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School of Health Professions - Student Handbook 2024-2025


MLS - Traditional Appendix

APPENDIX A
Medical Laboratory Science
Student Handbook
Department/Student Agreement
The Student Handbook is an important document intended to provide information to help you become acquainted with the Medical Laboratory Science Program. It is not to be considered a contract. The contents of this handbook may be changed at any time at the discretion of the Program. The program maintains the right to make and change departmental policies as necessary. This publication is available on the School of Health Professions website. Students are responsible for periodically accessing any revisions to the publication online.
Please read the following statements and sign below.
  • I am aware the Bachelor of Science in MLS/Traditional program Student Handbook is available on the School of Health Professions website. I understand the policies, rules, and benefits described in it are subject to change at the discretion of the program at any time.
  • I am aware, during the course of my enrollment, confidential information may be made available to me such as student information and other related data. I understand this information is critical to the success of the Program and must not be disseminated or used outside of the program premises. Upon leaving the program, whether voluntary or involuntary, I hereby agree not to utilize or exploit this information with any other individual or agency.
  • I understand, should the contents of this Handbook be changed in any way, the Program may require an additional signature from me to indicate I am aware of and understand any new policies.
  • I agree my signature below indicates I understand the above statements and acknowledge my responsibility to read the Bachelor of Science in MLS/Traditional program Student Handbook and be familiar with its contents.
Academic and Clinical Behavior
Students are expected to conduct their behavior in accordance with the following regulations:
  1. The use of unauthorized written or oral references during examinations (cheating) is prohibited.
  2. The inadequate citation of references or assistance on papers or class presentations (plagiarism) is prohibited. 
  3. Habitual tardiness, unexcused absences, and/or lack of participation in assigned class activities are prohibited.
  4. Students will behave in accordance with the Code of Ethics set forth by the School of Health Professions and respective program/professional organizations in the clinical settings or in simulation or demonstration settings in the classroom and/or laboratory.
  5. Students will comply with all rules and regulations of the clinical facilities to which they are assigned.
I certify I have received a copy of the Bachelor of Science in MLS/Traditional program Student Handbook for my personal use and reference.
I assume responsibility to read, review, and thoroughly understand the rules, regulations, code of ethics, and honor code as outlined in the Student Handbook. I agree to abide by all rules, regulations, and codes while I am a student in the Medical Laboratory Science program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Within one week after receipt of this manual, I agree that I am responsible to write an inquiry to the Program Director for clarification of any information in this handbook, including inquiry about consequences for my failure to comply. If I do NOT write an inquiry within one week after receipt, I am declaring I fully understand my responsibilities and any consequences for my failure to meet those responsibilities.
_____________________________________________
Student Printed name
_____________________________________________
Student Signature
_____________________________________________
Date
_____________________________________________
Department Representative
APPENDIX B
EXAMPLE ONLY
Students will be given an up-to-date CPAF later for official use; this is for informational purposes only and does not reflect affiliate sites available to the current class.
____________________________________________________________________
Clinical Preceptorship Assignment Form (CPAF)
MLS Clinical preceptorship begins in January and ends in May of the student's senior year. Assignments are made in advance to accommodate students who may need to make arrangements for moving. It is the student's responsibility to find housing, meet all financial obligations, and arrange for transportation. The preceptorship assignment is based on the information below and the program's available contracted sites.
Indicate your order of preference for each of the sites listed below; 1 is your first preference. Be aware in each location there are a limited number of sites available.
_______________Abilene, Texas
_______________Amarillo, Texas
_______________Dallas, Texas
_______________El Paso, Texas
_______________Lubbock, Texas
_______________Midland, Texas
_______________Odessa, Texas   
_______________Tyler, Texas

APPENDIX C
Medical Laboratory Science
Student Agreement Honor Code
There is mutual trust between you and the faculty. You promise integrity in work submitted and the faculty presume your honesty. All work submitted to the faculty is assumed and expected to be your own unless credit is given using proper footnoting and bibliographic techniques. Cheating, plagiarizing, falsifying results of study or laboratory results, or any action designed to deceive any member of the faculty is prohibited. This applies not only to examinations but also to all work handed in such as papers, laboratory reports, solutions to problems, practical exams, computer materials, etc. Instructors have the right to include or exclude what will be covered by the Honor Code in their course. Violations of provisions of the Honor Code are cause for disciplinary action imposed as determined by the School of Health Professions Academic Misconduct Policy. It is also your duty to behave in a manner that will discourage other students from violation of the Honor Code.
The addendum is a pledge by the students who are taking an online course or will be using online testing. The pledge states:
  1. I will not divulge my username or password to anyone.
  2. I, and only I, will post answers to course assignments using my username and password
  3. I, and only I, will take the online exams using my username and password.
  4. I understand the online exams are closed book and I will not refer to my textbook, or any other references while taking the exams unless indicated by the professor.
  5. I will not print all or part of any exam.
  6. I will not divulge the content of the online exams to any other student, whether enrolled in the course or not.
  7. I understand work submitted to meet the requirements of one course cannot be submitted to meet the requirements of a second course without the permission of both instructors.
  8. I understand violation of this code will constitute an honors violation and that I will be subject to the appropriate sanctions as described in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institutional Student Handbook
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Printed name                                                                                           Date
__________________________________________
Student signature

