All enrolled students have the ability and desire to learn and deserve equal educational opportunities and treatment regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or national origin.

• A quality curriculum provides measurable outcomes and learning activities that promote the synthesis of theory, use of current technology, competent clinical practice, and professional values.
• All enrolled students have the ability and desire to learn and deserve equal educational opportunities and treatment regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or national origin.
• Learning occurs best when students are active participants in structured, guided clinical, and didactic experiences utilizing active learning and adult teaching techniques. The curriculum incorporates communication, humanities, social, mathematics, and biologic sciences to support and enhance radiography education and practice.
• The student's desire to learn is supported by a safe and progressive learning environment rich in experiences that address intellectual, creative, emotional, and physical needs.
• An education should promote the recognition, sensitivity, and appreciation of the diverse culture that is inherent throughout the global healthcare community.
• The graduate earns the opportunity to seek certification and licensure as a registered radiographer, to offer a significant contribution to the healthcare community, and to enhance avenues for lifelong learning.

To be admitted into the Associate of Science in Radiography program, students must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum cumulative High School grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale
• ACT composite score of 20 or above OR
• SAT composite score of 1020 or above OR
• 12 credits of college coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale
• Completion of Math requirement, Anatomy, and Physiology 1 with a C or better

High School Requirements

• Three years of mathematics, social studies, and science with one year each of biology and chemistry and one additional year of a lab science or its equivalent
• Four years English
• Or 12 or more approved college semester credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

Requirements for graduation in the Associate of Applied Science in Radiography program include:

• Fulfill the course requirements of the Associate of Applied Science in Radiography curriculum
• Complete the last 27 semester hours in Radiography at the College
• Earn a minimum of 77 hours of credit attaining a "C" (2.0) average which includes a "C" or above in each required radiography and general education course
• Meet all financial obligations incurred with the College
• Be recommended by faculty and approved for graduation by the College Governing Board
• No degree will be awarded until all requirements are met

Certification

Upon completion, an eligible graduate who has successfully demonstrated competency in both clinical and didactic phases of the accredited program earns the opportunity to write the National Certifying Examination in Radiography, which is administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Candidates are allowed three attempts within a three-year period of time to successfully complete this exam. Application for examination must be made within three years of program completion. All candidates must comply with the eligibility Rules of Ethics as defined by the ARRT.

Once registered, the graduate is qualified for employment as a Registered Technologist in Radiography (R.T.R.). The RT(R) must acquire 24 hours of continuing education credits every two years to maintain ARRT certification and CQR testing every 10 years.

In addition to the ARRT requirements for continuing education, approximately two-thirds of the states have licensing laws covering the practice of radiologic technology. The administration of licensing laws differs from state to state. The Illinois Emergency Management (IEMA) Division of Nuclear Safety enforces the Radiation Protection Act of 1987. This Act states Radiologic Technologists who "practice the science and art of applying x-radiation to human beings for diagnostic purposes" must be accredited (ARRT) and maintain one hour of continuing education for every month since the issuance of the last accreditation. Please reference the IEMA address below or the ASRT web page for more information concerning state licensure.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency
Division of Nuclear Safety
2200 South Dirksen Parkway
Springfield Illinois 62703
Telephone: (217) 785-9913
http://www.state.il.us/iema

The student/graduate is eligible for membership in the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and affiliate State Societies of Radiologic Technologists.

IONIZING RADIATION AND PROTECTION POLICY

Due to participation in the administration of ionizing radiation, the student must be aware of policies and procedures utilized in assuring safety and minimizing radiation exposure to patients, students, and others. Radiation exposure should always be kept to the lowest possible level (ALARA). Students are provided with information concerning the biological effects of radiation in their first radiography course and are advised of the separate policy regarding pregnancy. Throughout the program, radiation protection is emphasized. In addition, the following practices are enforced:

