Academic Information
Academic Advising
Jefferson College of Health Sciences, through the academic advisement program, offers every student the opportunity for individualized assistance. Upon acceptance, all students are assigned an academic advisor.
The advisor helps to plan the student's academic program, particularly during pre-registration and registration periods; maintains a check list of the student"s coursework completed in his or her program of study; monitors the student’s progress; gives information on institutional policy, regulations and procedures, and is available throughout the student’s enrollment for additional advisement. Curriculum requirements and degree requirements are specified in this catalog and the student should consult it frequently to ensure proper completion of the chosen program.
The final responsibility for meeting all academic and institutional requirements resides with the student. Therefore, students should be familiar with the College Catalog, College Student Handbook, program requirements and their own academic transcript.
Academic Foundations Policy
Jefferson College of Health Sciences expects all students to achieve minimum levels of proficiency in five academic skill areas. Students under-prepared in any of these areas are expected to avail themselves of the varieties of assistance throughout the College to meet these standards within the appropriate timeframe set with their advisor or program director.
I. To write and speak with unity of purpose, coherent organization, and effective use of English consistent with standard rules and ordinary conventions.
II. To read and think critically utilizing data from a variety of services to form mature judgments and arrive at sound conclusions.
III. To analyze quantitative information and to use mathematical skills and tools.
IV. To gather and evaluate information from libraries, computer-based resources, from observation and from experimentation.
V. To use computer technology effectively for word processing, information access and data management.
Required courses in each curriculum are designed to assure students have the opportunity to develop these competencies including English Grammar and Composition, Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, Math, Introduction to Microcomputers and Academic Seminar.
Academic Grievance Policy
(Students should see the College Student Handbook for information about the Academic Grievance Policy)
Academic Honors
Academic honors are recognized at Jefferson College of Health Sciences through the publication of a Dean’s List and a President’s List .
President’s List
The College also recognizes and honors students who have achieved outstanding scholastic records by publishing a President’s List each term. Full-time students who have earned a term Grade Point Average of 3.800 to 4.000 with no semester grade lower than a “C,” and have no incomplete coursework are named to the President’s List.
Dean’s List
The College recognizes and honors students who have achieved outstanding scholastic records by publishing a Dean’s List each term. Full-time students who have earned a term Grade Point Average of 3.400 to 3.799 with no semester grade lower than a "C,” and who have no incomplete coursework are named to the Dean’s List.
Academic Achievement
Students who have taken at least six (6) credit hours in a semester and earned a semester Grade Point Average of 3.50 (with no grade lower than a “C” and no withdrawals during the semester and no incomplete coursework) will receive a letter of Academic Achievement from the Dean for Academic and Student Services recognizing his/her achievement.
Academic and Personal Integrity
Responsibility for Academic Integrity
Jefferson College of Health Sciences expects students to exhibit high levels of integrity in all activities. The College reserves the right to deny admission to or remove students from any program if they have a record of misconduct or demonstrate behavior that would jeopardize their professional performance.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: cheating on an assignment or examination; using materials during a quiz or examination other than those specifically permitted by the instructor; stealing, accepting or studying from stolen quizzes or examination materials; plagiarism; forgery of signatures; falsification of official documents; falsification of data; falsification of clinical records; misrepresentation of academic qualifications; misuse of materials which belong to the College; stealing or copying of computer programs and presenting them as one’s own or misrepresenting completion of clinical hours or assignments. Students who violate these standards of academic integrity may receive a failing grade for the assignment or the course. They will not be granted a grade of “W” in the course and may, depending on the nature of the offense, be suspended or dismissed from a program or the College.
Falsification of official documents or misrepresentation of academic qualifications may result in denial or annulment of admission.
Every faculty member and student is responsible for assuring academic integrity at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. At the beginning of each course, the instructor will discuss the concepts of academic integrity as it relates to the College, his or her expectations, and course design. Faculty will include a statement regarding academic integrity in their course syllabi.
It is the student’s responsibility to know what constitutes academic dishonesty, cheating or plagiarism. If students are unclear they should seek the advice of the instructor. Students should see the Academic Honor Code in the College Student Handbook for further information.
Academic Probation
(See Academic Standards of Satisfactory Progress)
Academic Standards of Satisfactory Progress
All students at Jefferson College of Health Sciences are expected to achieve consistent progress toward completion of a program. Exhibiting such progress is necessary to remain in good academic standing and to remain eligible to receive financial aid.
All students are required to maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 and complete at least two-thirds (67%) of all credit hours attempted. (See chart below). If a student fails to meet the GPA or credit hour requirement, he/she will be placed on academic probation and will not be allowed to register for more than 12 credit hours for the following semester. All students on academic probation will be automatically referred to the PASS program and will be required to participate in an academic contract. Failure to honor any aspect of the contract could result in a student’s status being changed from academic probation to College dismissal at any point in the semester.
