POLICY INFORMATION
MPH students are expected to follow policy guidelines in the areas of: ethics, timeliness, class attendance, academic integrity, dress code, reasonable accommodation, and syllabus change.
ETHICS
Academic dishonesty and misconduct (cheating, plagiarism, etc.) will not be tolerated and will be dealt with according to university rules and regulations.
TIMELINESS
The Integrative Learning Experience Coordinator evaluates progress based on the approved timeline. All evaluations have a specific due date. Not complying with the assigned dates will affect the student’s evaluation and the possibility of taking the Comprehensive Exam. If the student is going to miss an evaluation activity, he/she must contact the ILE Coordinator prior to the evaluation due date and supply documentation of reasons to the Office of Academic Affairs. If the student misses the first take of the exam, he/she will obtain a score of zero and will only be able to sit for the retake, as scheduled. If the student misses the retake, he/she will obtain a score of zero.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Ponce Health Sciences University does not require mandatory attendance to class sessions. Attendance is defined as participation in academic activities registered by the instructor. Faculty are not obligated to repeat lecture/laboratory topics that were presented at scheduled times and dates.
To determine the status of students, and to comply with reporting for local, state, and federal agencies, PHSU will conduct a “No Show” determination process at the end of the add-drop period of each term. This process will entail a census to certify the official list of enrolled students for the corresponding term.
At PHSU, we define attendance as participation in academic activities. While attendance is not mandatory, we highly recommend that students actively participate in all aspects of the course to maximize their learning experience and academic success. Active participation can include attending classes or ICS sessions, group activities and discussions, and other academic engagements such as exams, quizzes, and assignments. The Public Health Program strongly recommends attendance of workshops and orientation sessions.
Guidelines for active participation:
Attend Classes and Discussions:
While attendance is not mandatory, attending all academic activities is strongly encouraged. Regular attendance gives the chance to directly interact with the instructor, ask questions, and contribute to class activities.
Preparation and Readiness:
Students should come to classes and academic activities prepared by completing assigned readings, reviewing materials, and being ready to participate in class activities, labs, discussions, or group work.
Active Engagement:
Actively participate in class discussions, group activities, and other academic engagements. Contribute ideas, ask questions, and respectfully engage with the instructor and peers.
Timely Completion of Assignments:
Submit assignments on time to demonstrate commitment and engagement with the course. Meeting deadlines allows for feedback and keeps the learning process on track.
Assessment and Grading:
Participation in academic activities can be directly factored into the final grade. Assessment and grading will be based on the quality of work, understanding of course content, performance in assignments and discussions, and performance on assessments aligned with the learning objectives.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic integrity, which is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception, is an educational expectation at PHSU. Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, falsifying data, misrepresenting the work of others as your own (plagiarism, or improper citation of sources), and helping another student cheat or plagiarize. For complete information about the Institution’s policy on cheating, consult the PHSU Student Policy Manual and the PHSU Catalogue.
The following resources are considered acceptable for preparing the Comprehensive Exam:
- ILE Writing Consultants hired by the Public Health Program
- PHSU library resources
- Track Faculty (instructions and expectations)
- Evidence-based/peer reviewed materials
- Governmental websites (ex. CDC, Census)
- Professional software for editing grammar
The following resources are not considered acceptable for preparing the Comprehensive Exam:
- Other students/alumni
- External persons (i.e.- not from the Public Health Program)
- Plagiarism/Cheating
- Artificial intelligence
DRESS CODE
Students are representatives of our University and must maintain an appearance that demonstrates respect and meets professional standards. For all didactic, simulated (i.e. those that involve standardized patients), and real clinical learning activities, all students must follow the dress code as per PHSU’s Student Dress Code Policy (Policy # PHSU-PP-2022-2-04, Rev. February 2022):
Classrooms Dress Code
- Students must wear a PHSU ID badge at all times, visibly, above the waist, identifying them as PHSU Students.
- All clothing must be neat and clean. Unacceptable attire or accessories may be offensive. Examples of unacceptable attire include sheer garments, tank tops, shorts, short skirts, low or deep necklines, items designed to be worn as undergarments, and garments such as leggings and spandex pants designed to be worn as athletic wear.
- The following attire conditions are unacceptable: soiled, torn, or frayed garments, apparel with words or pictures unrelated to the professional environment, including apparel with words or pictures of discriminatory or offensive nature.
- Headgear, except required by religious belief, and headphones, are not acceptable.
- Good personal hygiene is expected. Body odor or smoke odor should not be detectable.
- Jeans, shoes (including athletic shoes) and clean shirts (including T-shirts) are permissible. Bermuda or other shorts are also allowed in the classroom setting, must be no shorter than 5 cm above the knee.
Live Online/ Remote Classroom Dress Code
The classroom behavior and dress code also apply to remote or online formats.
Please note: You may encounter variations in customs and expectations in different clinical settings. Observe other professionals’ dress and ask your supervisor or clinical coordinator if you are unsure of what is appropriate. Students must comply with the PHSU Dress Code and the Practicum or Clinical Sites Dress Code. Students who participate in multiple scenarios (classroom, lab, and clinical) during the same day must follow the stricter scenario code to avoid policy offenses.
Offenses to the policy will be referred to the Program Professionalism Committee. The Professionalism Committee determinations may include written reports to the student file, disciplinary actions and/or referral to the Promotions Committee that may result in dismissal from the program.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
PHSU is an institution of higher education that is committed with the well-being of the students and acts in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which includes changes made by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which became effective on January 1, 2009. Also, in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the process to request reasonable accommodation and must submit a written request to the Office of Academic Affairs. It is recommended that students make their arrangements at or before the beginning of the course. Additional information can be found at the current Ponce Health Sciences University Student Policy Manual and the PHSU Catalogue.
HANDBOOK AND SYLLABUS CHANGE POLICY
The handbook and the syllabus are course guides and are subject to change. The Public Health Program of PHSU reserves the right to make changes to the handbook, the syllabus and course information, as needed. Any change will be notified in advance.
In addition to the policy guidelines, there are diverse roles and responsibilities for the students and faculty involved in the Integrative Learning Experience. It is important that the student is aware of communications or changes.
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