school of health professions - student handbook 2022-2023


Academics and Enrollment Management

State Authorization for Distance Education and Clinical Education
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) has been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary, approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. California is currently the only state that is not an NC-SARA member. As a public institution, TTUHSC is exempt from state oversight in California and not required to register with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).
Please see the SARA Manual for details of specific authorized activities. TTUHSC has an implicit or explicit agreement to conduct 100% online learning activities for students in the indicated states. These agreements do not explicitly allow additional activities with a few exceptions such as a limited number of legislative internships in Washington, D.C. NC-SARA also does not affect the applicability of general-purpose State laws and has no effect on State professional licensing requirements.

Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE)
All TTUHSC students, regardless of school affiliation, will be required to complete the IPE core curriculum prior to graduation. The IPE core curriculum is composed of two components including successful completion of a non-credit online course (>70 % accuracy on the knowledge post-test) and successful participation in at least one registered IPE learning activity. Failure to complete the IPE core curriculum will result in delayed graduation. Students should consult their academic/program advisor and/or school catalog for additional information.

Academic Probation
Students placed on Academic Probation must meet specific program performance standards in order to be removed from Academic Probation. A student on Academic Probation will be notified in writing by the program director that he or she has been placed on Academic Probation or has been removed from Academic Probation.

Leave of Absence
In extreme circumstances, it may be necessary for a student to be absent from class for an extended time. The School of Health Professions may grant leave with the approval of the department chair and the consent of the Dean. For information concerning a leave of absence, contact the School of Health Professions Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, at shp.studentaffairs@ttuhsc.edu.

Withdrawal
A student who wishes to withdraw from the School of Health Professions must first meet with their program director and then contact the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs to receive an Official Withdrawal Form. This form must be initialed by faculty or staff from specific areas within the Health Sciences Center. After the withdrawal form is completed, it must be returned to the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs for processing. Students who fail to complete this self-initiated withdrawal process within 5 class days will be subject to administrative withdrawal and/or dismissal from the School of Health Professions.

SHP Readmission - SHP OP: ST.24
Students who fail to register or who leave school during the spring or fall semester must submit the application and oath of residency plus a $75 non-refundable application fee. A former student who seeks to be readmitted to a program in the School of Health Professions must have withdrawn in good academic standing and meet all current admissions and degree requirements for the semester of readmission. Automatic readmission is not guaranteed; programs will consider students on a case-by-case basis. For questions concerning the readmission process, email shp.enrollmentmanagement@ttuhsc.edu.

Graduation
A student must be enrolled at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the term in which they plan to graduate and possess the minimum GPA requirement as determined by the program. A student planning to graduate must complete the required application for graduation. A student may not have more than 6 hours remaining after the spring commencement date to be eligible to submit an application for graduation and participate in commencement ceremonies.
Graduation guidelines, deadlines, and forms are posted on the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Commencement webpage: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/commencement/default.aspx
Graduation with Honors:
Full-time undergraduate students completing the academic work with a cumulative grade point average of:
  • 3.90 to 4.00 are graduated Summa Cum Laude
  • 3.70 to 3.89 are graduated Magna Cum Laude
  • 3.50 to 3.69 are graduated Cum Laude.
Appropriate designation of the honor is made on the diploma. Honors designations are only awarded at the completion of all degree requirements.
Dean's Honor List / President's List
Undergraduate Programs Full-time undergraduate students who earn a GPA of 4.0 during a semester are eligible for the President’s List. Full-time students who earn a 3.5- 3.99 GPA are eligible for the Dean’s List.