College academic dismissal will occur if at the end of the probationary semester, the student’s cumulative grade point average is still below 2.0 or the student fails to complete at least two-thirds (67%) of all credit hours attempted.
Successful completion of a course is defined as earning a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “P,” or “S.” Exception: All professional courses must be completed with a minimum of “C” or equivalent.
If you take You must complete
1 credit 1 credit
2 credits 2 credits
3 credits 2 credits
4 credits 3 credits
5 credits 4 credits
6 credits 4 credits
7 credits 5 credits
8 credits 6 credits
9 credits 6 credits
10 credits 7 credits
11 credits 8 credits
12 credits 8 credits
13 credits 9 credits
14 credits 10 credits
15 credits 10 credits
16 credits 11 credits
17 credits 12 credits
18 credits 12 credits
19 credits 13 credits
20 credits 14 credits
Students re-enrolling after periods of non-enrollment will be evaluated based on their last period of enrollment.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
(See Services for Students with Disabilities under Student Support Services in this catalog.)
Active Military Duty Policy
The following policy relates to students in the Reserves or National Guard called into active duty:
Any student called to active duty from the reserves of any branch of the military or National Guard will receive special consideration to ensure the smooth transition into and out of the College.
Students leaving a professional program for active duty will be able to re-enter the program at the beginning of the same semester in the suggested plan of study. Students reentering programs may be required to demonstrate current knowledge of preceding courses. If they are unable to demonstrate current knowledge they can audit previous courses at no cost.
Pre-professional students will be able to begin classes at the beginning of the next semester following their return to civilian life. Exceptions and special needs will be addressed on an individual basis through the office of the Dean for Academic and Student Services.
Add/Drop
Dropping or adding courses must be completed in accordance with the designated periods on the official Academic Calendar. An official add/drop form, obtained from the Registrar’s Office, must be completed and signed by the student and the course instructor and returned to the Registrar. A fee will be assessed for each add/drop form completed. A full refund for each class dropped will be made to the student, as long as the form is submitted by the date of the “last day to drop with a refund,” as shown in the “Academic Calendar” section of this catalog. A student enrolled in only one class who then drops this class will be considered “Withdrawn” and will be subject to the tuition policy for students who withdraw from JCHS. (See the “Finances” section of this catalog.) The student must also have the add/drop form signed by his or her advisor as appropriate. The dropped/added course will become effective the date the completed drop/add form is received by the Registrar’s Office. The add/drop fee must be paid to the College Bursar.
Administrative Withdrawal
After midterm, should mitigating circumstances beyond the students control which hinder successful academic performance, the student may request an administrative withdrawal.
The student must first seek approval for an administrative withdrawal in writing to the course instructor. In this request, the student must identify the mitigating circumstances which were beyond control and prevented successful completion of the course. The instructor, if in agreement with the request, must submit his/her approval in writing to the Dean for Academic and Student Services before it will be considered.
The Dean will make a decision regarding the student’s request for an administrative withdrawal within five (5) business days of receipt of the written recommendation of the instructor. The Dean will forward a written copy of this decision to the student, instructor and the Registrar. The decision of the Dean is final with no right of appeal.
Advanced Placement
The College-level Examination Program (CLEP) and the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES).
Jefferson College of Health Sciences participates in the College-level Examination Program (CLEP), a national program sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board and the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). The CLEP and DANTES examinations offer any student an opportunity to earn college credit for college-level achievement acquired outside the conventional classroom.
Please contact the Registrar for a list of CLEP and DANTES examinations that are approved for student use.
The following policies apply to the use of CLEP and DANTES examinations at Jefferson College of Health Sciences.
1. No more than 18 semester hours may be satisfied through CLEP /DANTES examinations.
2. CLEP/DANTES credit will not be awarded for courses in which the student has previously received a grade below “C” at either Jefferson College of Health Sciences or elsewhere.
3. Official results must be submitted by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to the Registrar’s Office to be considered for CLEP credit at JCHS. Official results from the Chauncey Group International must be submitted to be considered for DANTES credit.
4. The Registrar will coordinate the determination and award of CLEP/DANTES credit.
5. The CLEP/DANTES credit is treated the same as transfer credit and is not computed in the Grade Point Average.
6. Unsatisfactory scores will not be recorded on the student’s transcript.
7. The minimum score accepted for CLEP is 50 and reflects the recommendations of the American Council on Education. The minimum score for DANTES varies based upon the recommendations from the Chauncey Group International. The Registrar maintains a list of these scores.
For advanced placement information regarding individual programs, refer to the advanced placement policies listed under the individual program headings in this catalog.
The Registrar is responsible for the review, evaluation and granting of transfer course credit, CLEP testing and other credit given.
