Mar 28, 2024  
2013-2014 Catalog 
    
2013-2014 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Affairs and Services



The Division of Student Affairs is a full institutional partner dedicated to fostering student success. The division supports co-curricular and extracurricular programming, activities, and services to facilitate students’ academic training, professional growth, and personal development. Additionally, the division supports students’ needs, creating an atmosphere that stimulates learning, and integrates extracurricular experiences into the formal educational programs.

Through its administrative office and the offices of the Center for Academic Performance (CAP), Financial Aid, Registrar, Testing and Evaluation Services, Student Development, Health Promotion, International Student Services, and Career Services, the following goals are defined in support of the Health Science Center’s educational mission:

  • Creating a culture of compassion, integrity, and excellence
  • Promoting student success
  • Engaging the community
  • Developing resources through grants and scholarships

Personal, academic, and career counseling are available to students in the Office of Student Affairs. Professional counseling for students and their families are available through the Student Assistance Program (SAP).

In emergency situations, such as a death in the family, special assistance can be provided for notification of professors, medical withdrawal, etc. The office provides policy interpretation and rights adjustment upon request, handles disciplinary and social adjustment issues, and provides self-development opportunities and enrichment activities.

Office of Student Affairs

The Office of Student Affairs provides the leadership and oversight for all the staff and offices within the Division of Student Affairs. Additionally, the staff encourage student participation in and contribution to all Health Science Center programs. The senior student affairs officer establishes and coordinates the system of student conduct and discipline, interprets institutional regulations on academic and non-academic matters as related to students, and acts as a student advocate when appropriate. The Office of Student Affairs is dedicated to fostering student success.

For more information on the Office of Student Affairs, or any office within the Division of Student Affairs, please visit the website at www.hsc.unt.edu/departments/studentaffairs or contact the Office of Student Affairs at 817-735-2505.

Department of Enrollment Services

The Department of Enrollment Services is comprised of the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Financial Aid and the Office of Testing and Evaluation Services. Enrollment Services oversees all enrollment processes for the University, provides student academic and financial services to our current and former students and provides academic support services to faculty.

Office of Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid offers scholarship and loan programs to assist students in meeting the costs of fina ncing their education. Although financial aid is available for eligible students, it should be considered supplemental to a student’s own financial resources. The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to quality customer service and the prompt delivery of aid program funds. Counselors are available to assist students in the application process to ensure that students receive the information needed to make the best decisions regarding their financial aid options. While financial aid is subject to strict federal and state regulations, the staff strives to help students navigate this complex plan in a professional and courteous manner.

For more information about these services, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 817-735-2505, or visit the website at www.hsc.unt.edu/departments/financialaid.

Office of the Registrar

The Office of the Registrar manages and maintains the students’ academic records, insures the integrity, security and confidentiality of academic records, and oversees the development and maintenance of student academic records. These services include transcript generation, grade processing, degree certification, the enrollment and registration process of all students, verification of enrollment, and academic standing and completion of degree. The Office of the Registrar coordinates reports for internal and external compliance, oversees functions related to Veteran’s Affairs, assists in commencement planning, prepares data for state audit reports; coordinates compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); and provides data to support the institution’s tactical initiatives.

The Office of the Registrar can be reached at 817-735-2201. All Registrar-related forms can be obtained by visiting www.hsc.unt.edu/departments/Registrar and clicking on “forms.”

Office of Testing and Evaluation Services

The Office of Testing and Evaluation Services scores, analyzes, and reports results of classroom testing. This office maintains the secure computer-based testing system. Testing and Evaluation Services also administers and proctors classroom examinations. This office also maintains the course and faculty evaluation system for most UNTHSC programs, which includes collecting student evaluative input and reporting results to stakeholders. Additionally, this office supports various data collection and assessment activities through the design of optical mark scanning forms and online surveys, and the analysis and reporting of results.

Department of Student Services

The Department of Student Services is comprised of the Center for Academic Performance, Office of Health Promotion, and Office of Student Development, including career services, international student services, and disability accommodations. Student Services provides co-curricular services, programs, and activities to facilitate students’ academic training, personal growth, and professional development.

