Students seeking admission to the College must apply to the committee on Admissions by obtaining a form provided   by the registrar. All Liberian applications must be filled by April and foreign applications by January in order to be allowed for the first semester of that year. Candidates seeking admission shall be required to take the placement examinations given by the college in JUNE/JULY at designated locations throughout the county.  After the placement examinations, a successful candidate will be given a letter of acceptance for either Regular, Remedial, or Enrichment program. It is required that anybody seeking admission should be a high school graduate from a recognized institution in and outside of the country. Students seeking admission to the College must apply to the committee on Admissions by obtaining a form provided by the registrar. All Liberian applications must be filled by April   and foreign applications by January in order to be allowed for the first semester of that year. To consider the application of any student, the committee on admissions considers each applicant individually by looking at the applicant using the following selection criteria:

1. Evidence of academic attainment and ability, especially facility in the use of the English language and in the understanding of fundamental mathematical processes.
2. Health Regulation: before registering for classes, each applicant shall present a satisfactory health certificate from a recognize health institution or facilitate. The report shall include a health history, a thorough physical examination, a certificate of successful vaccination against smallpox and satisfactory evidence that the applicant is free of active tuberculosis or any communicable disease.
3. Every student will sign a behavioral bond upon been qualified by the Admissions Office.
4. Identification Number: Each student at the time of registration will be issued an identification number. This number must be carried by the student at all time and shall be used for identification purposes in obtaining scholarship checks (where applicable), grade reports, and admission to games securing library books and for any other similar purpose.
5. Students Definition and Categories: Any person registered for a course or courses of study at the College shall be regarded as a student of the College and shall be subject to the rules and regulations governing students and the student body with special reference to admission requirements, registration procedure and attendance. The following categories of students shall be recognized by the College.

• Regular Student are one who is registered for a full course of study for credit toward an academic degree.
• Special Student are students one who is registered for one more courses in a special program  of study with or without credit but is not working for an academic degree. A special student may register later as a regular student.
• Auditing Student: One who audits special courses but receives no academic credit for work done.
• Unclassified Student: One who because special circumstances is registered in a special program with or without credit pending future classification. Status as an unclassified student shall be subject to approval by the Advisory Council and may not continue beyond eighteen months, or the end of the next full academic year, whichever first occurs.

Regular Student are one who is registered for a full course of study for credit toward an academic degree.

Special Student are students one who is registered for one more courses in a special program  of study with or without credit but is not working for an academic degree. A special student may register later as a regular student.

Auditing Student: One who audits special courses but receives no academic credit for work done.

Unclassified Student: One who because special circumstances is registered in a special program with or without credit pending future classification. Status as an unclassified student shall be subject to approval by the Advisory Council and may not continue beyond eighteen months, or the end of the next full academic year, whichever first occurs.

Evidence of good character and character and acceptable social habits. The Committee relies upon the secondary school record, examination results, personal interviews, and recommendations from the school for its basic information.

Billing form(s) entering the Admissions Office beyond the stipulated time frame during registration and late registration will not be processed. Affected student or students will forfeit all academic works done during that semester.

As part of the program marking Matriculation Day Celebration each year, activities relating to career for students should be embedded in the program to afford incoming students the opportunity to have a better choice when choosing career.

All head of departments and instructors should submit graduating seniors’ final grades to the Admissions office one month prior to graduation.

Senior to be considered an honoree, his/her ledger must not have D or repeated any course and should not be involved in the change of grade process.

A graduating senior must obtained a 2.0 GPA or above with no “D” in Ledger.

1. Prospective seniors are urged to apply for graduation during first semester of graduation year.

A cost of 3.00 USD or its equivalent in Liberian Dollars shall be levied for a spoiled/damaged grade sheet for replacement. This amount should be paid in the Finance Office.

Candidates who express interest in the DHS should in every semester seek advice from the department to ensure best possible progression through the program during registration.

1. Clinical preceptors:

Progression, Dismissal and Readmission

• A 2.5 GPA is required for admission into the program and must be maintained throughout unto graduation.
• Incomplete grades must be settled before progression to another course and or level.
• Pre- requisite and co-requisite courses must be completed for each program course before progression.
• You are encouraged to seek advice from your academic advisor to if faced with academic difficulty.
• An advisement form will be used to keep track of student academic performance.
• Student is allowed to repeat a nursing course only once.
• If a student fails two nursing science courses, only the two courses will be repeated during registration with no additional course or courses. If student still fail one or two nursing courses will result to warning letter.
• Second time doing a nursing course will result to doing that course with only one additional course. Student will withdraw from the program if fails one or two of the courses being done after receiving a warning letter.

