This handbook is designed to answer the majority of questions regarding policies and procedures that govern the activities of students, faculty, and staff in Purdue University's Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program (VT-DLP).

It would be beneficial for you to print out a hard copy of this for your future reference.

Student ID Card Information

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Click on a topic of your choice below to view that information, or scroll down to read all topics in order.
 

Letter from the Dean

General Overview of VT-DLP

VT-DLP Professional Staff

Who to contact

Admission to the Associate Degree Program

Curriculum Overview

Veterinary Technology Courses are Not Pre-Veterinary Courses

Differences Between Taking Courses for University Credit Vs Continuing Education Credit

Definition of Continuing Education Units and CE Credits

Definition of "Full Credit Load" and the amount of effort per credit hour

Policy on Transfer of CE Credits to University Credits

AVMA Accreditation Status of VT-DLP

Differences Between VT-DLP and the On-Campus Program

Policy on Students in the On-Campus Program Taking Courses in VT-DLP

Access to the VT-DLP Courses

Available Courses and Academic Calendar

Grades

Student Classification

Calculation of Scholastic Index

Students on Probation

Incomplete Courses and Grades

Students enrolled in other Veterinary Technology Programs

Testing Procedures

Honor Code Policy

Dropping Courses or Withdrawing from the University

Readmission

Payment of Fees

Refunding of Course Fees

Financial Aid for VT-DLP

Library Resources

Student Identification Cards

Nondiscrimination Policy

Racial and sexual harassment

Technical Standards

 

Dear Distance Learning Student:

Welcome to the School of Veterinary Medicine and the ranks of those dedicated to the health care of animals. We are pleased that you have chosen to join us and look forward to a long and rewarding relationship.

Our time together can be most productive if we all understand the organizational structure and rules which provide a framework for our working together. This handbook is presented in the hope that it will assist you in reaching your educational goals and provide answers to many questions which will arise while you are a student.

The faculty and staff are dedicated to making your time with us an intellectual challenge in a pleasant learning environment. You can contribute much to the quality of the learning environment by working with the staff and faculty in a constructive manner to solve problems and address the issues facing distance learning students. We expect you to do and be your very best. Anything less will tarnish the experience for each of us.

You are encouraged to work closely with the distance learning faculty and staff. While not all questions have readily available answers, these people want to work with you and I urge you to take advantage of that willingness to help solve your "little" problems rather than letting them grow into a major crisis.

We wish to provide for each student the maximum opportunity for personal and professional growth. Please let us know when we falter and be quick to suggest ways where we might improve. Together we can continue to make the best even better.
 

Willie M. Reed

The Purdue University Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program (VT-DLP) allows individuals who are unable to come onto the West Lafayette campus to participate in courses in veterinary technology at home or at work via a computer and an Internet connection. The courses are largely self-paced learning experiences designed to be completed within spring semester, summer session, or fall semester.

Students must apply to Purdue University for admission into the Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology (Distance Learning) in order to take courses for Purdue University Credit.

Graduate Registered Veterinary Technicians may also take some courses for Continuing Education Units (C.E.U.s) without being formally admitted to Purdue University.

Questions not found at the web site or in this VT-DLP Student Handbook should be addressed to: 

The Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program offers an Associate of Science Degree in Veterinary Technology. Admission to the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Associate Degree programs requires admission to Purdue University. Information regarding the Admission to Purdue procedure, an Application for Admission to Purdue, and pre-requisites for Admission to Purdue are listed on the main Web page under STUDENT SERVICES.

The VT-DLP curriculum and courses are modeled upon the same curriculum taught in the on-campus program. The VT-DLP courses are arranged in modules of 1 to 2 Purdue University credit hours, which is equivalent to 1.5 to 2.3 Continuing Education (C.E.) Units or 15 to 22.5 C. E. contact hours.

There are a total of 35 designated VT-DLP on-line core courses (45 credit hours) and 17 Clinical Mentorship experiences (17 credit hours). Clinical Mentorships are experience practicums done in a veterinary practice. In each mentorship experience the student is required to practice and successfully perform essential tasks under the supervision of a veterinarian or a licensed, certified, or registered veterinary technician.