Center for Academic Performance (CAP)

The Center for Academic Performance (CAP) is committed to helping all UNTHSC students meet their personal and academic goals by providing comprehensive academic support programs. CAP services and programs are designed to enhance all levels of academic performance through academic consultations, learning assessments, and self-management. They offer academic counseling, learning and study strategy assessments, writing support, peer tutoring, and a variety of workshops to all UNTHSC students. CAP staff also work with faculty to provide and support students in periods of academic difficulty through assistance with planning alternate programs and reassessment of student priorities. All academic support services offered through CAP are available to on-line students.

Learning Strategies - People learn in a variety of ways. Each student needs to find the most effective learning strategy for their personal needs. A wide range of factors goes into determining what works best for a student. Some students learn best in a quiet, solitary environment, some need verbal interaction in a group, others need to be physically active or have an environment rich in sound and other stimuli. The CAP staff can help you find and implement your best strategy through assessment, counseling, and academic support workshops.

Peer Tutoring Programs - Tutoring programs provide the opportunity to share strategies for organizing and learning the large volume of material required to succeed in graduate and professional schools. The following tutoring options are provided: limited individual tutoring, small group tutoring, large group tutorials, drop-in and on-line sessions.

For more information, to make an appointment for study skills counseling, or to request tutoring assistance, contact the Center for Academic Performance at: 817-735-2531, CAP@unthsc.edu, or visit the website at www.hsc.unt.edu/CAP/.

Counseling Services - The Center for Academic Performance counseling services are designed to promote personal growth through academic achievement and the safeguarding of overall wellness. Counselors assist in defining goals, gaining insight, teaching new skills, and supporting choices that are consistent with an individual’s feelings, values, and responsibilities. Counseling services are confidentially provided in accordance with Texas State Law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and the Texas Department of Health - Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Our counselors are active Licensed Professional Counselors. CAP counseling is available to students on a limited basis. UNTHSC also offers off-campus counseling through the Student Assistance Program (SAP). See “Student Assistance Program.” The Center for Academic Performance has a counselor available Monday through Friday 8 am - 5 pm by appointment. Students in need of counseling services can call 817-735-5159 or email counselor@unthsc.edu.

Americans with Disabilities Act - Since 1972, the UNTHSC has welcomed students with disabilities, providing the Center for Academic Performance (CAP) as a central referral agency when accommodations are necessary because of specific limitations. The UNTHSC is committed to providing equal educational access for qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. To provide equality of access for students with disabilities, accommodations and auxiliary aids and services will be provided to the extent necessary to comply with state and federal law.

Services provided by the CAP include:

  1. Holds student disability documentation which admitted students provide as part of a request for academic accommodation;
  2. Provides accommodation information to other Health Science Center offices to coordinate academic accommodations (interpreter, CART, scribe, taped information, typist, etc.);
  3. Assists students with scheduling and class access concerns;
  4. Provides appropriate registration assistance;
  5. Provides reader/scribe and adaptive equipment access for academic test situations;
  6. Provides liaison between students and agencies or department interpreters, note takers, tutors and other auxiliary aids;
  7. Coordinates adaptive equipment access for in-class use;
  8. Acts as consultant in on-campus situations which constitute an accommodation challenge;
  9. Works with individual students and professors or academic advisors regarding accommodation needs; and
  10. Acts as a consultant for accessibility of on-line content.

For information regarding applying for services please contact the CAP at cap@unthsc.edu. For information on the Americans with Disabilities policy, visit the policy website at www.hsc.unt.edu/policies/policieslist.cfm.

Office of Student Development

The Office of Student Development supports the mission of the Division of Student Affairs and the Health Science Center. Its role is to address issues that are relative to all UNTHSC students, from pre-enrollment through graduation. This office coordinates programs and activities that promote the intellectual, professional, moral, social, physical, and emotional development of all students.

There are five student-elected government councils representing each educational program at the Health Science Center. They are the Medical Student Government Association (MSGA); Graduate Student Association (GSA); Public Health Student Association (PHSA); Physician Assistant Student Association (PASA); and the Physical Therapy Student Association (PTSA). Starting in the fall of 2013, there will be a sixth student-elected government council for the pharmacy program.

The Office of Student Development oversees three lounge areas. Two are located on the first floor of the Carl E. Everett Education and Administration Building (CEEEAD). The student lounge in CEEEAD 116 has organizational storage, a networked printer, a copy machine, a telephone for on-campus and local calls, a fax machine, couches and chairs. It is a great place for students to relax, hang out, study, eat, and meet with faculty or friends. The lounge in CEEEAD 110 has vending machines (coin operated), an ice machine, a sink, microwave ovens, restrooms, recreational equipment (pool table, ping-pong tables), a big-screen television, and tables and chairs for relaxing. A third lounge is located on the second floor of the Center for Bio-Health.

