Admission/Application criteria stated in this bulletin replaces all previously published and previous web-based admission/application criteria for earlier years.

Accreditation
The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements". The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.

Career Opportunities
Dental hygienists, under the supervision of licensed dentists, provide preventive dental care to patients such as dental prophylaxis and debridement, topical fluoride applications, pit and fissure sealants, administration of local anesthetics and dental radiographs. Dental hygienists also instruct patients in oral home care procedures. Dental hygienists work in private dental practice, as well as in school systems, public health agencies, Federal and State agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, for the World Health Organization and for foreign governments.

The latest US Department of Labor statistics state that:

1. Dental hygiene is projected to be one of the 30 fastest growing occupations.
2. Population growth and greater retention of natural teeth will stimulate demand for Dental Hygienists.
3. Opportunities for part-time work and flexible schedules are common.
4. Employment of Dental Hygienists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2010.

Program
The Dental Hygiene program is a two-year program leading to an Associate in Applied Science degree. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates must pass the national, regional and state board examinations to apply for a license and become a practicing dental hygienist.

Program Objectives

1. Graduates will be competent enough in knowledge and skills to graduate the program and pass the National and Regional licensing boards.
2. Graduates will be prepared to enter private practice as very competent, licensed, practicing dental hygiene professionals and/or continue in their dental hygiene education.
3. Dental hygiene students will successfully integrate and apply a variety of appropriate skills, techniques, knowledge and principles gained in areas to include basic/dental/dental hygiene sciences, infection control, communication skills and professionalism as evidenced in their treatment planning and clinical patient care/management, in a clinically competent manner meeting the standard of care.
4. Dental hygiene students will utilize the four (4) step dental hygiene process of care to include:
   1. Assessment
   2. Planning
   3. Implementation
   4. Evaluation
5. The program is student centered and focuses on developing the knowledge and skill needed in dental hygiene while striving to develop the students� problem solving and critical thinking skills, communication skills and teaching/education skills.
6. The curriculum also focuses on developing the students� professionalism; promoting life-long learning, community awareness and service, all in a caring and empathetic way.

Class Size
Fourteen (14) students are admitted annually.

Admission/Application Requirements to the Dental Hygiene Program

1. Applicants must be admitted to UVSC:   Applicants must be admitted and be an active student at Utah Valley State College by 4:00 p.m. February 15, 2008. You must have any and all college transcripts evaluated by the UVSC Transfer Credit office by February 15, 2008. Because this can be a lengthy process, we suggest you allow at least one month for this process. Admission to UVSC does not constitute admission to the Dental Hygiene program. Admission to the Dental Hygiene program requires a separate, competitive application process following the criteria found in this bulletin and on the official Dental Hygiene Application form. Admission to the Dental Hygiene program is competitive and completion of the minimum requirements does not imply or guarantee admittance to the Dental Hygiene program.
2. High School graduate/GED:  Applicants must be a high school graduate or have a GED by the application deadline.
3. Pre-requisite courses:  Applicants must complete all of the following Dental Hygiene program pre-requisite courses with a final grade of C- or better by the application deadline:
   
   1. MATH 1050 - College Algebra, or a higher level college math course = 4 credits
   2. ENGL 1010 - College Writing I = 3 credits
   3. CHEM 1110 - Elementary Chemistry for the Health Sciences = 4 Credits
   4. ZOOL 2320 - Human Anatomy = 4 credits
   5. ZOOL 2420 - Human Physiology = 4 credits
   
   TOTAL = 19 credits
   
   Contact the UVSC Transfer Credit Office to determine if courses taken anywhere other than UVSC can be used to satisfy the above pre-requisite courses.
   If you have taken any high school or college courses outside of the USA, you must contact the Transfer Credit Office. They will be able to guide you through the process of having your transcripts evaluated. Your foreign courses must be properly evaluated by the Transfer Credit Office. You are responsible to ensure that the Dental Hygiene department receives official notification of the findings of the Transfer Credit Office by the application deadline; so plan ahead to allow enough time.
4. ACT or SAT:  Applicants must have either an ACT composite score of 20 or above OR a SAT total score of 950 or above. If the applicant has not taken the ACT yet, please contact UVSC Testing Services at the number below or the ACT Board to arrange to take the ACT. If you take the ACT and/or SAT test more than once, your highest score received by the department will be used to determine your admission points.
5. Completion of the Health Occupations Aptitude Test:  Applicants must take the Health Occupations Aptitude Test given at UVSC�s Testing Services Department. The testing period will be from the week of October 15, 2007 through the week of February 11, 2008. The test must be taken during this time period. The department will not accept scores if taken outside of this time period. Please contact the UVSC Testing Services Department at (801) 863-8269 or e-mail them at:  testingservices@uvsc.edu. UVSC Testing Services will tell you the specific day of the week and time of day the test is offered during the above testing period. They will also inform you of the cost of the test, as well as other information about the test. There is limited seating for each testing session, therefore, you must make prior arrangements with testing services. This is a timed test. You must also bring photo ID when taking the test. Plan ahead and do not wait for the last minute to take the test.
   If you need to take the test at another location, please contact the Dental Hygiene Department at (801) 863-7536 for guidance on how to proceed. If you plan to take it at another location, don�t wait for the last minute as off-site testing procedures can take a long time.
   You can find out more about the test and see sample test questions at the web-site for Psychological Services Bureau:  www.psbtests.com.
   You may take the test a total of two (2) times during the above testing period. The test date giving you the highest total score will be used to compute your admission points. We will not consider scores on the HOAT taken during other application years.

