Mission Statement
The mission of Southwestern Community College’s Radiography Program is to meet the needs of the students by offering innovative instruction through comprehensive educational practices that promote student achievement and academic excellence, which will enable the student to graduate with the necessary skills to succeed as a radiographer or to continue with other educational goals.
Goal: Students will think critically.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will perform non-routine procedures.
- Students will be able to perform image evaluation.
Goal: Students will demonstrate professionalism.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate professional behaviors.
- Students will understand ethics.
Goal: Students will communicate effectively.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate effective written communication.
- Students will demonstrate effective oral communication
Goal: Students will be clinically competent.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will set appropriate exposure factors.
- Students will correctly position patients for routine projections.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
The Priority Deadline for Radiography is March 1st. All application steps listed below must be completed prior to March 1st. Candidates who apply after the priority deadline will only be evaluated if there are remaining slots available on a rolling admissions basis.
- Follow the steps to Apply & Enroll
- Meet the Testing Requirements and complete all required transition/support courses.
- Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0 on the most recent academic transcript for the last 10 hours of college credit. If you do not have college credits, your cumulative grade point average will be taken from your high school transcript.
- As a SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS program, there is only one entry point into the program annually. The TEAS test is required for Radiography applicants. Applications will be ranked using the Health Sciences Admissions Rubric.
- Students must also be able to pass a technical standards exam. This exam will be conducted by program faculty prior to entrance into the program. This exam demonstrates that a student has the ability to meet certain physical demands which he/she will likely face while in the clinical edcational setting. Areas to be evaluated include: communication, cognitive skills, mobility skills, motor skills, physical stamina, and sensory skills (hearing, tactile, smell, etc.). Students who cannot meet the technical standards will not be eligible for admission into the program.
- Be eighteen (18) years of age by September 1st of the year admitted to the program.
Those inviduals who are notified of provisional acceptance to the program must attend a mandatory orientation session and have SCC health forms completed by the appropriate medical personnel indicating the candidate is mentally and physically capable of performing the essential functions required by this profession.
Once accepted into the program, students will be required to complete an onboarding process, which will include a criminal background check and drug testing prior to participation in the clinical component. If any clinical facility refuses to allow the student to participate in clinical experiences, for any reason, the student will not be able to progress in the program. Each student completing a health science program may be required, by an external agency, to submit a criminal background check and/or drug test prior to a state or national licensing/certification board approving the graduate to sit for exams.
Due to the rigorous nature of the curriculum, where possible, students are encouraged to have successfully completed general education courses prior to enrolling in program specific courses: ACA 111, BIO 168, BIO 169, COM 140, ENG 111, ENG 114, MAT 143, & PSY 150 with a "C" or better. See your advisor for acceptable general education substitutes.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
The program requires that students maintain a high level of academic and clinical performance. Failure to meet these standards will prevent normal progression through the program.
Notice:
Candidates for certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) must comply with the “Rules of Ethics” contained in the ARRT Standards of Ethics. Any conviction of a crime, including a felony, a gross misdemeanor, or a misdemeanor with the sole exception of speeding and parking violations must be investigated by the ARRT in order to determine eligibility for the certification examination. Additional information may be obtained from the program director.
Declared Pregnant Student
Federal and state regulations were modified in 1994 to introduce the term “declared pregnant worker.” Under these regulations, each student may declare her pregnancy in writing to the program director. However, it is the student’s option whether or not to declare the pregnancy. The student may decide to declare the pregnancy as soon as conception is confirmed, or at any time during the pregnancy. Once that pregnancy is declared, this institution is required to ensure that the unborn child does not receive more than 500 millirem during the term of the pregnancy, as determined by the radiation dosimeter which is worn at waist level under the apron. In the event that a student has already received 450 or greater millirem from the date of conception to the date of that the pregnancy is declared the regulations permit the unborn child to receive a maximum of 50 millirem during the remaining term of the pregnancy. It is up to each student to make her own decision regarding the declaration of the pregnancy. In all cases, this institution requires that radiation doses to the student and to the unborn child shall be maintained “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” (ALARA).
Further information regarding student pregnancy may be found in the Radiography Student Policy Manual.
CLINICAL EDUCATION
Selected learning experience (clinical education) will be provided at cooperating hospitals or other health care facilities within the area served by the College. Transportation and associated expenses are the sole responsibility of the student.
STUDENT POLICY MANUAL
Students entering the program will receive a Student Policy Manual. This manual outlines the policies and procedures to be followed over the course of the program. Upon request, this document is available to interested persons. These requests should be made directly to program officials.
