To prepare entry-level surgical technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. March, 2022 (Standard II.A. ARCSTSA)

Program goals for students, (student learning outcomes):

• The student will apply critical thinking skills pertinent to the practice of surgical technology (cognitive domain).
• The student will perform proficiently in the surgical technologist’s role during complex surgical procedures, appropriate for their educational sequence (psychomotor domain).
• The student will exhibit professionalism consistent with college and employer standards (affective domain).

The Frederick Community College Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accrediting Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (https://arcstsa.org)

Accreditation Information

WELCOME

Congratulations for registering for the Surgical Technology program at Frederick Community College. During your study, you will participate in the dynamic, exciting, and challenging Health Professions program called Surgical Technology. The faculty and staff applaud your interest in the healthcare field and recognize how hard you have worked to be in the program.

Your Surgical Technology Team at FCC consists of the Program Director, Clinical Coordinator (i.e., Director of Clinical Education), Adjunct Professor(s), Lab Instructors, and Clinical Instructors. Our hope is that our diverse backgrounds and professional experiences will help you in your journey to success in Surgical Technology.

As your faculty, we will assist you throughout your college career by providing tools you will need to meet your goals. We encourage you to utilize the many resources available to you at the college and clinical sites. College faculty, advisors, peer tutors, career services, and the surgical technology lab are resources available on campus. Preceptors, operating room educators, product representatives, videos, and special in-services are available for you at the clinical sites. Please take the time to consult with us, regardless of the topic.

Our goal over the next 8-11 months is to work in partnership with you and the clinical facilities to prepare you for this very rewarding and dynamic career. The faculty and staff look forward to working with you.

This handbook is designed to serve as a reference throughout your course of study.

Our sincere best wishes are extended to you for success in your college career and in your new occupation as a surgical technologist!

Best wishes,

Program Faculty and Staff
 

PROGRAM HISTORY

The surgical technology program in its current format began in January 1997. During 1995 and 1996, the curriculum was offered as noncredit through the Continuing Education and Customized Training department (CECT). In 1998, the curriculum was revised so that students could select between two options: a 12-month certificate program and an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Surgical Technology. These programs were approved by the FCC curriculum committee and by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Initial national accreditation was grated in 1999 through the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) after a rigorous review through written reports and an on-site visit. Refer to the website www.caahep.org for contact information. FCC is proud to offer a program that meets national standards and guidelines. This accreditation is also significant because as of March 2000 only graduates from accredited programs may apply to sit for the Certification Examination in Surgical Technology.

In 2013, CAAHEP validated both the certificate and AAS degree at Frederick Community College. Those students beginning in January 2020 and graduating in December 2020 will be the last cohort that can select either pathway. The AAS degree will be the only accredited pathway beginning with the August 2020 cohort.

Our curriculum has a foundation in the principles and practices of national organizations such as the Association of Surgical Technologists (www.ast.org) and the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (www.aorn.org). In addition, each year faculty members and the program advisory committee review program components, accreditation standards, and student and employer evaluations. The committee members make recommendations for salient revisions to the methods of delivering the curriculum. These efforts aim to tailor the program to better meet the needs of our students and the community. Our ultimate goal is for each student to be successful and for each employer to gain a competent, new employee.

Starting with the 2015 school year, the program began offering two start dates and these coordinate with the fall and spring semesters. The program conducts on-campus labs, lecture sessions, and contracts with numerous operating rooms for the clinical practicum component of the program. During this time, surgical technology course work is studied along with attending clinical rotations in an operating room at one, or more, of our many clinical affiliates in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Maryland.
 

INTRODUCTION

The policies and procedures contained in this handbook are subject to change without notice at the discretion of the Program Director with review from the Program Advisory Committee. Any changes made will be communicated to students in a timely manner. This Handbook is not intended to be a contract, explicit or implied. It is the responsibility of each student to be acquainted with all requirements, policies, and procedures for his or her degree program and to assume responsibility for meeting those requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to become familiar with these documents and abide by all policies while enrolled at Frederick Community College. Frederick Community College policies can be found in the Frederick Community College Catalog. Please contact the Program Director, Faculty, or Dean of the School of Biological, Physical, and Health Sciences with questions regarding the information in this Handbook or general Frederick Community College policies and procedures.

