SHP General Information

SHP Mission

The mission of the TTUHSC School of Health Professions is to enhance the quality of life of those we serve by delivering exemplary holistic student-centered education and cultivating research opportunities, while championing interprofessional and clinical care partnerships that are innovative and relevant to the communities we serve.

SHP Vision

The TTUHSC School of Health Professions will be a premier school that uses innovation and collaboration across education, scholarship, and clinical care for West Texas communities and beyond.

SHP Organizational Philosophy

As a multi-campus, regional element of the TTUHSC education system, we seek to encourage maximum learning and enhance the accessibility of our educational programs and services by applying a variety of innovative educational approaches and technologies.

We seek, through our research and clinical service activities, to contribute positively to improving the general health status and overall quality of life of the people of West Texas, while enhancing our professional and clinical competence.

Our faculty are, first and foremost, student-oriented and teaching-focused. We value activities that enhance teaching effectiveness and learning while seeking to create an environment conducive to research and effective clinical service.

Our staff are student-oriented professionals who provide high-quality, responsive service to students and faculty. We strive to maintain an empowering environment based on mutual trust, respect, and partnership among faculty, staff, and students.

We accomplish our mission with the context of the mission, vision, and policies of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the Board of Regents.

Our Commitment to a Meaningful University Culture

As Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) pursues excellence in health professions education, research, and patient care, we recognize that our strength is enhanced by utilizing the unique perspectives and talents of our learners, team members, patients, and community partners. We are committed to fostering a culture in which every member of our community can pursue achievement and meaningfully contribute to our shared mission.

TTUHSC invests intentionally in cultivating its values-based culture and offers leadership development programs through the Office of People & Values. As a distinguishing characteristic that informs our university’s strategy, TTUHSC’s institutional culture equips and motivates us to promote an environment where students are consistently empowered to lead with purpose and compassion. As such, we also strive to eliminate any obstacles or challenges that may impede full participation in academic, clinical, and/or research activities.

In accordance with Texas Tech University System Regulation 07.10: Nondiscrimination and Antiharassment Policy & Complaint Procedure, the university commits to facilitating an environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. The School of Health Professions and TTUHSC aligns our practices with this, and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on or related to sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected category, class, or characteristic under applicable law.

Expectations of Student

Students studying in the School of Health Professions must complete the professional curriculum within the prescribed school and departmental academic and calendar guidelines. Health Professions students are required to observe program, departmental, school, and institutional regulations and requirements. Health Professions students are expected to maintain a professional attitude toward the patients to whom they will provide healthcare and toward the colleagues with whom they learn and work. Only the specific course instructor can excuse absences. Other policies concerning departmental expectations of Health Professions students are contained in the respective SHP department sections of this student handbook. Students will be held responsible for both the information contained in this catalog and in the departmental handbooks. In addition, students are expected to abide by all stated school or departmental policies and regulations.

Misuse or Abuse of Computer Equipment, Programs, or Data

Conduct for which disciplinary action may be taken in relation to computer equipment, programs, or data include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Unauthorized use of computing resources or use of computing resources for unauthorized or non-academic purposes.

2. Unauthorized accessing or copying of programs, records, or data belonging to TTUHSC or another user or copyrighted software without permission.

3. Attempted or actual breach of the security of another user’s account, depriving another user of access to TTUHSC computing resources, compromising the privacy of another user, or disrupting the intended use of computing or network resources.

4. Attempted or actual use of TTUHSC computing resources for personal or financial gain.

5. Attempted or actual transport of copies of TTUHSC programs, records, or data to another person or computer site without written authorization.

6. Attempted or actual destruction or modification of programs, records, or data belonging to TTUHSC or another user or destruction of the integrity of computer-based information.

7. Attempted or actual use of the computing facilities to interfere with the normal operation of TTUHSC computing systems; or, through such actions, causing a waste of such resources (people, capacity, computer).

8. Allowing another person, either through one’s personal computer account or by other means, to accomplish any of the above.

9. Any violation of federal or state laws or violation of the TTUHSC computer use policies or “Code of Student Conduct.”

Any act or omission that violates federal, state, or local laws or regulations relating to computer equipment, programs, or data and which is not otherwise covered in the TTUHSC Student Handbook is grounds for disciplinary action and referral to the appropriate law enforcement or investigative agency.

Misuse of Protected Health Information

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that protects the privacy and security of patients’ protected health information (PHI). In general, HIPAA requires that PHI should not be accessed, used, or disclosed unless the access/use/disclosure is for treatment, payment, or healthcare operation (TPO) purposes. TTUHSC faculty, staff, and students accessing their own or family members’ records in EMR without being involved in the TPO of them is a reportable HIPAA breach, thus, a high risk to TTUHSC. The Office of Institutional Compliance provides quarterly reports to all departments, listing team members who inappropriately accessed their own and/or their family members’ records in EMR. Departments determine disciplinary actions to be taken.

Marketable Skills

1. Interpersonal and Communication Skills. Ability to interact and communicate effectively with varied audiences (patients, colleagues, healthcare team, other professional groups, etc.).
2. Professionalism. Professional conduct; understanding of legal/regulatory requirements; time management skills; critical thinking; respect; compassion; integrity; sensitivity to culture, age, and gender.
3. Lifelong Learning and Improvement. Ability to critically analyze and reflect on one’s own practice experience and professional literature, for the purpose of learning and improving skills.
4. Interprofessional Practice. Awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of healthcare; ability to perform effectively in different team roles.
5. Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills. Defined specifically by the programs.

Technical Standards

To successfully complete a program within the School of Health Professions, students must meet the established technical standards for their respective program. The abilities and expectations for the program must be met by all students admitted, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Change of Contact Information

Students are required to: Maintain a current address(s) (i.e. permanent, local, emergency contact, billing, etc.) and telephone number(s) in the TTUHSC WebRaider Portal at https://webraider.ttuhsc.edu. Additionally, students must keep their emergency contact information up to date. The School of Health Professions will not be held responsible for consequences incurred due to address changes that are not reported.