Advising Information
Announcements and News
Contact Information
Office Hours
Resources and Information
- MyIUP
- Academic Support
- Coursework at Another College
- Learn More about Respiratory Care
- Progression to Respiratory Care Clinical Phase of the Program (IUP at Pittsburgh East)
- For Students at the School of Respiratory Care
Announcements and News
Make a commitment to academic success this semester and set a goal to make the dean's list! To achieve this status you must earn at least a 3.25 GPA for the semester. Check the Department of Undergraduate Studies and Student Success website for the fall schedule of tutorials, supplemental instruction sessions, and workshops designed to help students prepare, advance, and excel.
Contact Information
Jackie Heisler, PhD, RRT
Program Director, Respiratory Care
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
IUP Pittsburgh East
400 Penn Center Boulevard
Building 4 Suite 900, Pittsburgh, PA 15235
412-824-1999
jheisler@iup.edu
Respiratory Care Department Office Hours
Every other Monday
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Advising Information
Your Advisor
All respiratory care students are assigned an advisor from the respiratory care faculty to advise students with matters of academic achievement, schedule adjustments, student activities, study schedules, curriculum changes, and assistance with individual programs. Your academic advisor is available to guide you through your career as a student at IUP. This is your first contact person if you have any academic questions or concerns. If you don't know who your advisor is, check on your MyIUP or contact the department secretary.
Registration
Registration for the winter session and spring semesters begins in mid-October. Registration for the fall semester and summer sessions begins in mid-March. Schedules are available through MyIUP and are typically posted several weeks before the registration period begins.
Respiratory care students receive early registration times each semester and are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to get the best schedule possible. Students must schedule an appointment to meet with their assigned advisor each semester to discuss academic progress and plans for the next semesters. At that meeting, students will receive their alternate Personal Identification Number (PIN) needed to access the registration system. Students may view the date and time when they can begin to register by logging in to MyIUP. Sign-up times for advising appointments are posted in mid-February and mid-September and advisees are notified by e-mail when advising appointments begin.
Students are expected to check their IUP email frequently and to use their IUP email address when sending emails to anyone in the IUP community. Important and helpful information is sent to students from the coordinator, secretary, registrar, and others. Assistance with the use of the IUP email system and other technology support is available at the IT Support Center.
Resources and Information
MyIUP
MyIUP provides links to a wide variety of information and resources, including the academic calendar, schedules, financial aid and billing, grades, how to calculate a grade point average (GPA), and details about graduation.
Academic Support
Tips for Success
- Get organized: Keep a detailed calendar with assignment due dates, exams, and other important dates. Block off study time and prepare for exams and assignments in advance.
- Make academic success a priority: Do your work first and there will be plenty of time to get involved in campus, community, and social activities.
- Seek Help to Succeed and Excel: IUP offers outstanding academic support services that help students be successful in their classes. Meet with your professors during their office hours and take advantage of workshops, supplemental instruction, tutors, and the Writing Center.
- Department of Developmental Studies
- Writing Center
- Additional assistance is also available for math, chemistry, and physics courses. Contact the respiratory care program director for more information.
Coursework at Another College or University
Many students plan to take courses during the summer at other colleges or universities. This excellent strategy allows students to take a lighter course load during the academic year, pursue a special area of interest, or stay on track for progression of the respiratory care program. Students interested in registering for courses at other colleges or universities should follow the steps listed below:
- Meet with the respiratory care director to discuss options.
- Use the Online Credit Evaluation System to check course equivalency.
- Contact the other college or university for details about schedules, registration, tuition, etc.
- Submit an Application for Pre-Approval of Coursework At Another College or University (form is available in the department office).
- Earn a C or higher grade to have credits posted to your IUP transcript.
- Request an official transcript be sent to IUP Admissions Office, Credit Evaluation, 117 Sutton Hall, 1011 South Drive, IUP, Indiana, PA 15705.
- If you cannot find an equivalent course, ask the respiratory care director about possible substitutions.
- If you plan to complete BIOL 150 Human Anatomy and/or BIOL 151 Human Physiology at another college or university you must be certain the courses are equivalent to the IUP courses. Many colleges and universities offer these courses as Anatomy and Physiology I and II. If so, you must complete both I and II at that college or university to have the courses posted to your IUP transcript as BIOL 150 and BIOL 151.
Learn More About Respiratory Care
Consider the following actions that will help you become acquainted with the profession:
- Contact any hospital and inquire about a tour and/or shadow experience with a respiratory therapist.
- Contact IUP's respiratory program care director with specific questions about the respiratory care courses.
- Ask the respiratory care program director how to contact a student currently in respiratory care courses who is available to answer questions and offer suggestions.
- Become familiar with your future professional organization, the American Association for Respiratory Care.
- Learn more about accredited programs in respiratory care.
Progression to the Clinical Phase of Respiratory Care Program (IUP Pittsburgh East)
Students meet regularly with their academic advisor while at IUP. At these, meetings progress toward meeting academic requirements for clinical placement is carefully reviewed and discussed. Students are expected to earn a minimum grade point average of at least 2.25 in math and science courses and a minimum overall 2.0 grade point average to secure a seat at the clinical phase of the program (at IUP Pittsburgh East). C or higher grades in BIOL 150 Human Anatomy, BIOL 151 Human Physiology, and the math course will help students succeed in respiratory care courses.
The program director and clinical coordinator from the respiratory care program meet at the end of each spring semester to make clinical placement decisions. Students receive written communication from both IUP and the Respiratory Care program informing them of placement decisions and providing appropriate detail about the additional clinical year requirements. In some cases, the clinical placement decision is contingent upon the successful completion of summer coursework.
Once accepted into the clinical phase of the program, the director of the Respiratory Care program provides students with detailed information about additional requirements. Typically, these requirements include:
- CPR certification
- Criminal Record and Child Abuse History clearances
- Professional liability insurance
- Lab equipment
- Health screening, including a physical exam, blood work, immunizations, and urine drug screens
- Uniforms and lab coats
- Clinical equipment, including a stethoscope, scissors, hemostats, and goggles
- Health care insurance is strongly recommended
Students must also independently complete instruction using a medical terminology book prior to beginning the first respiratory classes. Costs associated with these items are the student's responsibility.
Information for Students of Respiratory Care
Registering for RESP 493 (Respiratory Care Internship)
Students must register for RESP 493 (Internship for Respiratory Care) each semester during registration if they plan to participate in an internship experience. It is the student's responsibility to register/drop/withdraw from this course consistent with university deadlines. The course provides an unpaid experience in a supervised practice setting that extends and complements coursework in respiratory care. Participants must meet university and sponsoring site requirements. A minimum of 40 hours are required for each credit.
Graduation
Undergraduate students are required to apply online for graduation in their next-to-final semester of enrollment. Students must apply for graduation regardless of their plans to participate in IUP's commencement ceremony.