Assessment/Outcomes Policy
To assist the College with continuous self-evaluation, assessment activities are conducted from student entry to student exit and after graduation. Throughout their educational experiences at Jefferson College of Health Sciences, students will be asked to participate in various assessment activities. These may include, but are not limited to, answering survey questions, taking standardized and College-prepared tests, and submitting portfolios of documents from coursework that can be used to evaluate the achievement of specific outcomes. Some of these activities will be required and some may be voluntary.
It is expected that students will apply their best efforts when participating in assessment activities. Their input and cooperation help guide the college in its future direction in helping students be successful throughout their college experience and into the future.
Attendance Policy
Registration in a course presupposes that the student will attend scheduled classes and laboratory sessions. General education courses are an important component of the student’s total experience since they provide the foundation for success in professional courses.
Therefore, the following attendance policies are in effect for Jefferson College of Health Sciences:
1. Students must attend the first meeting of each course in order to ensure enrollment. Students having extenuating circumstances beyond their control and who are unable to attend the first class must notify the instructor or the Registrar’s Office prior to the first meeting to request waiver of the attendance requirement. Students who do not attend the first class or notify the instructor are automatically dropped from the class.
2. Students are required to attend on time all regularly scheduled classes, clinical laboratories, field trips, observation assignments, conferences and clinicals. These activities are designed to meet specific objectives for supervised practice in the application of theory and skills. Frequent absences may jeopardize the student’s grade or may result in the student being withdrawn from a course.
3. When an absence from any course becomes necessary, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor prior to the absence. If a student cannot take a test or final examination at the scheduled time, the instructor should be contacted prior to the day of the test. If the student is unable to reach the instructor, the Dean for Academic and Student Services should be contacted.
4. Students assume the full responsibility for advising professors of their absences and for initiating the procedure for making up any work missed.
5. In the event of absence due to illness, instructors may require written verification from a primary health care provider.
6. Whenever a student’s number of absences (excused or unexcused) for any given course exceeds 25% of the total instructional time, a grade of “F” will be recorded.
7. Students enrolled in distance learning courses must follow the course schedule for submitting work. Students must log on or begin coursework prior to the end of the 2nd week of the semester or they will be withdrawn from the course.
Audit Policy
Any student has the option to register for a class on an “audit” basis with the permission of the instructor and if space is available. An auditor is a student registered for a class, but regarded as a nonparticipating listener with a particular interest in the subject matter. Auditors may or may not be subject to the class examinations, reports or projects. Students cannot audit the clinical component of professional courses. Auditors are required to meet the course attendance policies.
An audited course does not contribute toward the grade point average and does not meet degree requirements or count towards residency or financial aid hours. Students may participate in all aspects of a class, but will not receive a grade for the semester. Students requesting a change in status must follow the same guidelines as dropping or adding a class as listed in the official Academic Calendar.
Background Check
A criminal background check may be required by Jefferson College of Health Sciences on any student accepted for admission into a professional program. The results of this background check may affect the student’s eligibility to enter or continue in the program.
Calculating Grade Point Average
Students frequently get into academic difficulties because they do not know how to calculate Grade Point Average (GPA). The cumulative grade point average is used to determine the Dean’s List and the President’s List, Academic Probation and College Dismissal. It is the student’s responsibility to determine if his or her cumulative GPA is accurate and to report any discrepancy to the Registrar.
To calculate your GPA, divide the total number of quality points by the total number of graded credit hours attempted. When calculating graded credit hours attempted, do not include courses numbered 100 or above that are graded pass/fail (P/F) or satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) unless a grade of “F” or “U” was earned. Do not include any previous courses transferred to the College. Do not include any JCHS courses numbered 000 to 099 in GPA calculations. Quality points are calculated by multiplying the credit hours in a course by the grade value: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0.
Example of GPA Calculation:
Course Grade Quality points Credits Total quality for grade for course points
for course
Bio 211 B 3 X 3 = 9
Bio 211L F 0 X 1 = 0
Bus 111 C 2 X 1 = 2
Calculating Grade Point Average
Students frequently get into academic difficulties because they do not know how to calculate Grade Point Average (GPA). The cumulative grade point average is used to determine the Dean's List and the President's List, Academic Probation and College Dismissal.
It is the student’s responsibility to determine if his or her cumulative GPA is accurate and to report any discrepancy to the Registrar.
To calculate your GPA, divide the total number of quality points by the total number of graded credit hours attempted. When calculating graded credit hours attempted, do not include courses numbered 100 or above that are graded pass/fail (P/F) or satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) unless a grade of "F” or “U” was earned.
Do not include any previous courses transferred to the College.
Do not include any JCHS courses numbered 000 to 099 in GPA calculations.
