A. General Policy
The mission of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso) is to improve the lives of people in our State and our community by focusing on the unique health care needs of socially and culturally diverse border populations through excellence in integrated education, research, and patient care.
A University, like any community, must have regulations and standards by which its members abide and procedures by which its components function. The standards should provide order and an atmosphere conducive to intellectual and personal development. This Student Handbook, the TTUHSC El Paso Operating Policies and Procedures, and the individual Schools’ catalogs and handbooks are intended to serve these purposes in the interest of all components of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.
The University has a responsibility to maintain order within the University community and to discipline those who violate its standards, rules, and policies. Enrollment at TTUHSC El Paso requires students to share in this responsibility. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, not only in interactions with patients, but also with faculty, staff, and peers of TTUHSC El Paso and the general community. TTTUHSC El Paso students will be evaluated on issues related to their professional conduct/judgement according to standards defined by the school, program and profession for which they are training. The standards, rules, and policies outlined in this Student Handbook, the TTUHSC El Paso Operating Policies and Procedures, and the individual Schools’ catalogs and any other official University publications provide additional information and guidance. Registered student organizations are required to follow defined standards, rules, and policies.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso or the University) reserves the right to change, modify, amend, or rescind, in whole or in part, this Handbook at any time without prior notice. This Handbook supersedes all previous editions. The provisions of this Handbook do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, between any student or faculty member and Texas Tech University System, TTUHSC El Paso, Hunt School of Nursing (HSON), Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), Foster School of Medicine (FSOM), or Hunt School of Dental Medicine. (HSDM).
B. Authority
The authority to enact and enforce the regulations of the University is vested in the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents. The responsibility for enforcing regulations and imposing penalties is delegated to the Chancellor and/or the President of the University and any University officials the President designates.
All references to the Chancellor and/or President of the University and Vice President of Academic Affairs or Assistant Vice President for Student Services and Student Engagement
(SSSE) or designee shall be interpreted to include persons designated to act on behalf of these officials.
C. Applicability
Each TTUHSC El Paso student is responsible for compliance with the Rules & Regulations of the Board of Regents of the Texas Tech System and the rules of this institution. Any student who participates in conduct that is in violation with these rules and regulations, specific instruction by an administrative official or TTUHSC El Paso administrative official acting in their authorized duties, or general, state, or local laws is subject to discipline. A student is subject to discipline for prohibited conduct as detailed in this Code, including (where applicable) conduct that occurs off-campus, including but not limited to University off-campus activities such as field trips, internships, rotations or clinical assignments, regardless of whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.
Freedom of speech and principles of academic freedom are critical to the mission of higher education institutions. Consistent with Texas law (SB 18), the Texas Tech University System and each of its component institutions recognize freedom of speech and expression as fundamental rights and seek to ensure free, robust, and uninhibited debate and deliberations by students enrolled at TTUS universities as well as other persons, see HSCEP OP 61.27.
D. Our Values
A values-based culture is a living, breathing culture of shared core values among all employees. A values-based culture is shaped by a clear set of ground rules establishing a foundation and guiding principles for decision-making, actions and a sense of community. In a values-driven culture, employees find alignment between their personal values and the organization’s values, creating a unified and motivated workforce. Management and leadership set examples for their organizations and live the values they preach, these values include:
- Advancement: Improve the institution through creativity and discovery.
- Seek opportunities for growth, partnership[p and improvement
- Promote innovation and a culture of positive change and creativity
- Demonstrate and inspire commitment to lifelong learning and professional development
- Service: Serve our community
- Provide excellent education, research and patient care
- Create positive experiences through a culture of yes
- Partner with our community to improve healthcare
- Accountability: Be Responsible for decisions, actions and impact
- Acknowledge and learn from both successes and failures
- Promote responsibility management of resources
- Be a dependable team member and leader
- Hold ourselves accountable and each other accountable by accepting and giving constructive feedback
- Respond rather than react
- Teamwork: Include diverse perspectives to achieve our mission
- Empower and energize one another to create positive growth
- Promote a culture of diversity and inclusivity
- Foster a fun and health environment that encourages team spirit
- Recognize and celebrate contributions and achievements
- Collaborate across disciplines and professions as one team
- Respect: Demonstrate high regard for self and others
- Treat others as we would like to be treated
- Be aware of how our actions impact others
- Communicate in a courteous, kind, and respectful manner
- Assume good intentions
- Listen first to understand
- Integrity; Be ethical and trustworthy in every situation
- Honor commitments
- Lead by example
- Be honest in purpose, interactions and expectations
- Comply with laws, rules and regulations
E. Policy on Non-Discrimination
TTUHSC El Paso brings together, in common pursuit of its educational goals, persons of many backgrounds and experiences, thus the University does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any employee or applicant for employment because of sex, including pregnancy, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected category, class, or characteristic. While sexual orientation and gender identity are not explicitly protected categories under state or federal law, it is the University’s policy not to discriminate in employment, admission, or use of programs, activities, facilities, or services on these bases. Employment actions, such as hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, and termination, shall not be made based on an employee’s protected status. Discriminatory behavior is prohibited regardless of how it is exhibited, whether verbally, in writing, or electronically displayed or conveyed.
