This policy handbook is a compilation of policies adopted by the Weber State University Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences' Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT) and Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) programs for the on-campus student. It is a guide -- a sort of survival training manual -- that describes what is expected of you as a CLT/CLS student, and of the university faculty and clinical faculty. 

It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the information presented in the handbook, along with the other information available at this CLS departmental web site.  After reading the information in this handbook, print the CLS Student Policy handbook form sign and date it, then give it to the CLS departmental secretary who will place it in your student file.

The policies in this handbook have evolved through a continual process of feedback, discussion and exchange among students, faculty and administrators. Although no policy is considered totally inflexible, the present policies will be supported and adhered to by both students and faculty until changed or amended through appropriate channels.

Contents

• Affirmative Action Policy
• Disability Policy
• Safety Policy
• Student Health Insurance Policy
• Health Examination Policy
• Drug Screen, Fingerprinting, and Background Check Policy
• Grading Policy
• Program Policy for Repeating CLT/CLS Courses
• Competency-Based Education Policy
• WSU Student Code
• Student Due Process Policy
• Appropriate Process of Review
• Dismissal Policy
• Misconduct Warning
• Academic Probation
• Suspension
• Causes for Dismissal
• Description of the Profession and Entry-Level Competencies
• CLT and CLS Program Affective Objectives
• Critical Incidents
• Evaluation and Feedback
• Volunteer Involvement and Leadership Programs

Affirmative Action Policy

The CLT/CLS program's policy is to provide equal opportunities in accordance with all regulations supported by the Weber State University policy as stated in the current university bulletin.

Acceptance into either the CLT or CLS program is made with no discrimination based upon race, age, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or veteran or marital status.

The CLT/CLS program neither looks for, nor turns away, any individual seeking training or employment based upon any criteria other than performance.

Disability Policy

The CLT/CLS programs support the philosophy of Weber State University in recognizing the rights of all persons to gain a post-secondary education. Admission into either program will not be denied to anyone based solely by reason of disability. Counsel is provided to any individual identified as having a disability regarding services available and performance criteria of the programs.

One disability has been identified as of such nature as to preclude successful completion of the CLT/CLS program. In spite of modifications of the training or testing, the seriously visually impaired would not be able to successfully complete the program. This is because of the great number of critical skills that require visualization in order to be accomplished. Even though the training would not be denied to the seriously visually impaired, a realistic counseling identifying the requirements for completion of the program would be provided for the student.

Safety Policy

The CLT/CLS program requires that all laboratory training be as safe as possible. The very nature of the profession requires you may come in contact with potentially hazardous materials and situations. As a student, you will be working with infective organisms, potentially toxic chemicals, and will be performing procedures that are invasive to the body (i.e. drawing blood, etc.). Recognizing that all appropriate methods of dealing with the great variety of potential hazards cannot be written in policy, the programs provide the following general policy:

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences programs comply with all current standards set forth by Occupational, Safety, and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Universal precautions are mandatory in any laboratory setting in which contact with human blood, blood products, and related body fluids may occur. Formal training to comply with these standards is provided in all CLS courses.

Training that requires any invasive procedures, i.e., phlebotomy, will occur only under the direct supervision of an instructor. Once you have demonstrated appropriate proficiency, you may perform additional procedures under the indirect supervision of an instructor. Safety equipment and procedures for each area will be identified and explained by each respective faculty member.

Student Health Insurance Policy

As a CLT/CLS student, you must show evidence of having health insurance coverage prior to being scheduled for practicums in a clinical facility. Practicums are completed during the summer months following your sophomore and junior years in the program. Alternatively, you may sign a waiver that, in effect, absolves the university and the clinical facility of any responsibility for assuming your health care costs.

Proof of insurance or waivers will be placed in your student file. This does not affect existing liability coverage currently assumed by the university if you impart damage to person or property while in a university sanctioned educational experience. Health insurance coverage may be either through the a private carrier or through policies available to you as a student through the university. Information concerning student insurance is provided at the Student Health Insurance Center.

You may also decide to waives health insurance coverage. If you choose to do so, you therefore assume all financial responsibility for medical costs incurred through your fault as a student. As an example, if a your receive a needlestick while in a clinical practicum, costs associated with treating this type of injury can be several hundred dollars (depending on the facility), and payment will be the your responsibility if you have signed a waiver.