Throughout the clinical portion of the program, students attend approximately 420 hours in the clinical settings. Here, they complete the student surgical technology roles outlined in the most current Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology published by the Association of Surgical Technologists. Students may begin by observing the roles and procedures, and progress under the guidance of the clinical site preceptors and FCC instructors. There are two to five required clinical days per week, depending on the semester. Students graduate in late May (fall cohort) or late December (spring cohort). In our geographical area, graduates have excellent employment opportunities.

Each cohort sits for the Certification Examination in Surgical Technology in the FCC testing center, utilizing a web-based process through the National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, (www.nbstsa.org). Sitting for the examination is required for program completion. The CST credential is a coveted achievement attesting to the ST’s commitment to excellence. This credential is a requirement for employment at many institutions.

Graduates from our program are successful and satisfied with their educational experiences. Many of our graduates are offered employment by their clinical site managers; some are recruited months prior to graduation. Employer surveys also reveal satisfaction with the graduates and a majority state they will continue to hire our program graduates to fulfill vacancies in their staff.
 

I. MISSION STATEMENT, GOALS and OUTCOMES

Program Mission: To prepare entry-level surgical technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. March 2022 (Standard II.A. ARCSTSA)

1. Program goals for students, (student learning outcomes):

1. The student will apply critical thinking skills pertinent to the practice of surgical technology (cognitive domain).
2. The student will perform proficiently in the surgical technologist’s role during complex surgical procedures, appropriate for their educational sequence (psychomotor domain).
3. The student will exhibit professionalism consistent with college and employer standards (affective domain).

2. Goals for the program:

1. Provide students with accessible, effective opportunities for learning
2. Produce graduates who are introduced to a global workplace
3. Integrate into the curriculum current standards of practice upheld by the national accrediting and professional associations
4. Enhance clinical expertise with experiences which meet or exceed the Association of Surgical Technologist’s minimum case requirements in the current edition of the Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology
5. Maintain ongoing associations with the local employer community to ensure program relevance
6. Conduct annual assessments of the program’s effectiveness
7. Maintain periodic contact with program graduates and employers
8. Meet or exceed the threshold values for the reportable outcomes on the Annual Report to the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology (ARCSTSA)
   1. Retention: 60%.
   2. Graduate placement: 80% placement in a surgical technology field
   3. CST examination: 100% participation and 70% pass rate.
   4. Graduate survey: 50% return and 70% satisfaction on standardized survey.
   5. Employer surveys: 50% return and 70% satisfaction on standardized survey.

II. ADMISSIONS POLICY

A. Application Dates

Fall Start:
Early Admission deadline is April 1^st
Best Consideration is June 1st

Spring Start:
Early Admission deadline is October 15^th
Best Consideration is December 1st

B. Enrollment in the clinical portion of the Surgical Technology (ST) program is limited to 20 students for each of two cohorts - fall admission and spring admission.

To be considered, you must:

1. Complete and submit an FCC application for admission and submit proof of residency if required.
2. Complete an application for the ST program.
3. All applications will be reviewed, and seats will be offered to the date of application and completion of the required prerequisites with validation through an official transcript-transfer or FCC. Although applications will be reviewed at any time, first consideration is given to students who submit a complete application by the published dates.
4. Minimum skill levels in the areas of reading, writing, math, and health science are necessary to enroll in pre-requisite coursework for the ST program.
5. The pre-requisites are: All courses listed in the AAS degree program completed before beginning the SURG courses.
6. Students must achieve a “C” or higher in “all” pre-requisite courses.
   1. Applicant cannot have enrolled in pre-requisite sciences more than twice each in the five years leading up to the application deadline.
   2. Science prerequisites cannot be older than five years from the application deadline.
7. Required science prerequisites must have been completed with a ‘C’ or better within the past five years.
8. Decision deadlines
   1. Students who have submitted applications with all transcripts reflecting completion of ALL prerequisite coursework with a grade of ‘C’ or better and required sciences no older than five years, signed job shadowing verification form with positive recommendation from host site, and reflection paper will be considered for Early Decision admissions.
   2. Students who have submitted incomplete applications* may still be held for consideration for admissions under the following circumstances:
      1. Transfer transcripts have not yet been submitted for evaluation or are awaiting evaluation
      2. Students enrolled in a required prerequisite course at the time of application as outlined in the program info sheet in which case they will be assigned points on the point scale according to their midterm grade.
      3. Student has not yet completed the job shadowing experience or reflection paper.
      4. Notification to the Selective Admissions Coordinator at [email protected] in the event of non-completion at the time of application is required.
      5. Considered reasons for non-completion include host site is unable to accommodate shadowing, host site cannot schedule a shadowing until after the application deadline, student is unable to secure a host site and can demonstrate multiple attempts at such. Other reasons may be considered at the discretion of Admissions and the Program Director.