Student must attend all theoretical and clinical classes and practices regularly and on time. One day missed from clinical is equal to three days make.  A charge of 5USD per day must be deposited into the College’ account if a student misses clinical without excuse and the bank slip must be presented to the HOD before making. All make ups will be scheduled by the department (clinical instructor) in collaboration with the clinical site. This applies to both the simulation lab and clinical site).

Theory and clinical are considered separate and will be graded as such. Theory is 100% while Clinical is 100%. Failure in any one of the assessment areas is considered failure in the course.

Method of Grading     

A (90-100)-excellent

B (80-89)-Good

C (70-79)-Satisfactory

D (60-69)-Unsatisfactory (fail)

F (<60)-fail

Theoretical Grading System:

Quizzes – 15%

group assignment _5%

individual assignment-10%

Participation _5%

Mid-term_ 25%

Final exam _ 40%

Clinical evaluation guideline:

Care plan/Report _ 15%

OSCE _ 40%

Clinical log book _ 15%

Clinical site evaluation (Preceptor evaluation) _ 20%

Conduct (attitude) _ 5%

Reflective journal_ 5%

 Denial of progression

Failure to meet and maintain GPA of 2.5

Abscess from class three times will cause a student to drop from said course and may continue the following semester if offered.

A student caught in an act that is not supportive of the profession of nursing ethics.

• Any student who fails two courses will be allowed to repeat only the two courses.
• Any attempt of failing three courses will result to a warning letter. Repeated act will result to dismissal from the program.
• Any event showing that continuing into the program will be dangerous to the health of others will result to dismissal from the program.
• Any confirmed circumstance(s) where a student is dismissed from a clinical site (hospital, health post, health center or clinic) for failing to provide quality health care service.
• student who fail to abide by institutional policy after prior consultation.
• student found guilty of disrespect for teachers, administrators and colleague.
• students caught fighting and not speaking to each other will change to a different discipline.

Health sciences professionals are distinct from other due to their direct effect of care on their beneficiaries. So in the situation where a student is dismissed from a clinical site due to behavior that is intolerable and is not in support of the profession, the clinical instructor, the HOD and the facility will discuss the issue for authentication. Once established to be true, such student will be counseled by the head of department and clinical instructor for appropriate conduct documentation and decision to be taken by the department.

1. Returning Students (drop & come back)

• Any student who withdraws from the department for more than two semesters or longer and applies for readmission at a later date will relinquish the credit (s) obtain from the major DHS course (s) previously done even if he/she earned a grade of A.
• The grade point of 5 GPA must be maintained by all readmitted students. And readmitted student must submit their admission letter obtained from the admission office of the GGCCC before acceptance into the department.
• A returning student is obligated to abide by all policies’ amendment.
• A student who has once changed from doing nursing will not be readmitted to doing nursing.

1. Requirement for graduation

Each degree program requires a specific time frame. The nursing program takes three years of academic work, while the public health program takes two years.

There will be a comprehensive clinical and theoretical tests and a student must earn about 70% passing marks in each test before being eligible for graduation from the nursing program.

Maintain GPA of 5 and pass all professional courses and clinical works in the nursing program curriculum.

Must have satisfied all requirements for project related to the growth and development of the department as generally agreed upon at the time

Academic integrity

All students at the GGCCC assume responsibility to maintain standards of academic integrity. Violation of academic responsibility is unethical practices and acts of academic dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, falsification, and the facilitation of such acts. Cheating includes the actual giving or receiving of any authorized help or assistance, or the actual giving or receiving of any unmerited advantage on any form of academic work. Plagiarism is the use of another’s ideas or words, or both as if they were one’s own. A student who is found in unethical practices and acts of academic dishonesty will be dismissed from the program. An appeal of not being aware of the policy is not an excuse to be exempted from its penalty.  The instructor is the first to prescribe the actions in a written document whenever the violation of academic integrity occurs. A student found guilty of commenting an academic dishonesty will be expelled from the program.  Reasons for dismissal will form part of student academic records. If a student is found cheating in a course that student receive a grade of zero for that course.