• Time, distance, and shielding are the basic components to minimize radiation exposure: the least time, the greatest distance from the source, and protective shielding such as the use of lead aprons.
• Appropriate radiation protective devices are available to students and utilization is enforced. Students must wear a lead personnel shield any time a permanent barrier will not protect them from exposure. The use of a leaded thyroid shield is strongly recommended.
• It is the program's policy that students do not hold or restrain a patient or hold an image receptor during radiographic exposures. They are encouraged to use all imaging aids available to assist the patient in maintaining or holding the position necessary for the projection. In the rare occasion that these devices do not achieve optimal results, it is the responsibility of the radiographer to find an individual who is not routinely exposed to radiation to accomplish this task, such as a family member of the patient. Those persons assisting in holding the patient shall be provided with protective aprons and be positioned so that they are not in the path of the primary beam.
• Students in fluoroscopy should maintain the greatest distance possible from the source, wear appropriate shielding, and stand at 90 degrees from the primary beam. When not needed for patient care in the radiography room the student should remain behind the lead barrier.
• Personnel monitoring devices are issued to each student and need to always be worn during clinical assignments and fastened at the collar level, outside the lead apron. If a student fails to have their personal monitoring device at clinic, they will not be allowed to participate in clinic and they may receive either an absence or a tardy for that clinical day.
• The student is responsible for exchanging their personal monitoring device on a quarterly basis and to keep it safe from excessive heat, humidity, and electromagnetic devices that may affect the reading. The monitoring device is not to be worn during personal medical procedures.
• During patient care, the student is required to utilize lead shielding over the patient's gonadal area regardless of patient age, unless that shielding will directly interfere with diagnosing the image.
• Students are required to adhere to ALARA principles and make every effort to keep repeats at a minimum and ensure exposure limits are within the acceptable exposure index range. All images are expected to be collimated as closely as possible without eliminating essential anatomy from the image.
• Students are to never have personal radiographs performed in a clinical site without a valid physician's order, or to perform radiographs on another student, technologist, family member, etc. without a valid physician's order and the patient registered with the medical healthcare system.
• Students will be subject to corrective action for disregarding the above policies. The resulting action will be based upon the severity of the incident. Altering digital information to falsify original exposure indices, changing original algorithms, or deleting patients/images from PACS for other than technologist-approved items will be subject to the College Cheating and Plagiarism policy and the Critical Objectives policy in the College catalog as well as a reported violation to the ARRT.
• Students will receive their quarterly reports and are required to sign and initial after they have reviewed the data.
• Students who receive a quarterly exposure report of 40 mRem or higher or reach a cumulative reading of 100 mRem within one year's time, will be counseled regarding radiation safety practices.

Pregnancy Policy

It is the option of the pregnant student to inform the Program Coordinator/Clinical Coordinator of her pregnancy. If the student chooses to voluntarily inform officials of her pregnancy, it must be in writing and indicate the expected date of delivery. In the absence of this voluntary, written disclosure, a student cannot be considered pregnant. If the student chooses to disclose her pregnancy, she will receive counseling on the options available to make an informed decision based on individual needs and preferences. The options are:

• Continue both the didactic and clinical education phases
  
  • All clinical as well as didactic objectives must be fulfilled prior to graduation
  • The attending physician must provide written approval
• Continue only the didactic educational phase
  
  • All clinical as well as didactic objectives must be fulfilled prior to graduation.
  • Allowance will be made for reinstatement in the clinical phase post pregnancy
• Leave of absence from the Radiography Program
  
  • Discontinue didactic and clinical education phases
  • Re-enter program based on readmission criteria as stated previously

The ultimate decision regarding the previous options will be the student's, tempered by the gestation period and the student's level of progress in the educational program. The student will be required to sign a statement acknowledging explanation of options and stating option choice.

Pregnant students choosing to remain in all educational phases:

• Must review the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission "Regulatory Guide 8.13" Instruction Concerning Prenatal Radiation Exposure
• Must wear an additional radiation monitoring device near the lower abdominal area and under the lead apron
• Must closely monitor personal quarterly radiation dosimetry reports
• Will be assigned to the same clinical rotations as non-pregnant students
• It is recommended that pregnant students observe the following precautions:
  
  • Stay out of the field of radiation and, other than during fluoroscopy, remain in the control booth during the exposure period
  • Wear additional lead apron or aprons in fluoroscopy, during portable exams or when otherwise necessary
• A pregnant student has the right to rescind her declaration of pregnancy at any time during gestation. If rescinded the student is no longer considered pregnant and no allowances for her condition will be made

The AAS in Radiography Program at Trinity College is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) with an accreditation period of eight years. This is the maximum accreditation award from the JRCERT. The next accreditation site visit is scheduled for April of 2031. Programs accredited by the JRCERT must demonstrate that they are in compliance with the JRCERT accreditation, Standards for an Accredited Educational Program in Radiologic Sciences.

• Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences - JRCERT

JRCERT
20 N. Wacker Drive Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
Phone: (312) 704-5300 Fax: (312) 704-5304