* Incomplete applications are defined as those submitted without any/all the following: FCC student ID, transfer transcripts on file, job shadowing verification form with positive recommendation and signature from the host site, reflection paper, incomplete prerequisite coursework

9. When there are more qualified applicants than there are seats in the program, those applications scored with the highest number of points according to the point scale included on the program info sheet that were submitted complete with positively recommended job shadowing verification form and reflection paper will be offered seats to fill the cohort. Other qualified applicants will be offered seats as they become available.

10. Participation in and successful completion of a job shadowing experience is required for admission. Follow a surgical technologist in the Operating Room or O.R. for a day and evaluate if the career is for you.

a. Successful completion is defined as completion of the job shadowing experience with positive recommendation from the host site as indicated on the verification form.

b. While job shadowing, students must adhere to all site safety protocol, Standards of Behavior, FCC Code of Student Conduct and the FCC Surgical Technology Student Handbook policies. Failure to do so will result in denial of admission and will be barred from reapplying.

c. Frederick Health Hospital is the preferred site for job shadowing; however, student candidates are welcome to arrange a job shadowing at another surgical site provided the verification form is completed.

11. Attendance to Health Science and Surgical Technology-specific orientations prior to the start of the program is required. Failure to attend will result in forfeiture of seat in the program. Students may apply to be considered for admission to a future cohort.

12. This program reserves the right to deny admission to applicants who have been dismissed from any Health Professions program within Frederick Community College due to conduct, professional behavior, or integrity violations as outlined in this handbook or the Code of Student Conduct. Such determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the nature of the dismissal, the time elapsed since the incident, and any evidence of remediation or rehabilitation. The decision of the program admissions committee will be final.

III. REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAM COMPLETION

1. Successful completion of the core outcomes for the program and for each ST course is required for graduation.
2. Prior to graduation, the student will apply and must participate in the national certification examination in surgical technology offered and distributed by the NBSTSA, through a web-based examination conducted on our campus.
   1. Participating in the national certification is required for program completion.
3. In all ST courses, the student must:
   1. See Grading Section of this Handbook
   2. Receive a minimum of 75% in the didactic portions of the program
   3. Receive a “pass” grade in the laboratory and clinical portions of the program where evaluations and competencies are based on a “pass / fail” criterion and the student must receive a score of at least “3” average on a 5-point scale.
      • Scores of ‘1’ or ‘2’ in the critical areas will be reviewed by program staff and discussed with the student. This may result in a learning contract. See ‘Learning Contract’ section in this handbook.
   4. Participate in surgical procedures, show evidence of progression from simple to more complex procedure participation, progress from dependent to independent participation in the student surgical technologist role, and document at least the minimum number of clinical cases (120) based on the most current edition of the AST’s Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology\
   5. Meet all criteria to apply and sit for the national certification examination in surgical technology as a cohort prior to graduation.

IV. REGULATIONS and PROGRAM INFORMATION

Overview: The student is responsible for maintaining all components of the Code of Ethics: academic, clinical, and personal.

