ADN Program Information

Disclaimer

In accordance with college policy as stated in the College Catalog, this publication is not to be construed as a contract between the student and the Associate Degree Nursing Program. All programs within the Division of Allied Health reserve the right to make changes at any time in individual courses, the curriculum leading to a degree or certificate, as well as policies contained in the ADN Information Packet, PCCUA College Catalog, student handbooks, and web. Students must be familiar with, observant of, and subject to all rules and regulations of PCCUA.

General Information

Program graduates are eligible to submit an application to write the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Applicants should be aware violation of any federal, state, or local drug law or conviction of a crime may preclude licensure as a registered nurse. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing requires a state and federal criminal background check before processing an application for initial licensure. Thus, graduation from the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas does not guarantee approval from the Arkansas state Board of Nursing or from another respective state board of nursing to take the licensure examination. For Arkansas residents, please read in the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act, which can be accessed by clicking here.  Clinical facilities may also require a criminal background check and/or drug test as a condition of clinical practice in the respective facility. If a clinical facility denies a student permission to participate in patient care in that facility and the student cannot be placed in another clinical agency, the student must withdraw from the nursing course.  

The Associate Degree Nursing Program at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas meets the state education requirements for a registered nursing license in the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas has not determined if the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas meets the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia. Contact the state regulatory agency for nursing in any other state for which this information is needed.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has resources that may be helpful.

• Link to every Nursing Practice Act.
• Link to FAQs regarding the impact of 34 CFR 668.43 on nursing programs

ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF NURSING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

Graduation from the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas does not guarantee approval from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing or from another respective state board of nursing to take the licensure examination.

For Arkansas residents, the following information is taken directly from the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act.

Licensing Restrictions Based on Criminal Records - A.C.A. § 17-3-102

(a) An individual is not eligible to receive or hold a license issued by a licensing entity if that individual has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or been found guilty of any of the following offenses by any court in the State of Arkansas or of any similar offense by a court in another state or of any similar offense by a federal court, unless the conviction was lawfully sealed under the Comprehensive Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2013, § 16-90-1401 et seq., or otherwise previously sealed, pardoned or expunged under prior law: 

(1)   Capital murder as prohibited in § 5-10-101; 

(2)   Murder in the first degree and second degree as prohibited in §§ 5-10-102 and 5-10-103; 

(3)   Manslaughter as prohibited in § 5-10-104; 

(4)   Negligent homicide as prohibited in § 5-10-105; 

(5)   Kidnapping as prohibited in § 5-11-102; 

(6)   False imprisonment in the first degree as prohibited in § 5- 11-103; 

(7)   Permanent detention or restraint as prohibited in § 5-11- 106; 

(8)   Robbery as prohibited in § 5-12-102; 

(9)   Aggravated robbery as prohibited in § 5-12-103; 

(10)  Battery in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-13-201; 

(11)  Aggravated assault as prohibited in § 5-13-204; 

(12)  Introduction of a controlled substance into the body of another person as prohibited in § 5-13-210; 

(13)  Aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer or an employee of a correctional facility as prohibited in § 5-13-211, if a Class Y felony; 

(14)  Terroristic threatening in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-13-301; 

(15)  Rape as prohibited in § 5-14-103; 

(16)  Sexual indecency with a child as prohibited in § 5-14-110; 

(17)  Sexual extortion as prohibited in § 5-14-113; 

(18)  Sexual assault in the first degree, second degree, third degree, and fourth degree as prohibited in §§ 5-14-124 — 5-14-127; 

(19)  Incest as prohibited in § 5-26-202; 

(20)  Offenses against the family as prohibited in §§ 5-26-303 — 5-26-306; 

(21)  Endangering the welfare of an incompetent person in the first degree, as prohibited in § 5-27-201; 

(22)  Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-27-205; 

(23)  Permitting the abuse of a minor as prohibited in § 5-27- 221; 

(24)  Engaging children in sexually explicit conduct for use in visual or print media, transportation of minors for prohibited sexual conduct, pandering or possessing visual or print medium depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, or use of a child or consent to use of a child in a sexual performance by producing, directing, or promoting a sexual performance by a child, as prohibited in §§ 5-27-303 — 5-27-305, 5-27-402, and 5-27-403; 

(25)  Computer child pornography as prohibited in § 5-27-603; 

