Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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Course

MLAB-1201-001 Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science

Prerequisites

Course Description

Introduction to medical laboratory science, structure, equipment and philosophy.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 2 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Supplies

Calculator (scientific)

Pens and Pencils

Internet access

Laptop/Tablet with Respondus Lockdown Browser Installed 

Storage capacity for lecture notes

Student Performance

COURSE OUTCOMES

Demonstrate laboratory safety; perform laboratory math; and describe quality control; demonstrate the use of laboratory equipment; and explain accreditation and certification.

Course Learning Objectives

Cognitive Objectives

After attending lecture, reading the assigned materials, and completing all assignments and activities for this course, the student will be able to do the following:

1. Analyze the patient and laboratory safety practices used in health care delivery.
2. List and define the components of quality assurance and quality control.
3. Calculate temperatures and perform temperature conversions.
4. Demonstrate comprehension of laboratory math including solutions and dilutions.
5. Compare the different types of Point of Care testing available in the lab and physician’s office lab.
6. Demonstrate comprehension of the different tests performed in the clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, immunology, blood bank, microbiology, and urinalysis departments in the laboratory.
7. Formulate a plan of action based on the troubleshooting scenarios presented.
8. Collaborate with students to analyze case studies.

Affective Objectives:

During this section, the students will exhibit the following professional behaviors, as evaluated in the Work Ethics component of this course:

1. The student will attend all lecture and laboratory sessions.
2. The student will perform all reading assignments, take his/her exams/quizzes, and complete all assigned didactic and laboratory activities independently, unless asked to work with a partner.
3. The student will demonstrate the honesty and integrity to perform these tasks, as expected, with emphasis on quality and timeliness.
4. The student will participate in discussions regarding honesty, integrity and responsibility, as they relate to legal and ethical issues in the clinical laboratory.
5. The student will demonstrate respect for his/her classmates, instructor, and all other students regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability.

Psychomotor Objectives:

After attending lecture and laboratory sessions and reading the assigned materials, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the vocabulary utilized in this/these section(s) by completing all study questions and other assigned learning activities.
2. Collaborate on classroom discussions and question/answer sessions.
3. Resolve case studies based on the information presented.
4. Complete all laboratory activities and answers questions pertinent to the completed laboratory exercises and assess for appropriate diagnosis based on findings.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of the college rules and regulations and is punish

• Copying from another student's test/assignment paper.
• Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test/assignment (ex: notes, books, etc).
• Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test/assignment without permission from the test/assignment administrator/instructor.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one's self, to take a test/assignment.
• Bribing another person to obtain an administered/unadministered test/assignment or information about an administered/unadministered test/assignment.

Plagiarism shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work.

Collusion shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.

WORK ETHICS
Amarillo College and the Medical Laboratory Technology program are committed to developing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors in students so that they can obtain entry-level employment and advance in their chosen profession. Great measures are taken to ensure that the curriculum is updated and that equipment is purchased and kept at industry level, as much as possible. Program Advisory committees meet annually to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of the local medical community as well as the program's national accrediting agency.

We are committed to providing these things to ensure that a graduate has the skills and knowledge to obtain and advance in their chosen profession. Therefore, professional education must address more than academic and skills training in order to meet this challenge. Business and industry state that their greatest need is for employees who possess strong work ethics. Therefore, we accept the challenge of providing not only academic and hands-on training but also work ethics training to students. The work ethics program is important because it provides the link between academic knowledge, skills training and successful employment in the workforce. The program focuses on those behaviors expected in a professional environment.

The following work ethics have been identified as being most important to professional employers, and will be covered and evaluated on a weekly basis, each semester, throughout the program:

• Attendance
• Character
• Teamwork
• Appearance
• Attitude
• Productivity
• Organization
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Respect

NOTE: If a student is absent during a scheduled lecture/lab period, he/she cannot be awarded points for work ethics during that missed lecture/lab period.

