Welcome to Your Student Success for Health Professions Course!

I am glad that you are here!  I am a pharmacist by profession, and I have been at Austin Community College for 30 years, and I am excited to share with you my knowledge and experiences over the years with health care, and my hopes is that we will learn from each other and have fun along the way!  I am here to help you succeed and master the concepts in this course.  Let's take this journey together and learn student success strategies that will be useful and meaningful not only in your everyday life, but in your future practice. I was the first in my immediate family to go to a 4 -year college, and I was nervous, scared and excited all at the same time, but due to my awesome Professors, I knew I belonged. Please take a few minutes to fill out the student data sheet, which can be found in the start here area, so I can learn something about you. Additionally, please complete the self -introduction discussion board in the start here area so your peers can know something about you as well, so we all can build this wonderful and safe space to learn!

See below for basic course information.

Sincerely your Professor,

Dr. Richard Espinosa

Students earn points from 2 unit(mid term and final) exams, 4 unit quizzes, interactive assignments/activities and class participation as applicable.  All assignments, quizzes, and exams have required due dates.

This course does online proctored testing through DE proctoring for the mid term and final exam.

Read below regarding how to set up testing

Distance Education Courses (asynchronous DE course, no scheduled face to face class sessions)

Students enrolled in distance education HPRS courses will be testing using ACC’s proctoring system called “DE Proctoring” for their exams. DE Proctoring is a free service provided by ACC.

To test with DE Proctoring, students will need:

• a fast, reliable internet connection
• a PC, Mac, Laptop or Chromebook device with a webcam and microphone
• iPads cannot be used for testing
• Google Chrome web browser - using Safari, Firefox, etc. will cause glitches in Class, resulting in you being removed from the testing session

Students will only need to utilize these specific devices on test days, so please consider borrowing an appropriate device from a friend, neighbor, or family member if you do not use these devices on a daily basis. Students CANNOT use an iPad with DE Proctoring. Contact your instructor immediately if you do not have access to one of the above listed devices for test days.

To make a reservation for an exam: 

1. All exams have due dates, and students must test on or before the assigned due date. The DE Proctoring reservation system has specific guidelines on when students can reserve testing appointments. The student must reserve their testing appointment at least 48 hours prior to the day and time they intend to test. The student can make a testing appointment 21 days in advance of the day and time they wish to test. 
   1. DE Proctoring cannot accommodate same-day or next-day appointments.
   2. For example, the exam due date is January 25th and a student wishes to test on January 21st.  The reservation system will open on January 1st for January 21st exam appointment times (three weeks prior to the student’s intended testing date). 
   3. The reservation system will remain open until two days prior to the exam due date. For example, students testing on the due date of January 25th would need to schedule a reservation prior to January 23th. 
2. First, review the course schedule and determine what day you wish to take the exam according to school, family, and work responsibilities. You must take the exam on or before the date and time posted on the course schedule; otherwise, the exam will not be available for testing. 
3. Suggestion: it is beneficial to schedule your testing date and time earlier than the due date of the exam as you never know when something unexpected will occur that prevents you from testing on the scheduled date. Testing sooner than the last session on the exam due date allows students the flexibility to reschedule an exam.  
4. Then, students will make a reservation for each exam using the following link:

        DE Proctoring Testing Appointment Reservation Link   

        5. Upon submitting an appointment request, the student will immediately get a Student Appt Confirmation Email. The information in the email is VERY IMPORTANT.  Not               only does it confirm the appointment, but it also provides instructions on how to join the session correctly. 

         6. Please attend one of the Practice Sessions listed in the Student Appt Confirmation Email. During the practice sessions, DE Proctoring does a run-through of the                        testing session to ensure everything is functioning correctly and will explain the process step-by-step so students know exactly what to expect.

         7.  Note: Be sure to reserve the correct exam. This will help to prevent a lot of frustration on exam days. 

          8.  Remember: DE Proctoring is not open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students will need to make their reservations according to the hours that are listed on the                     attached link:

          DE Proctoring Hours of Operation

The day before the Exam:

1. Students should log into their ACC email account and check for an email from Class welcome@class.com with “You are invited to join a class!” in the subject. That email will contain the link to the testing session.
2. Please note that the email should arrive by 11:59 PM.
3. If you cannot find a reservation link to join the test session, please email DE Proctoring at: DEProctoring@austincc.edu for assistance. Faculty members cannot see the DE Proctoring system to be able to email you a link; therefore, emailing DE Proctoring is your first-line resource.