Dishonesty of any student of this department will require their retention in all the health sciences courses of their respective discipline. Any student exhibiting any act of dishonesty such as cheating on tests and exams, course and clinical works with sufficient and or relevant evidence will be dismissed from the department of the health sciences. The purpose of the dismissal will be documented and form part of their academic records.

Code of Conduct

All students majoring in any of the health science disciplines will be expected to adequately abide by the rules and regulations governing their professional area. The following are behaviors or attitudes identified as absolutely unaccepted and results into suspension or dismissal from the department of health sciences if violated.

They are:

• roaming in and out of clinical assignment area without seeking permission from the clinical supervisor or preceptor in charge after prior warned will result into one semester suspension.
• violating the constitutional rights of patients, preceptor, supervisor, fellow student, etc will result to dismissal from the program.
• causing disturbances during lectures either by having confusion with another person, using offensive languages while in session, dragging chairs in class, will lead to suspension and if continue will lead to dismissal from the program.
• in the act of not speaking to others or intentionally attempting to harm colleague will lead to dismissal.

• Disobedience to any lawful authority such as the school, community, clinical site and etc will lead to suspension if found quality.
• found being intoxicated with alcohol and or any form of illegal drug while on campus and during school hours, at the clinical assignment or on a field trip will result to dismissal from the program.
• sleeping or stealing while on duty at a clinical assignment will lead to dismissal from the program.
• Fighting on campus or at the clinical assignment will lead to suspension and if repeated will lead to dismissal.
• found in the act of black bagging which involve providing any form of treatment to patient at home or other places illegally while still a student will lead to dismissal from the program.
• dishonesty such as plagiarism, cheating, or knowingly providing wrong information to the GGCC will lead to failure in said course and could lead to dismissal if repeated.
• submitting false document to the department, misusing any document or using false identification, alteration of information and forgery will result to dismissal from the program.
• the act of deceptively making or altering a written document or signature, or misuse, or miss-presentation of department documents, records or identification will lead to dismissal.
• absences from clinical assignment or lectures without the concern of the appropriate personnel will be dwelt with according to school policy.
• false clinical documentations is equal to dismissal from the

• violation of rules and regulations that govern the clinical and theoretical instructions. This includes violation of rules at the clinical assignment that are related to health care services might lead to suspension or dismissal depending on the magnitude of the situation.
• wrongfully performing any clinical procedure that have been taught or not taught without supervision of by clinical instructor or preceptor will result to failure in the clinical courses being done during the semester.
• refusal to contribute to initiatives that support the growth and development of the department and or program will result to dismissal from the program.

1. Growth and development of the department

• Health science students are responsible to adhere to all decisions made by the department administration or the student body that will bring about a common good. Anyone failing to support the department cannot be part of the department.
• Health science students should be aware that there will be no refunding of cash and or materials contribution in the case of withdrawal or dismissal from the program.

All student must register within the stipulated time period. Any student coming to register as late as after five days of intensive classroom and clinical activities will not be allowed to register for any clinical course for that semester.

all student must appear during registration. Absolutely no student will be registered by anyone else.

all excuses due to illness must be backed up by a signed, stamped and sealed up treatment slip from the facility where treatment was received.

a health science student who wants to take an excuse must do so before leaving. Any excuse presented upon return after a student has abandon academic or clinical activities will not be granted and said student will bear any consequences that goes along with such misbehavior.

All health science students of the GGCCC are expected to follow the Code of Conduct governing students attending the College. The code of conduct is adopted and serves as a guide by which students of the department of health sciences may evaluate their professional conduct as it relates to patient, colleagues, and other members of the health

• and uniqueness of the patient. Not restricted by consideration of age, sex, race creed, social or economic status, handicap, personal attributes or the nature of health problem.
• health science students should exercise and accept responsibility for independent decision and judgment in the performance of their professional services.
• health science students shall apply only methods of technology founded upon a scientific basis and not accept those methods that violate this principle.
• health science students should legally protect the patient right to privacy and shall maintain all patient’s information in strict confidence.
• health science students should be responsible for reporting unethical conduct and illegal professional activities to the appropriate authority.
• health science students should continually strive to improve their knowledge and skill by engaging in lifelong learning activities such as participating in educational and professional activities and sharing the benefits with their colleagues.
• health science students should protect the public from miss information and miss representation of the profession.
• health science students should exhibit effective communication skill within the health care delivery system and respect each other.

