Jump to: Professional Behavior | Appropriate Attire | Classroom Code of Student Conduct | Substance Abuse Policy
Professional Behavior
The field of Veterinary Technology is a profession requiring a high standard of personal and professional behavior. Many legal, ethical, and moral obligations apply to you both as a student, as a member of the Veterinary Health Care Team, and as a member of society. Veterinary technicians, as well as students at their externship sites, represent their employer through how they act, dress, and behave; clients entrust them with the care of their beloved pets. During your time here at VTSU Randolph, you will also be entrusted with the care of our teaching animals. Our program requires that all students behave professionally at all times. Knowledge of and adherence to a professional standard of behavior is an integral part of the Veterinary Technology curriculum.
Violations of professional standards may result in penalties ranging from a clinical warning to a failing grade to expulsion from the Program. This includes knowledge of another student’s violation of these standards; if you are aware of another student who has violated these standards, you are required to notify the program director (Dr. Dorosko) or your course instructor. Failure to notify program faculty may also result in penalties ranging from a failing grade to expulsion from the Program. Please remember that violations of these professional standards may endanger your fellow students, your co-workers, and may even lead to the injury or possible death of your veterinary patient. If faculty or staff observe a student jeopardizing patient safety or behaving in an unprofessional manner, the clinical warning system previously discussed in this document may be implemented, and a meeting with the student to discuss, correct, and document the discussion will take place. Final decisions regarding consequences will be handed down after careful deliberation by authorized parties.
Appropriate Attire
It is expected that the student will dress in a professional manner when in class and labs, on field trips or other functions while representing the Veterinary Technology program. For safety reasons as well as professionalism, the following dress code is required or recommended for all veterinary technology labs:
- Long-sleeved Laboratory coat; We recommend that you choose a long- sleeved lab coat to further protect your arms from zoonotic diseases such as ringworm and mange (REQUIRED) (all labs other than Large animal, as well as VET 1051/1052 and VET 2720)
- Coveralls and rubber boots for all large animal laboratories and animal care (REQUIRED)
- Scrub pants and appropriate tops are required for all labs, unless otherwise stated by the instructor.
- Flat, close-toed shoes; to minimize the likelihood of injury and to reduce the exposure to zoonotic diseases. No sandals, no high-heels, no clogs, etc. (REQUIRED)
- Long hair should be secured so that it does not interfere with vision or become tangled with an animal (REQUIRED)
- Minimal jewelry. Long dangling bracelets, chains and dangling or hoop-type earrings can become tangled with animals and are not allowed. No post or loop ear, nose, lip, eye brow jewelry should be worn (REQUIRED)
- Bare mid-drift and clothes that are too tight or too loosely fitting are also unacceptable (REQUIRED), as well as pants currently in style which have holes.
- Safety goggles and other appropriate Personal Protective Equipment when handling any hazardous material (REQUIRED)
- Exam gloves when handling any animals (Recommended)
If a student is employed at a veterinary clinic, kennel, farm, bio-technical facility, etc. and comes to class directly from work, the student may not attend lab in clothes worn at their work. The student must have a change of clean, appropriate attire in order to participate in the lab.
We strongly recommend that you always have a change of clothing on the days that you have a veterinary lab. Should you then get soiled during your lab, you will be able to change clothes before attending another class or before exposing your own pets at
home to infectious diseases.
Failure to wear required attire can lead to students being dismissed from labs and receiving penalties for lab absence. It is your responsibility to come prepared for lab.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is available in all labs; it is your right to know what equipment is recommended and how it is used. Please be sure to ask your instructor for recommended PPE if it is not discussed with you during your classes and/or labs. All other required attire, lab coats, scrub suits, coveralls, and boots are the responsibility of the student to purchase and maintain
Instructors reserve the right to require dress code variances as they see fit; follow the recommendations of your instructors. If no instruction is given, follow the above guidelines.
Classroom Code of Student Conduct for Veterinary Technology
To ensure the greatest possible learning experience and to respect the student’s desire to learn as well as the instructor’s goal to instruct, in addition to the policies above regarding academic honesty, attendance and appropriate attire, we have adopted a code of conduct to direct the Veterinary Technology program at VTSU Randolph. This code of conduct is not intended to supersede the general conduct policies of the college but rather to augment the general conduct policy and apply it as it pertains to the Veterinary Technology program.
- All animals will be handled in a humane and caring manner and the amount of restraint used to control the animal will only be used to the extent necessary to perform the procedure or to protect the student or animal.
- All cell phones should be turned off or silenced during class, labs and field trips. No listening devices are permitted, unless permitted by the instructor under special circumstances. Students are permitted to record audio version of lectures with instructor’s permission and awareness.
- The program encourages students to work together and to discuss academic material. However, talking among yourselves during lecture or labs or otherwise disturbing the class will not be tolerated.
- Teaching materials, equipment, needles, syringes, and veterinary drugs or supplies that will be used in the instruction of veterinary procedures at VTSU Randolph are not for personal use or to be removed from the
premises. Students involved in such removal may be immediately dropped from the program and not be granted re-entry. - Smoking or other use of tobacco products is not allowed on campus, including in or near the livestock barn.
- No eating or drinking is allowed in the Morrill 101 or Morrill 102 labs, and no food or beverage containers are allowed to be present. This is a violation of the U.S. Government OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations.
Substance Abuse Policy
If any student is suspected of being impaired (i.e. odor of alcohol/marijuana, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, ambulatory problems, inability to comprehend or follow oral or written direction or other such indicators) in a lab or university setting, the student’s primary instructor or any other instructor or university official should seek verification of such suspicion by another university instructor or official.
If there is confirmation of the suspicion, the student shall be confronted by the instructor or another appropriate university official. If, upon confrontation with the student, the instructor or other appropriate official believes the student is impaired, then the student shall be required to leave the Lab or university setting immediately. Notice of such action shall be forwarded to the Dean of the VTSU School of Nursing and Health Sciences for appropriate disciplinary and/or academic process and action.
