Pictured | Kevin Coria | Radiography | Michoacan, Mexico (hometown)

Admissions and General Information

Program Application Deadline

Every calendar year, at the end of the fall term prior to their anticipated year of entry into clinicals, pre-radiography students apply for the clinical/professional program from February 2 to the March 2 deadline. (All students must meet specific academic guidelines and criteria to be certified by the department as an eligible candidate for that upcoming year's program.) The applications are available (only during that time-frame) at the radiography department office located in Northside Hall 403.

Required Admission Materials

Admission to the Clinical/Professional Program is based upon each applicant’s admission grade point average (AGPA) of the completed preradiography general-education core courses, a math/science grade point average (M/S GPA), a personal interview, and a rating point system. A maximum of 21 students are admitted each summer session II.

Admission Rating System

At the conclusion of the spring semester of program application, students in the applicant pool are scored to determine their rank order. The criteria for admission consideration is based on a 130 point weighted scale as follows:

• 0-75 points: AGPA (Admission Grade Point Average) of the preradiography general-education coursework completed by the end of the spring semester of application
• 0-15 points: Math/Science GPA
• 0-15 points: Interview scores
• 0-25 points: Students can earn rating points (maximum 25) which are added to their overall combined score as follows:

• One point given for each credit hour of a required general-education course completed with a minimum C by the end of the spring semester of program application. Points available: 0-20
• Five points given for completion of PHSL-P 261 Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and PHSL-P 262 Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 with a minimum grade of C in both courses by the end of the spring semester of program application. Points available: 5

Students offered a clinical position within the associate degree program must formally accept or decline admission, in writing, to the program prior to the beginning of the semester to which they are admitted. Students offered a position in the Clinical/Professional Program but decline acceptance or become academically ineligible can reapply to the program the following year. They must compete with the applicant pool for the semester in which they request entrance with no preference or wait listing given. Students have only two opportunities to decline admission in writing prior to losing their eligibility to apply.

Interview

A personal interview is required. If, however, the number of applications to the program far exceeds the number of positions available, the program’s admission committee reserves the right to limit the number of applicants to be interviewed.

Volunteer Experience

Although not a requirement, volunteer experience is recommended and is very helpful in making a career choice.

Criminal History Background Checks

Criminal history background checks are required of all applicants to the clinical professional program in compliance with federal and state regulations for individuals in clinical settings and working with patients and individuals who are vulnerable or minors. Licensure is also contingent upon the absence of most felony and some misdemeanor charges.

Clinical agencies require the IU South Bend Radiography Program to report the findings of a positive criminal background check. The agency has the right to refuse the placement of a student at that agency and this may impair progression through the program. (Positive reports will be reviewed by the program director and discussed with the student about implications for progression in the program and credential licensure as well as any impact on clinical placements.) All communication from the IU South Bend Radiography Program to the agency are treated as confidential and any restrictions or changes in clinical placements will be directly communicated to the student by the program director. For additional information, please contact the program director.

Students are responsible for applying for the criminal history background check and all fees associated with the check upon their application for the clinical program.

Clinical Experience Rotations

A student may be prohibited from participation in Clinical Experience coursework if they have been convicted of certain crimes. These crimes may include but are not limited to: rape, criminal deviate conduct; exploitation of an endangered child and/or adult; failure to report battery, neglect, or exploitation of an endangered child and/or adult; murder; voluntary manslaughter; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI).

A conviction of any of the above crimes at any time during an individual’s life may prohibit them from entering clinical rotations. In addition, if an individual was convicted of involuntary manslaughter; felony battery; a felony offense relating to a controlled substance; or theft within five (5) years before the individual’s start of clinical rotations, the individual may not be able to enter clinical rotations.

Drug Policy

All admitted clinical professional students will be required to have a drug screen prior to attending clinical experience; and it may be required on demand under certain situations at the clinical site. A positive drug screen may result in removal from the clinical site and possible dismissal from the program.

Admission Standards

Students enrolled in the Preradiography or Clinical/Professional Program are subject to academic standards as established by IU South Bend. Failure to maintain these standards could lead to academic probation or dismissal from the program. The standards are explained to students during their initial orientation/advising session.