Quality points are calculated by multiplying the credit hours in a course by the grade value: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0.
Example of GPA Calculation:
|
Course
|
Grade
|
Credits
|
X
|
Quality Points
|
Total
|
|
Bio 211
|
B
|
4
|
X
|
3
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BUS 111
|
F
|
1
|
X
|
0
|
0
|
|
ENG 111
|
A
|
3
|
X
|
4
|
12
|
|
GEN 100
|
A
|
1
|
X
|
4
|
4
|
|
HLT 215
|
B
|
3
|
X
|
3
|
9
|
|
PSY 201
|
D
|
3
|
X
|
1
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
15
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
|
GPA=
|
2.066 |
Total Quality Points (40) divided by Credits Attempted (15) = 2.066
Catalog Policy/Rights Reserved
The catalog for the year in which a student enters Jefferson College of Health Sciences is the governing document for requirements for graduation. However, if the application of regulations in a later catalog would be to the student’s advantage, such regulations may be applied.
If a student leaves Jefferson College of Health Sciences and enrolls as a full-time student at another institution or is dropped for academic or disciplinary deficiency and subsequently re-enrolls at the College, the governing catalog for the student will be that for the year of re-enrollment.
All College publications contain current pertinent information. While striving to ensure the accuracy of published information, the College reserves the right, to make necessary changes in any or all of the regulatory policies and procedures, requirements, personnel, curriculum offerings, general information, and tuition and fees contained herein, and to apply revisions to current and new students alike. Therefore, the information is subject to change without notice and does not constitute a contract between Jefferson College of Health Sciences and a student or applicant.
Jefferson College of Health Sciences reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant when it is determined to be in the best interest of the College.
No academic information, grade reports, transcripts or diplomas will be issued for any student who has not met their responsibilities and financial obligations to the College prior to graduation date.
Challenge Exam Policy for General Education Courses
1. The student who desires to challenge a General Education course must do so by the last day of classes the semester BEFORE they expect to take the course. New students in their first semester may challenge until the last day to drop a class with a refund.
2. The student who fails a General Education course cannot challenge that same course.
3. The student may challenge a General Education course only once.
4. The student must attain a grade of “C” (77%) or higher to achieve a passing score, unless specified otherwise.
5. Students wishing to undertake a challenge exam must schedule the examination with the department secretary.
6. The student is responsible for paying test fees as well as fees for College credit if he/she passes the examination. (See the “Finances” section of this catalog.)
7. Credit by exam will not count toward financial aid hours and cannot be used to defer loans.
College Academic Dismissal
(See Academic Standards of Satisfactory Progress)
Computer Use and E-Mail Policy
The College seeks to maximize productivity and minimize misuse of computers in the three traditional areas of college computing (administrative, faculty and student) by establishment and enforcement of policies and procedures governing the use of computers, peripherals and associated systems. This policy is applicable to all employees and students of, and visitors to, the College.
Statement of Policy
Computing resources and network access are provided to support the College’s goals of teaching and learning. Computing resources include but are not limited to administrative computing system, lab computers, server resources and peripherals.
All use of College computing and network resources must be in accordance with current federal, state, and college regulations. Willful misuse of any computing resource may result in termination of access privileges, disciplinary action, or civil and criminal penalties.
System users should remember that College computers are maintained to help members of the community in their individual and collective educational pursuits. In addition, all faculty, staff, and students should remember that the College strongly supports academic freedom in the pursuit of research; system users should remember that holding a computer account at the College is a privilege, not a right. Further, as the computing and networking infrastructure of the College underlies many crucial activities for the entire College community, including research and Internet access, the College’s primary responsibility is to protect and sustain the operation of those activities. As such, the College may take whatever steps it feels appropriate to remedy or prevent activities that, in the College’s judgment, endanger the orderly operation of the College networks or systems, and which threaten connections to the Internet and other institutions or networks.
Users’ Rights
If the use of a given account causes technical problems, for example, the excessive use of storage space, the user will be notified of the problem by the System Administrator; the user must take appropriate steps to rectify the problem.
The College does not guarantee the privacy of information displayed on computers and peripherals in public areas. Users should keep in mind that they occasionally need the technical assistance of computing personnel, who might unavoidably see private material while providing such assistance. If it is necessary to suspend a user’s account, reasonable attempts will be made to notify the user. The user may seek review of suspension by the Dean for Administrative Services.
User Responsibilities
Users are responsible for adhering to existing College and Carilion Health System’s Policy statements not superseded by this document. Such statements include legal use of software, personal abuse, and sexual harassment.
The user must obtain a College e-mail address. Students should contact the College’s Computer Services Department to obtain an email account. Faculty, staff, and administration will use this College e-mail account to contact you. It is the student’s responsibility to read the contents of his or her College e-mail account in a timely fashion and respond when appropriate.
