FL Rule 6E-20041

Materials Specific to Masters of Veterinary Clinical Care Program (MVCC)

Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park or “institution” will comply with all standards pursuant to Rule 6E-2.0041 F.A.C. Delivery of Programs Through Nontraditional Assessments, Modes, and Methods in addition to the Standards set forth by the Commission for Independent Education (“CIE”) in its application for licensure standards.

The following pages will detail by section (as applicable) that Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park or “institution” has researched, developed, and is in compliance with the Standards of Compliance, listed in BOLD print, for its students pursuant to rule 6E-2.0041 F.A.C.

(a) Institutions offering nontraditional programs of study shall document that the instructional methods used will lead to the achievement of stated learning objectives and that all nontraditional instruction shall be consistent with the abilities, educational skills, experience, and needs of the students enrolled in the programs.

In the ever-changing dynamic global scenario, online learning has found its place, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Online learning especially enables non-traditional and working students with the opportunity to advance their education. LMU has established a Master of Veterinary Clinical Care (MVCC) program and seeks to move its operation to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park.

The target student population for this graduate degree is credentialed veterinary technicians. Matriculants are primarily career technicians who are employed in the field full time. With its contemporary curriculum, the College of Veterinary Medicine will provide students with a robust foundation in advanced veterinary patient care and clinical science. The MVCC will educate a group of veterinary professionals that may lead to the development of a veterinary paraprofessional similar to that of a Physician’s Associate. The MVCC program incorporates the most contemporary perspectives of pedagogy, technology, simulation, and interprofessional collaboration.

Graduates of this program will be prepared at the highest level of knowledge, skill, competency, and compassion.

The MVCC program delivers curricular content through the Canvas LMS system, which is a digital solution that enables the highest quality of learning and student management capabilities to correspond with the way education best serves learners. It is used to deliver all courses online across programs at Lincoln Memorial University. Canvas builds targeted communities that engage students via social learning, expand the online classroom experience, and optimize true learning.

The curriculum was developed by faculty and veterinary industry leaders as part of the Veterinary Innovation Council. When the MVCC is achieved, students will have attained the knowledge in clinical case management, research, critical thinking, practice management, clinical skills, and professional skills required of a veterinary paraprofessional to make a meaningful contribution to a veterinary health care team.

Curriculum

The curriculum is divided into three semesters, but many courses do not have to be taken in any particular sequence, allowing students to move through their curriculum at their own pace. Some courses do need to be taken in sequence and will have pre-requisite courses listed in the catalog. The first semester is focused on the normal veterinary physiology and anatomy. Second semester builds on the foundational knowledge to introduce diagnostic approaches and pharmacology. The third semester focuses on integration of prior knowledge to develop the students’ approach to clinical cases. Students will demonstrate mastery of clinical and professional skills through video submission via the University’s learning management system, similar to what is currently used in fully online veterinary technology programs. Throughout the program, students will be required to choose areas of emphasis through elective courses. Areas of emphasis include: small animal health, large animal health, practice management, and research with a One Health emphasis. The proposed program curriculum digest and course descriptions can be found at the end of this document.

The College of Veterinary Medicine's Curriculum Committee and reporting system, its curriculum management system, and most importantly, its curriculum assessment and improvement system have been designed for regular evaluation that signals willingness to change in response to needs identified through objective measures outcomes and performance. This process is informed by students, faculty, staff, and external constituent feedback. The College of Veterinary Medicine is committed to retaining flexibility and adaptability as it collects and analyzes new outcomes data, expands faculty input, student feedback about courses and instructors, external stakeholder input, and new knowledge and technology in the profession of veterinary medicine. The MVCC program’s assessment efforts will be consistent with LMU’s ongoing assessment process, built on the annual submission of Outcomes Assessment Reports (OARs) detailing the data collection, conclusions drawn, and use of results to improve student outcomes in all academic programs.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Program Goals for the Master of Veterinary Clinical Care Program include:

Advance the training of veterinary technicians/nurses to add value to a veterinary healthcare team.
Produce graduates who will demonstrate and apply knowledge of accepted standards in veterinary medicine.
Produce graduates who will use an evidence-based approach to effectively manage patients and incorporate veterinary medicine’s best practices to promote the health of individual and populations of animals.

