Program handbooks

Dental Hygiene: Standards and procedures

Procedures

Patient treatment

Students must provide dental hygiene treatment for a variety of patients in order to fully develop their clinical skills. In accordance with PCC’s Title IX and Non-discrimination and Non-harassment Policy, students must provide dental hygiene treatment for all assigned patients regardless of the patient’s age, race, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, language, physical or mental ability. If a student has a concern about providing dental hygiene treatment for a patient, the student should discuss this situation with the lead clinic instructor. Refusal to provide dental hygiene treatment for a patient due to the patient’s age, race, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, language, physical, or mental ability is considered a violation of essential behaviors (see Professional standards and conduct requirements).

Patient recruitment

Students are required to complete specific patient cases throughout the curriculum. While the Dental Hygiene program provides some patients through the clinical recare system and other mechanisms, it is the student’s responsibility to recruit enough patients to meet clinical requirements. Students are strongly discouraged from providing transportation for patients due to professional liability and boundary considerations. Exceptions may include transporting immediate family members or personal acquaintances who are serving as the student’s patient voluntarily.

Facilities and lockers

The clinics and laboratories are designated as study and work areas. Disregard for the school’s facilities will be brought to the student’s attention. Students are expected to be considerate of their peers by working quietly and following these guidelines:

  • Each student is responsible for maintaining a neat work area in all labs and clinics.
  • All equipment must be returned to its place at the conclusion of the class or lab session.
  • Malfunctioning equipment should be reported to the lead clinic instructor or clinic coordinator.
  • Students are responsible for their own personal property. Purses, book bags, and other valuables should never be left unattended in any classroom or laboratory. Assigned lockers should be used for personal belongings. The staff is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
  • Purses, books, and backpacks are not permitted in the lab or clinic areas unless specifically requested by the instructor.
  • Beverages and food are not allowed in the clinical lab, dental material lab, or radiology lab.
  • PCC Vanport and Portland State University (PSU) are smoke-free campuses. For information, please refer to the PSU Smoke and Tobacco Free Policy.
  • Gum chewing is not permitted in the laboratories or clinics.
Student lockers area, commons area, and restroom

Student lockers are the property of Portland Community College and will be assigned to students at their entry to the program in the Fall. The locker assignment may not be changed. The assigned locker will be kept on record with the program and the student will need to provide their own lock. Students are encouraged to provide the lock combination or spare key to the instructional administrative assistant in the event they are locked out. Lockers should be kept locked at all times. Anything applied to the locker must be easily removable with no damage to the surface.

PCC and the Vanport Building management may open lockers without prior notice for the purpose of repair or maintenance. Neither the college nor its employees nor Vanport building management are responsible for lost, stolen, unlabeled, or damaged belongings stored in lockers or within the facility. It is critical that all personal items and instruments be properly and clearly labeled.

At Vanport, several student common areas are accessible to students to use in between classes, for studying, and meeting. The student lounge with microwaves and refrigerators is for student use only and should be kept clean at all times. Students have access to areas on the 2nd floor of the building for common spaces for studying, eating, or meeting. The restrooms located near the Radiology Lab are strictly for students, faculty, and staff. Patients must use the restroom by the waiting area.

Transportation and parking at Vanport

There is no designated parking at Vanport. Some options include:

Ethics and conduct

Professional Code of Ethics

Dental Hygiene students must adhere to the accepted standards of practice mandated by the profession. For this reason, professional conduct standards for dental hygiene students at PCC are based on the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA) Code of Ethics (see pages 32-38), the Oregon Board of Dentistry Practice Act, and are aligned with the PCC Code of Conduct.

Professional communication and behavior are expected in all interactions and settings. Unethical or unprofessional conduct may prompt a disciplinary review process. For more information, see Due process for violations. Examples of unprofessional conduct include, but are not limited to, falsifying information, plagiarism, cheating, participating in fraudulent practices, using rude or offensive language, engaging in unprofessional communication (written or verbal), providing dental hygiene services without faculty supervision, breaching patient confidentiality, and falsifying, altering, or removing patient or student records from the PCC Dental Clinic.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) Code of Ethics outlines the professional standards and principles that dental hygienists should adhere to in their practice. Students are expected to adhere to the ADHA Code of Ethics as a standard practice. This approach fosters professionalism, ethical behavior, and a commitment to patient care among future dental hygienists. Aligning educational expectations with professional standards promotes a culture of integrity, respect, and accountability within the educational environment.