Computer usage shall not interfere with the ability of others in the vicinity to work or study. Usage that may constitute interference includes the generation of offensive, intimidating, or annoying computer images, text, or sounds.
Users must help maintain the security of the systems by keeping their passwords confidential.
Commercial use of the College’s facilities is prohibited. Software piracy is also strictly prohibited.
Examples of Misuse
Misuse includes, but is not limited to, the activities in the following list:
• Using a computer account that you are not authorized to use; attempting to monitor or tamper with another user's electronic communications; or reading, copying, changing, or deleting another user's files.
• Using the College network to gain unauthorized access to any computer systems, or attempting to circumvent data protection schemes or uncover security loopholes. This includes creating or running programs that are designed to identify security loopholes or decrypt intentionally secure data. This also includes programs contained within an account, or under the ownership of an account, that is designed or associated with security cracking.
• Displaying obscene or sexually harassing images or text on a College owned computer or on College property.
• Knowingly or carelessly running or installing on any computer system or network, or giving to another user, a program intended to damage or to place excessive load on a computer system or network. This includes, but is not limited to, programs known as computer viruses, Trojan Horses, and worms.
• Violating terms of applicable software licensing agreements or copyright laws.
• Deliberately wasting or overloading computing resources, or in any other way knowingly or carelessly performing an act which will interfere with the normal operation of computers, terminals, peripherals, or networks. This includes, but is not limited to, printing multiple copies of a document or printing out large documents that may be available on line, or that might impact significantly on other users printing resources.
• Using electronic mail to harass others, including sending electronic mail that the sender would reasonably anticipate to be unwelcome.
• Creating mail or electronic distribution lists larger than 10 addressees that send electronic communications to other accounts without prior permission of the receiving individual.
• Posting on electronic bulletin boards or any type of electronic forum information that may be slanderous or defamatory in nature or any materials that violate existing laws or the College Code of Student Conduct.
Enforcement
It is the duty and responsibility of System Administrators to enforce the College computer use policy. Minor infractions of this policy, when likely accidental in nature, such as poorly chosen passwords, overloading systems, excessive disk space consumption, and so on are typically handled in an informal manner by electronic mail or in person discussions. More serious infractions are handled via formal procedures.
Infractions such as sharing accounts or passwords, harassment, or repeated minor infractions as described in, but not limited to, the above policies may result in the temporary or permanent loss or modification of computer access privileges, other disciplinary action and or notification of proper authorities.
If the College has evidence of misuse of computing and networking resources through a specific account, the College will take the following steps to protect the systems, networks, and the user community:
• The suspected accounts will be suspended immediately pending the outcome of any investigation.
• The files and data on the account will be inspected for evidence.
The violation will be reported to the appropriate authorities: the College policy violation to the Dean for Administrative Services, the appropriate instructor, department chair, or supervisor. Illegal activity will be reported to the police, the FBI, the Secret Service, and/or the Attorney General's Office.
Violators are subject to any and all of the following:
• Loss of computing and networking access
• College disciplinary actions (in accordance with applicable policies)
• Civil proceedings
• Criminal prosecution
• Loss of the privilege of using college computers, even if temporary, may prevent a student from completing course assignments and from making normal progress in the course.
This is very likely to have a negative impact on the final course grade. To remove the opportunity for students to avoid consequences associated with the violation of this policy, instructors are not allowed to make accommodation for students’ course work.
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (“ECPA”), protects employers and employees from interception, unauthorized access, and disclosure of electronic communications, and governs monitoring of employee e-mail.
Computer equipment, communications system and e-mail messages are property of the employer and are to be used for business purposes. Employee use of the company provided e-mail system is limited to business use only.
Transmissions made on the College e-mail system are not private. All employee passwords are to be disclosed to the system administrator. Additionally, the use of a password does not ensure that only the sender and recipient of a message are able to retrieve and read it.
E-mail may be monitored and the right to do so is reserved, and the College has the right to disclose an employee’s messages retrieved from the e-mail system to a third party without further notice or consent. In addition, information obtained from such monitoring may result in discipline or termination.
Course Cancellation
Class sections with insufficient enrollment may be canceled. Every effort will be made to accommodate displaced students in other sections. Notification of such canceled class sections will be posted on JCHS.edu. Students are encouraged routinely to check for changes in class schedules.
Course Load Policy
The course load at Jefferson College of Health Sciences is expressed in semester credits. The average course load varies according to the individual program. (Students should refer to their program of study to determine the average course load per semester).
Students who are placed on academic probation will only be allowed to enroll in 12 credit hours. The student will enroll in courses chosen by the student’s advisor and/or Program Director. Students who have registered prior to being informed of their academic probation may have some or all of their next semester’s classes deleted based on the recommendation of their advisor and/or Program Director.