Upon completion, graduates of the Master of Veterinary Clinical Care program will be able to:

Apply knowledge from science and related disciplines, including principles of evidence-based practice to improve care delivery and health outcomes.
Apply knowledge of organizational and leadership theories with an emphasis on ethical and critical decision making, to improve quality, manage risks, and provide cost-effective care using a systems perspective.
Improve quality, manage risks, and provide cost-effective care through the application of quality improvement methods and tools, performance measures, and best practice standards.
Demonstrate analytic techniques used to appraise the quality of existing evidence for best clinical practices, determine and evaluate outcomes, identify gaps in veterinary science, and contribute to the dissemination of veterinary knowledge.
Advocate for ethical patient care policies that ensure equity, stewardship of resources, and improvement of health outcomes.
Demonstrate effective communication and interprofessional collaboration, employing consultative and leadership skills to manage and coordinate care and improve health outcomes.
Analyze and apply scientific data to develop and implement appropriate interventions
Apply advanced knowledge and competencies to assess health and illness parameters, design, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve care delivery and health outcomes, while seeking life-long learning, and the promotion of practice excellence.
1. Institutions offering nontraditional programs of study that employ innovative delivery systems or innovative methods, or that carry on research and teaching in emerging fields of study, shall demonstrate that they will achieve the intent of each of the standards contained in Rule 6E-2.004, F.A.C., for the appropriate level of licensure and for annual reviews.
  The program goals and student learning outcomes are assessed through the annual collection of outcomes data and formative assessments, respectively. The yearly collection of findings of these outcomes measures is the responsibility of the Program Director and is reported to the CVM Dean. The outcomes data are collected through surveys, individual interviews, communications, and the data and analyses are entered in databases for continual assessment. Included in the data are standardized student evaluations of courses and instructors, graduate outcomes, and student academic performance. Course evaluations are administered at the end of each semester. Program evaluations are administered at the end of the program. Outcomes data are reviewed by the Program Director, the CVM Graduate Council, and the CVM Dean and are used to improve the operations, curriculum, and educational program.
2. In addition to providing to the Commission the documentation required for each standard contained in Rule 6E-2.004, F.A.C., showing how the intent of each standard will be met in the nontraditional program or delivery system, the institution shall also furnish for each course to be offered:

A detailed inventory of equipment and supplies to be provided to each student;

For the MVCC 503: Principles of Surgery and Wound Management course, students receive the following materials:

One practice kit containing 18 inches of nylon rope, 6 inch piece of tubing for ligature practice, one binder clip to stabilize the suture pads, suture, and silicon suture pads.

The remainder of the courses do not require any special equipment or supplies. All learning will take place in a virtual environment and all the virtual requirements will be met.

A detailed description of how each program will be conducted, including submission of detailed course outlines, procedures for distribution of materials, examination and evaluation of student work, timely response to students’ questions and comments, record keeping, appropriate student services, and technical support.

Course information that includes the above information can be found in the course syllabi found in the included documents labelled MVCC Syllabi.

The distribution of materials:

Learning Management System

Canvas is the electronic curriculum management system of choice at LMU and the LMU College of Veterinary Medicine. Canvas allows faculty to organize course information and handouts, communications, and assessments in a web-based environment accessible to students at any location with an internet connection. Posting of course content, exam grades, evaluations, and surveys will be administered through Canvas.

TurningPoint Technologies

This program works in conjunction with PowerPoint and allows faculty to engage students through a question and answer session. Faculty post a question using a PowerPoint slide, and students answer the question through a website connected through TurningPoint. The responses are automatically calculated for review in the PowerPoint presentation for discussion and learning.