Professional standards and conduct requirements

By accepting admission into the Dental Hygiene program, students commit to adhering to the professional ethics of the healthcare field, specifically those relevant to Dental Hygiene. Ethical standards are covered in this handbook and throughout the course of study.

A crucial aspect of professional ethics is maintaining the confidentiality of patient records and information related to the dentist and facility. This confidentiality extends to information obtained in the classroom, laboratory, and during off-campus activities. Confidential information must not be disclosed to unauthorized individuals, including family, friends, and fellow students.

Students must consistently demonstrate appropriate language, behavior, and personal attitude while in the program, whether on campus or at clinical sites, and adhere to strict confidentiality practices.

Student expectations

As a student in the PCC Dental Hygiene program, individuals are expected to:

  • Seek assistance whenever needed.
  • Maintain professional relationships with instructors and fellow students, demonstrating courtesy at all times.
  • Show initiative and take advantage of every learning opportunity.
  • Complete all class assignments on time.
  • Accept constructive criticism as a means for self-improvement.
  • Allow instructors to supervise procedures throughout the entire class.
  • Take responsibility for the correct and careful use of school and clinical property.
  • Adhere to the program’s written dress code while at school, on externship sites, and in clinical areas.
  • Exhibit professionalism through appropriate behavior.

All students must adhere to these expectations while enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program at PCC. Unprofessional behavior in any educational setting, including PCC, community rotations, and dental office externships will prompt a disciplinary review process. For more information, refer to the Due process for violations.

Essential behaviors

The faculty members of the Dental Hygiene program have a professional responsibility to ensure that all graduates possess the knowledge, skills, and moral dispositions that are essential to dental hygiene. The professional standards of Safety, Integrity, and Accountability are considered essential to dental hygiene education and practice, are essential behaviors of the Dental Hygiene program, and must be adhered to by students. Failure to comply with these essential behaviors may prompt a disciplinary review process.

Essential behavior guidelines: safety, integrity, and accountability

The following are considered essential behaviors of the Dental Hygiene program and must be followed by students.

  • Safety (actual and potential): The student will act in a safe manner.
    • The following indicate that the essential behavior of safety has not been met:
      • Any act or omission that actually and/or potentially endangers the patient, others, and/or self
      • A failure to conform to the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice (ADHA, 2023)
      • Implements actions or decisions that the student is inadequately prepared to take or make or is outside their scope of practice
    • Examples of unsafe behaviors include, but are not limited to:
      • Violating or threatening the physical, psychological, microbiological, chemical, thermal, or other safety of the patient, peers, faculty, or staff
      • Carrying out a procedure in clinical settings that the student has not passed in the simulation or pre-clinical setting
      • Failing to follow instructions or directions in clinical or laboratory settings
      • Failure to perform adequate infection control measures
      • Improper disposal of sharps
    • Examples of meeting the essential behavior of safety include, but are not limited to:
      • Following infection control protocols, such as washing hands before and after caring for a patient and wearing proper personal protective equipment
      • Competent administration of local anesthesia and breakdown of syringe post-injection
      • Completing dental hygiene services without injury to the patient
      • Obtaining instructor assistance before carrying out non-surgical periodontal therapy for the first time
      • Obtaining instructor assistance when struggling to expose diagnostic radiographs on a patient
  • Integrity: The student will display behavior of integrity and honesty.
    Honesty is a professional characteristic that is vital to the practice of dental hygiene, and is expected of all students. Dishonesty places the public at risk and therefore indicates a violation of this essential behavior. Students are to complete assignments independently unless otherwise indicated to accomplish learning outcomes. If there are study groups to enhance understanding, the study groups do not replace the individual work required.