1. Technical Standards - Surgical Technology Basic Qualifications for Practice
   1. Able to stand, bend, stoop and or sit for long periods of time in one location with a minimum or without breaks
   2. Able to lift a minimum of 20 pounds
   3. Able to refrain from nourishment or restroom breaks for periods up to 6 hours
   4. Demonstrates sufficient visual ability to load a fine (10-0) suture onto needles
   5. Demonstrates sufficient peripheral vision to anticipate and function while in the sterile surgical environment
   6. Can hear and understand muffled communication, without visualization of the communicator's mouth or lips, within 20 feet
   7. Able to hear activation or warning signals on equipment
   8. Able to detect odors sufficient to maintain environmental and patient.
   9. Manipulates instruments, supplies and equipment with speed, dexterity and good eye-hand coordination
   10. Ambulates or moves around without assistive devices
   11. Able to assist with and or lift, move, position and manipulate the patient who is unconscious with or without assistive devices
   12. Communicates and understands fluent English both verbally and in writing
   13. Free of reportable communicable diseases and chemical abuse
   14. Free of conditions which may endanger the health and well-being of other students, faculty, patients or staff
   15. Possess short and long term memory sufficient to perform tasks such as mentally tracking surgical supplies and performing anticipation skills in the operating room
   16. Able to make appropriate judgment decisions (critical thinking)
   17. Demonstrates the use of positive coping skills under stress
   18. Demonstrates calm and effective responses, especially in emergency situations
   19. Exhibits positive interpersonal skills during interactions with people.
   20. Truthful in communication and exhibits the potential for a strong surgical conscience. Adopted from: AST, Inc. (2002). Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology. Published by AST, Inc
2.  
3. Code of Ethics
   1. Academic: The student must complete their own work without assistance, unless otherwise indicated. Students should seek assistance from faculty or staff when there are questions.
   2. Academic and Clinical: The student and faculty are to maintain confidentiality regarding all aspects of information from fellow classmates, and information from the clinical setting.
   3. Clinical: Patients, staff, and physicians are not to be photographed or videotaped or presented in any form on social media.
   4. Clinical: Patients, staff, physicians, or any identifying information may only be discussed for educational purposes in the College or clinical settings.
   5. Personal: The student is to respect the diversity and/or level of abilities that we encounter within our college classroom and operating room settings.
   6. Failure to comply with these standards will result in dismissal from the program.
4.  
5. Student Work Policy
   1. CAAHEP Standard V. c. states, "All activates required in the program must be educational and students must not be substituted for staff." Students in the ST program will be monitored during surgical procedure participation by a preceptor – employee, in accordance with our clinical affiliation agreements. The student may not be substituted for an employee.
   2. Students must get at least 6 hours of non-working rest before any clinical shift.
      1. Any student that works 'night shift' must agree to the above so to ensure adequate rest before engaging with patients
6. Participation and Attendance

   Participation:

   1. Participation is mandatory for all scheduled classroom, lab, or clinical sessions.
   2. Active learning strategies are utilized throughout the surgical technology program; the student must be present to participate.

   Attendance:

   There are two types of absences: Unexcused and excused. Unexcused absences are expected or unexpected occurrences that cause a student to miss lecture, lab, or clinical components of the program. It is the student's responsibility to communicate with the appropriate parties if they are going to miss a scheduled class day. For an absence in lecture, it is the student's responsibility to obtain or make up any missed assignments. For lab and clinical absences, the student is expected to reschedule the missed day.

   1. This health career program views attendance according to industry standards. An employer expects attendance and participation on-the-job; the program expects the same from its students.
   2. Reliable transportation and care for you and any of your dependents are required to participate in this program.
      1. The College does not provide transportation or childcare.
   3. Attendance and participation are mandatory for all scheduled classroom, lab, or clinical sessions.
   4. Attendance is counted as present, late, or absent.
      1. Late is defined as a student arriving any time after class (lecture or lab) or the clinical day begins AND leaving before the instructor has dismissed the class.
      2. Absent is defined as not attending the scheduled session at all.
      3. Two (2) late occurrences count as one (1) absence.
      4. For any semester, only 1 absence or 2 tardy occurrences are allowed. On the 2nd absence, the associated course grade is lowered by 10%. Clinical absences must be made up by pre-arrangement and during the course the absence occurs. Example: 77% becomes 67% or a non-passing grade.
         1. For any semester less than 15 weeks in duration, only 1 absence or 2 tardy occurrences are allowed. On the 2nd absence, the grade is lowered by 10%. Clinical absences must be made-up by pre-arrangement and during the current course.
   5. Absences beyond two days (2), even with a valid excuse, will jeopardize completion of program outcomes.
      1. In this situation, the student may be advised to withdraw from the course prior to the withdraw date.
   6. Absences will not cause a decrease in the grade in the following four situations but may jeopardize completion of course outcomes. These scenarios are reviewed by the Program Director. Depending on the reason for the excused absence, the student will be referred to disability access services (DAS) or Title IX to assist in creating the best-case scenario for the student.