Health Examination Policy

Upon completion of CLS 1113, Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Practices, you must provide documentation of having a physical health examination, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen test (HBsAG), and Tuberculosis (TB) Skin test, all within the past year, in your student file. Documentation of a hepatitis vaccine series is acceptable for the HBsAG test. An opportunity to have an HBsAG test at a minimal fee is offered during the CLS 1113 course.

The Student Health Center offers free physicals and TB tests to WSU students. The center will also do HBsAG tests for a nominal charge. If you wish to have your physical and/or HBsAG and TB tests done at the Student Health Center, you will need to schedule an appointment. You will be required to present a student ID card and provide a physical form, which is available in the CLS office. Check the Student Health Center site for current office hours, or call 801-626-7924.

Drug Screen, Fingerprinting, and Background Check Policy

As a CLT/CLS student, you will also need to have a drug screen, fingerprint, and background check completed. Complete information is listed on our screening procedures page. The clinical facilities where you will be doing your practicums are going to treat you as an employee. Many of the clinical facilities require screening of their potential employees prior to being hired. Therefore, for in order for you to complete your practicums, you must comply with the rules set forth by the clinical facility.

Grading Policy

In keeping with the grading policy of Weber State University, final course letter grades, based upon the total possible points, will be assigned as following:

This schedule is based on the total number of possible points you could earn at the end of the semester. Grades are assigned based upon exams and quizzes, laboratory objectives, laboratory practical examinations, and comprehensive examinations.

The minimum passing grade for CLS courses for students in the CLT program is "C+." For students in the CLS program, the minimum passing grade for all CLS courses is "B-."

If you are completing the CLT program and want to apply for admission into the CLS program, be aware that a course grade less than "B-" in any CLS course is not considered to be a minimally acceptable grade in the CLS program. You will not be allowed to register for junior or senior CLS courses because of your inability to meet prerequisite skill requirements. If you are in this situation, you must repeat the deficient courses and attain course grades of at least "B-" before you will be considered for admission into the CLS program.

Refer to the competency-based education section of this handbook and the departmental policy of achieving minimum of 80% proficiency on each and every examination and unit of study.

All CLT and CLS students are required to achieve a grade of at least "C-" in any and all support courses. Support courses are specific courses other than CLS courses, which are required for the CLT and CLS programs.

Program Policy for Repeating CLT/CLS Courses

The program makes every effort to facilitate the academic success of the students selected into its programs of study. Due to limitations on the number of students selected each year and the increasing demand for access, the program has established the following policies for students wishing to repeat CLS courses.

If you are selected into the CLT program and cannot complete the required CLS courses during the year of acceptance, you must re-apply and be accepted for the year in which you wish to complete the CLS courses. This is applicable to all students without regard to the circumstances under which you were unable to complete the CLS courses within the specified timeframe.

Students accepted into the CLS program must follow similar guidelines if you are unable to complete the CLS courses by the end of your specified timeframe. Repeating courses during the specified timeframe is possible if space is available as determined by the instructor.

Competency-Based Education Policy

The CLT/CLS program is based on a philosophy of education described as competency-based education. In this system, competencies, abilities and skills that you must acquire and demonstrate to become exemplary an technician and technologist are stated as behavioral objectives with a specific minimum competency level. Laboratory objectives are usually written with a 95% competency level, and didactic (i.e. classroom objectives and comprehension) objectives are set at 80% competency.

An example of a laboratory objective is as follows:

A CLS 1123 student will be able to perform microhematocrit determinations on each of ten blood specimens with at least 95% accuracy compared to the known values.

To accomplish this objective, you perform (the specific tests named above) on 10 specimens within a reasonable number of time to achieve at least 95% accuracy on all specimens.

An example of a didactic objective is as follows:

A CLS 1123 student will be able to define the structure, function, and properties of the hemoglobin molecule.

To accomplish this objective, you may utilize various learning experiences, such as the instructor's lecture, textbook, handout materials, colored slides, CD ROM images, etc. You must demonstrate your proficiency of this objective by scoring at least 80% on a written examination covering the unit of objectives. If you do not attain at least 80% proficiency on the written examination, you will be allowed to take one additional parallel examination to achieve the required 80% proficiency. Written examinations for each unit of every CLS course must be passed with at least 80% proficiency.