    • The following indicate that the essential behavior of integrity has not been met:
      • Demonstrated incidents of dishonesty, misrepresentation, or fraud
      • Any act or omission that violates the ethical standards of clinical dental hygiene practice
    • Examples of failing to demonstrate Integrity include but are not limited to:
      • Plagiarizing: Examples include submitting the work of another as one’s own, or purposefully not citing words or ideas borrowed from another source
      • Cheating: Examples include using unauthorized notes during an examination, taking an exam for another student, copying answers from another student’s exam, or providing information from exams to other students by any means, including posting on electronic media, which includes social media sites
      • Violating patient, family, student, and program confidentiality.
      • Discussion or posting on social media networks of learning experiences related to patient care.
      • Stating completion of requirements that have not been completed
      • Entering inaccurate, incomplete, falsified, or altered documentation into a health record of a PCC Dental Clinic Patient or while on rotation at an off-site location
      • Providing dishonest accounts of personal and/or professional actions
      • Failure to report a bloodborne pathogen exposure incident
      • Failure to report inappropriate conduct from peers (bullying, harassment, cheating, etc.)
    • Examples of meeting the essential behavior of integrity include, but are not limited to:
  • Accountability: The student will demonstrate accountability by accepting responsibility for individual actions and maintaining clinical competency.
    To be accountable, dental hygienists follow a code of ethical conduct that include moral principles such as autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice, and veracity, as well as adhering to the scope and standards of dental hygiene practice in the state of Oregon.

    • The following indicate that the essential behavior of accountability has not been met:
      • Failure to demonstrate accountability and responsibility for behaviors and/or omissions
      • Demonstration of irresponsible behavior
    • Examples of failing to demonstrate accountability include but are not limited to:
      • Intentionally inaccurate self-assessment on a skill evaluation
      • Failure to take responsibility for personal and professional actions
      • Failure to notify faculty of inability to attend required learning activities
    • Examples of meeting the essential behavior of accountability include but are not limited to:
      • Being thorough in preparing for clinical practice by looking up unfamiliar terms, patient diagnoses and medications, and reviewing skills that may be performed
      • Meeting established deadlines
      • Consistently arriving at scheduled classes, labs, and clinical sites on time
      • Identifying and acknowledging when behavior falls outside of established standards and identifying self-corrective actions
  • Process for violation of an essential behavior: All students will be granted due process as covered in the Due process section.

College policies

Students are required to read, understand, and follow college and program policies, standards, and ethical guidelines. In addition to reviewing the policies linked in this section, any additional requirements described in the section for one’s program of study should be reviewed and followed. Students assigned to clinical sites are required to learn and follow the policies, rules, and regulations required by the site. Students are encouraged to reach out to program faculty and staff with any questions or clarification needed.

Comprehensive links to college policies can be found on the following webpages:

The policies of particular relevance to students include:

Conduct, professional standards, and ethics

It is especially important for students to comply with the following policies regarding conduct, professional standards, and ethics.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the HIPAA Privacy Rule to implement the requirements of HIPAA (Centers for Disease Control Public Health Law). Under this law, patients’ health information is protected. This includes individually identifiable health information that is transmitted or maintained in any form or medium (electronic, oral, or paper).

What does this mean for Healthcare and Emergency Professions students?

In the course of their study, healthcare and emergency professions students will work in patient-focused settings, which could include providing patient care at the dental clinic, at off-site clinics, with ambulance services, and in hospitals, and/or could include responsibilities for managing patient data. Additionally, patient data and images, including radiographic images, will be part of the classroom and lab instruction. Often, students will act as patients during lab and practice sessions and confidentiality policies will apply. Students will have access to confidential patient data in these settings and are expected to:

  • protect patient and student confidentiality at all times,
  • comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA),
  • strictly follow all policies and procedures at the facilities in which off-site clinicals, internships, practicums, and co-ops are held,
  • uphold the professional ethics guidelines of their field of study, and
  • adhere to Portland Community College’s confidentiality policies, including Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Specific guidelines related to HIPAA and confidentiality include, but are not limited to:

  • Any information (including images, and written or verbal) related to patient care is strictly confidential and is:
    • not to be shared, copied, or discussed with anyone outside of the direct care of the patient, and
    • not to be removed from a healthcare facility or service unless written permission has been given by the clinical agency to remove such information. Information may be disclosed only as defined in HIPAA guidelines for educational purposes.
  • Radiographic images that are used for image critiques, case study, or lab sessions must have all patient and hospital identification removed. Students attending critique sessions away from their home sites may bring radiographic images only on approved devices that follow HIPAA requirements. No images taken with cell phones are allowed.
  • Photographs, recordings, and videos of patients must never be taken, whether a patient gives permission or not. If patient images are being considered for an educational purpose, the student must check with the instructor who will determine policies at the practicum site.
  • Absolutely no reference to a patient, even if de-identified, should ever be shared electronically via email outside of PCC email or on social networking sites such as Facebook. The instructor may direct students to share select de-identified patient information via PCC email or D2L for course preparation or learning purposes.
  • No facility or facility staff information should be shared via personal email, on social networking sites, or by other means outside the learning environment.
Required training
  • Read about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
  • Students are required to complete a HIPAA training module through the college’s third-party vendor, DISA.
  • Ongoing training and guidance will be provided as appropriate throughout the instructional courses.
  • Students participating in off-site clinicals, internships, practicums, and co-ops are required to attend their clinical site’s HIPAA training to become educated on the facility’s confidentiality policies and procedures.
Violations of HIPAA and confidentiality