      Documentation or proof of the rationale for absences in these four circumstances is required. It is the student's responsibility to submit documentation within 5 days of notification of absence:

      1. Extended, serious illness of student or dependent (physician documentation required)
         1. Serious illness is defined as an illness requiring extended recovery time, cancer, otherwise determined by the program director. Disability access services will be notified.
      2. Death of an immediate family member (spouse, significant other, child, or parent)
      3. Court order
      4. A recognized religious holiday (pre-arrangement required)
   7. In the event of an extended absence for any reason—beyond 3 days—and when course content or clinical participation cannot be made up by the end of the semester, then the student will be advised to withdraw from the course by the posted withdraw date on the college calendar.
   8. If absent or tardy for clinical rotations, students are required to:
      1. Contact the O.R. Desk (or other designated person at your clinical site) at least 1 hour before the start of the shift.
      2. Email or text or phone your FCC clinical instructor by 0700 to report any absence for the day.
      3. Email the Clinical Coordinator or designee by 0700 to report your absence.
      4. Work with the clinical site to establish an acceptable make-up date before the semester concludes.
      5. Submit an email within 24 hours of your absence to your FCC instructor, and FCC Clinical Coordinator or designee listing the date of your absence, the date that you plan to make up the absence, and who approved this alternate schedule.
      6. In the event of extenuating circumstances, the Director of Clinical Education and Program Director may work with the student to establish an alternative make-up schedule.
   9. Students will communicate absences using FCC's email platform (currently Outlook).
   10. One time during the program, the student has one personal day available to them. The student will be responsible for the missed content on that day (see missed exam policy). Rules for personal day:
       1. This only applies for lecture (not lab or clinical)
       2. The student may not be on an active learning contract containing attendance issues
       3. The student must email the faculty associated with the course they are using the personal day via email.
7. Communication
   1. Overview
      1. In general, communication between Instructors and Students takes place in person or while logged in with FCC credentials on FCC-approved platforms. For example: Outlook email and Microsoft Teams. Unless there is an urgent or emergent matter, Instructors and Students should avoid using texting and calling through personal phones as a modality of communication.
      2. Upon graduation, graduates and instructors may reach out to one another via personal numbers.
      3. Instructors and students must be aware of the legal risks of using social media. If any user posts comments with libelous, defamatory, offensive, discriminatory, harassing, or obscene remarks, the user will be held responsible.
      4. Instructors and Students may not solicit in person or through virtual communication modalities.
   2. Response Times
      1. Instructors and Students are expected to respond to emails or FCC-approved platform messages in a timely manner. Instructors are expected to respond within 48 hours of receipt.
      2. Response times for communication on other non-approved platforms may vary.
   3. Urgent Matters: What constitutes an urgent matter requiring immediate attention, acknowledgement, or action should be explicitly stated by the Instructor or Student who originally initiates communication.
      1. Example of an urgent message: An instructor announces that class will be starting 10 minutes later than scheduled.
      2. Example of a non-urgent message: A Student would like assistance to turn in an assignment and is attempting to do so within the last few hours of the deadline, the Student shall not expect an immediate response.
      3. For messages that are sent to Instructors outside of "normal business hours" require a note about the level of urgency. The Instructor is the main determinant of when this is acknowledged or acted upon until the following working day.
         1. If a Student is alerting an Instructor about an urgent or emergent personal situation, the Student is the ultimate determinant of how the Student proceeds. Ex: if a Student is reaching out to an Instructor to let them know their child is sick and they don't know whether or not to come to class, the Student must be the one to decide whether or not they come.
   4. Language and Tone
      1. Instructors and Students are expected to demonstrate high standards of professional behavior in all educational settings, including classrooms and laboratories, professional and clinical sites, in non-educational settings, and in email and "chats." Professional behavior includes but is not limited to: honesty and integrity; trustworthiness; empathy and cultural competence; punctuality; and respectful communication. Failure to meet the expectations of professional conduct and the FCC Employee Handbook/FCC Code of Student Conduct (whichever applies) may result in disciplinary action.
      2. It is imperative that Instructors and Students maintain a professional and respectful tone in written and verbal communication.
      3. Instructors and Staff should use clear, concise language in communicating with one another.
   5. Feedback Mechanisms
      1. As a Student, a critical skill is giving and receiving feedback constructively. In the event Instructors are concerned about a Student's ability to give or receive feedback respectfully and constructively, the Student may be verbally warned, receive written feedback, or be placed on a Student Learning Contract, if needed.
   6. Conflict Resolution
      1. If a Student should feel they are not being communicated with in professional or respectful manner within the educational setting, the Student should first address the issue with the person "in question" at the most appropriate time. If not resolved, the issue can be taken in an upward management direction beginning with the closest person associated to their experience. Ex: First, preceptor, clinical educator/charge nurse (if applicable), the associated Lab/Clinical instructor, Clinical Coordinator, Program Director, Dean, etc.
      2. Instructors that find themselves in a situation with a Student disrupting the learning environment or deviating from the Code of Student Conduct may decide to temporarily request that the Student is removed from the educational setting in order to properly deescalate the situation. If on campus, please call campus Public Safety, if needed.