CPR Certification
Jefferson College of Health Sciences will provide opportunities for cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification for all students who are admitted into a professional program. This certification is required of students prior to engaging in clinical practice. CPR certification is not required for students enrolled in the Associate Degree in Science program and the Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Science program.
All students in professional programs are required to satisfactorily complete one of the following:
· Red Cross: Basic Life Support for the Professional Rescuer
· American Heart Association: Health Care Provider Course
· American Safety and Health Institute: Professional Rescuer
Dean’s List
(See Academic Honors)
Directed Withdrawal
The College reserves the right to direct, after administrative evaluation, the withdrawal of any student whose conduct is not in accord with the ideals, policies, and standards of the College. Students who have been directed to withdraw for other than health reasons will not be eligible to return to the College.
Students with health problems, which in the assessment of the College substantially hinder participation in the educational process and/or may pose a risk to the College, other students, and/or patients, also will be directed to withdraw.
Applications to return by those directed to withdraw for health reasons will be considered on an individual basis.
Such students must write a letter to the Dean for Academic and Student Services and the Admissions Department. This letter should be included with their admission packet and contain appropriate documentation from a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner to justify consideration for re-enrollment.
Distance Learning
In an effort to make education more accessible, Jefferson College of Health Sciences provides high quality courses in a format that helps eliminate time and location constraints. These distance learning courses take advantage of a variety of teaching and learning formats and technologies. The content of distance learning courses is the same as traditional classroom-based courses.
The mission of the Distance Learning program at Jefferson College of Health Sciences is to expand the availability of educational opportunities by breaking down the barriers of time and place for students preparing for healthcare professions and to assist in meeting the lifelong learning needs of healthcare professionals. To accomplish this, the College offers a variety of distance learning opportunities in general education as well as professional program areas and Continuing Education.
Distance learning courses have fewer class meetings and utilize technology to provide alternatives to the in-class lecture and face-to-face student/faculty and student/student interaction. A strong student commitment and the ability to pursue academic goals outside a traditional classroom setting are necessary to be successful in a distance learning course.
The College offers distance learning courses that utilize multiple methods of instructional delivery and student interaction. These courses may combine online components with video or other media or may be in a total online format. The learning format used depends on the individual course. A variety of courses are available, and the course offerings will vary each semester.
Emergency Class Cancellation
The College will close for weather emergencies and other disasters based on the decision of the College Administration. Students should listen for cancellation notices on local radio and television stations, including WSET 13, WSLS 10, WDBJ 7, WFIR AM 960, WSLC Q99 FM, Spirit FM 103.7, WROV 96.3 FM, WVTF 89.1 FM, WYYD 108 FM. See Student Handbook for more details.
English Language Proficiency
Students for whom English is not their primary language must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following ways:
Graduation from an English speaking high school and completion of high school English IV or;
1. A minimum score of 550 on TOEFL written exam, or;
2. A minimum score of 213 on the computer adaptive TOEFL exam, or;
3. A minimum score of 19 on the English portion of the ACT.
Students who do not meet the criteria listed above are recommended to take remedial coursework before attending Jefferson College of Health Sciences.
Examinations
Students are expected to complete all examinations at the date and time stipulated in the course syllabus or as updated/modified by the course instructor.
Students are expected to adhere to the published final examination schedule. No student may take a final examination in a course at any time except within the period officially set aside for this purpose without the prior approval of the instructor.
If a student is unable, because of illness or an acceptable emergency, to appear for an examination, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor prior to the scheduled examination. Instructors have the right to ask for documentation regarding the illness or emergency.
Should the final examination schedule require the student to sit for more than two examinations in a day, arrangements may be made with the Dean for Academic and Student Services to schedule one of the examinations at another time.
Failure to Meet Financial Obligations
Students are responsible for all financial obligations to the College or are responsible to make appropriate arrangements with a College official. The College may take the following measures for students in default of financial obligations:
· deny admission to class or clinical activities;
· deny registration for any subsequent course;
· immediate dismissal from the College;
· withhold grade reports and transcripts;
· withhold the granting of degrees, diplomas or certificates;
· withhold references;
· deny participation in graduation activities; and
· withhold verification of applicant’s credentials for licensure/certification.
General Education
The general education component of the curriculum is designed to provide a broad understanding of self, others, community and society. Liberal arts and sciences help develop reflective and critical thinking, leading to intellectual and emotional growth, thus, building a foundation for professional competence in a specialized healthcare field.
Grade Change Policy
Final grade reports are available online via IQ Web. Final grades are a part of the student's record and are recorded in the student's permanent record.
Errors should be reported to the Registrar. Normally, a change of grade(s) cannot take place after the semester following the issuance of the grade.