Any action that violates patient or student confidentiality will have long-lasting consequences for the student’s career and a serious impact on their standing in the program. All actions will be addressed quickly and will prompt a review process in which program probation or dismissal is considered. See Due process for violations. The off-site clinical, internship, practicum, or co-op facility could impose further disciplinary actions, including immediate dismissal from the site.

Dress code

The purpose of these guidelines is to establish clear dress code and appearance standards to maintain a safe, professional, and inclusive environment at Portland Community College (PCC) in the Healthcare and Emergency Professions Pathway (HEP). These requirements ensure safety and infection control, as well as prepare students for clinical and professional settings. These guidelines are in accordance with applicable PCC policies. Students participating in clinicals, internships, practicums, co-ops, and other external educational settings may need to adhere to additional procedures and guidelines set by their assigned facility.

Dress code
  • Attire:
    • Clothing should be clean, neat, and appropriate for an academic setting.
    • Attire should not have offensive language, images, or messages in accordance with the college’s Nondiscrimination and Non-harassment Policy.
    • Footwear should be safe and suitable for the lab and clinical environment. Closed-toe shoes made of leather or a similar material that is resistant to needles and liquids are required.
    • Hats are not permitted in clinical settings (hair coverings worn for religious purposes are not an issue).
  • Uniform standards:
    • Certain programs may require uniforms or specific attire. These requirements must be followed.
    • Uniforms and shoes should be clean with no wrinkles or tears, properly fitted, and worn as intended.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
    • Students in labs, workshops, and other hands-on environments must wear appropriate PPE as specified by their instructors.
    • PPE may include items such as safety glasses, gloves, lab coats, and closed-toe shoes. There may be additional/different PPE requirements based on the nature of the program.
Appearance
  • Grooming standards:
    • Students are expected to practice good personal hygiene.
    • Hair, including facial hair, should be clean and well-maintained.
      • Hair should be secured to prevent it from getting caught in equipment or interfering with the task at hand.
      • Facial hair should be groomed to ensure a proper seal with a procedural mask, if required.
    • Students should avoid strong fragrances that may cause discomfort or allergic reactions.
    • Nails: CDC guidelines specify that artificial nails should not be worn when having direct contact with patients. The maximum nail length is 1/4 inch and nails should not pose a risk of tearing gloves. Nail polish, if worn, should be tidy and unchipped for hygiene purposes.
    • Ensure hands are clean and washed before touching or performing clinical procedures.
  • Tattoos and piercings:
    • Students participating in clinical experiences are required to follow the tattoo and appearance policies of the facility where they are placed.
    • Piercings are allowed provided they do not interfere with tasks, such as patient care. In some settings, jewelry that could get caught on equipment and pose a safety risk is not allowed. Please refer to program-specific requirements for further details.
Accommodation and exceptions

In cases where assigned facilities for clinicals, internships, practicums, and co-ops have specific dress and personal appearance codes, those regulations and any applicable process for accommodations will be used by the facility. For circumstances when PCC is the decision maker, the college will provide reasonable accommodations or modifications that do not fundamentally alter any program standard or compromise safety, health, and hygiene standards.

All students are responsible for adhering to the appearance and dress code standards of the Healthcare and Emergency Professions pathway, program, and the clinical setting (if applicable). For safety reasons, students who do not comply with the dress code will be asked to leave the course session to correct their attire and return only after making the necessary changes. Attendance and tardiness rules will apply when such corrections are necessary. Students not in compliance with these standards could be subject to a disciplinary review process. See Due process for violations.

Program-specific requirements

In addition to the Healthcare & Emergency Professions pathway dress code and appearance standards, Dental Hygiene program students are required to adhere to the guidelines below. Students who are not in compliance with dress code or appearance standards will be required to leave the clinical, laboratory, or classroom setting to correct the issue. Missed time will be subject to attendance and grading policies.

