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The Office of Academic and Student Affairs serves the School of Allied Health Professions as the primary contacts for prospective, incoming, and current Allied Health students and alumni.
Services:
- Maintains Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation for the School of Allied Health Professions.
- Develops academic policies and provides student learning resources.
- Assists students in being well-informed as to their rights and School regulations.
- Supports students with disabilities to provide reasonable academic accommodations.
- Aids each department in recruiting qualified students committed to professional education.
- Assists students in the successful admission, progression, and graduation from the School.
- Provides orientation and ongoing assistance regarding the procurement of financial aid, medical, and academic/counseling services.
- Advises the Student Government Association which embodies equal representation from each program.
- Serves as a liaison among our administration, faculty, staff, and the student body.
- Connects with alumni to strengthen connections and encourage involvement with the School.
Contact:
Diana Merendino, DPT, RRT, PT, RRT-NPS, RPFT, FAARC
Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Affairs for School of Allied Health Profession
(318) 813-2931
Madeline Fechter, MPH
Director of Admissions and Records
(318) 813-2908
Valorie Lurry
Director of Student Life and Alumni Affairs
(318) 813-2898
Jennifer Ellis Smith, MBA, MEd
Director of Student Success and Retention
(318) 813-2904
The Office of the Registrar is located on the fourth floor of the Administrative Building room 4-403. Regular office hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Link to the Registrar’s website: https://www.lsuhs.edu/our-schools/registrar.
Contact:
Mailing address: Office of the Registrar, 1501 Kings Hwy., Shreveport, LA 71103.
Phone: (318)-675-5205
Fax: (318)-675-4758
Email: registrar@lsuhs.edu
Transcript Requests
Official LSU Health Shreveport transcripts of an academic record may be ordered online through the National Student Clearinghouse website at www.getmytranscript.org We are listed as LSU Health Sciences Center - Shreveport.
For currently enrolled students, unofficial transcripts may be accessed by logging onto the PeopleSoft Academic Self-Service portal using your LSUHSC network id and password.
Enrollment Verification
Enrollment Verification certificates are available to currently enrolled students. Students may email the Office of the Registrar from their school email accounts to request verification. Outside agencies requiring a verification of enrollment should contact the Clearinghouse online at www.studentclearinghouse.org or by phone at (703) 742-4200.
Degree Verification
LSU Health Shreveport has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to act as our agent for the verification of student degrees. Outside agencies requiring a verification of degree should be directed to contact the Clearinghouse online at www.degreeverify.org or by phone at (703) 742-4200. Our institutional school code is 008067.
Student Health Insurance
LSU Health Shreveport has a registration requirement that all currently enrolled students must either enroll in the policy endorsed by the school or complete a waiver and provide proof of acceptable insurance coverage by the waiver deadline to the Registrar’s office. For newly accepted students, you will receive email notification from the Registrar’s office regarding procedures for complying with this requirement. Since the current student health insurance plan is compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), students should have comparable coverage to the plan that is offered by the University (e.g., aggregate maximum benefit per covered person per policy year should be unlimited). Thus, all waivers submitted must meet the PPACA guidelines in order to be acceptable. Coverage must be maintained throughout the duration of enrollment. Non-compliance at any time during a student’s enrollment may result in suspension and/or dismissal.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. coordinates the Student Health Insurance plan offered through United Healthcare. Currently enrolled students are eligible to enroll in the plan by the enrollment deadline by visiting www.gallagherstudent.com/LSU-HSCShreveport. Currently enrolled students with proof of acceptable alternate health insurance coverage who wish to waive coverage are required to visit www.gallagherstudent.com/LSU-HSCShreveport and complete the waiver process by the applicable waiver deadline.
Premiums are outlined in the FAQ on the Gallagher website and are payable through their website. Premiums are not included in the tuition and fees bill. It is the responsibility of the student to make certain that the premium is received by the company. Detailed information on the plan and coverage is found at www.gallagherstudent.com/LSU-HSCShreveport.
Students who initially waived the student insurance plan can petition to add coverage if they experience a qualifying event.