 

NOTE: Veterinary Technology Courses are not intended to be Pre-Veterinary Courses

The courses in the VT-DLP are not intended to be course work required for entrance into a College of Veterinary Medicine. Typically "pre-vet" course work (2 years of college courses) requires physics, biochemistry, calculus, molecular biology, statistics and other courses not offered by the VT-DLP. Thus, taking VT-DLP courses will NOT increase your chances for admission to veterinary school to attain the DVM degree. Because veterinary technology courses can not be applied towards completion of the pre-veterinary requirements, a student would have to take at least another year, if not two, of college work to become eligible to apply for veterinary school.

If the student's goal is to ultimately enter a College of Veterinary Medicine, they are advised to focus their time, energy, and finances on taking college courses that meet the requirements to be eligible for admission to veterinary school. For further information on pre-veterinary curricula, see the web sites for the individual veterinary schools. A listing of veterinary schools can be found at the American Veterinary Medical Association's web site at: www.avma.org.

 

In addition to the VT-DLP courses, the student is also required to complete a college-level, 3 credit hour English Composition course (equivalent to Purdue University English 101), a 3 credit hour Animal Science course (equivalent to Purdue University ANSC 101P or 102 Introduction to Animal Agriculture) , and a 2 credit hour elective. These courses may be taken from an on-line college or from a local college or university. The courses taken must meet the criteria for Credit Transfer to Purdue University.

Total required credit hours (including electives and non-VT courses) is 70.
Completion of the 70 credit hours earns an Associate of Science Degree in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University.
 

VT-DLP courses may be taken for Purdue University credit (applied towards the Associate Degree) or for Continuing Education Units that can be applied to mandatory Continuing Education requirements for graduate veterinary technicians. When the student signs up for courses, the student indicates whether they are taking each course for University Credit or for Continuing Education Units.

Pre-requisite course requirements apply for those students taking VT-DLP courses for University credit. Many of the VT-DLP courses build upon previous VT-DLP courses and thus many courses have pre-requisite courses that must be completed before they can be taken. All pre-requisite courses are listed for each VT-DLP course in the Course Catalog (posted on the VT-DLP web site)

Pre-requisite course requirements do not apply to those students taking VT-DLP courses for Continuing Education (CE). It is assumed that students taking courses for CE already have a background or degree in veterinary technology and are taking the courses as refresher or current-concepts courses.

Courses taken for Continuing Education (CE) do not require the student to go through the formal admissions procedure for Purdue University.

Students taking courses for University Credit will have an official Purdue University transcript of their VT-DLP courses completed. VT-DLP courses successfully completed for University Credit will apply towards the Associate Degree if the student has been successfully admitted into the Associate Degree program.

Courses taken for CE do not appear on an official Purdue University course transcript. Upon successful completion of the course for CE credits, the student will be issued some acknowledgment of their completion and the number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) earned.
 

1 Purdue University credit hour course is equivalent to 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or 15 C.E. contact hours. Students must have a passing grade in a course in order to be granted full CE units. The instructor has the option to assign partial CE credit for an incompleted course or for an unsatisfactory completion of a course.

Courses taken for Continuing Education cannot be transferred over to University Credit.

Students wishing to apply a course previously completed for CEUs towards University Credit will need to be successfully admitted to the Purdue University Associate Degree program, enroll in the course as a University Credit student, and pay the full course fee.

It is better, and less expensive, if the student clearly knows his/her educational goal and elects to take courses for University Credit or CE Credit based upon that goal.

• This definition of "full time" may not apply to the definition used by financial aid for "full time enrollment requirements". In the case of financial aid, the student is advised to meet the requirements listed by financial aid, regardless of the university defintion of "full time enrollment"
  
  
• In the first enrollment semester, the student is not eligible to take more than 6 credits of course work because of pre-requisites. A full credit load would be:
  
  
  • VM105 Introduction to VT (1 credit)
  • BMS 115 Anatomy I (1.5 credit)
  • BMS 116 Anatomy II (with instructor's permission) (1.5 credit)
  • BMS 135 Physiology I (1 credit)
  • BMS 136 Physiology II (with instructor's permission) (1 credit)

CREDIT LOAD AND WORK EFFORT

1 credit hour = about 3 hours of effort per week during the fall and spring semester. 1 credit hour = about 6 hours of effort per week during the summer session.

