Coleman College Dental Hygiene Program Application Packet Fall Semester Class Application Deadline: April 10 th 12.00 noon Dear Student, Thank you for your interest in the Coleman College for Health Sciences Dental Hygiene Program. The dental hygiene education curriculum is scientifically oriented, rigorous and intensive. Total enrollment is based on facility capacity and specific program admissions criteria. These procedures are necessary to ensure that the students that are selected have the potential for successfully completing the program. Please read all of the information in this packet to assure that you will submit a completed application. Student Services and the dental hygiene program will not consider an incomplete application. It is your responsibility to assure that your application is complete. The complete application packet and required supporting documentation must be sent as ONE DOCUMENT to Student Services. Do not send any information directly to the dental hygiene department. April 10 th is the application deadline to be considered for the fall semester class. Admission to the dental hygiene program is selective and competitive. Selection is based on a formula of specific criteria achieved along with an interview. Interviews are by invitation only. Once the interview process is completed, twenty (20) candidates will be offered entrance into the fall semester class. 1
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS In order to accomplish the objectives of the dental hygiene program, students must be able to meet the following performance requirements: Professional attitude during all phases of the application process if at any time during the process, it is determined that your attitude or actions are unprofessional, your application may not be considered for acceptance Visual acuity with corrective lenses to identify oral tissue changes and evaluate treatment effectiveness Hearing ability with auditory aids to understand the normal speaking voice without viewing the speaker s face and take/hear blood pressure with a stethoscope Physical ability to sit for prolonged periods of time, perform repetitive wrist motion for instrumentation, and move from room to room or maneuver in limited spaces. Written and verbal communication skills to succinctly describe patient conditions, document findings in a patient record and implement oral health teachings. Manual dexterity to use a variety of instruments in the small, confined space of the oral cavity Function safely under stressful conditions with the ability to adapt to an ever changing environment inherent in clinic situations involving patient care. Computer skills to use a variety of software programs and the Internet for research and course projects; power point utilized for presentations 2
Application and Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program Application and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program is a separate procedure from application and admission to the Houston Community College (HCC). Admission to HCC does not ensure admission into the Coleman College Health Science Dental Hygiene Program. Only those students who have been admitted to the Dental Hygiene Program may enroll in the dental hygiene (DHYG) courses. Student Services and the dental hygiene program do not keep any documentation of students not accepted into the program from year to year. Therefore, if you are not accepted, you must reapply again next year with new documentation. There is no waiting list. The candidates receiving the most points in the admissions process will be offered entrance into the fall semester class. Students will be notified by email of their admission status. All statements related to admission criteria or announcements of present policies are subject to revisions as needed. Any advice given by the dental hygiene department regarding coursework does not insure acceptance into the program. Admissions are determined on an objective basis using a quantified point scale. The scale is designed to accurately predict successful completion of the program. All science courses are required to be completed within 5 years of application deadline date. This applies to pre-requisite courses and co-requisite courses (if applicable). The HESI test score must be within 12 months of application deadline date with a cumulative score of 70%. Points are determined based upon the following criteria:! GPA of required pre-requisite course work (2.0)! GPA of co-requisite course work (if applicable) (2.0)! HESI exam (taken within one year of application date deadline) with a required minimum of 70% cumulative passing score (required)! Observation of Registered Dental Hygienist- Mandatory 16 hours (required)! Autobiographical Essay (required) " Interview (invitation only) Note: All students accepted into the program will be required to complete a background check and physical examination form to be completed and signed by your physician. " Students will be required to complete required vaccinations by HCC upon entering the college/program. In addition, the student is required to show proof of medical insurance coverage. Since all applicants cannot be accepted in the Coleman College Dental Hygiene program, it is important that all applicants consider alternatives available in the event that they are not selected. A counselor is an important resource in helping to reassess plans, whether to apply again, consider another health occupation program offered at Coleman College, or to change majors. 3
