Student Support Policy

St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences is dedicated to supporting the academic and personal development of enrolled individuals. As students pursue their academic goals, they need a supportive environment that enhances their learning experience and prepares them with knowledge and skills required for success post-graduation.

Purpose

The purpose of the Student Support Policy is to set out the nature and scope of support services available to all SLCHS students. This policy outlines SLCHS’ obligations to its students and details the support processes, mechanisms and services designed for a diverse cohort of students to enable student progression, student achievement of learning outcomes and ultimately enable student success.

Policy Principles & Scope of Services

• SLCHS is committed to the provision of timely and targeted student support for all students to enable a positive learning experience, the development of knowledge and skills, and to ensure personal well-being.
• SLCHS supports students and fosters independence by encouraging them to be responsible for their own learning.
• SLCHS is committed to ensuring that all students have equivalent opportunities to successfully progress in their course of study, and that the college has mechanisms and strategies to identify specific learning and support needs of all students.
• SLCHS is committed to the ongoing resourcing and improvement of a range of support services that acknowledge the academic, personal, and technical needs of all enrolled students.

St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences has designed its approach to student support services to align with our students’ lifecycle from admission through to graduation.

The Advisement Program provides students with academic advice designed to assist in meeting their individual interests and needs while completing the requirements of the curriculum. The Program Directors oversee the advisement program for their respective students. Following the Faculty advisors’ initial contact with their advisees, it is the advisees’ responsibility to meet with their advisors as needed and/or when contacted by their advisor. Students may initiate conferences with their advisors at any time to discuss academic or personal concerns. Advisors can be contacted by telephone, email, text messaging or during class hours.

Outcomes of the Advisement Program

• Provide students with academic advice to assist in completing the requirements of the curriculum.
• Provide students with a faculty resource from whom the students can access accurate information, advice and direction regarding policies, procedures, regulations, and academic/professional requirements.
• Facilitate positive relationships between students and nursing professionals through modeling of professional behaviors.

Roles & Responsibilities of Student Advisees

Student advisees are ultimately responsible for making decisions about life goals and educational plans. Whenever possible, students maintain their advisors for the entire tenure within the college. Students are entitled to advisors with whom they feel comfortable; therefore, students may request changes in their assigned advisors without question by submitting a request to the Coordinator, Student Services.

• Meet with your advisors as needed.
• Become familiar with curriculum and graduation requirements.
• Become familiar with college policies as outlined in this publication.
• Contact your advisors immediately with concerns about academic performance, progression or grievances.

Faculty and staff may make pertinent referrals for students. If possible, faculty and staff attempt to facilitate referrals by telephoning the parties to whom students are being referred while students are in the advisors’ offices.

The following are considered pertinent referrals:

• Health Care – Students are responsible for establishing doctor/patient relationships in the local community. Any other health issues can be referred to any St. Luke’s Care Now location or the emergency room (available 24 hours). Students must use their health insurance provider to coordinate payments.
• SilverCloud – Students, Faculty, and Staff are eligible to use the St. Luke’s SilverCloud application. SilverCloud offers secure, immediate access to online supported CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) programs, tailored to an individual’s specific needs. The programs consist of seven to eight online modules – that are self-paced. The goal of each module is to take the information and techniques learned and to start applying them in one’s day-to-day life. At regular intervals, a supporter will check the participant’s progress and provide feedback and guidance. SilverCloud can be accessed at https://stlukes.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/.

Spiritual Resources

A variety of spiritual resources are readily accessible on both the South and North sides of the city. The hospital chapel is located on the first floor of the Priscilla Payne Hurd Pavilion, just off the Bethlehem Hospital Campus lobby. For more information about spiritual resources locally or to speak to a hospital chaplain, please contact Pastoral Care at 484-526-4772.