Uniforms

Students are required to wear their uniform to all clinical and laboratory courses. The Dental Hygiene program uniform consists of Landau brand scrubs, along with a white lab coat and leather (or leather-like) closed-toe and closed-heel shoes that are impermeable to sharp instruments, needles, and liquids. Students generally participate in clinic or laboratory courses a minimum of two days per week, so it is recommended to have at least two tops, two pants, and one lab coat.

Specific information will be provided prior to fall term. The required scrubs will be either navy or pewter depending on the cohort year.

  • Scrub tops:
    • Solid front (no zippers or buttons)
    • Solid color
    • Standard short sleeves (no cap sleeves)
  • Scrub pants:
    • Full length (cover ankles and touch the tops of shoes when standing)
    • No jogger styles
    • No low-rise styles
  • Warm up Scrub Jacket
    • Snap front
    • Knit cuffs
  • Undershirts, hijabs, or scrub caps:
    • Solid black only
  • Lab jacket:
    • Unisex
    • White
    • Mid-length/38”
    • Embroidered with:
      • First line: first and last name
      • Second line: PCC, Dental Hygiene

Students are required to purchase Landau brand scrubs that meet the program’s uniform criteria for style, color, and fit as outlined in this handbook. Landau scrubs may be purchased online or in person through retailers such as Scrubs and Beyond or other uniform suppliers. Students who purchase in person at the Scrubs and Beyond Beaverton or Happy Valley locations may receive a 20% discount with a valid student ID.

Shoes
  • Black, non-slip
  • Solid material (leather preferably, no holes, mesh, etc.)
  • No open tops or backs
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

In addition to the required uniform, students must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during all clinical and laboratory activities. Required PPE may include safety glasses with side shields, gloves, face masks, fluid-resistant gowns, hearing protection, and other protective equipment based on the procedure being performed. Specific PPE requirements for non-patient clinical or laboratory settings will be determined by the course instructor.

During all patient care procedures, students are required to wear gloves, a face mask, a fluid-resistant gown, and loupes with side shields. Safety glasses alone do not meet patient care PPE requirements. Students are also required to purchase and wear hearing protection during patient care procedures.

Students must wear all required PPE as defined by the procedure being performed and/or as directed by faculty. Failure to comply with PPE requirements may result in removal from the clinical or laboratory setting.

Safety glasses and shields
  • PCC will provide a standard pair of safety glasses for the student in the student kit; however, students may prefer to purchase their own safety glasses
  • Students are required to purchase loupes for patient care
  • If students need prescription eyewear, safety shields must be affixed to them
  • Safety glasses are also worn by all patients during treatment procedures
Other safety guidelines

No facial jewelry or piercings are allowed except for earrings that meet program guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, nose, eyebrow, lip, tongue rings, studs, chains, or stretched lobe piercings.

Students with pierced ears may wear no more than two earrings per ear. Earrings must be small and secured to the ear. Acceptable styles include small post (stud) earrings or small, close-fitting hoops that do not extend beyond the earlobe. Large hoops, dangling earrings, or earrings that pose a safety or infection control risk are not permitted.

The National Institutes of Health has identified piercings as a potential vector for bloodborne hepatitis (Hepatitis B, C, D, and G) transmission. Disease transmission has been associated with ear piercing, and cases of endocarditis have been linked to both nose and ear piercing. The American Dental Association (ADA) opposes intraoral/perioral piercing.

Hair must be secured away from the face and neck during all clinical and laboratory procedures. Students not in compliance will be asked to correct the issue prior to patient care.

Attendance

Class attendance and participation are crucial to success in the Dental Hygiene program and the field of dentistry. Regular attendance is a responsibility that students assume upon enrollment. Both lecture and lab classes require mandatory regular attendance and punctuality. Under no circumstances should a student miss one class to make up another or miss a rotation to make up course activities or homework. Absences may result in a lower course grade (refer to individual class syllabi for specific attendance policies). A student’s attendance habits reflect their willingness to learn and can ultimately impact their future career success.

Since absenteeism adversely affects students’ grades, it could make it difficult to maintain the minimum GPA required for Financial Aid eligibility. Additionally, if students are unable to pass a course and have to repeat the course, Financial Aid will not pay for the same course twice. Adherence to the attendance requirements is therefore important.

The Dental Hygiene program is rigorous, requiring a substantial academic workload alongside clinic and laboratory assignments. It is generally understood that for each hour of classroom lecture, students should devote one hour to home study and one hour to completing assignments and projects.

