Program Requirements
NOTE: A course may satisfy requirements in both the general education requirements and prerequisite areas. All courses with grades of “C-” and below must be repeated. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 must be maintained to be enrolled in the HIT concentration and a minimum grade point average of 2.5 must be maintained to be enrolled in the Healthcare Technician concentration.
Many health care agencies require criminal background checks for licensed health care providers, students, and volunteers serving in health care agencies. In response to these requirements, the UMFK Division of Nursing has established a policy requiring criminal background checks of all allied health and nursing students. Students are responsible for contacting the Director of Student Services or the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Health Information Technology if they have a question about their criminal history.
General Education Requirements
In accordance with University policy, all associate degree candidates must satisfactorily meet the general education requirements. Transfer credits are considered on an individual basis. All general education courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C”.
Assessment Techniques
Students in the allied health major will develop an individual student portfolio demonstrating achievement of program outcomes, professional development, and academic growth.
Curricular assessment techniques are achieved through various means, including: self-evaluations, formative and summative evaluations, portfolios, and exit, graduate, employer, and alumni surveys.
Academic Progression Requirements and Policies
To progress in the allied health major, students are required to meet the following academic policies:
- Attainment of a “C” grade or better in all courses, including transfer courses. Any course in which a student earns a “C-” grade or less is unacceptable. For those students who wish to transfer to the nursing major, students must earn a grade of C+ or higher in all NUR/HLT courses;
- Any general education or prerequisite course can be repeated, but only once, to achieve the necessary “C” grade or 2.0 GPA for HIT concentration; a 2.5 GPA for HCT concentration.
- A student who receives less than a “C” grade after repeating a course will be required to withdraw from the allied health major;
- Up to two allied health or healthcare technician courses may be repeated, but each course only once, to achieve the necessary “C” grade;
- Students must successfully complete the didactic, laboratory, and practicum components of a course to meet the requirements for the course. If students are unsuccessful in any of the course components, they must repeat the course in its entirety;
- For HIT majors: To successfully complete HIT courses, students must achieve a minimum grade of 73% in the course. In addition, a minimum grade of 73% averaged over all written examinations must be achieved. For HCT majors: To successfully complete NUR/HLT courses, students must achieve a minimum grade of 78% in the course. In addition, a minimum grade of 78% averaged over all written examinations must be achieved to pass each course.
- For HIT majors: Maintenance of a cumulative 2.0 grade point average in all coursework completed at UMFK and meet a 2.5 cumulative GPA upon graduation; For HCT majors: Maintenance of a 2.5 GPA in all coursework.
- Provide evidence of a health history, criminal background check, physical examination, and immunization history acceptable for institutions in which practicum experiences occur, including Hepatitis B, MMR, PPD, and Varicella. This must be submitted to the Division of Nursing and Allied Health before the student can begin any clinical experience.
Practicum Experiences
Learning experiences may take place in a variety of settings and geographic locations, and students are responsible for meeting their own transportation needs to attend all practicum experiences. Annual practicum requirements acceptable for institutional orientation must be completed before students can commence any practical experience, including education on fire safety, back care, confidentiality, and HIPAA.
Academic Policies
Leave of absence. A leave of absence may be granted to a student who is experiencing a health or personal problem. To request a leave, the student must submit a letter to the Admissions, Advising, and Advancement (AAA) Committee, which will recommend a course of action to the program Director. If granted, the leave will be for a period of no longer than one year. To return, the student must submit a written request for reinstatement to the major within one year.
Changing to the allied health major with a Healthcare Technician concentration. Students already enrolled at UMFK who wish to change their major to allied health should obtain a “Request for Change of Degree” form from the Registrar’s Office or online at: https://www.umfk.edu/registrar/changeinfo/, which must then be signed by the program Director. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required prior to program change. Grades below “C” do not satisfy allied health degree requirements.
Procedures for students in academic difficulty. A student in academic difficulty is one who is in jeopardy of earning a grade below
C. All students demonstrating difficulty in completing course requirements for the didactic, clinical, and/or laboratory sections are notified of their status at mid-semester or mid-practicum. Written notification is also sent to the student’s academic advisor, and a copy is retained in the student’s record. A mutually acceptable plan, or learning contract, will be developed to help the student at-risk of failing. The contract will assist the student to identify goals, strategies, and dates by which these goals need to be achieved. A copy of the learning contract that is signed by both the faculty and student will be maintained for the student’s record. Should learning contract requirements not be achieved, further meetings will be held first with the student and faculty member. Continued difficulty will result in a meeting with the student, faculty member, and program Director to discuss a plan of action. Individual action will be taken based on each student situation. A student has the right to appeal all grades according to the Academic Student Appeals Policy. The student must initiate the appeal procedure by the end of the ADD/DROP period by the semester following the class in question.
Probation. Probation occurs when a student receives a letter grade of “C-” or below in any allied health or Healthcare Technician course but maintains a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above. To progress in the major, the student is required to repeat the course the next time it is offered, but cannot repeat it more than once. While students are on probation, they may not register for more than 14 credits in a semester, and may not enroll in an on-line or ITV course without specific approval from the academic advisor. Students will be notified in writing by the AAA Committee of their probationary status.
Suspension. Students will be suspended if their cumulative GPA is less than 2.0. While a student’s GPA is less than 2.0, that student may not register for any allied health courses. Students who have been formally suspended will be referred to the Assistant Dean of Student Success.
Graduation Requirements
To be awarded an Associate of Science in Allied Health, graduates must:
- Complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit;
- Maintain a minimum, cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for HIT and 2.5 for HCT;
- Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.5 upon graduation;
- Complete General Education Requirements for associate degrees;
- Complete the Allied Health core courses; and
- Complete the Health Care Technician or Health Information Technology concentration courses.