If you achieve the required 80% minimum proficiency on the first or parallel second examination, you have demonstrated satisfactory proficiency for the unit's learning objectives. If you require the second parallel examination to achieve the required 80% proficiency, the first exam score will be used for grading purposes. Failure to achieve an 80% on a retake exam will result in a final letter grade for the course being no greater than a “C.”  If during the course of the semester, you are required to retake more than two examinations, the final letter grade for the course will be no greater than a “C.”

Additionally, for the laboratory component of each CLS class, you must maintain at least an overall 80% proficiency, otherwise the final letter grade for the course will be no greater than a “C.”

All of the CLS courses are based on this philosophy and format. The end result of this type of educational system is that each student must demonstrate specified competencies before receiving credit for a particular course and/or graduating from the program.

WSU Student Code

Weber State University Policies and Procedures Manual (PPM) specifically outlines acceptable student behavior in the clinical laboratory and in the academic setting (PPM 6-22 Student Code).

Maintain academic ethics and honesty; to this end, the following activities are specifically prohibited:
a. Cheating, which includes but is not limited to:

1) Copying from another student’s test paper
2) Using materials during a test not authorized by the person giving the test (as an example - cell phones)
3) Collaborating with any other person during a test without authority
4) Knowingly obtaining , using , buying, selling, transporting, or soliciting in whole or in part, the contents on any test, without authorization of the appropriate official
5) Bribing any other person to obtain any test
6) Soliciting or receiving unauthorized information about any test
7) Substituting for another student or permitting any other person to substitute for oneself to take a test

b.   Plagiarism, which is the unacknowledged (uncited) use of any other person or group’s ideas or work.  This includes purchased or borrowed papers
c.   Collusion, which is the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work offered for credit
d.   Falsification, which is the intentional and unauthorized altering or inventing of any information or citation in an academic exercise, activity, or record-keeping process
e.   Giving, selling, or receiving unauthorized course, lab results, or test information
f.    Using any unauthorized resource or aid in the preparation or completion of any course work, exercise or activity
g.   Infringing on the copyright of the United States which prohibits the making of reproductions of copyrighted material except under certain specified conditions

Student Due Process Policy

The purpose of due process is to afford you, as a student, all rights guaranteed to citizens by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America and the State of Utah.  You are obliged to obey these laws as well as the rules and regulations of Weber State University and the recognized standards of the program and profession for which you are training.

Problems between a student and the university generally are in the areas of academic performance or misconduct. You should refer to the Weber State University Student Policy and Procedure Manual (SPPM) when concerned about their rights and the due process procedure. This manual furnishes information that provides you the opportunity to appeal decisions concerning misconduct or academic performance.

You are encouraged to consult with your instructors when you feel you are having problems meeting program goals, objectives, or academic standards. The following provides a summary of the student due process procedure, which should be followed.

Appropriate Process of Review

STEP 1: Individual conference with the clinical or academic instructor.

STEP 2: If unsatisfactory progress is made or no resolution can be reached, makes referral to the director or program coordinator for review and resolution.

STEP 3: If the findings by the program director/coordinator are not acceptable, an appeal may be made by the student to the College of Health Professions Due Process Grievance Committee beginning with an informal grievance hearing to attempt to resolve the issue. If an informal hearing does not resolve the issue, then a formal grievance hearing will be convened by the College of Health Professions Due Process Grievance Committee.

STEP 4:  If the decisions of the College of Health Professions Due Process Grievance Committee are not acceptable to the student, an appeal may be made to the University Due Process Officer, Frank Guiluizza.

Dismissal Policy

You may be dismissed from the CLT/CLS program for failure to meet the program's stated academic standards or for any inappropriate conduct as defined by Weber State University, the Dumke College of Health Professions, and/or the program or profession for which you are training.

Misconduct Warning

This refers to warning regarding improper conduct. Any improper conduct may result in dismissal. A misconduct warning may remain in your student file indefinitely, or it may be removed as per contract agreement or at the discretion of the instructor and program director. A misconduct warning may be given at the sole discretion of the instructor and is not prerequisite to filing a formal charge.

Academic Probation

When it appears you is not meeting the academic requirements necessary to satisfy the program's standards, you may be placed on probation. If you correct the problem and your grades continue to meet program standards, there will be no cause for academic dismissal.

Suspension

Whenever an instructor has reasonable grounds to believe you pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of others, you may be suspended from classes and/or clinical participation, pending the outcome of a hearing to determine what, if any, disciplinary sanctions are appropriate.