      3. Unresolved issues will be routed to the Program Director.
   7. Cultural Sensitivity
      1. It is important that all communication has a cultural lens in mind and maintains an inclusive nature, particularly in group settings.
      2. Instructors and Students are to be mindful of cultural differences that may affect communication differences and preferences.
   8. Security and Confidentiality
      1. Instructors and Students are to maintain any personal information received confidential.
      2. Sharing Personal Identifiable Information, progress, prognosis, diagnosis, or the like regarding Students, Patients, and Instructors is strictly prohibited.
   9. Full-time staff are trained on storing physical documents or electronic information regarding Students.
   10. Clear, professional communication is a requirement of the ST career.
       1. Slander of any individual of FCC faculty, staff, students, or clinical site staff is not tolerated and will result in dismissal from the program.
   11. Cell Phones and Other Electronic Communication Devices:
       1. Cell phones and all other electronic devices may be used to assist the student with lecture power points, or small group work in the classroom.
       2. If an electronic device is found to be a distraction to other students, then it can no longer be used in the classroom setting. The instructor will ask the student to turn it off.
       3. Place any device on "silent" during all lecture and lab sessions.
       4. We are in a career program; cell phones should be used as if the student were participating in a work setting.
       5. Social messaging is performed on the student's own time, not during work or career program time. If there is an impending emergency, alert the classroom or lab instructor of the situation. Move into the hallway or outside the building to answer and return quietly to the room when finished.
       6. During exams, cell phones and other devices must be off, placed in a book bag or purse, and removed from the testing room.
       7. If an electronic device, including a cell phone, is found to be in the student's possession during an exam, the student will be in violation of academic integrity.
       8. During exams where the student is using their own laptop, the student may not have other webpages open at the time of the exam. All "tabs" must be closed other than the exam—found at this time on Exam Master. Failure to comply will result in a zero for the exam.
       9. No electronic communication is permitted in patient-care areas. You may not use your cell phone while you are in the O.R. or any patient care settings.
       10. If you are expecting an emergent communication during your clinical time, provide the O.R. desk phone number to your party and instruct them to call the desk clerk. The clerk will contact you. You may not answer a cell phone during your clinical responsibilities.
8. Evaluation of Student Learning
   1. There are multiple methods utilized to evaluate program goals or student learning outcomes required for program completion. These methods include written examinations, homework assignments, quizzes, web-based assessments, small group presentations, clinical evaluations, skills competencies, verbal/written preceptor evaluations, electronic mail evaluations, and standardized testing. There are three major components to our program: lab, lecture, and clinical.
   2. LECTURE
      1. ST didactic / lecture concepts are taught in the classroom and on each ST course's companion website on Blackboard. Examinations are graded and passing is 75% or higher. Refer to each course syllabus.
      2. Each ST course syllabus lists the grading criteria and required assessments.
      3. Make up exams will take place in the testing center within the same week of the originally scheduled exam.
   3. LAB
      1. ST skills are taught and evaluated in the on-campus ST lab. We utilize skill competencies where students are evaluated and scored with a pass / fail rating. Passing is achieved with at least a "3" score on a five-point scale or a "S" or satisfactory rating. Refer to each course syllabus.
      2. Students have multiple opportunities to practice skills or to remediate skills based on faculty feedback during open lab time or at home using lab pack.
   4. CLINICAL
      1. Refer to the Clinical section of this handbook.
      2. ST clinical participation is evaluated with daily, mid-term, and final evaluations. The student must participate in and document cases according to course requirements, and as listed in the latest edition of the AST's Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology (7e). The grade for this segment is pass / fail and the student receives at least a "3" on a five-point scale. Refer to the clinical section of this handbook.
      3. The clinical grading criteria are delineated in the clinical evaluation forms.
      4. The evaluations are provided to the student in various formats including verbal and written.
      5. The student will ask preceptors/O.R. team members to complete a form at least once a week or provide feedback verbally and communicated to the assigned clinical instructor.
         • Any completed form will be returned directly from the preceptor to the FCC clinical instructor - via a collection envelope, or USPS mail (paid envelopes to be provided to the clinical site), or phone photo to the FCC instructor.
         • A location or process unique to each clinical site will be determined and communicated.
      6. FCC Faculty will review any feedback and will summarize and communicate suggestions and guidance to the student in a weekly or summative (midterm or final) clinical evaluation.
      7. The FCC Faculty member/clinical instructor is responsible for the evaluation process.
      8. Critical errors will be communicated to the student along with plans for improvement (i.e. remediation).
      9. Errors that jeopardize patient or O.R. team member safety will be reasons for removal from the clinical site. See section on removal from the clinical site.
      10. The student may be asked to complete and pass a lab skills competency examination when safe practice and competence in the clinical setting are in question.
      11. The preceptor and O.R. personnel will monitor and guide the student at the sterile field, or before and after the procedure.
      12. Faculty will provide an evaluation results to the student each week orally, in print or via email in addition to the official evaluation in Trajecsys.
