College Admission Policy
The College of Health Professions strives to create a diverse student body that is representative of a wide range of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds and maintains excellence in each program. All qualified in-state and-out of-state individuals who meet the admissions requirements for the academic programs offered by the College are encouraged to apply and will be considered fully. However, as a state-supported institution, preference for admission will be given to residents of the state of Tennessee who have the same qualifications as non-resident applicants.
The College of Health Professions conducts, through its programmatic admissions committees, appropriate and timely review of student applications and supporting credentials. The resulting decisions and recommendations reflect high academic standards and observance of applicable legal statutes, as well as policies of the University of Tennessee System, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the College of Health Professions, and the individual programs. Admissions procedures, processes and recommendations afford equal educational opportunity to all applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, handicap, or veteran status. Details of program admission criteria may be found in the departmental sections of this bulletin and may be accessed through the college website at: http://www.uthsc.edu/health-professions/.
Student Health and Professional Liability Insurance
All students are required to have health care and medical insurance while enrolled in the College. All students in the College are also required to purchase professional liability insurance through the University at a nominal cost payable at registration time.
Criminal Background Checks
All students are required to have a background check prior to enrolling in programs in the College of Health Professions. Students should be aware that additional criminal background checks along with drug screens and fingerprinting may be required by clinical sites, certification committees and state licensure boards. Students are responsible for these costs. Information discovered in criminal background searches may delay or prevent enrollment, clinical education opportunities, graduation and entry into the profession. Failure to comply may prohibit students from entering programs, completing clinical assignments or graduating from the program. The UTHSC Policy on Criminal Background Checks for Matriculating Students may be found at https://uthsc.policymedical.net/policymed/anonymous/docViewer?stoken=de47aa28-16aa-408b-9c96-cb04f232964f&dtoken=ebb4ceee-e5a4-4928-beaa-30305e81d93b. If a student needs further information about criminal background checks, the student should contact their department chair or program director.
Student Status Options
Due to the variation in programs in the College, the policies related to student status such as Advanced Standing and Transfer of Credits may be found in each program section of the bulletin.
Undergraduate students who are enrolled in 12 hours or more are classified as full-time. Students who are enrolled in less than 12 hours are classified as part-time. Graduate students who are enrolled in 9 hours or more are classified as full-time. Students who are enrolled in less than 9 hours are classified as part-time. Each program determines whether or not a part-time option is available to students.
Technical Standards
The admissions committees for the College’s professional programs maintain that certain minimal technical standards must be attainable by applicants. Upon admission, a student who discloses a properly certified disability will receive reasonable accommodation but must be able to perform the essential functions of the curriculum, as described in each program’s section of the bulletin, either with or without reasonable accommodation. Applicants verify in writing that they are able to meet these technical and performance standards with or without accommodation and are instructed to contact the Student Academic Support Services Office, GEB, room BB9, for questions and assistance. Determination of eligibility and recommendations of accommodations must be made by Student Academic Support Services and Inclusion https://www.uthsc.edu/sassi/.
Student with Disabilities
Applicants to programs of the College must possess the following general qualities: critical thinking, sound judgment, emotional stability and maturity, empathy, physical and mental stamina, and the ability to learn and function in a wide variety of didactic and clinical settings. Graduates of the College must have the minimal skills, essential functions, and knowledge to function in a broad variety of clinical settings, while rendering a wide spectrum of healthcare services.
The College faculty has a responsibility for the welfare of the patients treated or otherwise affected by students enrolled in the College as well as for the educational welfare of its students relative to the educational programs of the College. The admissions committees, in accordance with Section 504 of the 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (PL101-336), have established the aforementioned essential functions of students in the educational programs offered by the COHP.
These committees will consider for admission applicants who demonstrate the ability to perform, or to learn to perform, the essential skills listed in this document. The College must ensure that patients are not placed in jeopardy by students with impaired intellectual, physical or emotional functions. Students will be judged not only on their scholastic accomplishments, but also on their physical and emotional capacities to meet the full requirements of the College’s curricula and to graduate as skilled and effective practitioners.
Upon admission, a student who discloses a properly certified disability will receive reasonable accommodation but must be able to perform the essential functions of the curriculum and meet the standards described herein for the program in which the student is enrolled. Services and accommodations for students with disabilities are coordinated through the Office of Student Academic Support Services at 8 S. Dunlap, Room BB9, General Education Building. For additional information and assistance in requesting accommodations please refer to the following website: https://www.uthsc.edu/sassi/.
In addition to the general standards described above, each professional program requires additional specific standards as described in the program-specific section of this bulletin.
State Authorization
The US Department of Education requires that states be responsible for all education offered to residents within their state boundaries regardless of where the education originates. As a result, states have instituted state authorization regulations governing all or portions of educational programs that are being completed in their states by out-of-state students (e.g., a UTHSC student wishing to complete a field experience in a state other than TN). These regulations encompass both online education as well as clinical experiences for UTHSC students permanently or temporarily residing in states other than Tennessee. Students are advised to seek clarification prior to arranging for field experiences outside of the state of Tennessee or to enrolling in one of the College’s online or hybrid programs if they reside in a state other than Tennessee to ensure the presence of the necessary authorization. Additional information is provided in the UTHSC overview portion of the bulletin .
Important Note for Prospective Students: If you are considering an academic program that leads to a professional license in your state, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your home state BEFORE beginning the academic program located outside your state.
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