APPENDIX D
Technical Standards
The Medical Laboratory Science Programs (MLS), to include traditional as well as second degree & post-baccalaureate certificate, at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, are vigorous and intense programs placing specific professional, intellectual, physical and social requirements, and demands on the students enrolled in the programs. An objective of these programs is to prepare graduates to enter a variety of employment settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of individuals with physical and psychosocial impairments. The essential functions set forth by the MLS programs establishes the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to these programs to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies for entry-level practice. Ability to meet these essential functions is required for admission to the MLS programs and must be maintained throughout the terms a student is enrolled in the respective program. These standards are subject to amendment based on changes in health care/scope of practice.
Accepted applicants for MLS’ education programs will be required to verify they understand and meet these essential functions or they believe the standards can be met with reasonable accommodations.
In keeping with applicable federal and state law regarding disabilities, we are committed to making reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform successfully in our program. Any student with a disability who is accepted to the MLS program must contact the 504 coordinator in the TTUHSC Office of Student Services as soon as possible. The coordinator will evaluate the student, confirm the stated condition qualifies as a disability under applicable laws, and determine what accommodations are reasonable.
There are three separate and distinct components in the curriculum for the MLS programs. There is an academic didactic (classroom) component, a laboratory component, and a clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship/component. Accommodations in place for the didactic component may not be available for the laboratory component and/or clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship/components in the curriculum.
To successfully complete didactic, laboratory, and clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship portions in the MLS programs an individual must meet the following essential functions with or without accommodations:
  1. Mobility:
    1. The student must have adequate gross mobility in order to maneuver in a timely and safe fashion throughout the department.
    2. The student must be able to lift his or her arms above shoulder height in order to place or remove items of ten pounds or less from shelves.
    3. The student must be able to bend over at the waist or squat (waist and knees) in order to place and remove items of ten pounds or less from drawers and cabinets.
  2. Manual Dexterity: The student must have adequate fine motor skills to be able to manipulate small objects in a safe and precise manner. Examples include, but are not limited to, being able to operate a computer keyboard, dial a telephone, handle cuvettes, sample cups, pipette tips, reagent vials, pick up glass slides from tabletop, manipulate tools and instruments used in the clinical laboratory, including a microscope, collect specimens, and use a pen or pencil in order to communicate effectively in writing for coursework and clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship to ensure patient/client safety.
  3. Auditory Acuity: The student must be able to hear well enough to respond to significant sounds in a clinical lab. Examples include, but are not limited to, being able to hear signals generated from instrumentation that may indicate normal operating status, critical sample value or equipment malfunction, and being able to hear and follow verbal instruction from a coworker or supervisor in order to ensure patient safety. (National Patient Safety Goals NPSG)
  4. Verbal Communication Skills: The student must be able to orally communicate professionally to persons on the telephone or other health care workers listening specifically to the student in person to ensure patient safety. (National Patient Safety Goals NPSG)
  5. Visual Acuity to read, write, discern colors, and use a microscope: The student must have adequate eyesight such that they can recognize and distinguish gradients of color such as on a urine reagent strip and special stains, read numbers and words either on a video display screen, computer printout, or legible handwriting, and interpret lines and points on graphs and charts to ensure patient safety.
  6. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quality Skills: The student must possess the ability to develop and exhibit organizational problem-solving skills. Specifically, the student must have the ability to measure, calculate, analyze, interpret, synthesize, and evaluate data in a short period of time, have the ability to learn to perform duties and assignments in a timely manner while under stress in a variety of settings, exhibit the maturity to accept feedback, and demonstrate professional conduct in the classroom, laboratory, and at the preceptorship site.
  7. Social Behavior Skills: Demonstrate respect for individual, social, and cultural differences in fellow students, faculty, staff, patients, clients, and patients’/clients’ families during clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship and academic interactions. Demonstrate the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in academic and clinical/fieldwork/preceptorship situations. Conduct oneself in an ethical and legal manner demonstrating honesty, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions and situations.
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Printed name                                                                                  Date
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Student signature