ExamSoft

The electronic testing program used at LMU-CVM to administer secure course exams for courses. Students use the ExamSoft software (SofTest) to take exams on the student’s PC.

Panopto

Hardware and software, audio and video record all lectures delivered from the auditoria and all laboratories. These recordings are stored and streamed online and available to the student anywhere through an internet connection. At faculty discretion, lectures are also available via podcast audio download.

Zoom Meeting

Zoom is a web-based meeting platform that allows easy connect meetings between administration, faculty, and students. This multifunctional platform is scheduled with or without video and can include up to fifty participants.

Library Resources

The Carnegie-Vincent Library and the Reed Health Sciences Library maintain websites that provide students with access to 238 databases both on-campus and off-campus, tutorials on library resources and search processes, resource guides, contact information for the library and librarians, access to the Piper Online Catalog, information regarding library services, and web-based forms to submit requests for resources to be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan.

Discussions and Participation

Each week there will be discussion activities, written assignments, quizzes and/or case studies, which require critical thinking and responses that are based in theory, readings, current events, and personal experiences. These type, frequency, and structure of assessments are at the discretion of the course director. Students should plan their weeks accordingly for maximum academic success.

Exams

Course directors may schedule exams, including mid-terms as indicated in the syllabus. Exams may include a variety of question typestaht are guided by the learning objectives associated with each class session.

Final

Courses may have a final project or an exam to assess comprehensive learning outcomes, at the discretion of the course director.
Timely response to students’ questions and comments:
The curriculum for the MVCC program is team-taught. Students will also have access to faculty during review hours at regularly scheduled times each week as needed. Additionally, faculty members will hold office hours by appointment. Students can attend meetings with faculty through Blackboard, Internet chat or web conferencing, or via telephone. In instances where faculty and students cannot connect in real-time, the policy at LMU-CVM is to return communications via email, telephone, or in-person within 24 hours (48 hours on the weekend). Faculty will also grade or submit feedback to students within seven days after the due date for an assignment.

Attendance and record keeping:

Lincoln Memorial University will make use of the Canvas Learning Management System, which has functionality to keep track of attendance and for record keeping such as grades. Attendance is at the discretion of the student in an online, asynchronous course.

Technical support:

LMU Information Services will instruct students on the use of institutional email accounts, online examination and learning management systems, and other online learning resources during first-semester orientation. IS is available by phone or email 24/7 to support students’ technology needs. Students will receive instruction on the use of the electronic examination platform during first-semester orientation. The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence offers further training and support on the

functionality of Canvas and how to utilize the features to provide the maximum benefit of the Canvas LMS service. This training is provided by the LMU Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.

MVCC students will receive support from the Office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions and associated staff available in the LMU-CVM in Harrogate, TN. Once approved and managed by the LMU-OPCVM, these same supports will be duplicated within that college’s personnel. All services are available via virtual platform.

Academic Support Services

LMU-CVM offers academic support services designed to enhance learning and aid in the success of all students. Academic support services include one-on-one individual consultation, large and small group presentations, and peer tutoring. Assistance includes but is not limited to the following topics: study skills, time management, stress management and wellness, test anxiety, test-taking strategies, and board preparation. The LMU-CVM Director of Academic Success oversees academic support services.

Students are notified of the available academic support services during a one-hour presentation conducted at orientation by the Director of Academic Success, through emails sent throughout the semester with details of services offered, and with reminders at the end of every presentation conducted by the Director of Academic Success throughout the academic year. Faculty and staff advisors are also notified during the annual Advisor Training Workshop of the services offered by the Director of Academic Success.

Students may self-refer or be referred to the Director of Academic Success by faculty advisors, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions, or the Program Director. Students who fall below a cumulative GPA of 2.5 will be placed on academic probation and will be required to meet with the Director of Academic Success.

Academic Counseling: Individual Appointments

Every student referred or self-referred to academic counseling is scheduled for an initial one-hour appointment. The nature of all meetings is securely documented, including recommendations made and follow-up plans. When applicable, advisors, faculty, and/or staff are notified of relevant academic information.

