School of Health Professions - Student Handbook 2019 - 2020


General Information

TTUHSC Mission

As a comprehensive health sciences center, our mission is to enrich the lives of others by educating students to become collaborative healthcare professionals, providing excellent patient care, and advancing knowledge through innovative research. To view the institution goals and vision statement please visit https://www.ttuhsc.edu/about/mission-vision.aspx 


SHP Mission

The mission of the TTUHSC School of Health Professions is to provide a high quality, inclusive and diverse, student-centered learning environment for graduate and undergraduate education in the health professions; advance knowledge through scholarship and research; and provide clinical services that improve health and quality of life in Texas and the nation.

As part of a state-supported university system, we serve the people of Texas, with particular emphasis on developing regional solutions to meet the educational and clinical needs of rural communities of West Texas.

 

SHP Vision

To earn regional and national recognition for excellence in graduate and undergraduate Health Professions education, research and clinical services.

We will progress toward achieving this vision by:
  1. Achieving high levels of excellence in teaching, research and clinical service while fostering the professional and personal competence, growth and success of our students, faculty and staff.
  2. Providing an environment that values, supports and rewards research and other scholarly activities.
  3. Contributing to the improvement of health status and the reduction of health disparities in the communities we serve.
  4. Expanding the cultural and ethnic diversity of our student body, faculty and staff.
  5. Remaining responsive to the evolving needs of the students, patients and communities we serve

SHP Organizational Philosophy

As a multi-campus, regional element of the TTUHSC education system, we seek to encourage maximum learning and enhance the accessibility of our educational programs and services by applying a variety of innovative educational approaches and technologies.
We seek, through our research and clinical service activities, to contribute positively to improving the general health status and overall quality of life of the people of West Texas, while enhancing our professional and clinical competence.
Our faculty are, first and foremost, student-oriented and teaching focused. We value activities that enhance teaching effectiveness and learning while seeking to create an environment conducive to research and effective clinical service.

Our staff are student-oriented professionals who provide high-quality, responsive service to students and faculty. We strive to maintain an empowering environment based on mutual trust, respect and partnership among faculty, staff and students.

We accomplish our mission with the context of the mission, vision and policies of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the Board of Regents.

Diversity Statement of TTUHSC 
The core foundational value of including the diverse cultures, lifestyles, personal beliefs and ideas of all those we serve- and serve alongside- provides a positive impact on the health of our regional, national, and global societies. As we pursue excellence in healthcare education, research, and patient care, we will be ever mindful of the strength that is gained through unity and diversity.
https://www.ttuhsc.edu/diversity/ 

Expectations of Student

Students studying in the School of Health Professions must complete the professional curriculum within the prescribed school and departmental academic and calendar guidelines. Health Professions’ students are required to observe departmental, school, and institutional regulations and requirements. Health Professions’ students are expected to maintain a professional attitude toward the patients to whom they will provide healthcare, and toward the colleagues with whom they learn and work. Only the specific course instructor can excuse absences. Other policies concerning departmental expectations of Health Professions’ students are contained in the student handbooks of the respective departments. Students will be held responsible for both the information contained in this catalog and in the departmental handbooks. In addition, students are expected to abide by all stated school or departmental policies and regulations.

Misuse or Abuse of Computer Equipment, Programs or Data
Conduct for which disciplinary action may be taken in relation to computer equipment, programs or data include, but are not limited to, the following:
  1. Unauthorized use of computing resources or use of computing resources for unauthorized or Non-Academic purposes.
  2. Unauthorized accessing or copying of programs, records or data belonging to TTUHSC or another user or copyrighted software, without permission.
  3. Attempted or actual breach of the security of another user's account, depriving another user of access to TTUHSC computing resources, compromising the privacy of another user, or disrupting the intended use of computing or network resources.
  4. Attempted or actual use of TTUHSC computing resources for personal or financial gain.
  5. Attempted or actual transport of copies of TTUHSC programs, records or data to another person or computer site without written authorization.
  6. Attempted or actual destruction or modification of programs, records or data belonging to TTUHSC or another user or destruction of the integrity of computer-based information.
  7. Attempted or actual use of the computing facilities to interfere with the normal operation of TTUHSC computing systems; or, through such actions, causing a waste of such resources (people, capacity, computer).
  8. Allowing another person, either through one's personal computer account, or by other means, to accomplish any of the above.
  9. Any violation of federal or state laws or violation of the TTUHSC computer-use policies or "Code of Student Conduct."
Any act or omission that violates federal, state or local laws or regulations relating to computer equipment, programs or data and which is not otherwise covered in the TTUHSC Student Handbook is grounds for disciplinary action and referral to the appropriate law enforcement or investigative agency.


Marketable Skills

  1. Interpersonal and Communication skills
    Ability to interact and communicate effectively with varied audiences (patients, colleagues, healthcare team, other professional groups, etc.)
  2.  Professionalism
    Professional conduct; understanding of legal/regulatory requirements; time management skills; critical thinking; respect; compassion; integrity; sensitivity to culture, age, and gender
  3. Lifelong learning and Improvement
    Ability to critically analyze and reflect on one’s own practice experience and professional literature, for the purpose of learning and improving skills
  4. Interprofessional Practice
    Awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of healthcare; ability to perform effectively in different team roles
  5. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
    Defined specifically by the programs

Technical Standards

To successfully complete a program within the School of Health Professions, students must meet the established technical standards for their respective program. The abilities and expectations for the program must be met by all students admitted, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Change of Contact Information
Students are required to:
Maintain a current address(s) (i.e. permanent, local, emergency contact, billing, etc.) and telephone number(s) in the TTUHSC WebRaider Portal at https://webraider.ttuhsc.edu.
It is the responsibility of each student to maintain a current local address and telephone number with the academic program and the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs in the School of Health Professions.
Students should maintain current information in the WebRaider Student Portal to receive notice of grades, semester bills, and all other correspondence sent by the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs and Student Business Services.
Additionally, it is very important to keep your emergency contact information up to date. 
The School of Health Professions will not be held responsible for consequences incurred due to address changes that are not reported.

TTUHSC Student E-mail
The TTUHSC Information Technology Department assigns all students an official TTUHSC email address provided with an initial password code prior to new student orientation. TTUHSC will use this email address for official communications between the institution and students. Students must use the provided TTUHSC email address while enrolled in the School of Health Professions. Emails will not be redirected or forwarded to another non-TTUHSC account. This email address will be the ONLY email address used for official communications between TTUHSC and students, faculty, and staff. Students are responsible for monitoring and responding to any required information sent to this email address.
(TTUHSC Institutional Policy 56.22)

Use of TTUHSC Logos

Colleges, Departments, Centers, Institutes and other TTUHSC organizations may use the official TTUHSC logos. However, TTUHSC logos are legally protected trademarks, and restrictions apply. Students are expected to follow guidelines that pertain to the use of TTUHSC logos. Refer to the TTUHSC Identity Guidelines at: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/communications-marketing/campus-guidelines/identity-guidelines.aspx 
Obtaining Permission to use LogosSHP students, SHP student organizations, and other organizations that wish to use any of the TTUHSC logos must contact the SHP Student Affairs office for approval, shp.studentaffairs@ttuhsc.edu  


Accreditation Statement 

A member of the Texas Tech University System, TTUHSC has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as a separate institution from Texas Tech University since 2004. TTUHSC received its reaffirmation of accreditation from SACSCOC in 2009 and will be seeking reaffirmation again in 2019. 
https://www.ttuhsc.edu/accreditation/default.aspx