(26)  Computer exploitation of a child in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-27-605; 

(27)  Felony adult abuse as prohibited in § 5-28-103; 

(28)  Theft of property as prohibited in § 5-36-103; 

(29)  Theft by receiving as prohibited in § 5-36-106; 

(30)  Arson as prohibited in § 5-38-301; 

(31)  Burglary as prohibited in § 5-39-201; 

(32)  Felony violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, §§ 5-64-101 — 5-64-510, as prohibited in the former § 5-64-401, and §§ 5-64- 419 — 5-64-442; 

(33)  Promotion of prostitution in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-70-104; 

(34)  Stalking as prohibited in § 5-71-229; 

(35)  Criminal attempt, criminal complicity, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy, as prohibited in §§ 5-3-201, 5-3-202, 5-3-301, and 5-3-401, to commit any of the offenses listed in this subsection; and 

(36)  All other crimes referenced in this title. 

(b) 

(1)   If an individual has been convicted of a crime listed in subsection (a) of this section, a licensing entity may waive disqualification or revocation of a license based on the conviction if a request for a waiver is made by: 

(A) An affected applicant for a license; or 

(B) The individual holding a license subject to revocation.

(2)   A basis upon which a waiver may be granted includes without limitation: 

(A) The age at which the offense was committed; 

(B) The circumstances surrounding the offense; 

(C) The length of time since the offense was committed; 

(D) Subsequent work history since the offense was committed; 

(E) Employment references since the offense was committed; 

(F) Character references since the offense was committed; 

(G) Relevance of the offense to the occupational license; and 

(H) Other evidence demonstrating that licensure of the applicant does not pose a threat to the health or safety of the public.

(c) If an individual has a valid criminal conviction for an offense that could disqualify the individual from receiving a license, the disqualification shall not be considered for more than five (5) years from the date of conviction or incarceration or on which probation ends, whichever date is the latest, if the individual: 

(A) Was not convicted for committing a violent or sexual offense; and 

(B) Has not been convicted of any other offense during the five-year disqualification period. 

(d) A licensing entity shall not, as a basis upon which a license may be granted or denied: 

(1)   Use vague or generic terms, including without limitation the phrase "moral turpitude" and "good character"; or 

(2)   Consider arrests without a subsequent conviction. 

(e) Due to the serious nature of the offenses, the following shall result in permanent disqualification for licensure: 

(1)   Capital murder as prohibited in § 5-10-101; 

(2)   Murder in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-10-102 and murder in the second degree as prohibited in § 5-10-103; 

(3)   Kidnapping as prohibited in § 5-11-102; 

(4)   Aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer or an employee of a correctional facility as prohibited in § 5-13-211, if a Class Y felony; 

(5)   Rape as prohibited in § 5-14-103; 

(6)   Sexual extortion as prohibited in § 5-14-113; 

(7)   Sexual assault in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-14- 124 and sexual assault in the second degree as prohibited in § 5-14-125; 

(8)   Incest as prohibited in § 5-26-202; 

(9)   Endangering the welfare of an incompetent person in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-27-201; 

(10)  Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-27-205; 

(11)  Adult abuse that constitutes a felony as prohibited in § 5-28-103; and 

(12)  Arson as prohibited in § 5-38-301. 

(f) This chapter does not preclude a licensing entity from taking emergency action against a licensee as authorized under § 25-15-211 for the sake of public health, safety, or welfare. 

(g) The permanent disqualification for an offense listed in subsection (e) of this section does not apply to an individual who holds a valid license on the effective date of this chapter. 

AR Nurse Practice Act May 2022 

17-87-312. Criminal Background Checks. 

(a) 

(1) Each first-time applicant for a license issued by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing shall apply to the Identification Bureau of the Division of Arkansas State Police for a state and national criminal background check, to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

(2) At the time a person applies to an Arkansas nursing educational program, the program shall notify the applicant in writing of the provisions and requirements of this section. 

(b) The check shall conform to the applicable federal standards and shall include the taking of fingerprints. 

(c) The applicant shall sign a release of information to the board and shall be responsible to the Division of Arkansas State Police for the payment of any fee associated with the criminal background check. 

(d) Upon completion of the criminal background check, the Identification Bureau of the Division of Arkansas State Police shall forward to the board all releasable information obtained concerning the applicant. 