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In order for a student to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) in most states, they must graduate from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program.

Purdue University Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program was accredited by the AVMA in November 2002.

 

If a student is enrolled in the VT-DLP, they cannot transfer directly to the on-campus program. The VT-DLP student may elect to apply and compete for the 30 available slots in the on-campus program in West Lafayette, but he/she would not be afforded any special advantage by virtue of their enrollment in the VT-DLP.

The on-campus program has been in existence since 1973, is approved for granting the Associate Degree and has full accreditation from the AVMA. The VT-DLP began February 1999 and is also approved for granting the Associate Degree.

The same faculty and staff that design and teach the on-campus courses design the courses in the VT-DLP. The VT-DLP courses are designed to be of the same high quality and academic challenge (rigor) as the on-campus program courses.

With AVMA accreditation, transfer of credit from the VT-DLP to the Purdue on-campus program is possible. Purdue University's policy on academic credit transfer is to handle each request on a course-by-course basis.
 

Because of differences in sequencing of courses between the on-campus and the VT-DLP, the Veterinary Technology Committee has determined that students enrolled in the Purdue University on-campus veterinary technology program are not allowed to take VT-DLP courses for University credit.

Most of the courses will be delivered partially or totally via Web-based connection. Students will be required to have a computer plus access to the Internet via an Internet provider. They will also be required to have an Internet browser software such as Netscape or Internet Explorer.

Upon completion of registration and payment of fees, a password will be issued to the student for each course for which they have paid registration. This password will allow them access to the VT-DLP program, on-line course material for the courses they have registered, and any supporting services associated with individual courses or the VT-DLP program in general. The password will become inactive at the close of a course.

Access to VT-DLP courses is by Password and Log-in only. Passwords and Log-ins become effective on the first day of class and are inactivated at the end of the semester.

The VT-DLP courses that are available for enrolling for a given semester or session are posted each term in the VT-DLP Course Catalog. The Course Catalog is available at the VT-DLP web site and upon e-mail request for an Application.

The Catalog will continue to expand as VT-DLP courses are continuously added to it.

The courses will begin in January, early June, and late August. Spring and Fall semesters are approximately 15 weeks long and follow the Purdue University West Lafayette on-campus academic calendar. The summer session is 8 weeks long (courses are still the same number of credit hours). 

Each student will receive a grade in each course for which they are enrolled if they are taking the course for University Credit. Students will be assigned an A, B, C, D, or F grade in their courses. Variations of this grading scheme must follow Purdue University guidelines as outlined by the University Regulations reference book.

Students taking a course for Continuing Education credits (CE credits) will not necessarily be assigned a letter grade.

Students working for an associate degree shall be classified by numerals 1,2,3, etc. corresponding approximately to the number of semesters of college work completed toward the total credit hours required for the degree. (From University Regulations manual)

Students in the VT-DLP will be Classified by the number of credit hours of course work successfully completed: 

 

Classification	Total Credit Hours
1	0.5 - 17.5
2	18.0 - 35.0
3	35.5 - 52.5
4	53.0 - 70.0

SEMESTER INDEX

The semester index is determined by first summing the total index points for each course taken in the semester then dividing by the total credit hours taken that semester. The index points for an individual course are determined by:

Therefore, if a student received a "B" in a 2 credit course, the index points for that course would be:

2 credit hours x 3 = 6 index points

The semester index is the total index points for all courses taken that semester divided by the total number of credit hours taken that semester.
 

If a student had a total index points for a semester of 18 and had taken a total of 6 hours of course work, the semester index would be:

Any courses with pass/not pass or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade assignments (e.g. P, N, S, U, etc.) are not included in the semester index calculation.

Only the last grade in a course repeated for credit is factored into the index.

Grades in elective courses not credited towards graduation from the VT-DLP and grades in courses taken before admission to the VT-DLP are not included in the index.

GRADUATION INDEX

The graduation index is determined by summing the total of index points from all courses used to determine the semester index, and dividing that total by the total number of credit hours for those courses.

If a student has completed 30 credit hours of the VT-DLP program and has a total of 105 index points for each of those courses, then the student has a graduation index of:

A student shall be placed on probation within the VT-DL program when any semester, summer session, or graduation index is below 2.0 (C average).