All students enrolled in the Dental Hygiene Program at Coleman College are required to meet and must demonstrate competency in all facets of the Dental Hygiene curriculum as set forth by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association to be considered for graduation. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: The following application procedure must be followed for your application to be considered complete: 1. Complete application into Houston Community College at www.hccs.edu (Contact student services if you were once an HCC student) 2. Complete separate application into Coleman College for Health Science for the Dental Hygiene Program. 3. Order an official transcript from every college/university attended. 4. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average in college level courses (this includes all college courses taken at any college) of 2.0 or better and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in dental hygiene prerequisite courses. 5. If you attended school outside the United States, you will be required to have a transcript evaluation attached. 6. Complete the college requirements of the Texas Success Initiative by being TSI Complete in Reading, Writing and Math. (If you are unsure if you meet the qualifications, speak with a Counselor or Advisor) 7. Complete HESI exam with a required minimum passing score of 70% cumulative score. " English Comprehension Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar " Science Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology " Personality Profile/Learning Style HCC-Coleman College does not discriminate against qualified applicants with disabilities in any of its programs including the Dental Hygiene Program, Coleman College makes available disabilities counselors in its Student Counseling Department to assist persons interested in seeking admission to any program to understand the program requirements and determine whether and how their disability can be accommodated in the program. In addition, a person with disabilities who is interested in pursuing a career in dental hygiene might wish to consult with a dental professional concerning whether the nature of the disability may be an impediment to hiring in the specific office settings in which you have interest before commencing the program. No dental hygiene applicant will be denied acceptance on the basis of disease status, such as HIV, HBV or HCV. In the occurrence of an infected applicant, the Rules & Regulations established by the State Board of Dental Examiners (SBDE) state the health care provider must notify patients and obtain their written consent to 4
be treated, thus, completing clinical educational requirements may be difficult. In the event that the student completes the program, the SBDE may deny licensure. Therefore, in the instance of such disease status, career counseling may be in order. COLEMAN COLLEGE for HEALTH SCIENCES DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM Program Application Checklist SUBMIT TO THE HCC-COLEMAN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICE: COLEMAN COLLEGE application OFFICIAL transcript from all colleges attended Proof of high school graduation (only for transfer of dual college credit classes) TSI score (Entrance exam into college) SUBMIT A COMPLETE PROGRAM APPLICATION TO THE HCC-COLEMAN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICE FOR THE DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM: Dental Hygiene Program application Copy of transcript from all colleges attended (OFFICIAL) (Only if you have not already sent them to the admissions office) RDH Observation forms (required mandatory 16 hours) (form attached)observation must be of a registered dental hygienist; not a dentist (will not be accepted) HESI score required minimum passing grade 70% cumulative score. Printed off and must be sent in with application. Required (Instruction form attached). Test taken at Prometric testing centers. HCC Dental ID: 198647. This must be given when registering for the test. Additional Information found on program webpage Autobiographical Essay-Required Interview by Invitation only DO NOT SEND IN APPLICATION UNTIL YOU HAVE REQUIREMENTS and ALL PAPERWORK COMPLETED. All information must be included for your application to be complete. Any piece of missing documentation will result in the application not being considered for admission. YOU SHOULD RETAIN COPIES OF THE APPLICATION YOU SUBMIT. All forms must be delivered in person to student services or via mail by the deadline date. Please notify us of any change of address or phone number as soon as possible. Upon acceptance into any health program at Coleman Health Sciences, students will be required to submit to drug testing. Drug policy and guidelines for drug testing of health profession students are available for viewing online at www.hccs.edu. 5
Students, HESI INFORMATION The Admission Assessment Exam consists of seven academic exams, as well as a personality profile that identifies the individual applicant's learning style. Instructors can administer any one or all of these exams for the same cost. Individual scores are provided for each exam, and the scores are combined to provide subscores in these four areas: English language: 70% Reading Comprehension - Provides reading scenarios in order to measure reading comprehension, identifying the main idea, finding meaning of words in context, passage comprehension, making logical inferences, etc. Vocabulary and General Knowledge - Contains vocabulary terms that are commonly used in both general English speaking settings and in health care fields. Grammar - Contains basic grammar, including parts of speech, important terms and their uses, commonly occurring grammatical errors, etc. Science 70% Chemistry - Contains test items that cover matter, chemical equations and reactions, the periodic table, atomic structure, nuclear chemistry, chemical bonding, etc. Anatomy & Physiology - Provides coverage of general terminology and anatomical structures and systems. Personality Style Personality Profile - Uses concepts related to introversion and extroversion to classify a student's personality style. Learning Style - Assesses the preferred learning style of the prospective applicant and offers test-taking and study tips suited to that learning style. Please choose version 1 if this is your first time taking the exam for this application period, otherwise choose version 2. Please complete all the above sections at a minimum required score of 70% cumulative for entrance into the Dental Hygiene Program at Coleman College for Health Sciences. 6
