Respiratory Care

To Prospective Respiratory Care Students

Congratulations, you are considering a wonderful allied health profession and a challenging academic program of study. Linked are the materials related to the MCC Respiratory Care Program application process: a Manchester Community College application; a Health Careers application; and the selection criteria for the Respiratory Care Program. Please read the information carefully and contact either Nancy LaRoche-Shovak or Kerry McNiven with your questions.

Students interested in pursuing a degree in Respiratory Care, who are not currently attending MCC should fill out the Manchester Community College application in order to receive information regarding assessment testing and registration. If you are currently attending MCC you do not need to reapply to the college.

Students needing to take pre-requisite courses, or students needing academic advising, are encourage to meet with Nancy LaRoche-Shovak or Kerry McNiven in order to choose the correct courses. You should use the Respiratory Care Selection Criteria or Planning Chart as a guide when selecting classes on your own.

Technical Standards outlining the routine tasks and functions of a Respiratory Therapist are available upon request. We strongly encourage you to observe a Respiratory Therapist. Kerry McNiven, Clinical Coordinator, will be happy to arrange a hospital visit for you.

Respiratory Care Program information meetings are scheduled throughout the academic year and are conducted by Nancy LaRoche-Shovak, Program Director. Please call the Health Careers office at 512-2714 for the next date and time.

Financial aid is available to qualified students. You should contact the Financial Aid Office at 512-3380 for information and forms. Scholarships are available through the Institutional Development Office at 512-2904.

Students who would like to apply for the professional Respiratory Care classes should fill out a Health Careers Program Application as soon as possible. These applications are accepted on a on going basis until the class fills at eighteen students.

If you have any questions contact either Nancy LaRoche-Shovak, Program Director (860) 512-2714, email nlaroche-shovak@mcc.commnet.edu or Kerry McNiven, Clinical Coordinator at (860) 512-2716. email kmcniven@mcc.commnet.edu. Thank You for your interest in the program.

Sincerely,
Nancy LaRoche-Shovak MS, RR

Contacts

Nancy LaRoche-Shovak, MS, RRT
Program Director
Respiratory Care Program, MS #17
Great Path, PO Box 1046
Manchester, CT 06045-1046
860-512-2714
nlaroche-shovak@mcc.commnet.edu

Kerry McNiven, MS, RRT
Director of Clinical Education
Respiratory Care Program, MS #17
Great Path, PO Box 1046
Manchester, CT 06045-1046
860-512-2716
kmcniven@mcc.commnet.edu

Respiratory Care Program Selection Criteria

A. Admission to the College, new students must...

• Submit a MCC application and fee.
• Be immunized according to State statute.
• Submit a high school transcript or its equivalent.
• Take assessment tests or apply for exemption.
• Have transcripts sent from previously attended colleges.
• Read specific details on pages 6-8 of the college catalog or go to www.mcc.commnet.edu

Admission to the college does not guarantee that the student will be able to register for any particular courses. Registration is done on a schedule developed through the Registrar’s Office and there is no priority to students in any one program.

B. Admission to the Respiratory Care Program

• Students must apply to the college as outlined above.
• Students must complete the enclosed Health Careers Application and return it to the Admissions Office prior to starting the program.
• When all admission materials have been received, the Program Coordinator will evaluate students for acceptance into the Respiratory Care program within 4 weeks. Once the program seats are filled for the upcoming academic year, the remaining students will be placed on a waiting list.
• Students are encouraged to attend a Respiratory Care information session. Check the MCC calendar of events on the MCC web site or call 512-2703 for the dates and times of the next scheduled information session.

C. Selection Criteria for the Respiratory Care Program

• Students must be eligible for English Composition (ENG *101).
• Students must be eligible for Quantitative Literacy (MAT *109), a statistics course.
• Students must have completed a college level biology course equivalent to MCC’s Human Biology (BIO *115) or General Biology I (BIO* 121) or a college chemistry course equivalent to MCC’s Concepts of Chemistry (CHE *111) or higher within the past five years to be eligible for Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO*211). Challenge examinations can be taken in place of these requirements.
• Respiratory care students must maintain a “C” or better in all respiratory care and science courses and a 2.0 GPA for all courses in the curriculum.
• In the event that two or more students are applying for the last program seat, the date of application is the last criterion used.

D. Program Acceptance

• The Program Coordinator will inform students in writing of their acceptance or rejection into the program.
• Students must meet with the Program Coordinator or the Clinical Coordinator to register for their classes or to obtain a signed registration form for registration through the Registrar’s office. Students inadvertently registered for respiratory care classes will be withdrawn before the first day of class.
• Students will need to demonstrate the skills necessary to become a Respiratory Therapist. Therefore, students are required to meet the standards of a physical examination at the clinical site. Evaluation will also include illicit drug testing and a criminal background check.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation, parking, and respiratory care supplies and expenses while in the program. Special accommodations cannot be guaranteed to allow any student to carpool for their rotations.

Scholarship Information

The Connecticut Society for Respiratory Care Scholarship
The Connecticut Society for Respiratory Care offers three $1,000.00 scholarships for Freshmen RC students and two $1,000.00 scholarships for Sophmore RC students. The application is due July 1. To obtain information about the scholarship go to www.CTSRC.org.

Dr. Thomas Godar Scholarship from Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
This scholarship is awarded to a MCC Freshmen Respiratory Care Student. Up to $4,000.00 may be awarded to support the student’s education throughout the program. The ideal recipient should live in the Hartford area and demonstrate financial need. See the Program Coordinator for more information.

Paul Jones Scholarship
All students in the Respiratory Care Program who satisfy Connecticut residence requirements and who are in good standing in the Program are eligible to receive an award from the Paul Jones Fund in the spring of each of the two years of program matriculation.

In addition there are a number of Health Career Scholarships. See the Program Coordinator for more details.

Important Links

National Board for Respiratory Care
www.nbrc.org

American Association for Respiratory Care
www.aarc.org

Connecticut Society for Respiratory Care
www.ctsrc.org

Program Accreditation

Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
www.coarc.com

Commission on Accreditation of AH Education Programs
35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970, Chicago, IL 606901-2208
www.caahep.org