The LSU Health Shreveport, Office of Student Financial Aid, is committed to our mission of providing the best possible service to students who need help meeting the costs of higher education. The mission of the Financial Aid Office is to ensure that higher education is financially accessible to all of its students. The primary sources of aid are funded by Federal and State programs. The Financial Aid Office is located on the fourth floor of the Administration Building in room 4-405. Regular office hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
Students are encouraged to visit their website and review the Student Rights and Responsibilities, Application and Awarding Process, Fee Payment and Disbursement of Aid, Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress as well as other important topics outlined: https://www.lsuhs.edu/admissions/student-financial-aid
TITLE IV SCHOOL CODE (For FAFSA and Loan Application Use): 00806700
Contact:
Mailing address: Financial Aid Office, 1501 Kings Hwy., Shreveport, LA 71103.
Phone: (318)-675-5561
Fax: (318)-675-7893
Email: shvfinaid@lsuhs.edu
Visit the following website for the scholarships and tuition waivers available to the students enrolled in the School of Allied Health Professions: https://www.lsuhs.edu/our-schools/school-of-allied-health-professions/academic-affairs/scholarships-and-tuition-waivers.
The Office of the Bursar administers electronic tuition and fee statements, receives university fees and charges, and processes excess financial aid. The Cashier, which is part of the Office of the Bursar, collects and accounts for departmental deposits. The Bursar’s Office is located on the first floor of the Medical School Building room 1-218. Regular office hours are from 8:00am to 3:15pm Monday through Friday.
Students should visit their webpage in regard to tuition and fees and payment options: https://www.lsuhs.edu/admissions/bursar
Contact:
Mailing address: Bursar’s Office (Cashier’s Window), 1501 Kings Hwy., Shreveport, LA 71103.
Phone: (318)-675-5224
Fax: (318)-675-5419
Email: shvbursar@lsuhs.edu
The following immunizations are available for matriculating LSU Health Shreveport students at the OLHS Employee Health Clinic at no out-of-pocket cost for students who have paid tuition and fees.
1. Hepatitis B Vaccine Dose #3 and Titer: Students repeating the Hepatitis B (Hep B) series for immunization requirements due to a negative titer are responsible for doses #1 and #2 prior to entry in the academic program. On or after the first day of class, the Hep B dose #3 and quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (titer) are available at the Employee Health Clinic. If the titer is negative, students will complete a second Hep B Series followed by a repeat titer available at the Employee Health Clinic.
2. PPD Skin Test (Tuberculosis Test): PPD (purified protein derivative) skin tests are available at the Employee Health Clinic.
- Visit 1, Day 1: PPD antigen is applied under the skin
- Visit 2, Day 2-3: PPD test is read (within 48-72 hrs of placement). If positive, it indicates possible TB infection referral to the Shreveport Chest Clinic will be made to obtain an IGRA (TB blood) test and possible Chest X-Ray.
3. Influenza Vaccine: One dose of seasonal influenza vaccine is available each fall semester at the Employee Health Clinic.
4. Other Immunizations: Tetanus Diphtheria (TD) or Tetanus Diphtheria Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is available to students with expired vaccinations at the Employee Health Clinic.
Medical Illness: Students can see a provider in one of Ochsner’s Urgent Care clinics, or choose a provider of choice. One of the urgent care clinics is located on the 3rd floor of the comp care building (same floor as the Employee Health Clinic). Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. This is a billable service, students must bring ID and an insurance card for this service.
Required Documentation: Students admitted during or after 2019 must print out immunization records from their MyRecordTracker at www.myrecordtracker.com and bring them to their first appointment at the Employee Health Clinic.
Contact:
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Employee Health Clinic
Location: Comp Care Building, Third Floor
Phone: 318-626-0661
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 4:00pm
Appointments: Walk-in or call ahead appointments
The Student Counseling Center serves LSU Health Shreveport students and engages our entire academic community as we work to build a culture of support and connection with student well-being. Center staff accomplish mental health and personal development by collaborating directly with students to overcome challenges and difficulties that may interfere with academic, emotional, and personal success. The Student Counseling Center helps remove barriers to learning by providing accessible psychological and psychiatric assessment, short-term psychotherapy, medication management, consultation and crisis intervention, community referrals, workshops, and psychoeducational programming to currently enrolled students.
