Mental Health Technology (MHT) Policies & Procedures

Uniform

All mental health technology students must present a neat, well-groomed appearance at all times. No specific uniform for mental health technology students is required. Rare practicum situations may require a lab coat or uniform required by that particular facility. When this is the case, the lab coat or uniform is always to be worn in the practicum service only. In those cases where a lab coat or uniform may be required, students are responsible for laundering, mending, and making slight alterations to their uniform and are not to go on duty with anything other than a meticulous appearance appropriate to the function of a mental health professional.

Requirements for the dress and appearance of the mental health technology student are in the tradition of the therapeutic milieu based on the assumption that the mental health worker is a role model for the clientele with whom he/she works in his/her individual facility or setting. Given this, mental health technology students should always provide a dress and appearance that is indicative of good self-esteem and self-image and reflects the ability to appropriately and productively function in society in a professional manner. The practicum site has the right to request the student change their mode of dress if it is a distraction to the environment.

In addition to the above dress and appearance requirements, mental health technology students are subject to the following requirements specific to their practicum experience:

Nails should be of reasonable length and well-manicured. No colored nail polish may be worn.
Hair must not be loose or dangling. Wigs are unacceptable. Hair and men’s beards should be neat and of a length that is not a hazard in a practicum situation.
Jewelry that may be worn at the practicum site is a plain wedding band, wristwatch and name pin. Neck chains and other forms of jewelry are not permitted.
Smoking is permitted only in designated areas.
Gum chewing is not permitted while on duty at the practicum site.
Name pins or agency badge may be required when a student is on duty at a practicum site unless the site supervisor has requested that a name pin not be worn.
Cell phones should not be used for personal use or texting while at practicum.
No shirts are to be worn with political, religious, or unprofessional messages.
The student may be asked to remove lip, tongue, or facial piercings.
Tattoos need to be covered per policy of the agency.

Assignments

All assignments must be submitted by the due date in order to receive credit for them. If extenuating circumstances make this impossible, it is the responsibility of the student to make an appointment with the instructor and set a date for submitting the assignment.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a crucial requirement for mental health professionals. There are certain courses in the program in which the requirement is more crucial than others (e.g. Counseling Theory & Techniques, Group Dynamics, and Seminar/Practicum). In those courses for which it is crucial, the first breach of confidentiality will result in a student’s grade in that course being dropped by a letter grade for the entire course and will require a conference with the instructor regarding the seriousness of the offense. A second offense in the same course will result in the student being dropped from that class and receiving a letter grade of “F” for the course.

Graduation Requirements

Students are responsible for completing all course requirements of the mental health technology curriculum. An ‘Intent to Graduate’ form #73 must be completed and submitted to the Records Office one semester before students expect to graduate. Graduation requirements include successful completion of all required courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. More information on degree requirements and graduation may be found in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.

Grades will be given to individual students for each course taken in the curriculum for that semester. For those students involved in practicum, a grade will be assigned at the end of practicum that is the result of collaboration between the practicum site supervisor, the faculty practicum supervisor, and the student as well as a written evaluation from the practicum site supervisor regarding the student’s performance in the practicum experience. Students are to keep their own clinical journal of practicum experiences during their practicum. These journals constitute the student’s clinical records and will be checked in the accompanying practicum seminar pertinent to the student’s grades.

Testing and Examinations

Different instructors in the program use various techniques and frequencies in testing and evaluation. Students are expected to be present at all examinations. Tests may be given at any time in any course with or without previous notice by the instructor.

Punctuality and Attendance

Punctuality to class and to the affiliating practicum facilities is crucial. If students are unavoidably detained, they should report to their instructor the reason for their tardiness for a class and to their practicum site supervisor for scheduled practicum duty.

If students are unable to attend class on days when they would normally be at the College, they must call the College before their class begins or by 12:00 noon at the latest and ask to leave a message with their instructors. They must state their full name and explain the reason for their absence. On days when the student would normally be at their practicum site but cannot be, they are to call the site to which they are assigned and explain to their site supervisor why they cannot be there. The student must make arrangements with the practicum site supervisor to make up the hours missed since the total number of practicum hours required for that semester must still be met. Students may not be granted holiday or sick time. MHT students are required to complete 224 hours of practicum. A completed time sheet is a requirement for course completion.

Students who miss more than five consecutive days of the program for any reason will contact the assigned Mental Health instructor. Eligibility for returning requires permission from the assigned Mental Health instructor. In the case of illness, a physician’s statement will be required indicating that the student is physically able to return to the program.

Course Prerequisites

The nature of the mental health technology curriculum is such that certain courses should not be taken unless the appropriate background courses are taken first. Prerequisites to specific courses are listed in this catalog with the description of the course. All sequential courses should be taken in order. Taking a course without the required prerequisite requires permission of the full-time mental health instructor.

Practicum/Clinical Experience

In mental health technology, the following courses must be completed successfully before entering a practicum: MHT1110–Introduction to Social Services, MHT1130 –Interviewing Techniques & Casework, PSY1140–Theories of Personality, MHT1120–Counseling Theory & Techniques, MHT2230–Principles of Addiction, and SOC1120–Social Problems. A student may begin a practicum with up to three of the above courses deficient with permission of the full-time mental health instructor, provided the student’s grades are otherwise acceptable. A student must have a cumulative letter grade average of at least “C” (2.0) in all Mental Health Technology courses.

Insurance

Student’s health problems are their own financial responsibility. All students are advised to carry hospitalization insurance while attending college. Students who are not covered by hospitalization are required to carry student accident insurance to cover any injuries that they might sustain while in the classroom, lab, clinical, or field internship/practicum settings.

Belmont College maintains a liability policy that covers students only while participating in program-sponsored activities.

Emergency Care

Student’s medical or emergency care in case of illness or accidents incurred while on duty at a practicum site should be provided in conformity with the standard health care service extended to practicum facility personnel as defined in the personnel policies of the practicum facility. Any illnesses or accidents should be reported at once to the facility Practicum Site Supervisor and immediately thereafter to the full-time mental health instructor. Students must be seen by a physician of their choice. Before students may return to their practicum site, they must have written authorization from their physician. Financial responsibility for any related medical treatment lies with the student and/or the above-referenced insurance.