Student Organizations - There are many student organizations on the Health Science Center campus that represent a variety of interests within the health professions community. In cooperation with the Office of Student Development, these organizations sponsor programs and activities that promote the intellectual, professional, social, physical, and emotional development of all students. Students are provided with leadership opportunities at the local, regional, and national levels through participation in these groups. The Office of Student Development coordinates the student organization calendar and registration process.

The Health Science Center recognizes the right of any group of students, faculty, or staff to form a voluntary organization for purposes not forbidden by the laws of the United States and the state of Texas. All campus organizations that include enrolled students as members must be registered with the Office of Student Development and the Division of Student Affairs. Policies regulating the functioning, sponsorship, and privileges of registered or recognized organizations are available in the Office of Student Development. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Development at 817-735-5006 or studentdevelopment@unthsc.edu.

Scheduling Events - Student organizations are required to schedule events, seminars, programs, and lectures through the Office of Student Development. Please contact 817-735-5006 or studentdevelopment@unthsc.edu for more information.

Office of International Student Services

The Office of International Student Services conducts orientation programs for new international students and offers assistance with administrative concerns, immigration advisement, and personal counseling. It provides referral to other campus agencies, if required, and gives international students the opportunity to participate in programs designed to introduce students to various aspects of U.S. culture and history.

For more information about these services, please contact the Office of International Student Services at 817-735-2780 or studentdevelopment@unthsc.edu.

Office of Career Services

The Office of Career Services offers assistance and tools needed to help students improve interviewing and networking skills, as well as resume/CV assistance, job fairs, career resources, and presentations on such topics as professional behavior, dressing for success, and much more. In coordination with other academic departments, Career Services provides opportunities for students to succeed further in their chosen profession. For more information, please contact the Office of Career Services at 817-735-2501 or studentdevelopment@unthsc.edu.

Office of Health Promotion

The Office of Health Promotion is dedicated to promoting health and wellness on the UNTHSC campus through various programming and campus activities. The Office of Health Promotion is located in the Founders’ Activity Center on the north end of campus. For more information and a current schedule of activities, please visit www.hsc.unt.edu/sites/HealthPromotion/ or contact the Health Promotion Manager at 817-735-2791. See the listing below for descriptions of activities provided by the Office of Health Promotion.

Founders’ Activity Center (FAC) - The Founders’ Activity Center (FAC) is the center for physical fitness on the UNTHSC campus. The FAC is open 7 days per week to students, faculty, staff, and community members. The Founders’ Activity Center includes multiple weight rooms, a room complete with new cardiovascular equipment, an outdoor basketball court, full-service locker rooms, and FREE group exercise classes for all members. Equipment Orientations are available upon request to all members. Personal Training is available at competitive rates for UNTHSC faculty, staff, and students.

Intramural Sports - The Office of Health Promotion offers various intramural sport activities for UNTHSC students. Tournaments that are offered include Table Tennis, 3-on-3 Basketball, Flag-Football, and many more!

Health Promotion Seminars and Activities - The Office of Health Promotion gives presentations on various wellness topics including Stress Management; Simmer Down Now-A guide to cooking and nutrition for the busy professional and student; and Thirsty Thursday- An anti-drunk driving campaign sponsored by the Student Services offices.

Institutional Support Services


Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library

The Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library supports the educational, patient care, research, and community service missions of the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) by meeting the information needs of faculty, students, staff, and the local health sciences community. The library supports UNTHSC faculty, staff and students by providing a full complement of library services, including access to scholarly bibliographic resources, borrowing privileges, use of individual and group study areas, photocopying and printing, document delivery/interlibrary loan, expert instruction in the use of information resources, and access to professionally trained librarians for reference and search assistance. The library also offers three computer labs outfitted with up-to-date hardware and software used in both teaching and research on campus.

Lewis Library’s staff of 26 employees, including 12 degreed librarians, provides in-person research and reference assistance for 109 hours per week. Both the library’s main and top floors are available for student and faculty use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The library’s scholarly collection contains approximately 12,000 electronic journal titles, 43,000 print books and journals, and over 80 searchable databases in the biomedical sciences, clinical medicine, public health, and affiliated fields. All the library’s electronic resources can be accessed through the Lewis Library web page at http://library.hsc.unt.edu and are available to UNTHSC students, staff, and faculty from anywhere in the world.

