Purpose Statement:

All students in this program are expected to meet certain essential functions/technical standards which are essential for successful completion of all phases of the program and which reflect industry requirements and standards. To verify the students’ ability to perform these essential functions, students may be required to demonstrate the following technical standards: 

Standard Definition of Standard Example(s) of Technical Standard
1. Critical Thinking Skills Undertake effective research to build on professional expertise and inform decision making

Evaluate the effectiveness of a variety of specific technical or professional interventions

Accurately follow course syllabi, directions for assignments, laboratories, or other course activities

Exercise sound judgment with the benefit of this information and knowledge / skills​

Reading assignment instructions and creating or modifying a spreadsheet using common software such as Microsoft Excel to achieve assignment instructions

Reading a program requirements document or soliciting program requirement information from an instructor or customer and use that information to inform the design of a computer program that achieves the objectives

2. Mobility/Motor Skills Sufficient motor skills to perform physical activities related to common information technology occupations including technical support, computer programming, network administration, data analysis

Fine and gross motor skills may be required along with functional use of the senses of touch and vision to enable students to work with physical computer and networking equipment

Using common computer input devices including a keyboard, computer mouse, touch screen, and similar devices

Installing and removing electronic computer components including memory cards, hardware expansion boards, peripherals, and cables

Moving computer hardware that could weigh 1 – 50 lbs

3. Tactile Skills Tactile skills may be required work with computer input devices as well as other information technology hardware such as peripherals and networking equipment Align, orient and insert network cables in corresponding ports on network or computer equipment
4. Auditory Skills Understand and interpret audio alerts issued by information technology hardware such as a computer or network device Listening to and interpreting “beep code” error messages issued by malfunctioning computer or network hardware

Participating in a telephone technical support troubleshooting lab scenario

5. Visual Skills Viewing information output from a wide variety of computer programs displayed on a computer screen or remote terminal

Viewing content in an online lab environment

Using an online lab computer or network simulation environment

Viewing supplemental streaming video content from: the learning management platform, textbook publishers and related 3rd party platforms, video streaming services such as the YouTube™ platform

6. Communication Skills Communicate with clarity and precision using appropriate information technology terminology and concepts

Efficient, effective, accurate and timely communication using a range of communication media as appropriate to the purpose and audience, for example in-person meetings, telephone, letters/memos, email, web-conferencing

Comprehension and understanding of spoken and written language with fluency

Understand nonverbal information and cues in interpersonal encounters

Reading an email and writing an appropriate response via email

Reading a document in a common file format, such as Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF and writing a response using appropriate software such as Microsoft Word

Utilizing an online communication system such as the forum post or chat feature in the College’s Learning Management system (OpenLMS / Moodle)

Interacting in face to face conversations with fellow students, instructors and work based learning employers and co-workers

7. Interpersonal Skills Ability to nurture mature, sensitive, and effective relationships

Ability to adapt to changing environments and work related challenges

Establish rapport with instructors, classmates, stakeholders, clients and colleagues

Work cooperatively and with honesty and integrity with peers, faculty, and colleagues​

Emotional health and maturity to enable meaningful interactions with classmates, instructors, and professional colleagues

Development of conflict resolution skills / ability to negotiate conflicting attitudes and opinions

Maintain hygiene and dress requirements for an office setting

Work with classmates on a group assignment or major project

Respectfully engage with an instructor to learn from and improve performance based on feedback from submitted assignments, exams

8. Behavioral Skills Prompt attention to and completion of all responsibilities attendant to the occupation

Integrate constructive criticism received from both on-campus and off-campus learning settings

Dress appropriately in College settings and in a manner befitting the profession in work based learning placement

Effectively handle stress effectively by using appropriate self-care, College student services resources, and by developing supportive relationships with colleagues, peers, and others

Complete and submit assignments, exams and other course activities by the specified deadline or due date

Anticipate when you will not be able to meet a course or assignment objective and proactively contact those involved to effectively address the situation

Effectively plan and manage your schedule so that you budget sufficient time to complete course work

In the case of a qualified individual with a documented disability, appropriate and reasonable accommodations will be made unless to do so would fundamentally alter the essential training elements, cause undue hardship, or produce a direct threat to the safety of the patient or student.

Disability Services Statement

The College has a legal obligation to provide appropriate accommodations for students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability and are seeking accommodations, you should contact the Disability Services Office (Sink Building; 694-1813) and notify your course instructor of your disability as appropriate. Students should initiate this process as soon as possible (prior to the start of classes and/or field experience).