Academic Support: Presentations and Workshops

The Director of Academic Success conducts a variety of presentations during orientation and throughout the academic year. Topics include, but are not limited to: Study Strategies for Active Learning, Time Management, Effective Test-Taking Strategies, and Board Preparation. Presentations are incorporated into the curriculum schedule, conducted in a Lunch and Learn format, or offered after-hours to accommodate students' schedules.

Academic Tutoring

Peer tutoring services are available to students through the Exam Services Office that is overseen by the Director of Outcomes and Assessment. Prospective tutors must apply via the Director of Outcomes and Assessment, who then seeks approval for tutors from the Course Directors. All tutors must be in overall good academic standing. Also, tutors must have scored at least a high B/low A in the course they will be tutoring. Students interested in tutoring or faculty/staff referring students to tutoring must contact the Director of Outcomes and Assessment with their request. While every effort is made to place all interested students in tutoring, opportunities may be limited, and therefore priority is given based on grades. After the first course examination, all students who failed the exam are notified via email that tutoring is available. The remaining available space in tutoring is then open to all students on a first- come-first-serve basis. After each subsequent examination, the Dean monitors all course averages. Course Directors notify those with a failing average of tutoring and academic resources available.

Mental Health Counseling Policies and Procedures

Students have access to confidential mental health counseling and care. The LMU Office of Mental Health Counseling staff helps current students overcome the personal, career, and academic concerns that often stand in the way of them reaching their full potential. The office operates as the primary mental health service for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students enrolled at the University. Counseling services are available at both the Harrogate and Knoxville locations. Counselors provide free, short-term treatment typically lasting between five to eight sessions per semester; however, treatment may extend beyond eight sessions when appropriate. Counseling provides students with an opportunity to explore their unique problems, difficulties, and concerns with a licensed mental health professional in a safe and confidential environment. Also, the office offers crisis intervention and psychoeducation/ training for the campus community. If students require long-term counseling or treatment needs exceed the scope of practice, the counselors will work with students to find appropriate off-campus treatment options.

Students who secure services in the community are responsible for paying for those services. Most community providers accept insurance. Some have a sliding scale fee schedule for students who do not have insurance covering mental health services. Information regarding counseling services is presented during student orientation and available on the LMU website.

A mental health representative will be accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from wherever students are located through contracted services with Empathia. Empathia links students with licensed counselors for up to five confidential sessions per semester. Services include free, 24/7 counseling, even on holidays, provided in the way most convenient for the student: chat, telephone, text, or live video. Empathia, through its website or app, can provide referrals for local resources, daily living 18 needs, utilities, and childcare, as well as expert consultations for finances, legal needs, and life. Articles, assessments, calculators, videos and other resources are also available to help students with their daily well -being. Instructions on utilizing Empathia are published on the LMU website, including a toll -free phone number students can call.

On an annual basis, LMU provides opportunities for faculty to engage in developmental sessions related to dealing with troubled or difficult students and training related to suicide prevention.

Students living in Tennessee and Kentucky have access to LMU counselors through teleconferencing and can continue to make appointments on the scheduling calendar available on the LMU website. LMU Counseling Office Contact: Jason Kishpaugh, LPC-MHSP, Director of Counseling, Duke 202, (423) 869-6277.

Physical Health Services

All full-time MVCC students are required to have health insurance. Those students not covered by their parents’ insurance or another insurance plan must obtain coverage through the University. Students must sign a form confirming their health care coverage. Students will have access to non-emergent medical care based on their private health insurance plans.

Financial Aid and Debt Management Counseling Opportunities

The MVCC program is served by the Department of Student Financial Services for all Bursar and Financial Aid functions. The Financial Aid Department is a centralized service that houses 10 team members. A Financial Aid Counselor is assigned by the CVM to counsel students and administer entrance and exit counseling for those students who choose to borrow for their education, providing an emphasis on responsible borrowing. The Counselor provides information to potential students as well as continuing students on deadlines and financial aid procedures, all of which are published on the LMU website.