(e) For purposes of this section, the board shall follow the licensing restrictions based on criminal records under § 17-3-102. 

(f) 

(1)   The board may issue a nonrenewable temporary permit for licensure to a first-time applicant pending the results of the criminal background check. 

(2)   The permit shall be valid for no more than six (6) months. 

(g) 

(1)   Any information received by the board from the Identification Bureau of the Division of Arkansas State Police under this section shall not be available for examination except by: 

(A) The affected applicant for licensure or his or her authorized representative; or 

(B) The person whose license is subject to revocation or his or her authorized representative. 

(2)   No record, file, or document shall be removed from the custody of the Division of Arkansas State Police. 

(h) Any information made available to the affected applicant for licensure or the person whose license is subject to revocation shall be information pertaining to that person only.

(i)  Rights of privilege and confidentiality established in this section shall not extend to any document created for purposes other than this background check. 

(j)  The board shall adopt the necessary rules to fully implement the provisions of this section. 

(k) 

(1)   The board may participate at the state and federal level in programs that provide notification of an arrest subsequent to an initial background check that is conducted through available governmental systems. 

(2)    The board may submit an applicant's fingerprints to the federal Next Generation Identification system. 

(3)   The fingerprints may be searched by future submissions to the Next Generation Identification system, including latent fingerprint searches. 

(4)   An applicant enrolled in the Next Generation Identification system is not required to re-fingerprint when a subsequent request for a state or federal criminal history background check is required if: 

(A)   A legible set of the applicant's fingerprints is obtained when the applicant enrolls in the Next Generation Identification system; and 

(B)   The applicant is subject to the Rap Back service of the Next Generation Identification system. 

(l)   The Identification Bureau of the Division of Arkansas State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation may maintain fingerprints in the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System. 

Arkansas Nurse Practice Act May 2022 

Curriculum

The curriculum focuses on six major concepts: (1) patient-centered care, (2) clinical judgment, (3) quality improvement processes, (4) collaboration and teamwork, (5) information management, as well as (6) leadership, management, legal, and ethical principles. Students are introduced to these concepts early in the curriculum and develop a more in-depth understanding of these concepts as they progress across the curriculum. Emphasis is placed on the provision of safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered nursing care across the lifespan. Students are taught to critically think when applying the nursing process to make correct clinical judgments when providing care and interacting with the interdisciplinary team. The importance of teamwork and collaboration to achieve patient-centered nursing care as well as identifying and developing methods for improving the safety and quality of patient care are stressed. Information principles, techniques, systems, and patient care technology are used to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making when providing safe, quality, patient-centered nursing care. Leadership, management, legal, and ethical principles that guide nursing practice are addressed throughout the program.

Approval

The program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ARSBN, http://www.arsbn.org)  University Tower Building, Suite 800, 1123 S. University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204-1619, phone: (501) 686-2700, fax: (501) 686-2714. State Board approval has been ongoing, with the most recent approval being granted in 2017 through 2022.

Accreditation

The Associate Degree Nursing Program at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas at Helena-West Helena campus located in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm.

This information replaces the information in 2020-2021 College Catalog, published 8/21/2020.

Testing Dates

HELENA WEST HELENA TESTING DATES:

• You must register to take the exam
• Email Jennifer Levine to register: jlevine@pccua.edu
• Report 15 minutes ahead of testing time to check in.
• No late admission allowed
• Bring current picture ID for each exam

Nelson-Denny Exam Dates for Fall 2023 HWH Campus Applicants

THIS TEST IS FREE TO APPLICANTS

ATI Critical Thinking Exam Dates for Fall 2023 HWH Campus Applicants

THIS TEST IS $50.00 (price subject to change) PAID BY THE APPLICANT AT THE TIME OF EXAM WITH CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD ONLY

STUTTGART TESTING DATES

• You must be registered to take an exam
• Email Sonya Allen-Jenkins to register: sajones@pccua.edu  
• Bring current picture ID for each exam and arrive 15 minutes early to check in. 

