize the University by making campus visitors feel welcome, comfortable, and positive not only about Butler’s PA Program, but Butler University as a whole, by demonstrating sincerity, enthusiasm, credibility, interest, and helpfulness.
PA Partners in Success
The Butler PA Partners in Success mentoring program is a student run program that aims to match new incoming MPAS1 students with MPAS2 students. This program connects students with a mentor that can answer their questions and concerns about PA school and help them navigate their first year. The program pairs students with mentors based on personal preferences to help make the transition into the MPAS1 year smoothly.
Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants – SAAAPA
The Student Academy of the American Academy of PAs (SAAAPA) is the national governing body for students enrolled in the PA Program. This organization offers many resources to enrolled PA students.
There are leadership opportunities in SAAAPA, a national student medical challenge bowl at the annual AAPA conference, student activities, and advocacy opportunities for the profession. For more information regarding SAAAPA, please visit their website at: https://www.aapa.org/saaapa
Pi Alph – National PA Honor Society
Students may apply for membership into the Pi Alpha National Honor Society. The Society recognizes excellence in research, publishing, community/professional service or leadership activities. The GPA for didactic portion of the Program are utilized to calculate the Pi Alpha GPA. No failures may occur during the Program. Individuals need to complete at least one Pi Alpha eligible activity during clinical year.
Please see the Pi Alpha web site at http://paeaonline.org/pi-alpha-honor-society/ for further information.