Admissions and Progression Procedures
Admissions
Competitive Admissions Procedures (see “Admissions Information for Health Science Degree Program Applicants”)
Clinical Progression
Students must satisfactorily complete each scheduled, successive clinical course, in order to progress in the program.
Dismissal
- All students attending SUNY Broome are subject to the “Policy of Standards for Academic Progress” as defined in the college catalog.
- Each Health Science program policy manual includes information on additional criteria used by the program for dismissing students from that program. Program policy manual procedures are supported by the college. Students dismissed from a program are advised to see an academic advisor, if they wish to continue taking courses within another curriculum. Dismissed students lose the curriculum designator and will no longer be advised by the department faculty or chair.
Readmission to the Program
- Students dismissed from a Health Science program may apply for readmission and will be considered eligible for the competitive admissions process. Students dismissed more than once may not reapply to the same program.
- Students who have successfully completed one or more major courses in a health science program and interrupt their course of study may be readmitted directly into program courses, bypassing the Competitive Admission process, with permission of the Department Chairperson. Students who interrupt their course of study before completing courses within the major must reapply through competitive admissions.
- Each Health Science program policy manual includes information on additional criteria used by the program for readmission of students to that program. This may include maximum time frames of eligibility for readmission or degree completion.
Admission/Readmission Policy
I. Admissions Policy
A. All students apply through the Admissions Office according to the admission procedures as stated in the SUNY Broome College Catalog.
B. All students must meet the “Academic Preparation for Admissions to College Curricula” for Dental Hygiene as stated in the SUNY Broome College Catalog.
Required High School subjects:
- Math Level 2: Course 1 and II
or Applied Math I, II, III
or Algebra I and Geometry
or Equivalent (minimum grade 74) - Biology
or Applied Science I and II
or Equivalent (minimum grade 74) - Chemistry
or Equivalent (minimum grade 74)
C. The competitive admission process is applied to only the students meeting the minimum requirements.
D. Students not admitted into the fall dental hygiene class must re-apply the following year through the Admissions Office to repeat the competitive admission process.
E. Students not meeting the minimum requirements may be placed into the Health Studies Program to complete pre-requisites. Upon successful completion of all required courses students then apply through the Admissions Office to go through the competitive admission process.
F. SUNY Broome offers admissions to the College and opportunities in any aspect of the College’s business regardless of the applicant’s race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation or disability that would not interfere with providing services to patients.
II. Readmission Policy
A. Medical Withdrawal
Students who are in good academic standing but chose to withdraw from the program for personal/medical reasons may petition the following year for continuation in the Program.
B. Academic dismissal
1. All students attending SUNY Broome are subject to the “Policy of Standards for Academic Progress” as defined in the SUNY Broome catalog.
2. Students accepted into Dental Hygiene are also subject to “Dismissal, Re-admittance for Degree Programs” as stated in the SUNY Broome catalog. In accordance with this policy the Dental Hygiene Department has set the following policy for students who fail one or more introductory courses in the Department’s major sequence:
• Students failing one Dental Hygiene first semester core course are dismissed from the program, not necessarily from the college, and can re-apply through the competitive admissions process.
• Students failing DEN 101 AND DEN 103 are dismissed from the Dental Hygiene program, (not necessarily from the college), and re-admission into the Dental Hygiene Program is prohibited.
3. Students waiting to be re-admitted into the next freshman class must re-apply through the competitive admissions process.
4. Students re-admitted to the Dental Hygiene program are required to take the “Smarter Measure Learning Readiness Indicator”. Results will be reviewed and recommendations and follow-up documentation will be made in “Starfish” by the Health Sciences Division Staff Associate. A Student Success Plan will be developed to optimize success for continuance in the Dental Hygiene Program.
5. Students withdrawing (W) from a Dental Hygiene course will be considered as a failure attempt. The “W” failure grade will be incorporated into the student’s GPA for consideration in the competitive admission process.
III. Progression in the Dental Hygiene Program
All required science courses in the Dental Hygiene program must be completed during the program or may be completed prior to starting the program. Science courses completed prior to program entrance, must be completed no more than 5 years prior to program entry. Fully online sciences courses are not eligible to meet the program’s following science requirements.