If students have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. For the hearing impaired, SPRINT provides services at (800) 743-3333. For more information, contact the program director.

Technical Standards

The IU South Bend Radiography Program has specified technical standards critical to the success of the students in the Clinical/Professional Program. Students must be able to meet the requirements which include the ability to lift and transfer patients to and from a cart, wheelchair, or an x-ray examination table; move, adjust, and manipulate equipment to perform radiographic procedures; review and evaluate radiographs to determine the quality of the image; communicate orally and in writing with patients, doctors, and other personnel; and to follow written and verbal directions. Students must demonstrate these standards with or without reasonable accommodation to succeed in the program. A copy of the Technical Standards Form is sent to each applicant to review and sign, certifying that they can meet those standards.

Program Professional Standards

A student entering the IU South Bend Radiography Clinical/Professional Program must understand that they are entering a field of medicine that requires certain professional standards that other career choices may not.

Professional dress, appearance, and modes of communication must be of certain standards to maintain the confidence and care of the patient. Patients present themselves in all ages, cultures, and of various ethnic origins; therefore, trendy modes of dress and appearance are not allowed.

The program has an established dress code and a code of conduct that students must follow throughout their clinical experience. A copy of the IU South Bend Radiography Program Professional Standards is sent to each applicant to review and sign, certifying that they understand the requirements of the program and that they agree to abide by these standards.

ARRT Certification Eligibility

Issues addressed by the ARRT Rules of Ethics include convictions, criminal procedures, military court martials, or any matter described as a gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or felony act(s).

Candidates are required to report charges or convictions that have been withheld, deferred, stayed, set aside, suspended, or entered into a pre-trial diversion, or involved a plead of guilty or no contest (nolo contendere). Candidates do not need to report juvenile convictions that were processed in juvenile court, traffic citations that did not involve drugs or alcohol, or offenses that were previously reported to and formally cleared by the ARRT.

Candidates who had any license, registration, or certification denied, revoked, suspended, placed on probation, or subjected to discipline by a regulatory authority or certification board (other than ARRT) must contact the ARRT.

Additionally, candidates for certification are required to disclose any honor code violations that may have occurred while attending any institution of higher education (probation, suspension, or dismissal). If any of these situations apply or if a candidate is uncertain about a potential probable cause (drunk driving, possession of alcohol, possession or use of an illegal substance), they must contact the ARRT at (651) 687-0048 to discuss their particular case. This is to prevent the student from having completed the Associate of Science degree program only to be found ineligible to take the ARRT examination.

Clinical Placements

Admission to the university as a preradiography student, and successful completion of the general-education coursework, does not guarantee admission to the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree program. The number of clinical/professional students admitted each summer session II is dependent upon the number of clinical placements available at affiliated agencies.

Clinical agency sites include

• Memorial Hospital of South Bend
• St. Joseph Regional Medical Center campuses in Plymouth and Mishawaka
• Elkhart General Hospital
• IU Health Goshen Hospital

Withdrawal and Reinstatement

Students in the Associate of Science degree program who withdraw from the Clinical/Professional Program must reapply for admission to the program. Withdrawal from radiography major courses constitutes a disruption in progress and requires that a student seek reinstatement to the program.

Students desiring reinstatement must reapply within a time frame that would allow the student timely completion of the program. A written request must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the term of desired reentry. All requests for reentry are evaluated by the program director on the basis of available resources, and if appropriate, on the satisfactory completion of any conditions and/or recommendations existing at the time of withdrawal. Reinstatement to the IU South Bend Radiography Clinical/Professional Program is not guaranteed.

Awards

The program faculty recommends graduating students with superior academic performance for degrees awarded with distinction. Also each year, an outstanding student is presented the IU South Bend Outstanding Student Award for Clinical Excellence.

Graduation Requirements

Satisfactory completion of 81+ credit hours, to include 23 credit hours of general-education courses and 58 credit hours of clinical/professional courses, must be completed in compliance with the academic and professional policies of the school and individual programs in order to graduate. Students must also be in attendance and actively involved in the university’s May Commencement ceremonies.