All students will appear in their respective uniforms during clinical practices and outreach. An identification name tag must be worn at each appearance to the clinical site at all times. In addition to uniform and name tag requirement for appropriate clinical dress code, the following must at all times be considered:

• every student is required to obtain his/her uniform from the department (green and stripy cloth and the white cloth). Male student will wear Navy blue cloth trousers with white V NECK shirt while females wear Nava blue skirt with white V

• NECK shirt for primary Health care and
• psychiatric nursing clinical. Name tags will be prepared by the department and price will vary according to the cost at the time.
• hair styles shall be above the uniform collar and off the neck (conservative hair style), no use of colored hair and no attachments.
• good personal hygiene (cleanliness, uniform, hair etc) as offensive body odor could trigger asthmatic attacks in asthmatic clients.
• Shoes well-polished and neatly fitting and cared for, no odor.
• Only jewelry such as plain wedding rings/band and stud will be permitted to the clinical site. All ear rings must be just below the earlobe. No dangling earrings, no necklace.
• male students are to wear uniform pants with shirt, while females wear uniform dress with apron. Cover coat will be worn where uniform is not required. Example when going to select a patient for care plan, etc. scrub suit will be used for simulation in the nursing laboratory.
• the use of perfume and or perfume is prohibited as it triggers asthmas and cause other allergic reactions.
• Uniform dress and or shirt are to be below the knee. No student will be allowed to wear uniform dress or shirt above the knee. Uniform apron must overlap from the back. No open back uniform will be allowed at the clinical site.
• NOTE: not at the knee but below the knee (uniform dress and or shirt). Both male and female students will wear only white socks and black shoes or sneakers during clinical practices and out reaches. No hanging trousers for male students.
• No use of false nails and or nails polish except the transparent nails polish. All finger nails must be trimmed /cut as low as at the level of the nails bed. No use of false eyes lashes and make up.

As a matter of setting an example, clinical instructor (s) shall be in his/her full uniform during lab. and at the clinical site.

The clinical instructor is responsible to inspect students and ensure that required dress code is adhered to. Any student who will not adhere to the policy must be sent home from the clinical site and counted absence from clinical practice and must make up for five days for one day absence and pay to the College’s account 5 USD PER DAY and present receipt to the HOD.

Classroom Attendance and Excuse

All students are expected by virtues of their role to attend all lecture and clinical sessions at all times. Student violator will bear the consequence of withdrawing from the course for that semester if the number of days is 3 or more according to college standards. This policy will found part of your class policy as designed by individual teacher for individual courses. Students missing test, assignment, or exams without an acceptable and approved genuine excuse will obtain a mark of zero for said work.

Promptness for class, and clinical attendance:

Student is expected to be in class before the class lecturer or laboratory instructor. Arriving in class late is considered disrespect to the instructor, fellow students and demonstrates failure to behave in a mature and professional manner. This is also described as interrupting a normal class session. So, it is not obligatory that the instructor should allow a late student during classroom or clinical sessions. Student is required to absorb the entire course period into the classroom during class time. A student who is found wandering in and out of the classroom maybe denied of reentry into the classroom as this act is disruptive to an enabling learning environment. When a student is denied of reentry into a classroom as a result of wandering, that student is considered absence for the day.

Clinical Attendance

Each nursing course taught in the classroom has a set required clinical hours which provides the opportunity for student to master competencies by applying in practice what has been taught and learned in each specific course. Student has the challenge of becoming proficient in the many tasks at hand in a manageable time frame. As such, there is no time set within the clinical period for making up of multiple absences, missed assignment, lateness and etc. The acts of going to clinical practice late and staying away from clinical practices are clues of being unprofessional and if carry out in the work place, would lead to the lost of a job.

Excuse absence will be accepted but limited to illness, and/or death in the immediate family. Student should document the excused absence indicating the date, length of time requesting for and the return date. The length of time away should not exceed three to five days. However, clinical excuse requires makeup for the number of days missed without charge. Absence due to unforeseen circumstances will be dwelt with accordingly.

Student in the constant habit of lateness will not have break but will remain during the break to make up for the hours missed and will pay for supervision. Such student might possibly be asked to drop the clinical course (s) without refunding if continues in the act of lateness for more than two times during the semester. It is important that student master all competencies within a given clinical education course. In so doing, it is compulsory that students adhere to the following attendance guidelines in order to be able to master their required competencies:

• Students will acquire no more than one time excuse absence which is equivalence to eight (8) clinical hours and must be makeup for.

