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School of Health Professions - Student Handbook 2023-2024


MLS - Online Overview of Program

Overview of Medical Laboratory Science Programs (HPML)
Second Degree (SD) /Laboratory Certificate (LC)
The program accepts one class per year, beginning in the fall semester, culminating at the end of the following summer after a clinical preceptorship at an affiliate site. Students are required to complete the one-year curriculum.
The MLS curriculum consists of:
  1. Didactic material is delivered online, and laboratory sessions are conducted via one, six-day session per semester. These courses are taught by the Medical Laboratory Science faculty and are intended to prepare students for clinical preceptorship.
  2. Clinical Preceptorships in affiliated laboratories. The Clinical Education Coordinator, in cooperation with the clinical teaching staff, directs the education of the students at the affiliate site. Clinical faculty are certified medical technologists who will serve to instruct students in the application of theory and principles of patient testing procedures.
The clinical preceptorship begins in May. Students are assigned their clinical preceptorship site after completion of the first semester. This assignment is made in advance to make the necessary arrangements for moving if required. It is the student’s responsibility to find housing, meet all financial obligations, arrange for transportation, and (if desired) seek employment.
There will be a course in Sakai called PAC (Preceptorship, Advising, and Correspondence) where students receive further information regarding preceptorship, advising, and other correspondence related to the program as well as being able to email with questions. Students will not register for this course; it will appear in Sakai at the beginning of the semester and continue throughout the student's year in the online program. Students are expected to check the PAC daily.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Medical Laboratory Science program is to improve the health of people by producing competent and compassionate laboratory scientists by providing high-quality and relevant education with an emphasis on scholarly activity, research, patient care, and service, in order to meet the educational and clinical needs of the communities of West Texas, Texas, and the United States.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Program in Medical Laboratory Science is to earn regional and national recognition for excellence in undergraduate education. We will progress toward achieving this vision by:
  • providing students with a broad educational background by utilizing a variety of educational resources and experiences,
  • providing a strong curriculum based on current needs,
  • maintaining the level and quality of instruction in the medical laboratory science courses by including the latest in technological advances,
  • developing in students the professional attitudes and ethics required of medical laboratory professionals,
  • educating students on the merits of continuing professional development,
  • providing the region and the State of Texas with graduate medical laboratory scientists who can function at career entry-level and who can assume leadership roles as health professionals.
Departmental Organizational Structure
Chairperson
The Chairperson is directly responsible for departmental functions, including serving as a liaison between the departmental personnel and the university administration, conducting performance evaluations, determining merit salary, assigning staff (administrative assistants and clinic coordinators) duties; mediating all personnel and/or student grievances; assigning and determining space utilization; coordinating faculty meetings; administering all departmental budgets and accounts payable with a recommendation from the Program Directors; determining course instructors; appointing committees; coordinating tenure and/or promotion applications; executing disciplinary actions per the University Operating Procedures Handbook, and reports to the School of Health Professions Dean.
Program Director
The Program Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the academic programs and clinical operations. Duties include serving as the first point of contact for grievances, course scheduling, and facilities management; participating with the chairperson in annual performance appraisals; monitoring curricular requirements in accordance with NAACLS; maintaining outcome data for the academic and clinical programs; managing the department’s Quality Improvement processes; reviewing students’ academic records; and monitoring budgetary matters. Other duties may be assigned by the Chairperson.
Assistant Program Director
The Assistant Program Director (APD) assists the PD in duties associated with oversight of the program curriculum, including assessment and evaluation of effectiveness. The APD also assists the PD in monitoring requirements in accordance with NAACLS. Additional duties include recruitment activities, student advisement, and the admissions process.
Clinical Education Coordinator
The Clinical Education Coordinator assists the PD with matters regarding the affiliates. Duties include developing and maintaining clinical affiliation agreements (i.e., contracts), assigning students to clinical sites, and meeting regularly with affiliate education coordinators. Other duties may be assigned by the PDs or Chairperson.
