School of Health Sciences Communication & Professionalism

All students are required to utilize their college email account. As the official communications channel of the college, students are responsible for all information distributed to them through their college email account. Students are expected to check email daily.

FACULTY OFFICE HOURS

Faculty will be responsible for posting and observing regular office hours during the week to provide time on a systematic basis for student conferences and consultation with colleagues, the Dean, and visitors.

FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

Faculty will make every effort to provide timely response to emails or office phone messages received during posted office hours. Faculty may provide their personal phone numbers to students for emergency use related to clinical or preceptor experiences. Phone calls and/or texts to faculty are appropriate only in emergent situations related to clinical or preceptor experiences unless otherwise directed by faculty in the course syllabus.

Student evaluation of faculty teaching effectiveness in the classroom, laboratory and clinical settings is to be done at the completion of courses each semester. The college distributes standard evaluations electronically through Blackboard. Program-specific evaluations may be distributed through various formats. Students are encouraged to complete all evaluations. Constructive feedback will be considered for quality improvement.

Below is information about procedures concerning the communication and resolution of student complaints and issues. 

Steps for Communication and Resolution of Student Complaints

1. If a student perceives a problem in his or her course, interactions with an instructor, or with the instructor’s assessment of the student’s academic performance, the student may initiate a formal process aimed at resolving the problem, with the understanding that the student represents only himself or herself, and does not represent a group of students or the entire class.
2. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule an appointment with the instructor. Upon request for an appointment, the instructor will make every effort to meet with the student in a timely manner (within 5 college business days). The student will meet privately with the instructor (or by Zoom or phone if student is at another campus) to discuss the problem(s). The Problem Solving Session Worksheet (pdf) should be completed by the student and brought to the appointment (if virtual or phone meeting, student should email form). The student completes the appropriate sections of the worksheet. The remaining parts of the form will be completed by the instructor during the meeting. The instructor and the student will sign the form and the student will receive a copy of the completed form.
   • If a resolution is agreed upon by the instructor and the student, the instructor documents on the form the conditions by which the problem was resolved. The matter is considered to be resolved at this point.
   • If a resolution is not agreed upon by the instructor or the student, or either party does not abide by the conditions of the resolution, the instructor or student are to contact the academic program director (APD). If the academic program director is the instructor, the department chair/head will be notified. See program chain of command.
   • If the student believes the concern has not been resolved at the meeting with the instructor, or that the instructor has not met with the student within an appropriate time frame, then the student should schedule a meeting with the APD to discuss the issue. It will be the student's responsibility to make the appointment with the APD. The APD has the discretion of inviting the instructor to the meeting with the student. A signed "Problem Solving Session Worksheet” must be provided by the student to the APD before the meeting in order to document that the process outlined above has been followed. After the APD meets with the student, the APD will meet with the instructor to review the concerns. The APD will make every effort to resolve the problem(s) in a fair and judicious manner. The substantive contents of these meetings will be documented in writing by the APD.
   • If the student believes the concern has not been resolved at the meeting with the APD, or that the APD has not met with the student within an appropriate time frame, then the student should schedule a meeting with the Department Head to discuss the issue. It will be the student’s responsibility to make the appointment with the Department Head. The Department Head has the discretion of inviting the instructor and/or APD to the meeting with the student. A signed "Problem Solving Worksheet” must be provided by the student to the Department Head before the meeting, in order to document that the process outlined above has been followed. After the Department Head meets with the student, the Department Head will meet with the instructor and/or APD to review the concerns. The Department Head will make every effort to resolve the problem(s) in a fair and judicious manner. The substantive contents of these meetings will be documented in writing by the Department Head.
   • If the student believes the concern has not been resolved at the meeting with the Department Head, or that the Department Head has not met with the student within an appropriate time frame, then the student should schedule a meeting with the Dean or the Dean’s designee (Assistant Dean) to discuss the issue. In most cases, the Dean's designee, the Assistant Dean of Compliance & Student Affairs, will address complaints and will serve as the Dean's office representative. It will be the student’s responsibility to make the appointment with the Assistant Dean. The Assistant Dean has the discretion of inviting the instructor, APD, and/or Department Head to the meeting with the student. A signed "Problem Solving Worksheet” must be provided by the student to the Assistant Dean before the meeting, in order to document that the process outlined above has been followed. After the Assistant Dean meets with the student, the Assistant Dean will meet with the instructor, APD, and/or Department Head to review the concerns. The Assistant Dean will make every effort to resolve the problem(s) in a fair and judicious manner. The Assistant Dean's resolution will be considered the resolution of the Dean's office while serving as the Dean's designee. The substantive contents of these meetings will be documented in writing by the Assistant Dean.

Prompt attendance is required for class, clinical, lab, and experiential learning environments. Excessive tardiness or absences from class or clinical, based on the number of credit hours assigned to that course or the program’s attendance policy, may be grounds to drop the student from the program or course.

Each student is expected to exhibit appropriate, responsible behavior that is consistent with the program’s codes of conduct. As healthcare professionals working under supervision, students share the same ethical obligations that the program’s health professional must maintain. Students shall protect and promote the best interests of the patient at all times. Students must acknowledge the patients values and beliefs and avoid interfering with their expression or implementation. Students are required to maintain the confidentiality of patient health information that is encountered during their training. Patient health information that students have access to or obtain, either directly or indirectly, during their training may not be disclosed to anyone other than authorized personnel of the clinical partner agency, and shall be used and disclosed only in accordance with federal and state confidentiality laws. Students are to conduct themselves, both during school hours and outside of school hours, in a manner that will not discredit the clinical facility, the school, the college, the profession itself, or themselves.

Unprofessional behavior may lead to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the program.

Patterns of unsafe or unethical practice may result in a course failure at any time during the course. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Performing activities for which the student is not prepared or which are beyond the capabilities of the student.
• Performing activities which do not fall within the legal scope of a student or level of training.
• Failing to recognize and/or report and record one’s own errors in patient care.
• Behaving in a disrespectful manner toward patients, faculty, other students, and/or other health team members, or failing to respect patients’ rights and dignity.
• Lacking adequate theoretical knowledge in preparation for the provision of patient care.
• Failing to provide concise, inclusive, and timely written, electronic, and/or verbal communication.
• Using facility equipment/supplies for personal use, e.g. telephones, computers, etc.

Behaviors that are potentially civil or criminal should result in program dismissal at any time. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Performing immoral or indecent conduct of any nature, such as sexual molestation of patients or staff.
• Purposefully recording or reporting inaccurate data regarding patient assessments, interventions, and/or other patient care.
• Disclosing confidential or private information inappropriately, including violating HIPAA law.
• Attending clinical experiences while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription medication which may impair performance, or excessive lack of sleep.
• Negligence or harming the patient purposefully, including verbal or physical threats.
• Soliciting, borrowing, or removing property or money from a patient or patient’s family, including asking for tips or gifts.
• Removing drugs, supplies, equipment, or medical records from the clinical setting.
• Abandoning the patient by leaving the clinical facility without notification.
• Refusing an assignment based on a patient’s race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or religious preference.
• Using profanity or making inappropriate comments of sexual, racial, or otherwise offensive nature.
• Stealing tests and other curricular materials from faculty.
• Posting tests or purchasing test banks on the Internet, such as e-Bay or Amazon.
• Verbally or physically abusing faculty, students, or staff on or off campus property, including stalking or bullying.
• Stealing, destroying, or tampering with campus or clinical facility furniture, equipment, or property.
• Stealing, destroying, or tampering with personal property of students, faculty, or staff.