Lewis Library also maintains the UNTHSC Scholarly Repository, an online resource that preserves intellectual works created by UNTHSC faculty, staff, and students and enables discovery of these works to the international scientific community. You can view repository items, including student theses and dissertations, at http://digitalcommons.hsc.unt.edu/. In addition to working on the cutting edge of digital content creation and preservation, Lewis Library operates a special collections operation consisting of a rare books collection and a functioning archive operation. These print-based collections give users the opportunity to access historical material in osteopathic and physical medicine and items related to the founding and operation of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

The library uses an online system from Innovative Interfaces, Inc. (III) to acquire, process, and provide access to its collections. Students and faculty may obtain books and journals not owned by Lewis Library via interlibrary loan. Lewis Library has been a resource library in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) since 1991 and is also a member of the South Central Academic Medical Libraries Consortium (SCAMEL), a group of 14 academic medical/health science center libraries in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Additionally, the library participates in TexShare, a state of Texas cooperative library program. TexShare allows UNTHSC students, staff, and faculty physical access to and borrowing privileges from all public libraries as well as various public and private institutions of higher education in Texas. As a member of the University of North Texas System, the library is able to gain access to a wide array of electronic resources outside the health sciences. The library’s participation in NNLM, SCAMEL, TexShare, and the UNT System ensures that UNTHSC students and faculty have access to the world of information beyond the walls of Lewis Library.

The middle floor of Lewis Library was renovated in 2011 to create space that promotes collaboration and facilitates teamwork. The new Collaborative Learning Commons offers an open and spacious feel and includes tables with built-in electrical connections, LCD panels with connections to project large images from laptops, restaurant-style booths with pendant lighting, special chair groupings to accommodate laptop use, and a variety of brightly colored seating options. For closed-door collaborations, the Commons includes eight large conference rooms with flat panel monitors and six smaller meeting rooms. The floor is covered with robust wireless connectivity and each seat offers access to electrical outlets.

The Collaborative Commons offers advanced computing capabilities such as three state-of-the-art iMacs that give faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to use Apple software such as Pages, Keynote, iMovie, and GarageBand. Additional software from Microsoft and Adobe is offered for any projects requiring work with text, graphics, photos, audio, and video. The combination of high-end hardware and software provides near real-time processing of audio/visual files in the production of class/research materials for presentation and/or distribution. Another special educational space in the Commons is the Virtual Anatomy Bar which features a 60” LCD screen connected to a computer that runs the VH Dissector Program. This program uses the Visible Human male dataset to allow exploration and manipulation of human anatomy for student study. In addition to the bar, the themed space is furnished with high tables and stools for student use. A touch screen, life-sized Anatomage Table provides the female and male model in an electronic dissection table for learning and demonstrations.

Information Technology Services

Information Technology Services provides quality computer services to all academic and administrative areas of the Health Science Center. The departments of Information Technology Services that provide services to students are Helpdesk and Client Services and Infrastructure and Security. These departments are located in the Library building and can be accessed through the student helpdesk on the main floor of the Library. For more information on IT Policies, please visit the policies website at www.hsc.unt.edu/policies/PoliciesList.cfm.

Helpdesk and Client Services

Helpdesk and Client Services provides consultation and user assistance to computer users relative to hardware and software use, communications, printing, email, and provides computer purchase recommendations. In addition, the helpdesk re-sells certain software to students under academic purchase agreements. It manages and provides warranty support for the student laptop one-to-one program. All student laptops are supported by this office located in the Library main floor, Room 205. Other services include classroom lecture capture, setup of audiovisual equipment for classroom use, and student equipment checkout.

Infrastructure and Security

Responsible for the design, installation and maintenance of academic and administrative local-area networks (LANs) and wireless networks on campus, email systems, servers, data storage, user access and accounts. Computer users connected to the UNTHSC network have access to a variety of software programs and are able to exchange data and e-mail with users across the institution and off-campus. VPN access is available for both PC and Macintosh platforms.