(d) Institutions holding license by means of accreditation as defined in subsection 6E-2.002(3), F.A.C., may substitute proof of such accreditation, in good standing, for the requirements of Rule 6E-2.0041, F.A.C.

This is non-applicable.

Awarding of credit

(a) Units or credits applied toward the award of a credential in nontraditional programs may be derived from a combination of any or all of the following:

Units or credits earned at and transferred from other postsecondary institutions, when congruent and applicable to the receiving institution’s program and when validated and confirmed by the receiving institution.

The MVCC accepts up to 6 transfer credits for graduate-level education that satisfies the MVCC curriculum. Students must request the transfer of credits before their first week of classes in the MVCC program. Official transcripts are required for evaluation; MVCC program administration must approve any transfer credits. Acceptance of transfer credits are not guaranteed and may require submission of additional documentation.

Successful completion of challenge examinations or standardized tests demonstrating learning at the credential level in specific subject matter areas.

This rule is non-applicable as the institution does not award credit for challenge examinations.

To be eligible for admission to the MVCC program, applicants must submit proof of vet tech credentials (CVT, LVT, VTS, etc.)

Prior learning, as validated, evaluated, and confirmed by qualified instructors at the receiving institution.

This rule is non-applicable as the institution does not award credit for prior or experiential learning.

(b) Graduation requirements for nontraditional degree programs shall include provisions for general education appropriate to the type of degree, as specified in Rule 6E-2.004, F.A.C. The Doctor of Philosophy degree, commonly abbreviated Ph.D., shall not be offered or awarded through distance or nontraditional learning without appropriate accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

This is non-applicable as the institution is not offering the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

(c) At least 25 percent of the units required in a nontraditional degree program shall be given by the institution awarding the degree, and shall not be derived from any combination of transfer, examination, or experiential learning; however, credits earned by active U.S. military members are excluded from this requirement due to the transient nature of the service. Credit awarded for prior experiential learning shall follow the requirements of subsection (5) of this rule, and shall not exceed 25 percent of the units required for completion of the program.

The policy stated above is less than 25% of credits from outside the degree-granting institution.

Direct contact instruction. Institutions licensed to operate in Florida and wishing to offer programs or courses through directed individual and group study using direct contact instruction shall describe the teaching-learning methodology to be used, and shall submit illustrative course outlines and competencies and all other documentation as required in Rule 6E-2.004, F.A.C., for the appropriate level of licensure or for subsequent annual reviews.

This rule is non-applicable to the institution as it will offer indirect contact instruction as detailed in the next rule.

Indirect contact instruction.

Institutions licensed to operate in Florida and wishing to offer programs or courses through individual and group study mediated and assisted by telecommunications, computer augmented educational services, facsimile transmission, the postal service, or another technological method, shall describe the teaching-learning methodology to be used, and shall submit illustrative course outlines, competencies and all other documentation as required in Rule 6E-2.004, F.A.C., for the appropriate level of licensure or for subsequent annual reviews.

The institution will offer indirect contact instruction for all of its students via the Canvas LMS system. The program catalog and syllabi (Appendices ? and ?) provide the required information pertaining to course objectives and descriptions, competencies, and other documentation as required in Rule 6E-2.004, F.A.C., and based on this information, the institution will be in compliance with this Rule.

In addition to the other requirements of Rule 6E-2.004, F.A.C., an institution offering instruction by correspondence shall employ a sufficient number of qualified instructors to assure that:

The academic content is designed by qualified faculty; and

Each student lesson, project, examination, or paper is evaluated by qualified instructors, and the instructor’s response to or evaluation of each is sent to the student within a reasonable time as disclosed to the student.

The curriculum was developed by faculty and veterinary industry leaders as part of the Veterinary Innovation Council.