Exceptions may be granted for extenuating circumstances and are determined on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, students may request consideration for an exception by emailing the Dental Hygiene faculty department chair (FDC).

Lecture and lab attendance

Attendance will be recorded by the instructor at the beginning of each class session using the college’s learning management system (D2L). Students are responsible for being present and prepared at the start of class to be marked present. Arrival after attendance has been recorded may result in a tardy or absence, in accordance with course policies.

Students are not permitted to falsify attendance in any way. Any attempt to misrepresent attendance is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and may result in a disciplinary review process (see Due process for violations).

It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all missed lecture and class materials. Missed quizzes, examinations, in-class activities, or other graded assignments due to an absence will receive a score of “0.” If a lab session is missed, students must communicate with the instructor and classmates to obtain any missed instructional information. Students are responsible for finding time in a subsequent lab session to make up missed work. Additional lab sessions or “make-up” time will not be provided.

Tardiness or early departure from a lecture or a single lab session (AM or PM) will result in a 2% deduction from the final course grade for each occurrence. Absences will result in a 4% deduction for a lecture or a single lab session (AM or PM).

  • Tardiness: Arriving within the first 5 minutes of class start time will be counted as tardiness.
  • Early departure: Leaving more than 5 minutes before class dismissal will be counted as an absence.
  • Absence: Arriving more than 5 minutes late to class or missing a scheduled class session will be counted as an absence.

No more than three absences are permitted; exceeding this limit will result in a failing grade for the course. Students with more than three absences must meet with the Dental Hygiene faculty department chair (FDC) to discuss their situation and possible next steps.

Reporting lecture and lab absences: Students are expected to inform all instructors of their absence prior to the first class of the day via email or voicemail.

Clinical attendance

Due to the progressive nature of this course, attendance is mandatory at all clinic sessions. Attendance will be monitored at each clinic session. Students are expected to attend all assigned clinic sessions and remain for the entire scheduled session. For clinical sessions, tardiness and absences are defined as follows:

  • Tardiness: not being present at the start of each clinic session.
  • Absence: not being present at the start of patient care.

Late arrival or early departure from the clinic is a 2% deduction from the final course grade for each occurrence. Absences, regardless of the nature, are a 4% deduction from the final course grade for each occurrence.

Clinic attendance procedures
  • Time logs will be kept in the student’s notebook to monitor student attendance. Students must sign in and out at huddles. Students are not permitted to sign in for their classmates, as this is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and may lead to a disciplinary review process (see Due process for violations).
  • Any non-patient time will be documented by the student and their pod instructor in a separate log.
  • In the case that a student does not have a patient for the clinic period, the student must remain active within the clinic, assisting others to meet contact hour requirements, or a grade of incomplete may be given.
  • Make-up clinical or lab time is not guaranteed and will only be considered under extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the course instructor and faculty department chair

Participation in the end-of-term clinic clean-up is mandatory. Failure to participate in clinic clean-up will result in an 8% deduction from the final course grade (absence and missing mandatory session).

Reporting clinical absences: If a student must be absent, they are required to call the PCC Dental Clinic  (971-722-4909) and the clinic lead as early as possible prior to the clinic session. Following these calls, the student must send an email to the front office, clinic lead, faculty department chair (FDC), and program dean. Students who do not meet this requirement will receive one letter grade deduction from the final grade for each unexcused absence.

Off-site events

At times, students may attend an off-site event in lieu of regularly scheduled class time. In that case, attendance at the event constitutes attendance in the course. Failure to arrive at the event on time, leaving before scheduled, or not attending the event will result in the related course attendance deductions, and is considered a violation of essential behaviors see the Professional standards and conduct requirements section.

Jury duty

Students in the Dental Hygiene program may be eligible to defer jury duty. Due to the demanding nature of the program and the requirement for consistent clinical experience, students may need to request a postponement of jury duty. It is important to check with the court system for specific guidelines and procedures regarding deferrals.

Communication

Personal and professional communication

Students in the Healthcare & Emergency Professions pathway are trained to become professionals in their chosen careers. In these roles, they will have the privilege of interacting with a diverse group of people. During the course of their professional education, students will strengthen their personal communication skills to improve effectiveness with people. Communication involves interactions between students, patients, faculty, staff, and guests located on campus or at off-campus learning sites (agencies, clinical facilities, or other settings). Respect for individual differences in opinions, beliefs, gender, lifestyle practices, religious, racial, cultural, or social backgrounds should be demonstrated by using effective listening and communication skills, as well as showing respect for physical space and privacy issues.