Grade changes must be submitted in writing on an official Change of Grade form and may only be submitted by the instructor who submitted the original grade.
Grade Forgiveness Policy
A student may improve his/her grade point average by repeating a course a maximum of two times at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. If the course is repeated at JCHS, the new course will be denoted as a repeat course. All grades earned for all courses taken will appear on the grade report but the best grade earned in a repeated course is used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. If the course is repeated at another institution the course will be recorded as transfer credit earned.
Please note: Requests for transfer credit for courses taken at other institutions of higher education must be submitted in writing to and approved by the Registrar’s Office prior to taking the course(s).
Grade Notification Policy
Final grade reports are available online via IQ Web account. Final grades are a part of the student’s record and are recorded in the student’s permanent record.
Grade Reports and Final Grades
Grade reports are available to students each semester via IQ Web. The mid-term grade report indicates a student’s progress and serves to identify potential academic problems. Students who have a midterm grade of “D” or below in any class are issued a midterm grade report via IQ Web.
Final grades are also available via IQ Web.
In order for a student to receive a grade or credit in a course, his/her name must appear on the official class list posted on IQ Web. We may hold transcripts for outstanding financial balance.
Grading System
A 4 quality points
B 3 quality points
C 2 quality points
D 1 quality points
F 0 quality points
P/S Passing and Satisfactory are included in the computation of total hours earned; however, no grade quality points are assigned.
IP In Progress. Continued enrollment in a preparatory course is necessary to meet prerequisite requirements.
W Withdrawal. Not included in the computation of hours earned or grade points achieved. A student may withdraw from a course before the last day to drop as stated in the official Academic Calendar.
WA Administrative Withdrawal
AU Audit/No credit. Permission of the instructor is required to audit a course. Fee required. (Please see "Finances” section of this catalog.)
I An incomplete (I) for a course will be granted only in cases of prolonged illness, family emergency or some other documented circumstance beyond the student's control that prevents the student from completing the course requirements on time. The request for an Incomplete must be made with the instructor before the last day of class.
In order to receive an "I", a student needs to have satisfactorily completed the majority of the coursework (over 75%) with a course average of “C” or above, but is unable to complete the work for a term due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances beyond his/her control, the incomplete work must be made up by the last day to drop a class with a “W” in the academic term (excluding Summer Session) immediately following the term in which the “I” was issued. In special cases, such as a lengthy illness, the student, with the consent of the instructor, may petition the Dean for Academic and Student Services to extend the period for completion.
Upon completion of the coursework, the “I” will be replaced with a final grade. If the course is not completed within the required time limit, the “I” will be converted into an “F” grade unless an exception is granted by the Dean for Academic and Student Services.
Graduation Application
It is the responsibility of the student to submit an Application for Graduation two academic sessions (See Academic Calendar for specific date) prior to the academic session in which the student expects to complete curriculum and College requirements for graduation. The student must file the application with the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Ceremonies
The official date of graduation is the date of the commencement ceremony in May or December, if all degree requirements are satisfied in the appropriate semester.
Formal graduation ceremonies are held each year in the spring and fall. All students who have completed degree requirements in the fall, spring or summer session of that academic year are eligible to participate in the appropriate ceremony.
Students who plan to complete degree requirements at the end of the Summer Semester may participate in the preceding Spring Graduation ceremonies pending completion of degree requirements under the following policy:
1. At the time of Spring Graduation the student may not have more than 6 credit hours pending.
2. The outstanding credits must be completed by the last day of final exams of the Summer Semester immediately following the Spring graduation in which they participated. A written plan of completion of these credits must be filed with the Registrar's Office before participating in the Spring ceremony.
3. The student will not be eligible to participate in any other graduation ceremony for conferral of the same degree.
Degree candidates are expected to dress and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner in accordance with the solemnity of the commencement ceremony.
Academic regalia must be worn and should not be altered with writing on regalia, carrying personal symbols, displays on caps, etc. Candidates who alter their regalia or behave inappropriately may be dismissed from the graduation ceremony.
Graduation Honors
To graduate with honors, a student must achieve the following cumulative grade point average on all credit work attempted at Jefferson College of Health Sciences.
Cum laude Any student who has completed a formal degree program of study at Jefferson College of Health Sciences with a final cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.400 to 3.599 will be designated as graduating cum laude.
Magna cum laude Any student who has completed a formal program of study at Jefferson College of Health Sciences with a final cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.600 to 3.799 will be designated as graduating magna cum laude.
Summa cum laude Any student who has completed a formal program of study at Jefferson College of Health Sciences with a final cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.800 to 4.000 will be designated as graduating summa cum laude.
Graduation Marshals
Full-time students with the highest grade point averages may be invited to serve as marshals at the Commencement .
