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School of Health Professions - Student Handbook 2024-2025


MLS - Online Preceptorship Information

Preceptorship Information
Philosophy of Clinical Education
All academic preparation is directed towards the acquisition of the knowledge, technical skills, and attitudes necessary for the practice of the laboratory sciences. Clinical Education is an intrinsic part of the preparation process. This integration develops in two environments: (1) clinical classroom preparation to the maximum extent possible and (2) education which occurs in the clinical settings must be responsive to the student's individual level of academic preparation and readiness. Students are offered clinical rotations in their professional education, allowing them the opportunity to integrate their clinical skills with didactic work. 
In selection of clinical sites, the quality of patient care, the enthusiasm of the staff for working with students, and the size of the department or laboratory are all factors carefully considered.
Clinical Affiliates
To view a list of all affiliated facilities, please visit the website below.
https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/second-degree-postbac-medical-laboratory-science/affiliates.aspx
Affiliate availability is subject to changes each year. A current Clinical Preceptorship Form is provided during the preceptorship meeting scheduled for fall semester lab week.
Secondary Degree/Laboratory Certificate Preceptorship Assignment Policy and Procedure
It is the intent of the MLS Online program to provide each student with a meaningful clinical laboratory preceptorship experience. The activities of the clinical preceptorship will include, but are not limited to:
  • Benchwork under supervision
  • Participation in the quality control program
  • Attendance at lectures or seminars at the institution
  • Observation of other departments in the institution
Students must complete the full requirement hours of the preceptorship rotation. Hours missed due to absences, for any reason, are required to be made up at the discretion and convenience of the affiliate which could affect the students' ability to complete the program or graduate on time.
Students must be assigned to a preceptorship site months in advance to accommodate the affiliate requirements, needs of the student, and needs of the MLS program. The availability of preceptorship sites for the MLS program is not only a contractual agreement between the facility providing the preceptorship and the program but on the ability of the affiliate to accommodate a student in a given semester. Students are expected to be prepared to relocate to complete their assigned preceptorship.
TTUHSC guarantees preceptorship placements at a current affiliate associated with TTUHSC. Students are assigned their preceptorship placement through a procedure as described below. Due to contract policies, students are not allowed to contact current affiliates associated with the MLS program to solicit placement. Students who are employed in a full-service clinical laboratory have the responsibility of informing the employer of their student status no later than the 4th week of class. TTUHSC MLS will not reach out on the students' behalf to arrange preceptorship placement with the employer. The students' employer must make contact with the program to discuss potential placement for preceptorship. This type of preceptorship placement is NOT guaranteed.
Procedure:
1. Each applicant interviewed will be informed of the preceptorship assignment procedure.
2. Each applicant accepted into the MLS program will be provided an example of the Clinical Preceptorship Assignment Form (CPAF, Appendix C) and Policy in the departmental handbook.
3. A current up-to-date CPAF is provided to the student during the winter lab week following the completion of the fall semester.
4. The completed CPAF is returned by the deadline determined by the Clinical Education Coordinator.
5. The clinical education coordinator will enter the CPAF rankings into a program utilizing the following to make assignments:
a. Available contracted clinical slots
b. Class ranking of students
c. Professional Evaluation score
d. Needs of the affiliate
e. Needs of the program
f. Needs of the student/hardship status
6. Each student will receive two copies of a contract during the spring semester informing them of their clinical preceptorship assignment. The student will have five working days to sign and return one of the provided copies of the contract to the Affiliate Coordinator. Students failing to return the contracts within five working days are at risk of forfeiting their clinical preceptorship spot. 
7. Proof of health insurance must be presented to the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs (806-743-3220) by the deadline assigned. 
8. Students who are recycling through the program or whose performance at a previous clinical experience was below expectations for the level of training will receive their preceptorship assignment based on availability first, class ranking second, and preference last.
Detailed information will be provided in the PAC and during the preceptorship meeting scheduled for fall semester lab week.
The student is responsible for ALL costs associated with clinical preceptorship experiences including onboarding fees, transportation, housing, meals, uniforms (scrubs, if required), drug screens, additional criminal background checks required by the facility, and other incidental expenses associated with relocation and/or preceptorship requirements. This could include additional immunizations and titers to check immunity.
TTUHSC Office of Institutional Health (OIH) reviews all immunizations records submitted by students after admittance into our programs. Each student is responsible for complying with requests from OIH regarding facility-specific requirements that could include titers, TB testing, flu shots, boosters, etc.
Each student will be given a score based on their class ranking, 74%, and professional evaluation grade, 26%.
Special consideration may be given based on Preceptorship Appeals Committee discretion in cases of undue hardship. A hardship does not guarantee placement in a particular spot but alternative arrangements may be considered depending upon the individual situation. A completed MLS Student Hardship Declaration form and official documentation/proof of hardship must be presented to the Preceptorship Appeals Committee for review.  These documents are due when the CPAF is submitted. Examples that do not constitute a hardship include but are not limited to relationship or marital status, current employment, lease agreements, and financial reasons.