CELL PHONES
Cell phones are disruptive during lecture and lab sessions. Cell phones should be turned-off during class time, or set on vibrate during class time. If the student anticipates an emergency during class time, they should leave the number for the Student Services Office with their contact. The number is 371-5300.

Text/Instant Messaging is NOT permitted when lectures and labs are in session.  It is disruptive and disrespectful to fellow students and the course instructor. Students who are caught engaging in either of these will be subject to disciplinary action including, but not limited to:

1. Being asked to leave class for the remainder of the day
2. Mandatory conference with the Assistant Dean of Career and Technical Programs
3. Conference with the Dean of Students and a permanent entry in the student's official program record
   
   The ONLY exception that will be made is if the student has discussed the situation with their instructor beforehand, and ONLY for emergency purposes.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems through the instructor. If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed to the Program Director, the Dean of Health Sciences, Vice President of of Academic Affairs, and the College President, IN THAT ORDER.

Grading Criteria

The lecture, work ethics, and final exams components of this course will be weighted as follows:

Lecture = 65% of total grade

Work Ethics = 10% of total grade

Final exams = 25% of total grade

The grading scale used for this course will be applied as follows:  

• A = 90.0% - 100.0% of the total points possible for this course
• B = 80.0% - 89.9% of the total points possible for this course
• C = 70.0% - 79.9% of the total points possible for this course
• F = 69.9% or less of the total points possible for this course

NOTE: A grade of 'D' is not possible

INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are granted only for emergency situations such as hospitalization of the student just prior to the final exam, serious injury to the student on the day of the final exam, etc. Incompletes will not be granted for situations involving vacation plans, transportation difficulties, appointments, etc. Students who need to request an incomplete must do so prior to the scheduled time of the final exam with appropriate documentation given to the instructor.

DROPPING/WITHDRAWING FROM CLASSES
No administrative drops/withdrawals will be initiated by program officials.  It is the responsibility of each student to drop or withdraw from a course. Students who wish to drop must do so prior to the last day to drop/withdraw as posted on the Amarillo College Master Calendar. Students should be aware that failure to attend class does NOT result in being automatically dropped from a course, and WILL result in a grade of “F”. 

Students should be advised that they may repeat a MLAB course only one time, and may repeat no more than two courses while enrolled in the program. The term “repeat” shall be interpreted to mean re-enrollment following withdrawal, drop or an unsatisfactory grade from a class. Students who are forced to completely withdraw from the college during a given semester may re-apply for admission to the program. Once the student has actually begun the program, he/she must complete all MLAB major courses within 36 months.

A portfolio created using Google sites will be worked on throughout the course.  Each week there will be research assignments in which the student will add information to the portfolio. The portfolio must be submitted for a grade each week.  At the end of the semester the student will submit the final portfolio for a grade that replaces the notebook grade.  Math exams and the final exam will be given in the classroom and are posted on the calendar. Late assignments will not be taken.  The student is strongly encouraged to view the course calendar at regular intervals to keep track of all due dates.

The final grade for this course will be based on the following categories:

1. Portfolio, Class attendance, and participation.
2. Work ethics/ Discussion Board assignments
3. Examinations (Lecture)
4. Homework and quizzes (Lecture)
5. Comprehensive final portfolio (25% of total grade)

MANDATORY SKILLS BUILDING/TUTORING

In an effort to increase retention in MLT courses, and to assist students having difficulty understanding complex subject areas, any student who scores below a 75% on any exam (excluding the Final Exam) must complete a mandatory skills building assignment or tutoring before taking the next exam. Before receiving a skills assignment, students must first schedule a time with the instructor. The assignment will be given at that time.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Attendance is included in the Work Ethic grade throughout the course which is a component of the overall grade for this course. Attendance includes arriving for class late and leaving early. Less than 90% attendance in a course may result in failure of the course. Students are required to notify faculty in advance of class absence.

Calendar

Additional Information