A student on probation shall be removed from that status at the end of the first subsequent semester in which he/she achieves semester and graduation indexes equal to or greater than 2.0 (C average).

A student on scholastic probation shall be dropped from the VT-DLP if, at the close of the next semester or summer session, his/her graduation index is less than that required (see table below).

If a student elects to drop a course, the student should contact the VTDLP office and course instructor immediately. The course drop request will be processed for the student by the VTDLP office according to the guidelines listed in the tables below. (Note the different schedule for Fall/Spring versus Summer). The Program secretary or Director will request approvals for dropping a course from the instructor (if necessary). Note that the instructor in some cases is required to assign a grade of passing ("W") or failing ("WF") based upon the status of the student at the time of the drop request.

A course may be dropped and a partial refund of course fees obtained within the following guidelines for FALL and SPRING semesters.

A course may be dropped and a partial refund of course fees obtained within the following guidelines for the SUMMER SESSION.

 

A "W" grade means that a student was enrolled and withdrew.

A "WF" grade means that at the time of the withdrawal, the student was not passing the course.

Students withdrawing from all classes will be considered withdrawing from the University.

Because distance learning courses require a high level of self-discipline and self-motivation, students are expected to complete courses on time and the use of "I" (Incomplete) grades is discouraged. Students are strongly encouraged to develop study schedules that will allow them to complete a course within its designated time. If an "I" grade is granted by the instructor, the instructor and student should negotiate a reasonable time frame (usually less than 6 weeks after the completion of a course) by which the student is to have completed all remaining exercises, quizzes, tests, or other materials required by the course.

Upon request by the VT-DLP student, the pro-rated amount of CE credit accumulated (as determined by the percentage of the course completed) as of the end of the course may be assigned to the student and the student's course account closed.

Until the materials are completed for the "I" course, the student cannot take the next course in that series (e.g. Anatomy II cannot be taken if Anatomy I has not been completed). The student may not take any courses for which the "I" course is a pre-requisite.

At the time of receipt of the completed materials for the course, the instructor will request a grade change through the appropriate forms used by Purdue University. The student will receive a grade report at the end of the semester or summer session indicating the new grade assigned.

Students who are enrolled in another AVMA accredited veterinary technology program may take courses for the purpose of transferring earned Purdue credits toward the degree at their home institution. Students who choose to do this must be admitted to Purdue as a non-degree seeking student and must complete the following steps.

1. The student should confirm with the Veterinary Technology director of their home institution that the Purdue course(s) taken will be accepted towards their degree. Purdue has no control over whether or not Purdue credits are accepted by other institutions or VT programs.

2. The student wanting to register for the Purdue course will then contact the Purdue Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program to speak with an advisor about their interest in registering for Purdue courses.

3. Following the discussion with the Purdue advisor, the Purdue Director or Veterinary Technology or a designee will either:

a. contact the Purdue Office of Admissions liaison for VTDLP to recommend admission of the student on non-degree status, OR

b. direct the student to contact the Office of Admissions liaison to initiate a non-degree application.

4 . The Office of Admissions will require the student to complete an application form, provide an official transcript or letter of good standing from the degree institution to indicate the students current enrollment or approval to take Purdue courses for purposes of completing a veterinary technology degree at the home institution, and the application fee. Upon meeting these requirements, the student will be admitted into the program as a non-degree seeking student. The Office of Admissions will send an appropriate letter of notification to the student. This letter will include a statement that reiterates that this student is a non-degree seeking student and is not considered to be enrolled in the curriculum leading to the Purdue University degree in veterinary technology.

5. The student will then register for the approved courses through the normal registration procedures as dictated on the Purdue VTDLP web page.

6. Once the student has completed the course, the student is responsible for requesting a Purdue transcript from the office of the Registrar or obtaining any other documentation that the home institution requires for verification of completion of the Purdue courses.

The Office of Admissions and the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Office will jointly review any requests for non-degree admission that fall outside of the parameters outlined in this protocol.

Testing Procedures

The Proctor

The proctor must be one of the following:

• A licensed veterinarian
• A Registered, Certified, or Licensed Veterinary Technician (certified, licensed or registered in the state)
• An educator associated with a primary or secondary school, college, or university
  The proctor cannot be a spouse, parent or relative.