Admission/Selection Procedure
In addition to applying to Utah Valley State College, students must complete the Department of Dental Hygiene application. To request application materials, send an e-mail to:  HENDERJO@uvsc.edu You may also call the hygiene department at (801) 863-7536 to request application materials. If you live within traveling distance, please call and schedule an appointment to pick up an application at the Department of Dental Hygiene. Applications will be available from the department beginning October 15, 2007 and will be accepted beginning October 15, 2007.

1. All dental hygiene applications materials must be postmarked or hand delivered directly to the Department of Dental Hygiene by 4 p.m. on MARCH 7, 2008, THE APPLICATION DEADLINE! Only completed applications will be reviewed and considered for admission. To be complete; sealed, official high school transcripts and sealed, official transcripts for all academic work completed at ALL colleges or universities, INCLUDING UTAH VALLEY STATE COLLEGE, must be submitted DIRECTLY to the Department of Dental Hygiene. You may call the department to validate that your sealed, official transcripts were received by the Department of Dental Hygiene.
2. Also, to be considered complete, official test scores, based on the above criteria, must be sent directly to or hand delivered directly to the Department of Dental Hygiene by the application deadline date. Do not send them to UVSC, the Dental Hygiene Department may or may not get them. We can only use those official scores that the Department of Dental Hygiene receives by the application deadline date. It is possible your ACT or SAT scores may be on your high school transcripts. If test scores are on an official high school transcript, we will regard those scores as official as long as the high school transcript itself is official. However, if any scores from tests you have taken are not on an official school transcript we have received, we must receive an official copy of those test scores not on your official transcript. If the scores come from the ACT Board, an official copy of those scores must be received in a sealed ACT Board envelope. These official scores must be sent directly to the Department of Dental Hygiene.
   The Department of Dental Hygiene has its own official ACT code number to use when requesting scores be sent directly to our department from the ACT Board. That code is 6522. Be sure to use this code number when having your scores sent directly to our department. This code is a different code than the one used to send scores when applying to Utah Valley State College. You can also have official ACT scores sent directly to you and then you can mail or hand deliver them directly to the Department of Dental Hygiene.
   If the applicant takes the ACT at the UVSC Testing Center, the applicant must mail or hand deliver an official sealed copy of their ACT test results to the Dental Hygiene department, as these scores will not be sent directly from the Testing Center to the Department of Dental Hygiene.
   If the applicant has taken the SAT, the Department of Dental Hygiene does not have a special code number for the SAT Board to send the scores directly to us. We suggest the applicant have official SAT scores sent directly to the applicant and then the applicant hand deliver or send their official scores directly to the Department of Dental Hygiene. Do not have your ACT or SAT scores sent to Utah Valley State College when you apply specifically to our program as the Dental Hygiene Department probably will not get them. It is the applicant´s responsibility to ensure that the Dental Hygiene Department receives official notice of all scores, regardless of where the tests were taken.
3. An official Dental Hygiene Application Form must be properly filled out and received by the Department of Dental Hygiene by the application deadline date.
4. The Department of Dental Hygiene can only use official test scores and transcripts it has received by the application deadline date, March 7, 2008. Feel free to call our department to see if your official scores and transcripts were received by us.
5. The Department of Dental Hygiene address and telephone number is:
   UVSC
   DEPARTMENT OF DENTAL HYGIENE
   MAIL STOP 238
   800 WEST UNIVERSITY PARKWAY
   OREM, UT 84058
   (801) 863-7536
   