Laboratory Manager
The Laboratory Manager is responsible for setting up student laboratory sessions, phlebotomy instruction, instrument maintenance and troubleshooting, and managing day-to-day operations of the laboratory. The Laboratory Manager also assists the students with the technique and theory behind individual laboratory sessions. Other duties may be assigned by the PD.
Admissions Committee
The committee serves to review all undergraduate and graduate applications into the respective programs of study (i.e., pre-professional and graduate), coordinate graduate applicant interviews; recommend admission or denial to the Chairperson; maintain statistical information relative to student indices (e.g., grade point averages, etc.); execute all admission policies per faculty approval, and report to the Chairperson at each faculty meeting.
Advisory Committee
The Medical Laboratory Science advisory committee meets as needed to review curriculum and discuss evaluation of each program’s effectiveness. Evaluation of program effectiveness includes student course evaluations, employer’s surveys, national certification scores, and faculty input regarding curriculum and the admissions criteria for each program. The committee provides a unique perspective in the field of laboratory medicine.
MLS Program Affective Objectives
The student shall:
  1. Follow biosafety regulations by practicing proper disposal of biohazardous material, as evidenced by complying with established safety regulations.
  2. Exhibit interest in the laboratory assignments and lecture discussions through participation.
  3. Help maintain a neat, clean, and orderly work area in all laboratories without being asked.
  4. Demonstrate proper care and use of laboratory equipment, as evidenced by lack of breakage.
  5. Attend classroom and laboratory sessions regularly and punctually.
  6. Demonstrate preparedness for the laboratory by following directions and completing the tasks assigned with minimal need for additional instructions.
  7. Cooperate by communicating with and helping other students.
  8. Exhibit assurance and confidence in performing laboratory tasks.
  9. Demonstrate integrity by recognizing and repeating questionable tests.
  10. Act responsibly.
  11. Accept instruction and constructive criticism in a mature manner.
  12. Show respect for other students, instructors, and patients.
  13. Comply with the stated dress codes.
  14. Demonstrate interprofessionalism through respect, collaboration, and appropriate communication with other healthcare professionals.
MLS Career Entry Competency Goals of the Program
At entry level, the medical laboratory scientist will possess the entry-level competencies necessary to perform the full range of clinical laboratory tests in areas such as Clinical Chemistry, Hematology/Hemostasis, Immunology, Immunohematology/Transfusion Medicine, Microbiology, Urine and Body Fluid Analysis, and Laboratory Operations, and other emerging diagnostics, and will play a role in the development and evaluation of test systems and interpretive algorithms.
The medical laboratory scientist will have diverse responsibilities in areas of analysis and clinical decision-making, regulatory compliance with applicable regulations, education, and quality assurance/performance improvement wherever laboratory testing is researched, developed, or performed.
At entry level, the medical laboratory scientist will have the following basic knowledge and skills in:
  • Application of safety and governmental regulations and standards as applied to medical laboratory science;
  • Principles and practices of professional conduct, including the significance of continuing professional development;
  • Communications sufficient to serve the needs of patients, the public, and members of the health care team;
  • Principles and practices of administrations and supervision as applied to medical laboratory science;
  • Educational methodologies and terminology sufficient to train/educate users and providers of laboratory services;
  • Principles and practices of clinical study design, implementation, and dissemination of results.
*Adapted from the Standards for Accredited and Approved Programs for the Medical Laboratory Scientist, 11/2014 NAACLS
Accreditation
The MLS program is accredited by the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) 5600 N. River Road Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, doctoral, and professional degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.  The commission should be contacted only if there is evidence that appears to support the institution’s significant non-compliance with a requirement standard.
A member of the Texas Tech University System, TTUHSC has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges as a separate institution from Texas Tech University since 2004. TTUHSC received its reaffirmation of accreditation from SACSCOC in 2019. The next reaffirmation is scheduled for 2029.
For more information on ASCP, visit their Website at https://www.ascp.org/content