      13. The student is responsible for reviewing and acknowledging (by signature) the written evaluations and participating in new goal setting. These forms are available in the online documentation system, Trajecsys, and in the Clinical area in each Blackboard site.
      14. Students will maintain a clinical notebook for the purpose of compiling and tabulating clinical case participation according to AST's latest edition of the Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, and for storing daily and mid-term/final skills evaluations.
      15. The student will provide the College faculty access to the notebook contents for evaluation, review, planning, and program documentation.
      16. Students will maintain documentation in an online format when utilized by the program. Currently this format is managed by Trajecsys.
          1. Students will provide weekly validation of the timecard and case participation to the clinical coordinator.
   5. Students will receive a faculty-generated, written evaluation of their performance in the on-campus lab sessions and in clinical participation at least once a week and within 48 hours of the observation/ session. The written evaluation will be housed in the current online management system. Presently, this is titled Trajecsys. The student is responsible for reading and signing the form within 48 hours, or weekly.
9. Grading
   1. A letter grade system is used for the course grade. Didactic course work is graded using the letters A through F. Didactic, on-campus skills labs, and clinical coursework must reflect passing grades to receive a passing grade for the course or program.
      • The grade of "C" or 75% is the minimum needed to pass the didactic portion of the course
      • Scale Breakdown (no exceptions):
        • 89.5%–100% = A
        • 79.5%–89.4% = B
        • 75%–79.4% = C
        • 69.5%–74% = D or Fail
        • 69.4% and below = F or Fail
   2. On-campus lab sessions and clinical course work are graded as Pass / Fail. The student receives a "Pass" for a "3" score or higher on a 5-point scale, or "S" satisfactory.
   3. The Participation and Attendance policy also applies to on-campus lab sessions and clinical rotations and can affect a student's passing grade. See participation and attendance section.
10. Failure or Withdrawal
    1. Students must pass all ST courses from one semester before moving onto the next course or semester.
    2. Students who do not pass the didactic portion of a course but are in good lab or clinical standing will fail the associated course and may not continue in the program. These students are eligible to return to the program one time the next time the program offers the failed course (the following cohort).
    3. Students who do not pass the on-campus skills lab competencies or clinical requirements will be dismissed from the program immediately and may not seek readmission into the program.
       1. In this event, advising and counseling will occur with the Program Director.
    4. Students may refer to the FCC Student Handbook for related policies and procedures.
    5. If the date of withdrawal has passed, the student will receive an F grade.
    6. A student who withdraws may return to the course and program with the next cohort. In this situation the student will repeat lab, clinicals, and lecture. The student must be in good lecture, lab, and clinical standing at the time of withdrawal in order to return. If the student cannot complete the course requirements on the second attempt, no additional attempts will be allowed. Withdraw dates are posted on each course syllabus.
11. Readmission
    1. Beginning in January 2019 students may seek readmission into the next cohort one time due to a failure to achieve a 75% or higher average course grade. These students must have been in good lab or clinical standing.
    2. Students who do not pass lab competencies or clinical will receive a failing grade for the course and may not seek readmission.
    3. Students who withdraw from a course by the withdraw date and are in good standing in lab, lecture, or clinicals may reenter the program with the next cohort one time.
       1. Students who withdraw from a course by the withdraw date and are not in good standing in lab, lecture, or clinicals are not eligible for readmission.
    4. Students who do not pass lab or clinicals may decide to stay in the lecture session of the course and take the examinations for informational purposes only. The student may not seek readmission into the program.
    5. For any failing grade in the final ST course, the student may not sit for the certification examination for ST and will not graduate from the college with a ST degree.
    6. Any student eligible to reenter the program with the next cohort must show skill competence before being placed in the clinical setting. The competency assessment will be developed by the Program Director and Clinical Coordinator. The student must pass the clinical competencies to advance into the clinical setting.
       1. If the student cannot demonstrate safe practice when they reenter the program, they must develop a remediation/practice schedule with a faculty in the on-campus lab. This schedule may include several dates and may occur during scheduled on-campus lab sessions with the cohort of students.
    7. Students who are readmitted and withdraw or fail for a second time may not seek readmission into the program.
    8. The Program Director is to be notified at least 2 months in advance of the intent to reenter the program so that adequate clinical placement can be arranged.
    9. Readmission may be delayed if there are no clinical sites available for the reentering student.
12. Pertinent Student Data
    1. The student must advise the Program Director and Clinical Coordinator of any changes in name, address, telephone, or email address.
    2. The student is also responsible for informing the FCC registration department of any changes.
    3. The program tracks graduate and employment data. Students agree to maintain current contact information with the Program Director for up to 2 years after graduation.
13. Tutoring, Career Counseling, and Resume Writing
    1. The College offers multiple resources to each student, at no charge. Please refer to the college website, www.frederick.edu, or contact other staff for assistance.
14. Fair Practices
    1. Please refer to the index in the College catalog (www.frederick.edu or print version) to obtain information, policies and procedures on the following topics:
       1. Student Affairs
       2. Tuition and Fees
       3. Academic Calendar
       4. Student Complaint
       5. Withdrawal from courses
       6. Refund