Evolve Testing and Remediation Registration Powered by HESI Evolve Reach Exam How to Become Eligible To register for your Elsevier exam, you must send the following information to Elsevier Review and Testing using this e-mail address: exameligibility@elsevier.com. *IMPORTANT: The information provided must be the same as it appears on your government issued photo ID. You will not be admitted into the testing lab if there is any discrepancy between what it is entered into the system (by Elsevier) and what is presented on your ID. Please only submit your Eligibility ID request once. Cut & paste the information below when you email Elsevier Prospective School Name: HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences. Type of Program: Health Professions-Dental Hygiene HCC-Coleman College Exam Name: HESI A2 Admission Assessment Exam. Version 1 (first time) or Version 2 First Name: Middle Name Last Name Address City State Zip Phone Number email You will receive a Confirmation Notice indicating that you may schedule your exam. Please carefully review the information contained in your Confirmation Notice. If any of the information is incorrect, or if the information has changed, please contact Elsevier Review and Testing at exameligibility@elsevier.com. Failure to do so could result in forfeiture of your testing appointment and associated fees. PLEASE NOTE: You will receive your Eligibility ID within a minimum of 3-5 business days of our receipt of your eligibility email. 7
Houston Community College Coleman College Dental Hygiene Program Student Application for Admission Fall Semester Class Section A Personal Information (Please write/type clearly) 1. Name: 2. Social Security Number: 3. Other names under which credentials may be received: 4. Permanent Address: 5. Mailing Address: 6. Cell Phone Number: 7. Work Number: 8. Email Address: 8
9. Are you a citizen or permanent resident of the United States? Yes No (Please supply a copy of your permanent resident card) If No the Texas State Board of Examiners will not allow licensure for employment. Please consult the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (512) 463-6400 if you have questions or concerns.! HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences is not responsible for denial of licensure. Section-B Education Information List all educational institutions (colleges, universities, professional schools) in order of attendance. Do not omit the name of any institution where you have been a student. If you need additional space use a separate sheet of paper. # School Name: # Dates Attended to # Credit Hours Completed: Degree/Certificate: # School Name # Dates Attended to 9
# Credit Hours Completed: Degree/Certificate: # School Name: # Dates Attended to # Credit Hours Completed: Degree/Certificate: 10
Dental Hygiene Course List Listed below are the Dental Hygiene Core Curriculum Requirements. In the space provided indicate when you completed the course (example: Fall 2011). If you have not completed the course, indicate when you plan to complete the course (example: Spring 2013) Complete This Section only Course Name Enrollment Credit Hours Example HPRS 1201 Intro to Health Professions or Substitute Fall 2011 Grade Office Use Only Quality PTS Office Use Only Office Use Only HESI= GPA= ENGL 1301 English Comp I SOCI 1301 Sociology CHEM 1305 Intro to Chemistry BIOL 2401 A & P I BIOL 2402 A & P II BIOL 2420 Microbiology SPCH 1318 Interpersonal Communications PYSC 2301 Psychology Approved Gen. Education Elective Your application for admission will be evaluated on the basis of transcripts and courses which you have in progress or plan to take, as indicated above. A substitute for HPRS 1201 is conditional. Contact the student advisor david.pereida@hccs.edu for more information about the substitution. 11
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY Write an autobiographical essay (prefer typewritten). Include examples of your participation in activities such as community service, work experience along with extracurricular activities, etc. In addition, please describe your interest in the dental hygiene profession emphasizing those interests which would enhance your career as a dental hygienist. Your concise response should be limited to this sheet of paper. 12
Provide the name, address and telephone number of person(s) to be contacted in case of an emergency: Name: Address: (Street, City, State, Zip) Daytime Phone: Cell Phone: Students with felony convictions may not be allowed to be licensed by the State of Texas to practice dental hygiene. Please consult the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (512) 463-6400 if you have questions or concerns. Acceptance is contingent upon a negative background check. I certify that information provided in this application is correct and complete. I understand that omission or falsification of information is grounds for exclusion or dismissal. If accepted into the program, I agree to meet all entrance requirements and to conform and abide by the letter and the spirit of the rules, regulations and procedures of Houston Community College System and this program. Signature: Date: 13
Please return the completed Dental Hygiene Program Application with required supporting documentation including official transcripts and any other necessary documentation to: Houston Community College-Coleman College for Health Science Student Services/Welcome Center 1900 Pressler Street Houston, TX 77030 Do not send the application (along with supporting documents) packet directly to the dental hygiene program office; only to Student Services as one package. Applications are accepted via mail or in person only to Student Services and must be received no later than April 10 th @ 12:00 noon for the fall semester class. 14
Clinical Observation Form Dear Registered Dental Hygienist, Thank you for allowing the prospective student to observes you in performing your job duties. The student is applying to the Houston Community College Coleman College for Health Sciences Dental Hygiene Program. It is important that you use this evaluation form to help us assess this prospective student. Rubric for RDH Observation Was the person on time for the observation? Did the person appear to be paying attention? Was the person dressed and groomed properly? Did the person ask questions to get information? Yes No N/A Was the person polite and courteous? Did the person ask questions? Did the person seem interested in the dental hygiene profession? Did the person thank you? Did the person use eye contact when speaking? Comments? Date: RDH Name/License Number: Dental Office Name: Hours Observed: 15
Ethical behavior and honesty are of utmost importance in the dental hygiene profession and in life in general. As such, we require any student interviewed for a possible position in our dental hygiene program to sign the statement below. Have you previously attended any dental hygiene program? Yes No If yes, what school did you attend? What date(s) did you attend? Why did you leave the program? Student Name: Please Print Student Signature: Date: 16