Clinical professionals provide a safe, non-judgmental, and confidential environment for students to discuss concerns. The staff provides an individualized approach to care, and strives to provide students with ample opportunities to:
- develop greater insight and self-understanding
- identify and solve problems
- reduce emotional distress
- improve cognitive, emotional, academic, and social functioning
- explore and understand cultural and other identities
Services
- Information/Referral
- Individual Counseling/Psychotherapy
- Medication Management
- Screening/Assessment/Evaluation
Fees
There is no out-of-pocket expense to students who have paid tuition and fees. Students’ insurance may be billed for medication management.
Location
1801 Fairfield, Suite 401
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 813-6100
Phone: (318) 813-6100
Director: Mark Cogburn, DNP, PhD, APRN, LMFT, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Email: Mark.Cogburn@lsuhs.edu
Scheduling an Appointment: To make an appointment, call (319) 813-6100. Same-day phone or in-person consultations available.
The School of Allied Health Professions has a Learning Specialist devoted to helping students with time management, study, and active learning strategies. The Learning Specialist collaborates with students one-on-one to discuss their individualized needs. Appointments are typically 60 minutes and are offered in-person and virtually.
Contact:
Jennifer Ellis Smith, MBA, MEd
Director of Student Success and Retention
(318) 813-2904
Guidelines for Students with Disabilities/Request for Academic Accommodations
LSUHS seeks to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by providing reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities. A person with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that limits substantially one or more major life activities, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, learning, walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, and working; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment. Although students with temporary illness or injury are not considered disabled by law, every reasonable effort to accommodate their needs will be exercised.
Identification as a student with a disability is always voluntary. However, only those students who identify themselves to the University and/or present appropriate documentation of a disability are eligible for accommodations. Students are responsible for providing documentation of a disability and must contact their school’s academic dean (or dean’s designee) to request disability-related accommodations. Costs associated with documentation of a disability are the responsibility of the student. Upon receipt of such information, the dean (or dean’s designee) will determine what reasonable accommodations, if any, are appropriate for the student.
Follow this link for the full-text document of the University’s Student Policy for Requesting Accommodations: https://www.lsuhs.edu/our-schools/school-of-allied-health-professions/academic-affairs.
Technical Standards
Some programs require students to meet certain technical standards encompassing the following skills: observation; communication; motor function and coordination; intellectual abilities: conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and behavioral and social attributes. Students are expected to be able to perform these skills with or without reasonable accommodations. An otherwise qualified student may not be excluded solely because of a disability if a reasonable modification or accommodation can be made by the institution. Reasonable accommodations must not fundamentally alter a program, service, or activity or create an undue burden on the institution.
Procedure for Requesting Accommodations
Step 1 - Contact the School’s Academic Dean (or Dean’s Designee): The student contacts the school’s academic dean (or dean’s designee) regarding the policies and procedures for students with disabilities.
Step 2 - Provide Request for Accommodation(s) Form and Documentation: The student submits the Request for Accommodations Form (RAF), a record of previous academic accommodations (if applicable), and documentation of the disability to the school’s academic dean (or dean’s designee) for approval. This documentation should be submitted at least three weeks before the start of the semester or immediately following an injury or illness, to initiate the accommodation process
Step 3 - Evaluation of Accommodation(s) Request: The dean (or dean’s designee) evaluates documentation. If necessary, a consulting mental health professional and/or medical professional reviews the request and provides a recommendation. With the student’s written permission, the dean (or dean’s designee) may need to consult with the original evaluator when documentation guidelines have not been followed or information is otherwise unclear. A student may be asked to provide updated documentation if the previous information does not include sufficient relevant support for the requested accommodation(s). Last-minute submission of documentation may result in delays in consideration of requested accommodations and support services.
Step 4 - Implementation of Accommodation(s) and Student’s Responsibilities: The dean (or dean’s designee) determines if the student meets the criteria for a disability under ADA and informs the student via email if their request for accommodations has been approved or denied. The student’s approved accommodations will be forwarded in writing from the dean (or dean’s designee) to the student and the student’s program director/department head. It is the student’s responsibility to notify their course instructors and/or clinical preceptors regarding their accommodations in a timely manner. After receiving notification from the student, instructors have up to 5 business days to provide the approved accommodations. This is to allow time for any administrative planning that may need to occur. The University is not required to provide retroactive accommodations.