Causes for Dismissal

Since dismissal from the CLT/CLS program is a very traumatic situation, each student's problem will be evaluated on an individual basis. However, the established dismissal policy adopted by the CLT/CLS program warrants dismissal from either program when any of the following conditions are present: (This list is not meant to be all-inclusive.)

1. A CLT  student attains two CLS course grades that are less than "C+."
2. A CLS student attains two CLS course grades that are less than "B-."
3. A CLT/CLS student demonstrates dishonesty on a course examination, laboratory exercise, or practical examination.
4. A CLT/CLS student fails to meet time deadlines to correct deficiencies pursuant to academic probation matters.
5. A CLT/CLS student schedules a practicum at his/her own discretion.
6. A CLT/CLS student fails to attend a scheduled practicum.
7. A CLT/CLS student fails to successfully complete a practicum with minimum proficiency after two attempts.
8. A CLT/CLS student fails to consistently follow established guidelines for protection of self and other in matters regarding health and safety.

Description of the Profession and Entry-Level Competencies

The clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist is an allied health professional who is qualified by academic and practical training to provide service in clinical laboratory science.  The clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist must also be responsible for their own actions, as defined by the profession.

The ability to relate to people, a capacity for calm and reasoned judgement and demonstration of commitment to the patient are qualities essential for clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist. They must demonstrate ethical and moral attitudes and principles, which are essential for gaining and maintaining the trust of professional associates, the support of the community, and the confidence of the patient and family. An attitude of respect for the patient and confidentiality of the patient's record and/or diagnoses must be maintained.

Clinical laboratory scientists/medical technologists are competent in:

• developing and establishing procedures for collecting, processing, and analyzing biological specimens and other substances
• performing analytical tests of body fluids, cells, and other substances
• integrating and relating data generated by the various clinical laboratory departments while making decisions regarding possible discrepancies
• confirming abnormal results, verifying quality control procedures, executing quality control procedures, and developing solutions to problems concerning the generation of laboratory data
• making decisions concerning the results of quality control and quality assurance measures, and instituting proper procedures to maintain accuracy and precision
• establishing and performing preventive and corrective maintenance of equipment and instruments as well as identifying appropriate sources for repairs
• developing, evaluating, and selecting new techniques, instruments and methods in terms of their usefulness and practicality within the context of a given laboratory’s personnel, equipment, space, and budgetary resources
• demonstrating professional conduct and interpersonal skills with patients, laboratory personnel, other health care professionals, and the public
• establishing and maintaining continuing education as function of growth and maintenance of professional competence
• providing leadership in educating other health personnel and the community
• exercising principles of management, safety, and supervision
• applying principles of education methodology
• applying principles of current information systems

Upon graduation and initial employment, the clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist should be able to demonstrate entry-level competencies in the above areas of professional practice.

CLT and CLS Program Affective Objectives

As a CLT or CLS student, you will demonstrate attainment of the following professional affective behavioral skills according to the qualifying descriptions:

Honesty

You will demonstrate honesty by accepting quality control values only when within acceptable limits, and will properly record the results in accordance to the lab's established QC protocol.

You will demonstrate honesty in all areas of laboratory work, to include performing and documenting daily, weekly and monthly preventative maintenance procedures, temperature checks, etc.

You will demonstrate honesty by maintaining strict patient confidentiality regarding laboratory test results, diagnosis and treatment.

You will demonstrate honesty by personally completing and reporting all laboratory tests in strict adherence to the laboratory's SOPs, taking no shortcuts or unauthorized modifications in those SOPs.

Personal Interactive Skills

You will demonstrate appropriate professional behavior by working with co-workers in a productive, positive, non-aggressive and non-combative manner that will promote a smooth and productive workflow.

You will demonstrate appropriate professional behavior by refraining from making statements or actions, or encouraging the same from others, which represent sexual, racial, ethnic or homophobic harassment.

Organization

You will demonstrate a high degree of organizational skills by being able to work on multiple tasks in a logical fashion without detrimentally affecting the timely reporting of patient results or the quality of the test results.

Professional Demeanor

You will demonstrate appropriate professional demeanor by promptly and consistently attending all laboratory sessions and following all safety and other procedural guidelines for performance and behavior consistent with OSHA, CAP, and other WSU requirements.