Nelson-Denny Exam Dates for Fall 2023 STG Campus Applicants

THIS TEST IS FREE TO APPLICANTS

ATI Critical Thinking Exam Dates for Fall 2023 STG Campus Applicants

THIS TEST IS $50.00 (price subject to change) PAID BY THE APPLICANT AT THE TIME OF EXAM WITH CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD ONLY

Drug Dosage Calculation Exam Dates

The Drug Dosage Calculation Exam will be given to all students seeking readmission to Level II in the spring of 2023 on the following date:

Level II HWH and Stuttgart Readmission Applicants

• Thursday, November 17th, 2022, at 9:00am

If any applicant seeking readmission fails the first Drug Dosage Calculation Exam, the applicant will meet with the respective faculty administering the exam immediately after the first exam to schedule the second testing date and time. If the applicant fails the second Drug Dosage Calculation Exam on the date scheduled, the applicant will meet with the faculty administering the exam immediately after the second exam to schedule the third testing date and time.

Readmission Skill Demonstration Performance Dates

The Skill Demonstration Performance will be completed by all HWH and Stuttgart students seeking readmission to Level  II & level IV in the spring of 2023 immediately after the Drug Dosage Calculation Exam.  

If the applicant fails the first Skill Demonstration Test, the applicant will meet with the faculty immediately after the first test to schedule the second testing date and time.

Program Effectiveness

NCLEX-RN

The Arkansas State Board of Nursing reports a program's annual pass rate based on the number of candidates that take the licensure exam between July 1st and June 30th. Based on this time frame, the program’s annual pass rate may include graduates from more than one graduating cohort.

Program Completion

The official ADN completion rate is reported in 150% time and when all students in the annual admission cohort have graduated or separated from the program.

Job Placement

The annual job placement rate is reported as the percentage of May graduates who are employed in a nursing position requiring licensure as a registered nurse within 6 months of graduation.

Policies

Essential Functions Statement

Students applying to or enrolled in the Associate Degree or Practical Nursing program must be aware that they are required to possess the following skills and abilities in order to provide safe patient care in the clinical setting.

The Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs/or their affiliated clinical agencies may identify additional essential functions or skills and reserve(s) the right to amend the essential functions as deemed necessary.

Visual ability

• Read for prolonged periods of time either hardcopy or on computer screen

• Visualize small font (6 font) written words and information on paper, computer screen and medication labels

• Distinguish and appropriately respond to multiple visual inputs

• Prepare and administer medications including correct use of small calibrated syringes (0.5 mL), ampules, vials etc.

• Monitor and assess subtle changes in patient status (ex: signs/symptoms, drainage, wound color and appearance, wound depth, cyanosis, etc.)

Auditory ability

• Hear monitor alarm(s), emergency signals, telephones ringing, telephone interactions, calls for assistance

• Respond and react immediately to spoken instruction and/or monitor equipment

• Tolerate occasional exposure to loud and unpleasant noises

• Distinguish changes in tone and pitch in heart, lung, and bowel sounds using a stethoscope or modified stethoscope

• Distinguish sounds and understand verbal communication in environments with multiple auditory inputs

Olfactory ability

• Ability to detect smoke and odors

• Ability to tolerate occasional unpleasant odors

Tactile ability

• Palpate for pulses, temperature, texture hardness or softness, physical landmarks etc.

• Discriminate subtle differences between sharp or dull and hot or cold

Motor function ability

• Handle small delicate equipment/objects or hand-held devices without extraneous movement, contamination, or destruction

• Move, position, turn, transfer, assist with lifting or lift and carry adult patients without injury to patient, self, or others

• Lift, push, pull, or transfer (bed-to-chair, bed-to-bed) an adult or pediatric patient

• Use hands, wrists, and arms to apply up to 10 pounds of pressure to bleeding sites or when performing CPR

• Coordinate eye/hand, fine and gross motor movements

• Perform electronic keyboarding/documentation and/or extensive writing with a pen and/or pencil

• Stand, bend, walk, stoop, squat while providing patient care

Communication abilities

• Effectively read, write, comprehend, and speak the English language

• Communicate relevant, accurate, and complete information in a concise and clear manner both verbally and in writing to patients and health care members

• Communicate and function effectively in environments with multiple auditory and visual inputs

Cognitive abilities

• Perform mathematical calculations accurately for medication preparation and administration

• Make appropriate rapid decisions in stressful or emergency situations

• Manage multiple priorities and function effectively in stressful situations

• Remember multiple messages and information

• Adapt rapidly to environmental changes and multiple task demands

• Maintain concentration and focus in professional care settings

  Adapted with permission from the ADNP’s Essential Functions Statement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Disability Policy

Disclosure

Students are encouraged to disclose a disability and to request reasonable accommodation for that disability, as early as possible during a particular semester, in order that any agreed upon accommodation may be implemented as soon as possible for the benefit of the student. Written documentation of a disclosed disability must be presented to one of the PCCUA Disability Coordinators who are identified in the PCCUA College Catalog and Student Handbook.