All academic content has been designed by qualified faculty and academic administration, as evidenced by each faculty member's CIE Personnel Data Forms. The content will be reviewed for accuracy by the faculty on a regular basis. A policy of academic freedom encourages faculty to provide material relevant to the course that will challenge a student's thinking and prepare them for occupational challenges and scenarios that may arise during their career.

The program maintains the necessary number of faculty to teach, support, and evaluate students in their coursework and graded assignments.

Student Access to Faculty

The curriculum for the MVCC program is team-taught. Students will also have access to faculty during review hours at regularly scheduled times each week as needed. Additionally, faculty members will hold office hours by appointment. Students can attend meetings with faculty through Canvas, Internet chat or web conferencing, or via telephone. In instances where faculty and students cannot connect in real-time, the policy at LMU-CVM is to return communications via email, telephone, or in-person within 24 hours (48 hours on the weekend). Faculty will also grade or submit feedback to students within seven days after the due date for an assignment.

(c) For programs that require the development of a manual or technical skill, such as the use of equipment or tools, the institution must ensure that the student has the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience appropriate to master the skill. This experience, wherever gained, shall be documented in the student’s file and shall be done under proper supervision and with meaningful evaluation of the competency outcomes. The technical aspects must be designed by qualified technicians.

This rule is non-applicable to the MVCC.

Credit for prior learning. An institution may grant credit to a student for prior experiential learning only if all of the following apply:

The MVCC does not accept Credit for prior learning, thereby making this section non-applicable.

The prior learning is equivalent to the level of learning in which the student is enrolling.

The prior learning is demonstrated to provide a balance between theory and practice, for academic programs; or a verifiable mastery of appropriate skills, for vocational courses or programs. For courses or programs requiring a combination of theory and skills, the prior learning is demonstrated to provide the appropriate combination.

The credit awarded for the prior learning directly relates to the student’s course or program and is applied in satisfaction of some of the credential requirements.

College and Institution level learning for which credit is sought shall be documented by the student in writing, and validated, confirmed, and evaluated by faculty qualified in that specific subject area, who shall ascertain to what college or Institution level learning the student’s prior learning is equivalent, and how many credits toward a degree may be granted for that prior learning. The faculty evaluating the prior learning shall prepare a written report indicating all of the following, which report shall be retained by the college or Institution for review by visiting Commission representatives upon request:

The documents in the student’s file on which the faculty relied in determining and confirming the nature of the student’s prior learning;

The basis for determining that the prior learning is equivalent to college or Institution level learning, and demonstrates a balance between theory and practice; and

The basis for determining to what college or Institution level the prior learning is equivalent, and the proper number of credits to be awarded toward the degree, based upon that prior learning.

No more than 25 percent of the units required and validated through the institution’s internal review process for a degree shall be awarded for prior experiential learning.

Credits earned in a compressed time period. Institutions licensed in Florida and wishing to offer courses or programs in a compressed time period shall show evidence to the Commission that the intent of all standards for licensure, as set forth in Rule 6E- 2.004, F.A.C., shall be met.

This rule is non-applicable to the institution.

Instructors. Institutions licensed to operate in Florida and wishing to offer nontraditional programs or courses shall employ or contract with appropriately qualified instructors sufficient in number to provide the instruction, student interaction, and learning outcomes evaluation necessary for the institution to document the achievement of its stated purpose, and for students to achieve the specific learning objectives and competencies required for each program so offered. It shall be the responsibility of the licensed institution to validate each instructor’s competence to use the interactive electronic media program or distance learning program effectively and to provide training in the use of the delivery system if needed.

Qualified and promising applicants who demonstrate the capacity to work well with technology and thrive in the field of online teaching will be considered for employment by the institution. All faculty hired will possess a doctoral degree with credentials of PhD, DVM, or EdD in the requisite discipline needed to cover the curriculum. Each faculty member will be expected to produce documentation of employment history and credentials, such as college transcripts, active certifications, and background checks, among other things.

The documentation for current faculty can be found in personnel forms included with this submission.