Graduation Requirements
A student is eligible for graduation when the following criteria have been met:
• All professional courses must be completed at Jefferson College of Health Sciences unless exceptions are permitted by the appropriate Program Director.
• To earn a baccalaureate degree, a minimum of 40 credit hours of upper division coursework must be earned at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Individual programs may require additional coursework to be completed at Jefferson College of Health Sciences; the number and nature of credit hours is determined by each program.
• To earn an associate degree, a minimum of 33% of the coursework required for graduation must be earned at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Individual programs may require additional coursework to be completed at the College. The number and nature of credit hours required for graduation is determined by each program. Articulation agreements with other regionally accredited institutions may affect residency requirements.
• The minimum number of course credit hours prescribed in the chosen program of study must be successfully completed with a cumulative 2.0 GPA or better.
• All professional courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” or equivalent.
• The Application for Graduation and the Senior Exit Form must be completed and returned to the Registrar’s Office.
• All specific program requirements must be satisfied and the appropriate instructional authority in the curriculum must recommend the student for graduation.
• All financial obligations to the College must be met.
A student can meet graduation requirements at any time, but degrees will be conferred only at commencements. Date and time of commencement is determined by the College.
Grievance Procedure
Academic Grievances
A grievance is a formal, written allegation by a student charging unlawful or unfair treatment in academic matters with respect to the application of the laws, rules, policies, procedures or regulations under which the College operates. The normal Student Academic Grievance Procedure is detailed in full in the College Student Handbook. Students should use this procedure when grieving academic issues.
Grievances based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or disabilities are heard by the Dean for Administrative Services, who acts in the capacity of the College Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action officer.
Non-Academic Grievances
For non-academic grievances, refer to "Student Discrimination Complaint Procedure" under "Support Services."
Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET)
The HOBET is a good diagnostic indicator of a prospective student's aptitude for success in a health occupations training program. The HOBET assesses reading ability, math skills, stress level, social interaction style, learning style, and test-taking skills.
The HOBET provides Composite Scores for each student who takes the exam, as well as Average Composite Scores and Passing Composite Scores. Average Scores are the mean scores of a sample of applicants to health care training programs from various demographic and geographic groups across the nation, and serve as comparison scores.
Passing Scores are one standard deviation below the Average Scores, and also serve as comparison scores.
· NET Composite Score - mean value of scores for the exam, including both Math and Reading Comprehension subtests.
· Overall Composite Math - a measure of the student's ability to perform basic operations for general mathematics through basic algebra (math skills mastered by the tenth grade of high school)
· Composite Reading - a measure of the student's critical reading ability of college level material. The HOBET also assesses the following, and provides average comparison scores:
· Social interaction - provides insight into the passive/aggressive, social interaction skills of the student
· Stress Level Profile - assesses stress level in five areas (family life, social life, money/time commitments, academic stress, and workplace stress)
· Learning Styles - assesses learning preferences
· Test taking Skills - provides one of three proficiency levels in test taking strategies
· Frustration Level- inadequate sophistication in expected test taking skills for teacher-made and standardized tests
· Instructional Level - acceptable mastery of test taking strategies; can also benefit from specific instruction in test taking skills
· Independent Level - sophistication in test taking skills
Impairment Policy
Jefferson College of Health Sciences has a professional and ethical responsibility to students and patients who receive care from students to provide a safe teaching and learning experience.
Impairment is defined as being unable to practice safe pratice care with reasonable skill by reason of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics or chemicals or any other type of material or as a result of a mental or physical condition.
When impairment is the result of a suspected or known substance abuse or mental illness, the student shall be referred to the Dean for Student Services or to his/her designee. The Dean for Student Services (or his/her designee) may refer the student for assessment and evaluation.
Referred students may undergo evaluation as defined by the Dean for Student Services or his/her designee. Any student who refuses to be evaluated will be suspended from clinical activities. A student determined to be impaired may also be suspended or dismissed from the College or required to undergo treatment necessary to remediate the impairment.
A student dismissed from the College due to impairment must submit a written report of treatment to the Dean for Student Services (or his/her designee) and compliance with treatment as verified by the provider for use in considering a student request for readmission. Readmission to a program or to the College is not guaranteed and will be considered on an individual basis.
Readmission to or continued enrollment in the College is contingent upon the student remaining free of mood altering, controlled or addictive substances, following through with any recommended treatment, and being physically and mentally able to meet the didactic and clinical objectives of the program and College and to provide safe, competent care. Students should see the College Student Handbook for further information.
Independent Study Policy
Independent Study courses may be offered by certain departments to permit the student to investigate specific course areas of interest under the direction of a faculty member.
Permission to take an Independent Study course is contingent upon the following conditions:
1. The student is in good standing academically and has a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.3.
2. A qualified faculty member is willing to serve as | 