NOTE:  Based on their contracts, each facility has the right to terminate their affiliation with the MLS program up until the student enters their clinical preceptorship. On occasion, a facility will terminate a contract prior to the beginning of the clinical preceptorships. The MLS Program will make every effort to find the student another preceptorship spot in that location; however, be aware the only available preceptorship spot may be located in another city, or another preceptorship spot may not be available at that time. Any and all expenses in changing a preceptorship site are the responsibility of the student.
Students who are not placed in a preceptorship will go on a waiting list (in order of class rank) and will be placed if and when a preceptorship site becomes available.
Appeal of the Preceptorship Assignment
Upon receiving the contract, the student has five working days to appeal, in writing, the preceptorship assignment. The written appeal with the CPAF and attached documentation will be submitted to the Program Director who will forward the appeal to the Preceptorship Assignment Appeal Committee. The committee will meet within seven working days to review the appeal. Upon reviewing the appeal(s), the committee will provide a written report within three working days to the Program Director. The Program Director will inform the student of the final decision.
Clinical Preceptorship Grade Policy
The student must meet or exceed to Minimum Passing Score on each End-of-Rotation test, a 70% or better on any practical exams given by the preceptor, a 60% or above on the professional evaluation, and complete all tasks on each Departmental Task List with a minimum score of 2.0 (70%). In addition, the average score on each task list must meet or exceed 2.0 (70%) to pass the corresponding clinical rotation successfully complete HPML 4752, Clinical Preceptorship.
The student is allowed two attempts of each EOR, with the higher grade being recorded. The second EOR is not a repeat of the first attempt but a new test with different questions. The student must meet or exceed the MPS on at least one attempt of each EOR to pass the rotation.
If a student fails to meet or exceed the MPS on both attempts of an EOR test in a rotation they will receive a written (email) warning from the Clinical Education Coordinator and a remediation plan will be developed. The failure to meet or exceed the MPS after two (2) attempts of a second EOR test will result in counseling and a written (email) warning from the Program Director. A remediation plan will be developed. Remediation may require an extension of the clinical rotation which could prevent or delay a student’s graduation from the program.
Remediation is limited to two (2) different EORs. Failure to meet or exceed the MPS after two (2) attempts on a third EOR will result in a score below 70% (or 66% for Micro) and may result in dismissal from the program. There is no remediation plan available for failure to meet or exceed the MPS in two attempts of a third EOR.
If any student fails to make a 70% or better on a practical exam, the Clinical Instructor should notify the Clinical Education Coordinator immediately. Documentation of Student Counseling and remediation plan will be noted on the Student Counseling Report. The remediation plan may be developed by the Clinical Education Coordinator, Education Coordinator/Clinical Instructor, Program Director, and university and clinical faculty. Remediation may include an extension of the clinical rotation. This could prevent or delay a student's graduation from the program.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to follow the rotation schedule as set forth by their affiliate. Any changes to preceptorship schedules required by the affiliate site must be approved by both the program and the affiliate site. Dally attendance and promptness are absolute requirements of the program. The department and program are required to document any absences. Absence is excused only by permission of the Clinical Education Coordinator and Education Coordinator. All absences must be made up and will be scheduled at the affiliates convenience. Make-up days can occur during student holiday periods such as Spring Break, Memorial Day, and after scheduled preceptorship. In the case of multiple absences (2 or more days) or extended absence due to medical reasons, a physicians statement will be required. Absences and make-up schedules are documented on the Student Absence Report Form.
Emergency Related Closures
Students on preceptorship or clinical placements are to follow the policies of their affiliate or clinical site regarding emergency-related closures. Suspension of classes or office closures on a TTUHSC campus does not supersede the policies of the affiliate or clinical site.