Media Services

Services include printing, CD/DVD duplication, photography, and graphic arts production. Print and bindery services include 1-, 2-, and 4-color printing, high-speed duplicating, cutting, folding, padding, drilling, and binding. Design services range from business cards to research posters to installed event displays. Photographers provide image files and prints to complete instructional and promotional materials, as well as passport photos, and on-site photography of campus events. CD and DVD duplication facilities can provide from single copies to large-scale production runs; on-disc printed black-and-white and color labels are also available. These services are located on the first floor of the Library building. Additional information is available at the Media Services website: http://www.hsc.unt.edu/departments/mediaservices/.

Center for Learning and Development

The Center for Learning and Development (CLD) offers faculty development opportunities focused on instructional strategies, technologies and assessment techniques with an emphasis on improving student-learning outcomes. A major program of the CLD is the Quality Enhancement Plan or “QEP” project that works with faculty in each of the schools to improve students’ higher order thinking skills. Additionally, the CLD provides consultation services to faculty on evaluation methodology and statistical analysis for research projects and customized surveys.

Center for Online Education

The Center for Online Education provides support to programs, faculty, and students for academic instruction that is provided through online tools and resources. The Center partners with academic departments to develop programs and deliver virtual classroom education. The Center for Online Education also provides training and support for a variety of technology applications related to online learning. Distance students may find help and support for their online experience at http://www.unthsc.edu/education/onlineeducation/.

Interprofessional Practice Education

In 2012 UNTHSC created the Department of Interprofessional Practice with the mission to create a culture of interprofessional education to advance integrated health services and improve the health and quality of life for the people of Texas and beyond. Healthcare research supports the positive impact of effective healthcare teams on improved quality of patient care and reduction of medical errors. UNTHSC’s five schools, The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Health Professions (Physician Assistant, and Physical Therapy), UNT System College of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences are collaborating to provide opportunities for health professions students to train together in promotion of achievement of interprofessional practice competencies across four domains: Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice, Roles/Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication and Teams and Teamwork.

Interprofessional education partnerships are also being developed between UNTHSC and local educational institutions educating those health professions not represented at UNTHSC in order to broaden these training opportunities. Physicians, nurses, physical therapists, physician assistants, social workers, public health specialists, chaplains, biomedical researchers and other allied health and extender health providers have an opportunity to learn about, with, and from each other through interprofessional training opportunities.

For more information on the UNTHSC Department of Interprofessional Practice please contact:

David Farmer, PhD
Director of Interprofessional Practice
david.farmer@unthsc.edu

Records and Information Management

The mission of the Records and Information Management Division is to provide systematic control of records regardless of medium from creation to disposition, reduce the cost and liability associated with records and information management relative to space, litigation, privacy, regulatory non-compliance; provide training and support to the campus in all areas of records and information management, maintain records, containing adequate and proper documentation of UNT Health Science Center functions, policies, decisions, procedures and essential transactions of the institution; designed to furnish information to protect the legal and financial rights of the state and of any person directly affected by activities of the institution. This service is located on the first floor of the Library building.

Research Office

The Research Office is responsible for all basic and applied research, clinical trials, and biomedical technology programs. Programs that promote these activities include seminars and workshops, faculty research programs, collaborative, and community outreach activities, and a variety of programs to encourage students to pursue careers in research.

The Research Office develops policies and administers programs to enhance research and scholarly activity and to assure institutional compliance with all mandated requirements related to research. The office assists in proposal development, identification of and negotiations with potential sources of support and post-award management of research funds. The office manages intellectual property (patents and copyrights), institutional policies, and research contractual matters.

Services Related to Online Education


Center for Online Education

The Center for Online Education provides support to programs, faculty, and students for academic instruction that is provided through online tools and resources. The Center partners with academic departments to develop programs and deliver virtual classroom education. The Center for Online Education also provides training and support for a variety of technology applications related to online learning. Distance students may find help and support for their online experience at http://www.unthsc.edu/education/onlineeducation/.

Division of Student Affairs

The Division of Student Affairs also offers a variety of services for online students. These services include, but are not limited to:

  • 24/7 counseling hotline
  • Free professional counseling in locations across the United States
  • Financial assistance and debt management resources
  • Academic support services such as subject related tutoring and writing skills tutoring
  • Course/instructor evaluation services
  • Registration and enrollment management
  • Student health insurance
  • Career placement services

For a full explanation of all these services provided within the Division of Student Affairs, please visit: http://web.unthsc.edu/Departments/StudentAffairs/.