You will demonstrate appropriate professional demeanor by consistently remaining in the work area during scheduled lab times and completing all required work in willing and thorough manner.

You will demonstrate appropriate professional demeanor by adhering to the current dress and appearance codes while in the laboratory setting.

You will demonstrate appropriate professional demeanor by willingly and consistently using all appropriate personal safety devices required by OSHA, CAP, and JCAHO when handling caustic, infectious, or hazardous materials.

You will demonstrate a high degree of professional demeanor by consistently cleaning your work area when leaving the laboratory, returning all supplies, glassware, and reagents to their appropriate storage locations, and disinfecting all necessary work areas used by, or assigned to you.

You will demonstrate a high degree of professional demeanor by consistently correctly notifying all coworkers in the event of chemical, radiation, physical, or biohazard spills or accidents, and then correctly following the appropriate clean-up and decontamination procedures specified by the laboratory.

Professional Responsibility

You will demonstrate appropriate professional affective behavior by correctly reporting all patient test values, as well as recognizing and correctly reporting all patient critical test values.

You will demonstrate appropriate professional affective behavior by correctly recognizing erroneous test values that represent serious pre-analytical error, such as hemolyzed, lipemic, or icteric specimens, or specimens that were obtained using an incorrect anticoagulant.

You will demonstrate appropriate professional affective behavior by refraining from switching patient results, or reporting patient results when there is a discrepancy in specimen labeling or handling, incorrect specimen handling, incorrect times of collection, incorrect medical record (or accession - requisition) numbers.

Critical Incidents

The following Critical Incident examples will impede or disqualify you from attaining your professional affective behavioral skills and also may affect your program standing and/or program acceptance. Depending on the severity of the incident, the CLS faculty may choose to fill out an Critical Incidence Report form which will then be filed in the student’s file.

• Falsifying laboratory data in any way. Automatic dismissal from the course and the program.
• Cheating during exams or quizzes or during exam review. Automatic dismissal from the course and the program.
• Reporting test results on the wrong unknown or switching values on patients or unknowns.
• Unauthorized disclosure of patient (unknown) information.
• Changing test value (from unacceptable to an acceptable results).
• Testing to compliance with controls.
• Repeatedly entering fictitious values in the computer until one is acceptable by the computer program.
• Failing to identify and correctly report a Critical Patient Value.
• Failing to properly clean-up spills of reagents, biological specimens, or broken glass.
• Reporting test values incorrectly (i.e. decimal errors, inaccurate units, etc.).
• Failure to follow standard Universal Safety Precautions or OSHA regulations (i.e. not wearing lab coat, safety glasses, gloves when required, etc.).
• Bringing food and/or drink in the lab, or storing food in any laboratory refrigerator or freezer.
• Unexcused absence or tardiness to scheduled laboratory class periods or practicums.
• Leaving work or lab area messy and failing to properly wash hands, glassware or equipment.

Evaluation and Feedback

Evaluations and feedback are important parts of the CLT/CLS program. Faculty members need to know how well they are functioning as teachers. This information is used to update, revise, and improve the methods of teaching, learning, and communicating with students.

While you are in the CLT/CLS program, you will be asked to complete two different evaluation forms. The first is the Faculty Evaluation form. If you would like to see a copy of the form prior to the evaluation time, please see CLS secretary. 

During the end of each CLS course, you may be asked to evaluate the CLT/CLS instructor. These evaluations are administered online in Chi Tester by the CLS secretary and are completely confidential. Faculty members will receive reports reflecting student assessment and comments. Information gained from this evaluation is useful to the instructor in determining the effectiveness of their current teaching methods. Often, the instructor can use this evaluation to learn about problems that are not apparent.

Volunteer Involvement and Leadership Programs

Weber State Clinical Laboratory Sciences program renders many opportunities to the students for leadership and volunteerism. The following is an example of past events that students have participated in or contributed to:

• Health Care Week
• Weber State University's Career Week
• College of Health Profession's Week
• Utah Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (USCLS) annual Spring Seminar
• Representing WSU and the CLS Program at various high schools, programs, professional meetings at the state, regional, and national levels
• High School Science Fair Judging
• Community Health Care Education events
• And more ...

For more information about getting involved in some of these and activities or other opportunities, contact the CLS office in Marriott Health, Room 208 or call 801-626-7080.