. Unexcused absences

One day unexcused absence is equal to (3) day makeup. A grade of F will be given to any student who obtains more than 3 days unexcused in clinical. Meaning that said student will drop the course. One day unexcused absence is equal to three days make up which is chargeable with five United States Dollars per day. This amount is to be paid into the school’s account; student must present with bank slip to the head of department after payment of the total amount before being listed for make-up. This money will be used to pay  the clinical educators for extra service.

1. Lateness

An attitude of habitual lateness is evidence of untrustworthiness. Furthermore, this will negatively affect the completion of competencies. So in order to minimize this practice, students will be disciplined for lateness as follows:

• THREE times lateness will require a day of make-up without charge.

Self-Initiated Practice

Any Nursing Student wanting to initiate self-practice for clinical skill development shall seek for a letter of recommendation from the head of Health Science Department in order to be considered under the ordinance of the institution. The school will not be obligated to student in the case where something went wrong while practicing if the procedure is not properly followed.

• Dress code policy

All students must be modestly dressed during class sessions at all times. The following are guidelines to be observed:

• No wearing short dresses or shirts. All dresses and shirts should be below the knee
• No wearing half dress or any blouse that exposes the body parts.
• No wearing trousers below the buttocks (hanging paints)
• No wearing shower slippers in classes.

1. Clinical preparedness

GGCCC is using the Interdisciplinary procedure manual for training health workers in Liberia; developed by the Board for Nursing and Midwifery. It is mandatory for all students to obtain this manual from the department  at which time you will sign to ensure you have it and this reference material must be used during clinical practices at all times. You are expected to carry your CLINICAL EQUIPMENT which includes: BP cuff, stethoscope, and thermometer, note pad, clinical log book, procedure manual, blue/black pen and pencil at all times. Failure of taking along these requirements will result to you being sent home and make-up for the same charge as one who abandon clinical without an excuse. Specific clinical facility policies must be observed at all times.

Policy Statement of Sexual, religious and Ethnic Harassment 

 The college prohibits sexual harassment of its faculty, students, employee and applicants for employment or admission to the department and for passing a course.

The department will do all in her efforts to monitor and resolved any act or observation of sexual harassment immediately. Anyone who believes that he or she has been discriminated or sexually harassed may file complaint by contacting the Dean of Student Services of the Grand Gedeh County Community college and or the head of department.

Health Requirement

Health certificate is required for all students before taking clinical assignment. This screening is available through the Martha Tubman Memorial Hospital.

Accident, illness and Contagious Diseases

Any student who sustains accidental jury (either by moving object or hospital equipment) or becomes ill while assigned to a clinical learning site should report immediately to the clinical instructor. Student should be seen by a doctor, and report to the head HOD with the outcome including the date the student may return to normal clinical training. Should a student be diagnosed as having an illness that requires extended absence or any communicable disease, he/she must report such health problem to the HOD. The head will then refer the student to the HOSPITAL or CLINIC for health services and clearance to return to the clinical practice.   If the illness was due to a communicable disease, the physician at the hospital will file reportable disease documentation with the HOD of the department.

In the incident where a student is unable to attend a clinical assignment because he/she is ill, the absences are excused. However, the student will still have to make up for the day missed after recovery.                                   Health problems that would impede student’s ability to meet with program objectives will be addressed on an individual basis. Students with health problems must have written documentation from their physician and sign a student release form prior to clinical rotations. The school will not be responsible for any illness acquired during the learning process as student will be constantly be exposed to the various health facilities in order to develop their competencies.

PREGNANCY POLICY

The GGCCC administration is concern about the safety and welfare of all students in every way while in the process of pursuing their goals.  One way of doing this is to address the issue of nursing student who gets pregnant while enrolling into a course.  Pregnancy is a condition in which the woman carries a fetus in her womb. The fetus’s source of nutrients comes from the mother and serves as support for the growth and development of the fetus before birth. According to health studies, the fetus gets affected with communicable disease or some other health problems that might affect the health of the woman. Some conditions even risk the lives of the woman and her fetus and cause serious complication or death. Another importance of this policy is to help the student become strong enough to participate in clinical practice in order to meet clinical competencies. However, a pregnant woman married or unmarried may continue into other non-clinical courses until she gives birth and become strong to engage into clinical practices. However, pregnant clinical students who may want to enroll into clinical practices while pregnant should are but must sign the below form. A baby corner is available for lactating mothers to breastfeed and keep bond with their babies while attending.