Surgical Technology 6550, A.S. Career/Tech

A Two-Year Program Leading to the A.S. Degree

Completion of the two-year Surgical Technology program provides graduates with an A.S. degree in Surgical Technology. Students complete the Surgical Technology courses along with the general education courses required for the associate degree. Associate degrees are required by The Association of Surgical Technologists and related accreditation agencies to help graduates meet the changing needs in today’s health care system. Upon successful completion of this program, the graduate will be eligible to sit for the National Board of Surgical  Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Certification Examination. Arrangements will be made for students to take the National Examination. A fee will be assessed to students to cover the cost of the exam.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Vincennes University Surgical Technology program is:
To prepare entry-level Surgical Technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. This program provides training designed to assist qualified motivated students the opportunity for professional success. Through a combination of hands-on lab, simulation, and classroom instruction, this program will aid in increasing the quality and efficiency of surgical patient care.

Admission Requirements for High School Graduates with 12 College Credit Hours or Less

To be considered for direct admission into the program, applicants must have fulfilled the following criteria:

1. Admission requirements of the University.
2. Graduation from an accredited high school or satisfactory completion of the High School Equivalency (HSE) test.
3. Placement into MATT 107 , MATT 109 , or higher with no corequisites as determined by the Vincennes University Placement Test (Accuplacer).
4. Placement into ENGL 101  or higher with no corequisites.
5. Completion of the standard health form demonstrating physical and mental health necessary for the performance of a Surgical Technologist.

Admission Requirements for High School Graduates with More than 12 College Credit Hours

To be considered for admission into the program, students should have fulfilled the following criteria:

1. A 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA) in previous college coursework.
2. A grade of C or better in all previously completed courses in the Surgical Technology curriculum. General Education courses may be taken no more than twice to earn a grade of C or better. Applicant may repeat Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, Medical Terminology, and ENGL 101  only one time in order to achieve a grade of “C” or better.
3. Completion of the standard health form demonstrating physical and mental health necessary for the performance of a Surgical Technologist.

Note: Applicants in general studies will be reviewed for possible program admission following completion of the recommended coursework with a grade of C or better. Applicants not meeting the above selected criteria for direct admission may be advised to enroll in general studies courses to meet these requirements. Some students failing to meet the above criteria will be advised into another curriculum.

Admission Procedures

1. Applicants should follow regular college admission procedure.
2. Applicants will be eligible to apply to the program in January of their freshman year.
3. Applicants may be interviewed by member(s) of the admission committee upon recommendation of the committee.
4. Results of the application data, transcripts, pre-entrance test scores and interview (if applicable) will be reviewed and all applicants will be notified regarding their admission standing.
5. Acceptance for admission to the University does not necessarily insure admission to the Surgical Technology Program.

Requirements for Surgical Technology Students

1. Students must possess CPR certification as required in the program admissions packet.
2. Students must obtain a satisfactory criminal history background report and drug screening report from firms in the program admissions packet. Reports are to be accessible to the University and clinical sites. Fees for these reports are at the expense of the applicants. Refer to the Surgical Technology web site for details on the Criminal History Background Check policy. https://www.vinu.edu/web/guest/major/surgical-technology-a-s-career-tech
3. Students must provide verification of all immunizations listed in the program admissions packet. 
4. Students will be charged a fee to cover mandatory liability insurance.
5. Students are encouraged to carry an active health-hospitalization insurance policy.
6. Students must supply own transportation to clinical sites.

Standards for Progression and Graduation

1. Surgical Technology students must achieve a minimum grade of C in each course in the Surgical Technology Curriculum as a prerequisite for continuance in the program. Failure to meet this requirement will result in withdrawal of the student from the Surgical Technology Program.
2. Clinical experience is evaluated as a “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” performance based upon criteria established by the program. If the clinical laboratory performance is  “unsatisfactory”, a failing grade will be received in that course.
3. All required coursework must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better prior to completion of SURG 215  and SURG 225 .
4. Students who receive a failing grade in a required Surgical Technology course (those with a SURG prefix) will not be eligible for readmission to the program regardless of GPA.
5. An application for readmission following withdrawal from the program will be evaluated individually by the Admission Committee.
6. Students may only be readmitted to the program one time. If unsuccessful in the second attempt, students cannot be readmitted to the program.
7. Students granted readmission to the Surgical Technology program must begin the program at the SURG 100  level and meet all program’s Standards for Progression and Graduation. No credit will be awarded for any previous Surgical Technology courses completed regardless of the grade received for that course.
8. Students must complete all semesters I and II courses prior to beginning SURG 100  unless prior approval is granted by the program admissions committee.