Please note that because clinical training may include a variety of settings - classroom to clinical - accommodations granted on admission may not be appropriate for all settings; the course instructors, in collaboration with the school’s dean (or dean’s designee), may review with the student, as needed, accommodations for each class or setting as the student progresses through the curriculum, to avoid compromising or altering fundamentally the essential components of a particular course or program.
Step 5 - Annual Review: If accommodations are approved by the dean (or dean’s designee), the student is encouraged to review and renew this process each year to check for possible adjustments of accommodations in new training settings (e.g., from preclinical classrooms to clinical/hospital settings). The dean (or dean’s designee) reserves the right to modify the frequency of an individual student’s review on a case-by-case basis.
Appeal: A student has the right to appeal any accommodation decision by filing a written explanation and petition for reconsideration. The dean (or dean’s designee) will first attempt to mediate with the student and faculty/staff member. If the dean (or dean’s designee) is unable to resolve the matter, they will present the student’s petition to the chief academic officer/provost (or provost’s designee). In adherence to confidentiality policies, the dean (or dean’s designee) will obtain the student’s written permission prior to distributing primary clinical documentation to the chief academic officer/provost (or provost’s designee), if relevant to the petition. The chief academic officer/provost (or provost’s designee) will review the case and offer recommendation(s) for a solution. The chief academic officer/provost (or provost’s designee) will notify the student and the dean (or dean’s designee) of the recommendation(s) within five school days. The decision of the chief academic officer/provost (or provost’s designee)shall conclude the matter.
Request for Accommodation(s) Form and Documentation of Disability
Upon the initial request for accommodations, the student must provide the Request for Accommodations Form (RAF), a record of previous academic accommodations (if applicable), and documentation of a disability. Documentation requirements may vary based on the particular disability. Because the provision of reasonable accommodations is based on the assessment of the current impact of the student’s disability on the testing or other student activities, it is in the individual’s best interest to provide recent documentation (See Diagnostic Documentation Guidelines located in the full policy for specific currency requirements).
Any documentation must be provided by a qualified/licensed professional whose credentials are appropriate to the disability. The name, title, and professional credentials (e.g., degrees, areas of specialization, license or certification, employment) must be clearly stated in the documentation. The primary relationship of the attesting qualified/licensed professional to the student must be that of a treating medical professional to a patient; there must be no familial, intimate, supervisory, or other close relationship between the qualified professional and the student requesting the accommodation(s).
Costs associated with documentation of a disability are the responsibility of the student.
In all cases, the dean (or dean’s designee) reserves the right to request additional diagnostic information and assessment when such information is needed to indicate the need for accommodations in the educational or clinical settings at LSU Health Shreveport.
The following information explains what specific documentation is needed to support the initial accommodations request.
- LSU Health Shreveport’s Request for Accommodations Form (RAF).
- Record of Previous Academic Accommodations: If the requested accommodations have been previously provided in an academic setting due to the disability, the student should provide the special education service or accommodations pages from a current Individual Education Program (IEP), Section 504 plan, or official accommodations plan.
- Documentation of Disability:
- Learning, Attentional Disabilities: Acceptable clinical documentation for learning disabilities and attentional disabilities (e.g., attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]) includes a comprehensive diagnostic interview/consultation and neuropsychological or psycho-educational evaluation plan, which typically should be completed within three to five years of entering LSU Health Shreveport. The three to five year currency requirement may be waived if the student can provide (1) evidence that they are receiving ongoing treatment for the disability and (2) a record of previous accommodations in an academic setting (See Diagnostic Documentation Guidelines in the full policy).
- Other/Non-learning Disabilities: Acceptable documentation for other types of disabilities (e.g., medical, psychological, etc.), either permanent or temporary, includes a report from the appropriately licensed individual describing the nature of the disability, suggested accommodation(s), and requested accommodation(s) (See Diagnostic Documentation Guidelines in full policy).
Roles and Responsibilities
The student requesting and/or receiving accommodations is responsible for:
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Initiating the procedure for requesting accommodations with their school’s academic dean (or dean’s designee) upon acceptance to their academic program.
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Complying with deadlines and procedures outlined in the Student Policy for Requesting Accommodations.
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Providing required documentation of the disability (medical documentation, evidence of previous accommodations, and/or testing results) from a qualified/licensed professional to the dean (or dean’s designee) three weeks before the start of the semester or immediately following an injury or illness, in order to initiate the accommodation process.
