Technical Standards
The Technical Standards set forth the nonacademic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty to obtain the academic degree awarded by the college.
Candidates must be able to perform the following abilities and skills:
- Observation: The candidate must be able to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand, including those on a computer screen or electronic device. Observation necessitates the functional use of vision, hearing, and sense of touch and is enhanced by the functional use of all the other senses. The candidate must be able to accurately auscultate lung/breath, heart, and bowel sounds to complete the curricular requirement to individually complete the physical examination of a patient. The candidate must use vision, hearing, and smell to assess herds and flocks in which animals cannot be examined individually.
- Communication: The candidate must be able to communicate in English, proficiently and sensitively, in verbal and written form, and be able to perceive nonverbal communication.
- Motor: Candidates must be able to coordinate both gross and fine motor movements, maintain equilibrium, and have functional use of the senses of touch and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control, and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and tasks. Candidates must be able to move at least 50 lbs. vertically and horizontally.
- Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem-solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record, and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.
- Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidates must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of the candidate's intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the consistent, prompt completion of all responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. The candidates must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to function as an effective team player, interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process. The candidates must agree to participation in touching/palpating/handling of all species as directed in the College's curricular requirements.
- Animal Handling: Candidates must be able to participate in touching, palpating, and/or handling of all animal species as directed in, or required by, the College's curricular requirements. Because various species can be unpredictable in behavior, may have dangerous diseases, and could otherwise inflict personal injury during the course of touching, palpating, and/or handling, the candidate must have a rabies vaccination series or proof of an adequate antibody titer (“Rabies Vaccine”). The Rabies Vaccine is a requirement to ensure the candidate’s safety and allow for the candidate's participation in, and successful completion of, the College's curriculum.
Candidates are required to verify that they understand and are able to meet these Technical Standards, at least four weeks prior to matriculation (or if admitted later, within one week). Candidates who may only meet the Technical Standards with accommodation, must contact the Office of Student Services to make a formal request for accommodation. The Dean of Students, in consultation with the College Dean/Program Director, will determine what reasonable accommodations can be provided. The College is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum.
Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment at the College. After matriculation, if a student fails to continue to meet the Technical Standards during subsequent enrollment, the student may apply for accommodation by contacting the Office of Student Services. If the accommodation needed to meet the Technical Standards alters the educational standards of the curriculum, the student's ability to satisfactorily progress in the curriculum will be evaluated by the appropriate College's Student Graduation and Promotion Committee.