TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE HARLINGEN

YEAR 2009 DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE POLICY

Notice: It is important for prospective Dental Hygiene DHYG Program students to understand that meeting admission requirements to be admitted to TSTC Harlingen as a general student with a DHYG major code does not mean that the students has been accepted for full continuance in and completion of the DHYG program. Applicants for the DHYG program must make a formal application to the Program and gain official acceptance. At least  30 DHYG students will be officially accepted to complete the DHYG Program and be allowed to take DHYG prefix courses.

DISCLAIMER: The DHYG program reserves the right to make changes to the admission criteria at any time it deems necessary.

The following steps are involved in acceptance/continuance in the DHYG program:

STEP I

General acceptance to TSTC Harlingen. Students must complete an official TSTC application and submit official college transcripts to the Admissions Office.

Must pass ALL 3 (READING, WRITING, MATH) sections of THEA or College Placement Test (AccuPlacer) or be THEA exempt before submitting application.

STEP II

Take Health Occupations  Basic Entrance Test..

The Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test is a nationally normed test that has been proven to be an accurate predictor of success in the health occupations.  The test is administered at the TSTC Counseling Center in January for a fee of $30.00. It is a timed test for 2 hours and 31 minutes which tests for reading skills, math skills, social decision, stressful situations, learning styles, and a test taking portion. For the convenience of our students, applicants can take the computer test between 8-1:30 Monday through Friday at the Counseling office in the Student Center Building.  If you have and questions, please call (956) 364-4310.  Payment is made at the cashier's office in the Students Service building and a receipt must be shown for admittance to the test.  Test dates are from January 5-January 30 with no exceptions.  There can be no retakes, and the test scores are only valid for one year.  Review materials are offered by ERI at 1-800-292-2273 for $35.50 ( including shipping and handling)

 STEP III

A completed official Dental Hygiene Application (Microsoft Word Document) must be filed with the DHYG Program by March 3, 2009 using the DHYG Program Official Application Form available from the program.  . *Applicants must attach official THEA scores (SAT Scores, ACT Scores or exemption verification) to the application. Applicants will receive notification of their acceptance into the program by March 17, 2009.

NOTE: Prospective applicants are strongly advised to make an appointment and meet with the program chairperson Barbara Bennett (956) 364-4697, to ensure understanding of the application process.

STEP IV

Upon acceptance into the DHYG Program, the following basic program courses must be completed with a grade of C or better, and a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better must be maintained. These courses MUST be completed prior to beginning the DHYG program in August 2009.

CHEM 1411 General Chemistry
BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I

Failure to complete these courses by the end of the Summer, 2009 semester with a 2.0 or better will result in the loss of the candidates acceptance status in the Dental Hygiene Program. The candidate will be dropped from the program and an alternate candidate who has successfully passed the core classes will be accepted.

DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE PROCEDURES

1. The DHYG Program Admissions Committee applies an objective program acceptance formula to each applicants file in making all program acceptance/continuance decisions. The committee will review only complete applications, and THEA requirements. The following formula will result in a composite score used to determine qualified applicants.
2. Selection Factors Possible Points
   1. Accepted as Student to TSTC NONE Applied
   2. Completed THEA requirements NONE Applied
   3. Completed Dental Hygiene Application NONE Applied
   4. Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test - Composite score 
   5. Graduate from an ADA accredited Dental Assisting Program 10 points
      (TSTC Harlingen has the only accredited Dental Assisting program in the lower Rio Grande Valley.)
   6. 2 years or more as Clinical Dental Assistant 5 points
   7. For all General Science Classes Completed ( BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, BIOL 2421, CHEM 1411), for each A, 2 points, for each B, 1 point.  The  applicants with the highest composite SCORES will be offered acceptance into the DHYG Program. The Program Co-Chairs will notify applicants who are accepted in writing. Only those applicants receiving this official letter of acceptance/continuance will be allowed to register for the DHYG prefix courses and continue the program degree plan. In the case of a tie, the candidate with the highest GPA will receive admission into the program.

   III. All other DHYG majors and applicants not accepted for acceptance/continuance in the  program must re-apply to the DHYG Program for the next annual DHYG class to be evaluated and selected. No preference will be given to applicants from one year to the next.

1. Alternate List
   Students who meet the qualifications for the DHYG Program but are not among the top  applicants may be placed on the alternate list in rank order based on the formula score. In the event that an applicant who is accepted declines the position in the class, the first available applicant on the alternate list will be offered this position.

   Applicants on the alternate list who are not ultimately offered a position in the current years class, and who wish to re-apply for the next years class will be expected to complete a new application with the DHYG Program. Those students placed on the alternate list will not receive any preferential selection due to their prior status on the alternate list.

2. Non-Acceptance
   Applicants who are not selected for acceptance/continuance by the DHYG Admissions Committee are sent official letters to that effect by the Dean of Instruction. All applicants not accepted will be offered the opportunity for academic counseling with a member of the DHYG faculty. However, this counseling does not provide any guarantees that the applicant will be accepted in the future.
3. Summary of Selection Process for DHYG Program Acceptance/Continuance
   1. Admissions Office receives completed TSTC application form and transcripts.
      Pass all sections of THEA requirements or be THEA exempt.
   2. Applicant takes Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test.
   3. Applicant completes DHYG application (Microsoft Word Document) from the DHYG Program before March 3, 2009.
   4. DHYG Admissions Committee selects the top applicants based on program acceptance formula.
   5. Letters of Acceptance/Denial/Alternate List statuses are mailed out to applicants.
   6. Applicant completes basic program courses as listed.
   7. Applicants on the Alternate List will be offered positions in the current class as they become available.
   8. Applicants not selected for the current year MUST re-apply to the DHYG Program.

Reviewed Date:5/10/08