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 Procedures

1. Applicants should earn a high school diploma or successful completion of the High School Equivalency (HSE) test.
2. Applicants must apply and meet admission criteria for the University.
3. Applicants must complete a secondary Surg Tech application at www.vinu.edu/hsapp in January of their freshman year at college.
4. Applicants must complete Semester I and II of the Surgical Technology curriculum with a grade of C or higher. Students needing less than 6 credit hours of general education courses may be admitted with Program Director approval.
5. Applicants must obtain a GPA of 2.3 or higher.
6. Students that have a grade of less than a C in a required General Education course may repeat the course with a C or better prior to the beginning of SURG 100 or concurrently enrolled. General Education courses may only be repeated one time in order to achieve a grade of C or better.
7. Students with previous college credits from other instituitions must submit an official transcript to the Vincennes University Registrar’s Office (studentrecords@vinu.edu).
8. Admission to Vincennes University does not guarantee 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. 
3. Students must provide verification of all immunizations and the approved physical form 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 (those with a SURG prefix) 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 205  and SURG 210 .
4. Students who receive a grade less than a C 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 who withdraw from the program are eligible to reapply only one time.
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 courses with the SURG prefix completed regardless of the grade received for that course.
8. Students who believe they have extenuating circumstances may submit a Letter of Appeal to the Program Director.