Radiography Program - Gateway, AS (RDGR-AS-GW)

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Program Mission Statement:

The mission of the Connecticut State Community College Radiography program is to provide a comprehensive Radiography program that will graduate competent, entry-level radiologic technologists for the healthcare community.

Program Description:

Radiography or “x-ray” uses very small doses of ionizing radiation to produce images of internal structures of the body for the diagnosis of disease or injury. Radiographers are technologists who operate imaging equipment to produce quality images of the body for a Radiologist or other ordering provider to interpret. The associate degree program in Radiography prepares students for employment as entry level radiographers in hospitals, outpatient facilities, medical offices, community health agencies, or nondestructive testing industries where radiation is used for quality control. The structure of the curriculum is sequential and includes appropriate didactic content and ample supervised clinical education to assure sufficient opportunity to achieve all didactic and clinical requirements. Each campus will have some degree of differentiation in course offerings and sequencing based on clinical capacity, student enrollment and individual program accreditation requirements. Students cannot transfer from one campus program to another campus.

The Radiography Program at CT State Community College - Gateway  is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, Phone: (312) 704-5300, Fax: (312) 704-5304, Website: https://www.jrcert.org/, Email: mail@jcert.org, program website: Radiography - CT State

Students in the radiography program are responsible for expenses including but not limited to uniforms, physical examinations and blood work, travel to clinical sites, parking, meals, CPR training, background check and toxicology screening, textbooks, lead markers, online clinical documentation system services, clinical compliance tracking services, radiation monitoring services. Specific information about these costs is available in the CT State - Gateway Radiography Program Student Handbook located on the campus specific Radiography webpage. Financial aid information is available through the Connecticut State Community College Financial Aid office.

Please note: 
To begin the clinical component of the Program, all accepted students will be required to:

1. Submit an updated health assessment with no restrictions
2. Submit documentation of updated vaccination requirements including blood work and titers as necessary
3. Pass a background check
4. Pass a toxicology screening

Positive toxicology screens may prevent students from participating in a clinical assignment per facility contractual agreements. Please note that students are randomly assigned to clinical practice at various medical facilities throughout the state of Connecticut and are expected to rotate through all clinical affiliates. A student who is unable to complete the required clinical experience due to a failed drug screen or background check, will not be able to rotate through all clinical sites and will be unable to meet the clinical requirements for graduation from the Radiography program.

The following guides the response to a positive toxicology screening for any student:

1. All specimens identified as non-negative/positive on the initial test shall be confirmed, reviewed, and interpreted by the vendor.
2. The student is required to provide documentation by a healthcare provider in the event there is a medical explanation for a positive result (i.e., the result of a prescribed medication). In accordance with federal law, a positive toxicology screen for legally prescribed marijuana can prohibit a student from being placed in a clinical setting that accepts federal funding.
3. If a student challenges a result, only the original sample can be retested.

Admissions Procedure

The Radiography program at Connecticut State Community College (CT State) - Gateway is a selective admission program. All students must first apply to Connecticut State Community College and complete the program prerequisites prior to applying to the Radiography program. Applications are available annually in the fall semester. Students must have a 2.7 program GPA (Grade Point Average) which is calculated using only those general education courses that are required for the program. Specific information regarding application deadlines and admission requirements are available on the Selective Admissions page of the CT State Community College webpage.

The following prerequisites courses must be completed prior to the application deadline:

• ENG 1010 - Composition (C or higher)
• BIO 2111 - Anatomy & Physiology I (C+ or higher taken within past five years of application deadline date)
• BIO 2112 - Anatomy & Physiology II* (C+ or higher taken within past five years of application deadline date) 
  *Students may apply to the Program while in the process of completing BIO 2112 during the spring semester of application year.

Detailed information regarding selective admission events and deadlines is available on the CT State Selective Admissions Webpage.

Applicants will be required to complete the TEAS within three (3) years prior to the application deadline. Official results must be provided with the program application for the specified year of application.

Eligible applicants will be required to participate in an interview as a part of the admission process for this program.

Students in the radiography program may be responsible for expenses including but not limited to uniforms, physical examinations and blood work, travel to clinical sites, parking, meals, CPR training, background check and toxicology screening, textbooks, liability insurance, lead markers, and online clinical management and immunization services such as Trajecsys and Castle Branch. Specific information about these costs is available on the campus specific radiography webpage and on the campus specific Radiography Program Student Handbook. Financial aid information is available through the Connecticut State Community College Financial Aid office.

Applicants to the Gateway Campus Radiography program must successfully complete RST 1000 - Introduction to Patient Care for Radiologic Sciences (2 credits)   and RST 1000L - Introduction to Patient Care for Radiologic Sciences Lab (1 credit)   during the summer of their acceptance year. A minimum grade of 75 in the RST1000 course and a grade of P in the RST1000L course are required in order to start the Program in the fall semester.

Please note: 
To begin the clinical component of the Program, all accepted students will be required to:

1. Submit an updated health assessment with no restrictions
2. Submit documentation of updated vaccination requirements including blood work and titers as necessary
3. Pass a background check
4. Pass a toxicology screening

Positive toxicology screens can prevent students from participating in a clinical assignment per facility contractual agreements. The following guides the response to a positive toxicology screening for any student:

1. All specimens identified as non-negative/positive on the initial test shall be confirmed, reviewed, and interpreted by the vendor.
2. The student is required to provide documentation by a healthcare provider in the event there is a medical explanation for a positive result (i.e., the result of a prescribed medication). In accordance with federal law, a positive toxicology screen for legally prescribed marijuana can prohibit a student from being placed in a clinical setting that accepts federal funding.
3. If a student challenges a result, only the original sample can be retested.

Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

Goal 1: Students will demonstrate effective communication skills

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will use effective oral communication skills with a wide variety of audiences in the clinical setting
2. Students will practice effective written communication skills

Goal 2: Students will utilize critical thinking skills

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will assess images for diagnostic quality
2. Students will assess images and make appropriate adjustments as needed

Goal 3: Students will be clinically competent when performing entry level imaging procedures

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will accurately position patients for radiographic procedures based on patient assessment
2. Students will select appropriate technical factors to obtain diagnostic quality images based on patient assessment
3. Students will utilize radiation safety for self and others

Goal 4: Students will demonstrate professional behavior

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will demonstrate professionalism in the program.
2. Students will participate in professional activities with state and national organizations.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to take the national certifying examination in Radiography as administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

Graduation Requirements

• Complete the CT State general education core curriculum
• Complete the Radiography program curriculum with a grade of C or higher in each program specific course and a C+ or higher in Anatomy & Physiology I and II course and College Algebra course.
• Complete the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Clinical Competency Requirements
• Complete American Registry of Radiologic Technology General Patient Care Competency Requirements
• Be Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BLS) certified