- BIO 131: Anatomy & Physiology I – 4 cr
- BIO 132: Anatomy & Physiology II – 4 cr
- CLT 208: Pathogenic Microbiology – 3 cr
- CLT 209 L: Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory – 1 cr
All courses taken to meet the above science requirements MUST include a FACE TO FACE laboratory component.
Each course in the 70 credit curriculum must be passed with a “C” letter grade or better. If student has required program coursework in-process while being admitted into the program (eg., and require science course, ENG 110/220, PSY 110, or sociology course), that required coursework must be passed with a letter grade of “C” or better in order for the student to commence any DEN designated courses. Failing in-process coursework during the admissions process and prior to the commencement of the semester, may interrupt the student’s ability to begin the program on time and may result in the student beginning the Dental Hygiene program on probation.
IV. Completion of the Dental Hygiene Program
All students are required to complete the dental hygiene curriculum within three (3) years from the time they are accepted into the DEN professional courses in order to graduate from the Program.
Chemical Impairment Policy
The Health Sciences Faculty defines the chemically impaired student as a person who, while in the academic or clinical setting, is under the influence of, or has abused, either separately or in combination: alcohol, over-the-counter medications, illegal drugs, prescribed medications, inhalants, or synthetic designer drugs. Abuse of the substances includes episodic misuse or chronic use that has produced psychological and/or physical symptoms, for example: odor of alcohol; unsteady or staggering gait, rapid or slurred speech; dilated or pinpoint pupils; blood-shot eyes; fine motor tremors, difficulty in calculation; inability to follow directions; impairment of ability to function appropriately in the classroom or clinical site, and nausea, vomiting and sweating. If such behaviors are observed in the student, the faculty member will:
- Confront the student with suspicions
- Escort student to occupational medicine office/employee health office, i.e., Binghamton General Hospital, Wilson, Lourdes
- Document the reasons for such action: symptoms observed, patient safety issues, etc.
The following steps will be completed:
- The student will submit to blood and/or urine tests upon request.
- The student will be asked to leave the clinical or classroom setting pending results.
- Students have the right to refuse to submit to testing. This refusal will be treated as a positive result.
- If drug screening tests are negative, student will resume clinical or class the next scheduled day.
- If drug screening levels are positive as determined by agency protocols, or a student refuses to submit to testing, further clinical/classroom experiences will be suspended until therapeutic interventions have been sought by the student, and documentation of ongoing treatment and testing is provided to the respective department chairperson. Placement back into the clinical or classroom will be at the department chairperson’s discretion.
- If tests are negative, SUNY Broome will pay for cost of tests. If tests are positive the student will incur all costs.
- Evidence of current positive drug tests such as those administered in employment or pre-clinical, or random screens will be subject to the chemical impairment and disciplinary action policies.
Notice of Criminal Record (Felony)
Individuals who have been found guilty, or pleaded guilty to a felony, may not be eligible for dental hygiene licensure. The State Certifying Board may grant a waiver based upon mitigating circumstances. Contact NYS Office of the Professions for further information at www.op.nysed.gov.
Applicants Who Have Blood-Borne Infectious Diseases
Individuals who self-disclose the presence of a blood-borne infectious disease will be shown the same consideration as non-infected individuals and will be offered reasonable accommodations. All information regarding the health status of an individual is considered confidential, and protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1994.
Additional Program Specific Policies
Latex Allergy/Sensitivity
Latex allergy/sensitivity is a growing concern for health care professionals. Our facility on campus has an open clinic design. Therefore, DH Clinic utilizes only nitrite gloves and other latex-free products in an effort to be a latex-free environment. If you have latex sensitivity you may want to consult with your personal physician prior to entering a health care profession.
Recommendation for Eye Exam
Due to the visual demands of the dental hygiene profession, the SUNY Broome DH Department strongly recommends that students undergo a complete eye examination prior to entering the program.
Notice of Opportunity to File Complaints
The SUNY Broome Community College Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.
In compliance with the Commission, the department provides the following notice for students who feel they have a complaint regarding the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards set by the Commission.
Notice of opportunity to file complaints
with the Commission of Dental Accreditation
The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.
A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago IL 60611 or by calling 800-621-8099 extension 2719.
Adopted January 1994 Commission on Dental Accreditation