Faculty will continue to build online instructional abilities that will demonstrate the usage of the delivery system through professional in-service training and enrollment in specific online CPD courses offered by different other online technical training providers.

Based on the above facts, the institution feels it has established that it recruits the appropriate number of qualified professors to fulfill the institution's mission and achieve its overall objectives, and thus is in compliance with this Rule.

Library and other learning resources.

Institutions licensed to operate in Florida and wishing to offer nontraditional programs or courses shall document to the Commission how they provide, ensure, and maintain access for all students to the information resources and services appropriate to support each program or course.

A Medical Librarian, a Health Sciences Librarian, and other librarians are available at the main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee by phone, email, and chat to assist with the needs of the students and faculty. Although some hard copy books, journals, and resources are housed in this Library location, all resources required for the MVCC are electronic and accessible to all students at any time.

The librarians frequently solicit requests from the faculty for additional library resources needed, and the Medical Librarian at Harrogate currently chairs the Learning Resources Committee, which also recommends resources. Furthermore, librarians are available to meet directly with students and 15 faculty and provide instruction for locating evidence-based literature. The library offers an extensive list of electronic databases and discipline-specific refereed journals supporting the College of Veterinary Medicine. Overall, the Carnegie- Vincent Library/Reed Health Sciences Library maintains an extensive collection of electronic material, including more than 356,471 e-books, 140 e-journal subscriptions, and 238 databases that in clude over 46,000 full-text journals; all are accessible to students and faculty. Print books will be mailed to the students and faculty. Articles from journals or chapters from books can be scanned and delivered electronically. Also, items not owned by LMU libraries may be requested through Interlibrary Loan at no cost to the students and faculty and will be delivered electronically or mailed.

General Library Operations and Overview

Students and faculty may also obtain assistance from main campus librarians via phone, email, and chat during business hours. The main campus LMU library is open 104 hours per week during the Fall/Spring semesters, and 70 hours per week during the summer semester.

CVL Staffing for All Locations

The Carnegie-Vincent Library/Reed Health Sciences Library (CVL) employs a Director of the Library, Access Services Librarian, Electronic Resources Librarian (Cedar Bluff-Knoxville), Extended Learning Sites Librarian (Cedar Bluff-Knoxville), Head of Reference and Information Literacy, Health Sciences Librarian, Health Sciences Librarian and Library Systems Coordinator (Tampa), Humanities-Social Sciences Librarian and Archivist, Interlibrary Loan Librarian/Sciences Librarian, Medical Librarian, Medical Librarian (DCOM at LMU- Knoxville), Technical Services and Metadata Librarian, and an Adjunct Librarian (Cedar Bluff-Knoxville). An additional Health Sciences Librarian will be hired for the programs to be offered at Orange Park. These librarians hold master’s degrees in library and/or information science from American Library Association (ALA) accredited schools and have current job descriptions that outline their responsibilities. The library also employs three full-time library staff at Harrogate: An Acquisitions Technical Services Supervisor, a Circulation Supervisor, and an Electronic Resources Assistant.

Tutorials and Other Learning Resources Available to Students

Institutions shall document how they provide, ensure, and maintain the security of examinations and papers.

The institution has an agreement with Canvas LMS to provide all testing requirements and maintain the security of each course assignment and exam. Secure on-line testing is conducted through ExamSoft. Students use the ExamSoft software (SofTest) to take exams on the student’s PC.

Based on this information, the institution is in compliance with this Rule.

Institutions shall collect and use student evaluations of content, delivery, and services.

Assessment of Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

The program goals and student learning outcomes are assessed through the annual collection of outcomes data and formative assessments, respectively. The yearly collection of findings of these outcomes measures is the responsibility of the Program Director and is reported to the CVM Dean. The outcomes data are collected through surveys, individual interviews, communications, and the data and analyses are entered in databases for continual assessment. Included in the data are standardized student evaluations of courses and instructors, graduate outcomes, and student academic performance. Course evaluations are administered at the end of each semester. Program evaluations are administered at the end of the program. Outcomes data are reviewed by the Program Director, the CVM Graduate Council, and the CVM Dean and are used to improve the operations, curriculum, and educational program.