Proctor Exam Responsiblities

• Provides place for the student to take the quiz/exam
• Makes reasonable assurance that cheating is not taking place
• Makes sure the student is not disturbed during the exam
• Makes sure the student does not have any materials available that might assist them in the examination
• Collects the examination at the end
• Copies the exam and assures it is mailed back to the VT-DLP in the stamped/addressed envelope provided in the test packet in a timely manner.
• The proctor does not need to remain in the room, but should ensure that exam security is maintained. If two students are taking the exam simultaneously, the students must be in separate rooms or monitored during the examination.
• The proctor may not answer questions about content.

Many exams have a postmark due date. Please mail the exam immediately upon the student’s completion.

If the student asks the proctor to return the exam in such a way that there is additional charges, the student is responsible for those charges.

Exams are not to be faxed unless:

• The student has permission from the instructor to fax the exam
• The student and proctor reside outside the United States.

Student Exam Responsiblities

• Check with proctor to insure they have received the correct exam packet 1-2 weeks prior to taking the first exam.
• Check course calendar or syllabus for all exam due dates and set dates with proctor to complete exams on or before due date.
• Read syllabus and make sure you have studied the appropriate material covered on the exam.
• Communicate to the proctor the importance of copying and mailing the exam immediately after it is completed.
• Follow the honor code policy with regards to cheating and sharing of information

Honor Code Policy

I. STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

The students of Purdue University Veterinary Technology Distance Learning program (VTDLP) recognize that honesty, truth, and integrity are values central to the school's mission as an institution of higher education. Therefore, the current policies and procedures involving academic integrity have been incorporated into this Honor Code of behavior. The code described in this document articulates the responsibilities of VTDLP students, proctors, faculty, and administration in upholding academic integrity, while at the same time respecting the rights of individuals to the due process offered by administrative hearings and appeals. All persons enrolled in any course or program offered by Purdue University VTDLP, and all persons supervising the learning of any student are responsible for acting in accordance with the provisions of this policy.

Students are responsible for:
· Understanding the types of conduct that are deemed unacceptable and, therefore, are prohibited by this policy.
· Refraining from committing any act of cheating, plagiarizing, facilitating academic dishonesty, abusing academic materials, stealing, or lying.
· Reporting every instance in which the student has a suspicion or knowledge that academic conduct which violates this policy or its spirit has taken place to the faculty member responsible for instruction.

Faculty members are responsible for:
· Understanding the procedures of this policy relative to how faculty are to handle suspected instances of academic dishonesty.
· Developing an instructional environment that reflects a commitment to maintaining and enforcing academic integrity.
· Handling every suspected or admitted instance of the violation of the provisions of this policy in accordance with the current school and university procedures.

II. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

In attempt to maintain academic integrity, a code of conduct (an Honor Code) has been outlined that describes acceptable behavior for students in all academic settings. This code has been developed using University and school policies.

1. Cheating

Definition: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, notes, study aids or other devices, or obtaining unauthorized assistance from any source for work submitted as one's own individual efforts in any class, clinic, assignment, or examination. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, the following actions:

1. Copying from another student's paper or test, or receiving assistance from another person during an exam or other assignment in a manner not authorized by the instructor.

2. Possessing, buying, selling, removing, receiving, or using at any time or in any manner not previously authorized by the instructor a copy or copies of any exam or other materials (in whole or in part) intended to be used as an instrument of evaluation in advance of its administration.

3. Using material or equipment not authorized by the instructor during a test or other academic evaluation, such as crib notes, a calculator, or a tape recorder.

4. Working with another or others on any exam, take home exam, computer or laboratory work; or any other assignment when the instructor has required independent and unaided effort.

5. Attempting to influence or change an academic evaluation, grade or record by deceit or unfair means, such as: (1) damaging the academic work of another student to gain an unfair advantage in an academic evaluation; or (2) marking or submitting an exam or other assignment in a manner designed to deceive the grading system.

6. Submitting, without prior permission the same academic work that has been submitted in identical or similar form in another class or in fulfillment of any other academic requirement at the University.

7. Permitting another to substitute for one's self during an exam or any other type of academic evaluation.