Students with no history of accommodation or who do not utilize an accommodation granted by PCCUA during their pre-licensure educational program may be less likely to receive accommodations on the NCLEX licensure testing exam from the State Board of Nursing where they seek initial licensure.

Arrangements for Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable clinical and classroom accommodation will be offered providing such accommodation does not alter the fundamental nature of the nursing program in a major way, jeopardize the health and safety of others, or cause undue hardship on the College or affiliated clinical agencies.

1. Make an appointment to meet with a Disability Coordinator as early as possible during a particular semester, preferably before a semester begins. A Disability Coordinator is located on each campus and identified in the College Catalog and Student Handbook.

2. Obtain an Application for Disability Services Form from: https://www.pccua.edu/images/uploads/content_files/Students_with_Disabilities-Application.pdf

3. Submit to the Disability Coordinator (1) a completed Application for Disabilities Services Form and (2) medical documentation from providers which include, but are not limited to, a certified/licensed physician, psychologist, psychometrist, audiologist, speech pathologist, rehabilitation counselor, physical or occupational therapist. Medical documentation must reflect the student’s present level of functioning with respect to the major life activity affected by the disability. Diagnostic information must include specific recommendations as well as the rationale for each. The cost of obtaining professional documentation is the sole responsibility of the student.

4. The Disability Coordinator will verify eligibility and discuss with the student the medically recommended accommodation(s).

5. The Disability Coordinator and student will identify and agree upon reasonable accommodation(s).

6. The Disability Coordinator will complete a Faculty Notification of Services Form, which identifies recommended reasonable accommodation(s).

7. The Disability Coordinator will give the completed Faculty Notification of Services Form to the student.

8. The student will assume responsibility for taking the completed Faculty Notification of Services Form to each of the student’s instructor(s) to discuss the identified accommodation(s) on the Faculty Notification of Services Form. (The Disabilities Coordinator will email the instructors who are teaching courses for which the student has requested accommodation(s).

9. The instructor and student will discuss the requested reasonable accommodation(s).

10. The instructor will sign the Faculty Notification of Services Form indicating his or her notification to provide reasonable accommodation services. Each instructor will keep a copy of the signed Faculty Notification of Services Form for his/her records.

11. The student will return the original Faculty Notification of Services Form to the Disability Coordinator after each of the student’s instructor(s) for a particular semester has/have signed the form.

12. The Disability Coordinator will keep the signed copy of the Application for Disability Services Form, medical documentation, and Faculty Notification of Services Form in the Disability Coordinator’s office.

13. The Disability Coordinator will send a copy of the Application for Disabilities Services Form, medical documentation, and Faculty Notification of Services Form in a sealed envelope to the Registrar’s Office for inclusion in the student’s permanent academic record.

14. Requests to rescind or modify any accommodation must be submitted in writing to the student’s Disability Coordinator and all instructors providing reasonable accommodation(s) for a particular semester.

15. The request to receive accommodation services for a disclosed disability MUST BE REPEATED each and every semester the student is enrolled. However, documentation does not need to be presented to the Disabilities Coordinator each semester unless the status of a disability changes requiring a different level of accommodation.

Confidentiality

Information in the student’s disability file is confidential. Information pertaining to the student’s disability will be maintained in a sealed envelope in the student’s permanent academic record. Information about the existence and the relevant limitations of a disability and the accommodation for which a student is eligible will be disclosed only with the student’s written permission. The student must provide written permission for disclosure to secure academic and support services (parking, library usage, etc.). The graduate assumes sole responsibility for contacting the respective state board of nursing to request accommodation during the licensure exam.

Appeal

A student may appeal a decision concerning accommodation by first requesting an informal meeting with a Disability Coordinator and Vice Chancellor for Instruction and instructor if applicable. If the issue is not resolved, the student may activate the formal grievance process as outlined in the PCCUA Policy and Procedure Manual. 

