Technical Standards
Technical Standards for Admission and Retention in the College
of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences faculty has
specified the following non-academic criteria ("technical
standards") that all candidates/students are expected to meet, with
or without reasonable accommodation, to participate in the
educational programs of the College.
1. OBSERVATION: The candidate/student must be able to
participate actively in all demonstrations and laboratory exercises
in the basic sciences, and to assess and comprehend the condition
of all patients assigned to him or her for examination, diagnosis,
and treatment. Such observations and information acquisition
usually requires the functional use of visual, auditory, and
somatic sensation.
2. COMMUNICATION: The candidate/student must be able to
communicate effectively and sensitively with patients to elicit
information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, assess
non-verbal communications, and be able to effectively and
efficiently transmit information to patients, fellow students,
faculty, staff, and all members of the health care team.
Communication skills include speaking, reading, and writing, as
well as the observation skills described above.
3. MOTOR: The candidate/student must have sufficient motor
function to elicit information from patients by palpation,
auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers, be able
to perform basic laboratory tests, possess all skills necessary to
carry out diagnostic procedures and be able to execute motor
movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency
treatment to patients. The candidate/student must possess the fine
motor skills to perform the requirements of the profession.
4. INTELLECTUAL: The candidate/student must be able to measure,
calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize. Problem solving the
critical skills demanded of health care providers, requires all of
these intellectual abilities. In addition, the candidate/student
must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to
understand the spatial relationships of structures. The
candidate/student must have the capacity to perform these
problem-solving skills in a timely fashion.
5. BEHAVIORAL and SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES: The candidate/student must
possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his
or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the
prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the
diagnosis and care of patients and others. Candidates/ students
must also be able to tolerate taxing workloads, function
effectively under stress, adapt to changing environment, display
flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties
inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion,
integrity, concern for others, commitment, and motivation are
personal qualities which each candidate/student should possess.