On the day of the Exam:

1. Launch the Google Chrome web browser - using Safari, Firefox, etc. will cause glitches in Class, resulting in you being removed from the testing session.
2. Five to ten minutes before the exam is scheduled to start, click on the blue “Join Your Class” button meeting link in the email from Class welcome@class.com with “You are invited to join a class!” in the subject. You will be directed to a page with two joining options. Click “Launch Class for Web” to be directed to the Class web-based portal.
3. Recognize that your clock at home may be slightly different that the proctor's clock. Join ahead of time so you do not miss your testing session. Students arriving late are not admitted to the testing session in order to start the session on time
4. Students will need to use their ACC Email account to join the testing session. If students do not use their ACC Email, the proctor cannot see that they are in the waiting room.
5. Students will need a photo ID that clearly shows their name and picture in order to take exams. Suggestions would be an ACC Student ID, unexpired Driver’s License, current Passport, current High School photo ID, etc…  
6. If a student misses the exam window due to being late, they will need to take the final exam to replace the missed exam.
7. The student will be required to enable their webcam and microphone and allow screen sharing so the proctor can see the student’s screen. The proctor will walk the student through a security check. The student will navigate to the test in Blackboard and the proctor will allow access to the test.
8. Students will be testing with a live person using DE Proctoring. The proctor will be monitoring students through video but will not have access to any files or documents on their computer.
9. Please stay online with the proctor until they say you may exit the exam. There are closing procedures that must be performed with DE Proctoring before exiting the exam.
10. Students will shred their scratch paper and/or wipe their white board clean in front of the proctor at the end of the exam.
11. After the student completes the exam and logs out of Blackboard, the Proctor will end the Class for Zoom session.

Reminders for testing…

1. Not using Google Chrome will require rescheduling of the exam.  
2. Not having a photo ID to present to the proctor will require rescheduling of the exam.  If the exam cannot be rescheduled prior to the due date on the course schedule, the student will need to take the Optional Exam at the end of the semester.
3. Missing an appointment in DE Proctoring will result in the student needing to take the Optional Exam at the end of the course.  Please keep track of appointment dates and times!
4. Students are not allowed to use other electronic devices (cell phones, multiple monitors, have additional windows open on the computer, etc.…),
5. Students are not allowed to use any materials (i.e. textbook, lecture notes, post-it notes) on the exams,
6. Students are not allowed to have a cell phone in close proximity, turned on, or available  during the exam,
7. Students are not allowed to take breaks during the exam
8. Students are not allowed to have other people enter the testing environment or talk to other people while testing.
9. Please remember that not following any of these guidelines could be considered to be a breach of Academic Integrity and subject to consequences outlined in the Course Syllabus.
10. If you cannot join due to technical difficulties, or are removed from the testing session, call DE Proctoring immediately at (512) 223-1372 for assistance or to reschedule. As a one-time exception, you may take your exam at one of the ACC Testing Centers. Once you complete the test, the Testing Center staff will instruct you to contact DE Proctoring to resolve your technical issues.

REMINDER:  Extensions to testing deadlines will not be granted for students who fail to follow the procedures listed in this document.

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS:

The following website is a comprehensive source of information for students who need academic, personal, or technological support.

Please click on this link for assistance: ACC Student Support

Student Success for HealthCare Professionals simplified by Lauri McCorry and Jeff Mason. Jones and Bartlett learning. ISBN# 978-1-075114-45-9.  

HPRS 1171 Course Schedule: 

Detailed handouts with dates will be provided on the first day through the Blackboard syllabus and schedule .

                                                                            Course Schedule

Course Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, the student will demonstrate ability to:

1. Identify student learning styles.
2. Identify skills that are important for effective note taking, studying, critical thinking, and test taking relative to health science students.
3. Describe behavioral and communication skills.
4. Identify technological resources, and networking tools utilized by healthcare professionals
5. Demonstrate effective self-regulation skills related to time management, school-life balance, self-esteem, and goal setting.
6. Apply student success principles related to interacting with others and choosing a major/career Path.
7. Prepare for experiential training in the healthcare setting.
8. Identify next steps in academic progression and career preparation.