Program Overview

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Dental Hygiene Program

The Dental Hygiene program is designed to educate students in the prevention and control of oral diseases. To become a licensed, registered dental hygienist, students must complete an American Dental Association (ADA) accredited dental hygiene program, pass the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination, and a state or regional examination.

Program Overview

Dental hygienists are licensed health care professionals who specialize in preventing oral health problems and diseases. The primary responsibility of a dental hygienist is to treat and educate patients in the control and prevention of oral diseases. Typical functions of the clinical dental hygienist include assessing health histories, evaluating and charting oral conditions, removing deposits from the teeth, exposing and processing dental x-rays, applying preventive agents to the tooth surfaces, and providing individualized oral hygiene instruction services.

Academic Advising

The division director and faculty serve as student advisors, providing guidance on academic issues, program policies, study problems, time management, and clinical progress. Advisors can also refer students to other support systems in the university or community.

Academic Warning

The Academic Performance Committee meets twice per semester to review students' academic progress. Students identified as performing at an unsatisfactory level in any course are sent a letter from the program director requesting that they meet with their course instructor and academic advisor.

Advancement, Probation, and Dismissal

A satisfactory rate of progress toward the degree is determined by the Dental Hygiene Academic Performance Committee. Students can be considered for dismissal from the School of Dentistry for academic deficiencies or violation of university regulations.

• Unconditional Advancement: Students who achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.0 each semester, successfully complete all prescribed courses and semester requirements, and earn a satisfactory grade in each course taken.
• Probationary Advancement: Students who withdraw from a prescribed course with approval, receive an unsatisfactory grade in a single course, or receive an incomplete grade in any course.
• Dismissal: Students who receive an unsatisfactory grade in one or more courses, a course being repeated, or a course being remediated.

Appeal Procedures

Students may appeal an Academic Performance Committee decision that recommends remediation, repetition of the year, or academic dismissal. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the dean's office within five days of receiving the written notification of the committee's recommendation.

Grades

The standing of students in their work is expressed by the following grades:

• A = Excellent
• B = Above Average
• C = Average
• F = Failure
• P = Pass
• W = Withdraw

Final Grade for Course Remediation/Repetition

A grade of "C" is the highest letter grade that can be achieved in the remediation of a course. Following remediation of a course, the grade assigned will be the grade achieved by the student.

Grades in Clinical Rotation and Practicums

Clinical rotations and practicums may be graded S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory), or may be assigned a letter grade, depending on the department policy.

Incomplete

Incomplete grades should not be confused with failing grades. The assignment of an "I" grade indicates that the student failed to complete the requirements for the course due to unexpected and extenuating circumstances.

Academic Grievance Policies

A student wishing to appeal the assignment of a grade must submit their grievance to the course director within seven days of the grade assignment. The appeal mechanism is limited to possible clerical errors or allegations of mistakes or unfairness in the application of published academic standards.

Dropping a Course

There is a six-course drop limit established by the Texas Senate. This legislation is applicable to all Texas public colleges and universities.

Withdrawal from a Course

Withdrawal refers to the procedure by which students voluntarily remove themselves from courses in which they are enrolled. Students must seek counseling from the course director and the program director before withdrawing from a course.

Leave of Absence

Students in good academic standing seeking an extended leave of absence due to extenuating physical or personal reasons must submit a written request to the dean. The request should include reasons, duration, and plans for resuming dental studies.

Requests to Change Schedule of Examinations

The official dates and times of all examinations are published in the final class schedules. Students or the course director may initiate requests for changes in the schedule of examinations.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend and actively participate in all regularly scheduled classes, laboratories, and clinical periods. The policy regarding attendance and the consequences for failure to comply is the prerogative of the course director and the department responsible for that portion of the curriculum.

Reporting Absenteeism

Attendance is mandatory at all clinic, lab, and lecture classes. Students must report their absence immediately, and the dental hygiene office will maintain a roster of absentees and the reported reasons for absence.

Dress Code and Grooming

An excellent dental education is dependent on the number of patients and the diverse patient needs that allow students to provide a broad scope of oral health care. The dress code policy is published on the School of Dentistry Intranet site.

Student Concerns

Various mechanisms are available at all levels for student input regarding their concerns. Individuals and groups who respond to these concerns include course directors, advisors, associate dean for academic affairs, and the associate dean for student affairs.

National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

Senior dental hygiene students will be eligible to take the written national board the spring semester of their senior year, provided they successfully complete the fall senior courses.

National Clinical Dental Hygiene Examination

Senior dental hygiene students in good standing will be eligible to take the clinical dental hygiene examination in the spring semester of their senior year, provided they successfully complete the fall senior courses.

Dean's List

Current students in the dental hygiene bachelor's degree program with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.75 or greater for an academic semester may qualify for inclusion on the dean's list.

Honors Program

The School of Dentistry contributes to the national effort within the dental education community to increase students' awareness of the academic arm of the profession. The school also works to enhance awareness of career options in teaching, scholarship, and academic administration.

Graduation with Distinction in Dental Education

Gaining the Distinction in Dental Education recognition is reserved for students who complete additional enrichment coursework that immerses them in a world of teaching and academics.

School of Dentistry Social Media Guidelines

The purpose of this policy is to promote the safety and privacy of students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors. Students, faculty members, and staff must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) when using social media.

Netiquette

The School of Dentistry has developed Netiquette Guidelines which align with the social media policy.

• Think twice before posting - Privacy does not exist in the world of social media.
• Strive for accuracy - Students should be certain that anything they post on a social media site is factual.
• Be respectful - Posted responses and comments should be respectful and considerate.
• Photography - Students should be aware that photographs posted on social media sites can easily be accessed by visitors to those sites.
• Rules - It is essential to review the terms of service, privacy settings, and other policies of the social media network before use.

UT Health San Antonio Social Media Policy

Familiarize yourself with existing UT Health San Antonio's employment policies and disclaimers. All communication professionals should follow all rules and policies.