6. The HOAT test scores will be sent directly to the Department of Dental Hygiene from PSB. You may call the Department of Dental Hygiene to check that your scores were indeed received. It is ultimately the applicant´s responsibility to ensure that the department does receive the HOAT test scores.
7. It is the applicant´s responsibility to make sure that their application file is complete and has been received before the deadline date, NOT the Department of Dental Hygiene´s. You may call the Department of Dental Hygiene to check if certain application materials have been received. Advance planning and submission of materials early in the application period is strongly encouraged. Do not wait for the last minute to submit your materials. Deadlines will not be extended for individual applicants.
8. If at any time during the application process the applicant has questions about the application/admission process or about the program itself, they should call the Dental Hygiene Department at: (801) 863-7536.
9. Applicants will be assigned points in the following areas, with a possible total of 3450 points.
   • Health Occupations Aptitude Test -- 1300 points maximum
   • ACT Composite Score or SAT Total Score -- 750 points maximum
   • Individual grade of CHEM 1110 -- 400 points maximum
   • Individual grade of ZOOL 2320 -- 500 points maximum
   • Individual grade of ZOOL 2420 -- 500 points maximum
   Applicants are reviewed by number only, not by name, for computation of points and rank ordering of applicants. The fourteen applicants receiving the highest scores will be admitted. In the event of a tie in admission points for the fourteenth, or last position, a personal interview will be required of the involved applicants to determine which of those involved will be accepted.
   All applicants will be notified by mail, no phone requests please, of their final admission status (accepted/not accepted). In the event that one of the top fourteen students originally selected declines admission over the summer, the next person with the highest points will be offered admission. Applicants not admitted for the semester of application must re-apply for the next application period and compete with the new pool of applicants for admission. If re-applying for a following year, the applicant must go by the guidelines presented in the year appropriate bulletin and application. The applicant will be required to re-submit all supporting documents, such as transcripts and test scores. There is no waiting list for this program.

Information Sessions for Potential Applicants
These will cover all aspects of the application and selection process. It is strongly recommended that all potential applicants attend one of these sessions in order to fully understand the process and to have any questions answered. The information sessions will be from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m on the following dates:

Transfer of Credits
For information regarding the transfer of credits from other institutions of higher learning for general education and required courses other than Dental Hygiene, please contact the UVSC Transfer Credit Office at (801) 863-8438. For Dental Hygiene courses taken elsewhere, contact the Department of Dental Hygiene AFTER you have been notified of acceptance into the program.

Clinical Observation
After acceptance into the program and prior to beginning Dental Hygiene 1010, students must submit documentation of eight (8) hours of observation of a practicing dental hygienist. A Verification of Observation Form will be included with the student´s letter of acceptance.

Health and Safety Requirements
Students are required to follow departmental infection control policies and procedures that are based on OSHA regulations and CDC recommendations. They must meet the health and safety requirements participating facilities require of their employees. These requirements must be met prior to enrollment in Dental Hygiene 1010:

• Documentation of current immunization for Tetanus, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Hepatitis B. Students may refuse any immunization by signing a waiver and release from liability available from the department´s secretary. Immunization may also be waived with written documentation of acceptable antibody titer or written documentation from a physician explaining immunization risk. This must be accomplished before the start of the first semester.
• Negative Mantoux for tuberculosis; negative chest x-ray if Mantoux is contraindicated/positive. These tests must have been performed within the previous 12 months.
• Current CPR certification through the American Heart Association CPR for Health Care Providers, American Red Cross Health Care Provider or National Safety Council; certification must remain current throughout the academic program.
• Provide proof of current personal health/medical insurance, as well as current personal auto insurance.

Liability Insurance
Students will have professional liability insurance through UVSC´s comprehensive liability insurance policy. This liability insurance is in effect when students are performing within the scope of their assigned clinical/laboratory activities and under the supervision of Department of Dental Hygiene faculty and supervising dentists.

Bloodborne Diseases
The Department of Dental Hygiene adheres to the UVSC policy A-9.1 AND A-9.2. The department also follows OSHA guidelines as well.

Program Costs
Students in the Dental Hygiene program incur expenses in addition to UVSC tuition. Lab fees are assessed for courses with clinical and/or laboratory components to help defray the costs of expendable materials and equipment for laboratory/clinical activities. Students are required to purchase uniforms, lab coats and dental instruments/supplies, and are responsible for transportation to clinical and other field experiences. The following is an estimate of the costs for 2007-2008:

Professionalism
Professionalism is an integral part of being a dental hygienist. One of the principles of The American Dental Hygiene Association Principle of Ethics is "to maintain high standards of personal conduct." Furthermore, as part of the Dental Hygiene oath you promise to "uphold the highest standards of professional competence and personal conduct..." The Dental Hygiene Department expects professional conduct at all times. As such, any serious lapse in professional conduct by an applicant during the application process may make that applicant not eligible to be considered for the program for that year and future years. Once accepted, each student will be judged on their professional behavior during their participation in the program until the time of their graduation. Any serious lapse in professionalism may mean dismissal from the program.

PLEASE NOTE:  The Dental Hygiene program is challenging academically and requires considerable time on campus and at clinical sites. Some dental hygiene clinical experiences may be scheduled in the evenings and on weekends. There may be a limited number of classes or other teaching/learning experiences scheduled outside the pre-set classroom/clinic times printed in the UVSC fall or spring schedule. You will be required to attend any of these experiences. The times for classes and clinical experiences vary from semester to semester. Students will provide patient care in the program´s clinic setting and affiliated facilities. While voluntary patients come to the clinic for treatment, students will have to provide their own patients for some clinical experiences. STUDENTS ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THEIR OWN PATIENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR REQUIREMENTS.

Applicant Checklist for Application to the UVSC Dental Hygiene Program