Division of Allied Health Criminal Background Checks and Drug Testing

Criminal Background Check

All PCCUA allied health programs will require each allied health student to complete an annual, national, and State of Arkansas criminal background check, which includes a Social Security and National Sex Offenders check, and drug test. All students must complete this requirement through VerifyStudents (www.VerifyStudents.com).

In addition, all students assigned to clinical agencies in the State of Mississippi will be required to also complete a criminal background check through the Mississippi Department of Health as directed by the clinical agency. Each respective program director/coordinator will provide the student with specific instructions for background checks through the Mississippi Department of Health. No other criminal background checks will be accepted. The cost incurred for complying with the above policy is the sole responsibility of the student.

If a student has positive results on the VerifyStudents and/or Mississippi Department of Health criminal background check, the respective program director/coordinator will send the student’s positive results to the designated individual(s) at the student’s assigned clinical agency. Representatives from the clinical agency will determine if the student is eligible to access the facility to participate in clinical learning experiences.  It is the student’s sole responsibility to provide the designated clinical agency representative(s) with any documentation required to determine eligibility for access. 

If representative(s) from the student’s assigned clinical agency deny the student access to the clinical facility, the student will not be able to fulfill respective program requirements in the clinical setting.  The student will be required to withdraw from the respective allied health program, and the student will not be eligible for readmission to the respective program or any other PCCUA allied health program.  If representatives from the student’s assigned clinical agency allow a student with positive criminal background results to participate in clinical learning experiences in that agency, this does not provide a future guarantee that the student will be allowed to participate in clinical in another agency or that the student will be allowed to take the respective licensing exam.

Students who are dismissed from an allied health program for an unacceptable criminal background check will not be eligible for tuition or fee refunds for allied health courses with a NG, PNP, NA, MLS, PLB, or EMT prefix.

Annual Drug Screening Test

PCCUA will require all allied health students to submit to a drug test under any or all of the following circumstances:

• Annually each academic year as directed by the respective program director/coordinator
• As a part of a drug abuse recovery program

Failure to comply with the scheduled drug test may result in immediate dismissal from the program.

If a student fails a drug test, the student will be dismissed from all allied health programs. The respective program director/coordinator will refer the individual failing the drug test for therapeutic counseling regarding drug withdrawal and rehabilitation.  

The readmission process to the same allied health program or admission process to another allied health program, for a student, who has previously failed a drug test, to any allied health program will include:

• Attendance at Narcotics Anonymous or recognized drug abuse treatment program of choice. Evidence of participation must be sent to the Dean of Allied Health and respective program director/coordinator.
  • Acceptable evidence from NA shall consist of:
    • Written record of at least the date of each meeting
    • Name of group attended
    • Meeting purpose
    • Signed initials of the group or district representative of each group attended.
  • Acceptable evidence from a drug abuse treatment program of the individual’s choice shall consist of:
    • Verifiable completion certificate
• Demonstrate at least six (6) months of drug abuse abstinence immediately prior to admission to the same allied health program or admission to another allied health program. Annual and random testing will be required at the individual’s expense.
• Provide positive letters of reference from employers, if any, within the last six (6) months.
• If the student is readmitted to the program or admitted to another allied health program and the individual fails another drug test, the student will be dismissed from the respective program and will not be eligible for readmission to, or provided a reference for any allied health program.
• Reentry policies apply.
• Students who are dismissed from any and all PCCUA allied health programs for failing a drug test will not be eligible for tuition or fee refunds for allied health courses with a NG, PNP, NA, MLS, PLB, or EMT prefix.

ACTS

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas Public Colleges and Universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and the equitable treatment in the application of credits for admission and degree requirements. Course transferability is not guaranteed for courses listed in ACTS as “No Comparable Course.” Additionally, courses with an earned grade of “D” or less frequently do not transfer and institutional policies may vary. ACTS may be accessed on the Internet by going to the ADHE Website and selecting Course Transfer.

FERPA Policy

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. A student has the right to inspect and review all of his/her records that meet the definition of educational records. No third party has the right to review student records without the student's consent, with very few limited lawful exceptions. Directory information can be provided, unless the student requests that it be withheld (PCCUA Student Handbook).

Health Insurance

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas does not provide insurance for its students. The College strongly encourages each student to have personal health insurance, and for that reason, the College has contacted an insurance agency. Forms for this insurance are available in the Registrar’s Office.

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