Discriminatory behavior is prohibited by this policy, as well as by federal laws such as Title VII, which prohibits discrimination in employment, Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education program or activities, as well as the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of
1974, Title II of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, and state laws such as Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code. The University expects all members of the University Community to comply with the law. For more information, see Texas Tech System Regulation 07.09, Texas Tech University System Regulation 07.10, HSCEP OP 51.01 Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and Affirmative Action Program, HSCEP 51.02, Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedure, and Part V of this Student Handbook.
F. University Name, Documents and Records
The use by any person or organization of the University’s name in connection with any program or activity, without the prior written permission of the TTUHSC El Paso Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement or designee, or any unauthorized use of University documents, records or seal is prohibited. See HSCEP OP 67.01, Publication Guidelines and HSCEP OP 10.32, Use and secure handling of the presidential seal.
G. Clery Annual Security Report
In accordance with the guidelines established by TTUHSC El Paso, the Texas Tech Police Department, and pursuant to the federal law identified as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, all currently enrolled students, campus employees and all prospective students and prospective employees are entitled to request and receive a copy of the Annual Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Report. The report contains statistics about certain specified crimes and related incidents that have been reported to the Texas Tech Police Department and other campus security authorities over the past three calendar years (2020, 2021 and 2022). All incidents contained within the report have either occurred on-campus, in off-campus buildings, or on or near property owned or controlled by TTUHSC El Paso. The report also contains policies and practices pertaining to campus security, crime reporting, alcohol and drugs, victims’ assistance programs, student discipline policies, campus resources, community safety alerts, crime prevention, access to campus facilities and properties as well as personal safety tips.
Annual reports can be accessed at https://elpaso.ttuhsc.edu/about/policies/annual-securityreport.aspx
To request a paper copy of this report, contact the Texas Tech Police Department by email at police@ttuhsc.edu or by phone at 915-215-7111 during normal business hours, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For additional information also refer to HSCEP OP 76.40 Annual Crime Reporting Clery Act Compliance and related Texas Tech University System Regulation 07.05.
H. Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program
As per HSCEP OP 10.03 Alcohol and Illegal Drugs, TTUHSC El Paso prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol and illegal drugs on TTUHSC El Paso property or as a part of any officially sponsored TTUHSC El Paso activities.
The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, 20 U.S.C.§ 7101 et seq., as amended, require that, as a condition of receiving funds or any other form of financial assistance under any federal program, an institution of higher education must adopt and implement a program designed to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol and illegal drugs by faculty, staff, and students. In addition to meeting the requirements of the federal law, TTUHSC El Paso also intends this to be part of a positive effort in alleviating alcohol abuse and other drug-related problems among members of the campus communities in all regional sites and components. Thus, the emphasis in program implementation will be on prevention, education, counseling, intervention, and treatment.
This policy is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other TTUHSC El Paso policy. TTUHSC El Paso reserves the right to take disciplinary action against faculty, staff, residents, or students for violations under this or other applicable policies of TTUHSC El Paso.
All TTUHSC El Paso students are required to complete a drug and alcohol training program each year. Students are notified of the method to complete this training by the Office of Student Services and Student Engagement (SSSE) annually. In addition SSSE provides access to Student Counseling and Health Services. Please see https://elpaso.ttuhsc.edu/studentservices for more information and detailed schedules.
In addition, some TTUHSC El Paso students may be required to submit/complete tests or screening for the purposes of enrollment or clinical assignments:
- For those required to submit drug screening view HSCEP OP 77.15 Working with Affiliated Entities - Student Drug Screenings for additional details.
- For those required to submit criminal background checks should review HSCEP OP 10.20 Criminal Background Checks for Students, Residents and Trainees.
I. Tobacco-Free Environment
According to the United States Surgeon General, tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of premature death and disability. Tobacco users are at substantially increased risk of developing smoking-related cancers, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease. Environmental smoke can cause discomfort and disease in non-smokers. Institutions with smokers suffer from lost productivity, conflict, and plant deterioration.
As a health care institution, TTUHSC El Paso is committed to the establishment and enforcement of a healthier tobacco-free environment. HSCEP OP 10.19, Tobacco-Free Environment Policy, includes regulation and assessment. See also Ambulatory Clinic Policy and Procedure EP 1.16 as it relates to students participating in Texas Tech Physician of El Paso ambulatory sites.
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