Technical standards outline the skills and expectations required for students to successfully enter, progress through, and complete the program. They ensure clarity and consistency for students, faculty, staff, administration, and disability services. These standards apply equally to all students.
If you require accommodations to fully participate in the program, please contact the Office of Disability Services to confidentially discuss your needs. Technical standards can be met with or without accommodations, and the examples provided are not all encompassing.
Technical Standard, Definition and Examples
Demonstrate ability to remember, understand, apply, analyze, and evaluate information
Examples:
- Process information from multiple sources.
- Collect, analyze and interpret abstract and concrete data.
- Evaluate outcomes.
- Identify cause-effect relationships.
- Transfer knowledge from one situation to another.
- Access and comprehend information from textbooks, journals, resource books, and other documents both in print and electronic formats.
- Analyzing the feedback from instructors to make changes and improvements.
Physical abilities are sufficient to function in a classroom, laboratory, or online setting with ease
Examples:
- Move around and work in a classroom setting. Classes may be up to 90 minutes in duration and may require presentations and moving within the classroom for group work.
- Tolerate wearing personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, safety goggles, aprons, and gloves.
Tactile ability is sufficient for written communication and handling of equipment
Examples:
- Use writing utensils, keyboards, and computer controls.
- Use manipulatives and scientific equipment.
- Physically use technology (calculators, iPad, computers, etc.).
- Assess, examine, and interpret findings through touch.
Sufficient physical ability and stamina to attend classes and provide care to patients. Must possess the ability to lift, stand, stretch, squat, and crawl or contort to any position as required by the situation
Examples:
- Perform physical activities including, but not limited to, the manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer, keyboard, microscope, or other lab equipment.
Auditory abilities are sufficient for classroom or online needs
Example:
- Distinguish and respond to sounds at a close range including, but not limited to, an instructor, other students in a classroom, and audio recordings.
Visual ability is sufficient for comprehending printed materials, specimens under a microscope, images, or videos projected on a screen
Examples:
- Tolerate working indoors in artificial light and the glare of a computer screen.
- Wear safety glasses/goggles.
- See objects up to 20 feet away.
- Read printed or electronic documents.
- Use depth perception.
- Use peripheral vision.
Abilities are sufficient for interaction with others in verbal, nonverbal, and written form
Examples:
- Speak and write in standard English (unless the student is enrolled in a foreign language course).
- Listen and comprehend the spoken and written words.
- Interpret and follow verbal directions from others.
- Convey information clearly to others and in a timely manner.
- Read and comprehend written material to perform laboratory test procedures, assessment instructions, classroom activities/critiques, handouts, and workshops correctly and independently.
Ability to interact with others, whether face-to-face or through electronic means, with professionalism and respect for persons from diverse social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds
Examples:
- Respond to instructors and/or other students with respect for their viewpoints whether in a traditional/face-to-face classroom or online.
- Function and contribute as part of a team.
- Exhibit ethical behavior and exercise good judgement.
- Negotiate interpersonal conflict.
Olfaction sufficient to detect odors and tolerate various odors. Must be able to function safely under varying environmental factors
Examples:
- Be able to work in hot or cold conditions.
- Maintain focus and productivity in a noisy shop or workplace.
- Work inside and outside under variable conditions.
Possess emotional stability sufficient to assume responsibility/accountability for actions and maintain composure in stressful situations
Examples:
- Adapt rapidly to changing environments and/or stress.
- Calmly receive constructive feedback.
- Demonstrate honesty and integrity.
We are committed to ensuring all students have the support they need to succeed in this program. If you have a documented disability, reasonable accommodations will be provided unless they fundamentally alter essential training requirements, create undue hardship, or pose a safety risk to you or others.
Disability Services Statement
If you have a documented disability and need accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office (Ward Hall Building; 252-638-1454) as soon as possible—ideally before classes or field experiences begin. You are also encouraged to inform your instructor as needed so we can best support your learning.