FALL COHORT (Aug-May)
Fall Term 
Lecture: Mondays (2p-5p) and Tuesdays (10a-4p) (Full term Length)
Lab: options available for the daytime or evenings (8a-8p) every Thursday and Friday (first 10 weeks of the semester)
Clinicals: Wednesday through Friday 645a – 3:30p (last 5 weeks of the semester)

January Term (3 weeks)
Lecture/lab: Mondays 10a - 2p
Clinicals: Tuesday through Friday 645a – 3:30p

Spring Term
Lecture: Mondays 10a-2p
Clinicals: Wednesday through Friday 645a – 3:30p (first 10 weeks of the semester)
Lecture ONLY: Mondays and Wednesdays 10a-2p (last 5 weeks of the semester)
 
 
SPRING COHORT (Jan-Dec)
Spring Term
Lecture: Mondays (2p-5p) and Tuesdays (10a-4p) (Full Term length)
Lab: options available for the daytime or evenings (8a-8p) every Thursday and Friday (first 10 weeks of the semester)
Clinicals: Wednesday through Friday 645a – 3:3 p (last 5 weeks of the semester)

Summer Term (3 weeks)
Lecture/: Mondays 10a - 2p
Clinicals: Tuesday through Friday 645a – 3:30p

Fall Term
Lecture: Mondays 10a-2p
Clinicals: Wednesday through Friday 645a – 3:30p (first 10 weeks of the semester)
Lecture ONLY: Mondays and Wednesdays 10a-2p (last 5 weeks of the semester)

To find more information about how credits may transfer from Frederick Community College to a state four-year institution visit ARTSYS or consult a College advisor.

Frederick Community College has articulation agreements with the following institutions, allowing students a seamless transfer experience. Students who plan to transfer should speak with an advisor or program manager from their chosen transfer institution before selecting elective courses.

Allied Health Major

Health Management