Communication methods and standards
  • Email: The primary mode for program and instructor communication will be via students’ PCC email address. See PCC’s Communication Policy.
  • D2L Brightspace: Communications specific to each course will be delivered via announcements and postings in D2L Brightspace learning platform.
  • Office hours: Full-time instructors are available for selected in-person and virtual office hours each week. Appointments are made through the individual instructor.
  • Chain of communication:
    • Course syllabus and D2L Brightspace: Refer to the course syllabus and D2L Brightspace for questions and concerns related to course requirements.
    • Course instructor: Refer questions and concerns directly to the assigned faculty instructor. Students who have difficulties with individual faculty should first aim to resolve the issues directly with that faculty. For clinical experiences, reach out to the assigned clinical instructor and clinical coordinator, if applicable.
    • If the preceding steps have been followed without questions or concerns being adequately addressed, the student may next contact the faculty department chair (FDC).
    • Individual questions, concerns, and comments about the program overall can be discussed with the program dean, as escalated by FDC.
    • There are opportunities for students to provide feedback about courses throughout the year through course evaluations. Some programs invite student representation on committees.
Use of electronic devices

Use of cellular phones or other electronic devices that may interfere with learning activities are prohibited during classroom, laboratory, and clinical laboratory practice activities and examinations, unless features such as amplification, magnification, or transcription tools are used as learning aids. Students should limit use of such devices to breaks and turn them off (or silence them) upon return. Use of cell phones for recording or taking images in the clinical setting is prohibited as it can be a HIPAA violation (see the HIPAA section). Permission from fellow students, faculty, and staff is required prior to any pictures taken on campus.

Social media

Students are expected to adhere to the following guidelines in order to maintain the professional and ethical standards of the program and the clinical affiliates:

  • Do not post anything that would violate FERPA (student privacy) and HIPAA (see the HIPAA section) (patient privacy) regulations. Activities that occur during clinical rotations or that involve patients are not to be shared.
  • Be mindful of the language used when discussing the affiliate, program, fellow students, faculty, or staff, and avoid any comments that could be perceived as derogatory or harmful. Instead, address concerns by following the Grievance process.
  • Do not ask to connect with instructors on social networks in order to maintain an appropriate professional relationship. Upon graduation, instructors and students may connect if all parties agree.
  • Use good judgment before posting personal pictures. Be aware that information you post online may be available to anyone, and could be misconstrued.
  • See related college policies and guidelines:

Nothing in this social media section is intended to restrict any expressive activity that is legally protected.

Program-specific guidelines
Use of cell phones or other electronic devices

Use of cellular phones and other electronic devices that may interfere with learning activities is not permitted during classroom, laboratory, or clinical sessions unless authorized by the instructor or required as part of an approved accommodation.

In classroom settings, electronic devices may be used only as directed by the instructor or as outlined in an approved accommodation. Students who require the use of a cell phone as part of an approved accommodation must work with Accessible Education and Disability Resources (AEDR). Accommodations must be approved and in place before a cell phone may be used for accommodation purposes.

In laboratory and clinical settings, personal electronic device use is prohibited during active procedures and patient care. Personal electronic devices may only be used when explicitly authorized by faculty for clinical or educational purposes or when required as part of an approved accommodation.

Use of personal devices for recording, photographing, or capturing any images or information in clinical settings is strictly prohibited and may constitute a HIPAA violation.

Recording and distribution of course lecture/lab sessions

Students who wish to make auditory or visual recordings of any portion of the class must obtain prior approval from the instructor before the course begins. Such recordings are for personal use only and may not be shared, copied, uploaded to the internet, or distributed without written permission from the instructor and any students who appear in or are heard in the recording.

Social Media

Activities involving patients or occurring during clinical rotations must not be posted, discussed, or shared on social media or other public platforms, regardless of whether patient information has been de-identified.

Employment while in program

Employment while in the Dental Hygiene program is challenging due to the rigorous nature of the curriculum and study time necessary to be successful. However, it is recognized that some students may need to retain part-time employment to ensure financial stability while in the program. For students working while in the program, work hours must be outside of scheduled course hours or program obligations. There will be no exceptions to attendance or assignment deadlines due to employment. Additionally, students will have a summer break between the first and second year of the program, which they may use for employment.

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