Technical Standards and Essential Functions

Health Sciences programs establish technical standards and essential functions to ensure that students have the abilities required to fully participate and potentially be successful in all aspects of their respective programs. Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination based on disability. Students who require a reasonable accommodation or modification as specified by the ADA, should work with the campus student accessibility services (SAS) office to submit required accommodation paperwork.

The following technical standards and essential functions outline reasonable expectations of a student in the Pharmacy Program for the performance of common functions for pharmacy personnel. Pharmacy students must be able to apply the knowledge and skills necessary to function in a variety of classroom, lab and/or clinical or externship situations while performing the essential functions (or competencies) required of pharmacy personnel in the employment setting. These requirements should be considered prior to admission of the program and are required throughout the entire program.

The student must demonstrate the following abilities:

Categories of Essential Functions

1. Observation
   • Ability to participate actively in all demonstrations, laboratory exercise, and clinical experiences in the professional program component and comprehend the conditions of all competencies assessed to him/her for examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Such observation and information usually require functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensations.
2. Communication
   • Ability to communicate effectively and professionally, in English, using verbal, non-verbal, and written formats with faculty, other students, clients, families and all members of the healthcare team.
3. Motor Skills
   • Sufficient motor ability to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective care and emergency treatment
4. Intellectual
   • Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information and make decisions.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes
   • Possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of the student’s intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with clients and other members of the health care team.
   • Possess the ability to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical settings with patients.
   • Possess compassion, integrity, concern for others, and motivation.
   • Possess the ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.

It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Student Accessibility Services (SAS), if they require a reasonable accommodation for one or more of the technical standards listed. The campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the SAS office. Students are encouraged to do this a minimum of three weeks before the start of the course.