Based on this information, the institution is in compliance with this Rule.

Laboratory experiences. In the case of courses in the experimental or clinical sciences, or other courses requiring hands-on experience, each licensed institution wishing to offer nontraditional programs shall document to the Commission prior to program approval; that arrangements have been made to ensure that the requisite laboratory, field, or equivalent experience is available to and used consistently by every enrolled student. Such experience shall be documented in the student’s file, and shall occur under appropriate supervision and meaningful evaluation of the competency outcomes.

This rule is non-applicable to the MVCC.

10) Catalog. Each institution licensed in Florida and wishing to offer nontraditional programs or courses shall comply with all requirements of Rules 6E-1.0032 and 6E-2.004, F.A.C., and in addition shall publish information in the catalog, whether printed or electronic, pertaining to each of the following:

The institution’s policies and procedures for the award of credit for prior learning, including confirmation and validation, assessment policies and procedures, provisions for appeal of decisions, limitations on the number of credits that may be awarded in this manner, and all fees that a student may be required to pay.

This rule is non-applicable as the institution does not award credit for prior or experiential learning and it should also be noted that the institution has not entered into an articulation or transfer agreement with any other institution.

The institution’s policies regarding the acceptance of credits earned by the student through successful completion of challenge examinations or standardized tests, acceptable scores for each, whether and how many times examinations may be repeated to achieve an acceptable score, limitations on the number of credits that may be awarded in this manner, and all fees that a student may be required to pay.

This rule is non-applicable as the institution does not award credits for prior or experiential learning, and it should also be noted that the institution has not entered into an articulation agreement with any other institution.

If the institution offers instruction by correspondence, schedules for normal progress or completion of the course or program, and all fees that a student may be required to pay.

This rule is non-applicable as the institution does not offer instruction by correspondence.

(11) Student records.

(a) Institutions wishing to offer nontraditional programs or courses shall maintain a file for each student and shall be available to the Commission upon request at each location and translated into English and; conforming to the general requirements of Rule 6E- 2.004, F.A.C., and contain the following:

All documents evidencing a student’s prior learning upon which the instructors and the institution base the award of any credit or credential.

The institution will not accept credit or award credit for any prior learning experience making this Rule non-applicable.

For directed individual or group contact instruction, copies of the learning agreements or learning contracts signed by the instructors and administrators who evaluated the agreements and contracts.

This Rule is non-applicable as the institution does not offer any form of directed instruction.

(b) An academic transcript shall be maintained, kept current, and retained permanently for each student. Institutions offering nontraditional courses and programs shall adopt a policy requiring that credits awarded for prior learning, including internal credit by challenging examination, shall be so identified on the student’s academic transcript. Institutions shall adopt a policy regarding the length of time for retention of records documenting evaluation, assessment and awarding of nontraditional credit. Retention time shall be sufficient for reasonable future review and confirmation of student work.

The institution will keep a virtual file of student information including admissions documents, academic transcripts, and other personal information including but not limited to grades and financial payment arrangements. Permanent electronic copies will be maintained and secured through LMU Information Services-approved management systems. Records will be kept in a manner consistent with LMU policies. Based on this information, the institution will be in compliance with this Rule.

(12) Fair consumer practices, as described by Sections 1005.04 and 1005.34, F.S., and Rule 6E-1.0032, F.A.C., shall be followed by the institution in all aspects of its operation.

The institution shall follow all Fair Consumer Practices outlined by the F.A.C. and the CIE as described in all applicable sections as it pertains to obtaining and maintaining licensure. The institution administration has read and understands all information required of the institution as described by Sections 1005.04 and 1005.34, F.S., and Rule 6E-1.0032, F.A.C. and will continually abide by these regulations on an ethical and an ongoing basis during operations once approval has been granted to the institution by the CIE.