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Consulting with the dean (or dean’s designee) regarding specific accommodation requests for any clarification or adaptations.
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Monitoring their academic progress.
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Contacting the dean (or dean’s designee) if there are changes in requested accommodations or academic progress or both.
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Reviewing and renewing the approved accommodations each year to check for possible adjustments of accommodations in new training settings.
The Assistant Dean of Academic & Student Affairs is responsible for:
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Informing applicants, students, faculty, and staff about the policies and procedures for students with disabilities.
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Determining if the student meets the criteria for a disability under ADA and notifying the student of the decision.
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Ensuring that the student is provided approved accommodations.
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Maintaining records for each student requesting and/or receiving accommodations.
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Providing students and faculty with accommodations-related consultation.
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Maintaining confidentiality regarding the student’s disability or any related information.
The faculty are responsible for the following:
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Designing course materials with accessibility in mind.
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Providing accommodations recommended by the dean (or dean’s designee) to make course content accessible to students with disabilities.
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Securing a proctor and location for the distraction-reduced testing environment if outlined in granted accommodations.
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Consulting with the dean (or dean’s designee) if a question arises regarding specific recommendations for accommodations.
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Working with the dean (or dean’s designee) and/or student to determine how an accommodation should be provided in a particular class.
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Maintaining confidentiality regarding the student’s accommodations or any related information.
Additional Information
Who Is Protected under the ADA?
The ADA protects the rights of people who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits their ability to perform one or more major life activities, such as breathing, walking, reading, thinking, seeing, hearing, or working. It does not apply to people whose impairment is unsubstantial, such as someone who is slightly nearsighted or someone who is mildly allergic to pollen. However, it does apply to people whose disability is substantial but can be moderated or mitigated, such as someone with diabetes that can normally be controlled with medication or someone who uses leg braces to walk, as well as to people who are temporarily substantially limited in their ability to perform a major life activity. The ADA also applies to people who have a record of having a substantial impairment (e.g., a person with cancer that is in remission) or are regarded as having such an impairment (e.g., a person who has scars from a severe burn).
Who Has Responsibilities under the ADA?
Title II of the ADA applies to all State and local governments and all departments, agencies, special purpose districts, and other instrumentalities of State or local government (“public entities”). It applies to all programs, services, or activities of public entities, from adoption services to zoning regulation. Title II entities that contract with other entities to provide public services (such as non-profit organizations that operate drug treatment programs or convenience stores that sell state lottery tickets) also have an obligation to ensure that their contractors do not discriminate against people with disabilities.
To view model testing accommodation practices and for more information about the ADA, please visit ADA website or call our toll-free number:
ADA Website: www.ADA.gov
ADA Information Line: 800-514-0301 (Voice) and 800-514-0383 (TTY); M-W, F 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Th 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Our Mission is to promote the health and wellness of LSU Health Shreveport through education and efforts that encourage habits of wellness, inspire and empower individuals to take responsibility for their own health, and support a sense of community in which health and overall well-being is recognized as an essential element of success.
Emotional, social, workplace and physical well-being are critical to the development and maintenance of competent, caring students, faculty and healthcare providers. In the current health care environment, students, residents, fellows, faculty members and staff are at increased risk for burnout and depression. Self-care is an important component that impacts qualify of life and work. It is also a skill that must be cultivated and developed.
Wellness includes the following dimensions:
- Physical: The physical dimension recognizes the need for regular physical activity and encourages learning about nutrition while discouraging the use of tobacco, drugs and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Emotional: The ability to find support in time of need, express a wide range of emotions and deal with daily stressors.
- Social: Community building premised on shared values of respect and dignity, volunteerism and caring valued as part of the workplace.
- Financial: The ability to plan for the future, be prepared for emergencies, and have access to the information and tools necessary to make good financial decisions.
- Workplace: The ability to pursue interests, values, and purpose in order to gain meaning, happiness and enrichment professionally.
Contact:
Marie Vazquez Morgan, PT, PhD, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Wellness
Phone: (318) 813-2944
Email: mav001@lsuhs.edu
The LSU Health Shreveport Bookstore, located on the ground floor of the Medical School, is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The bookstore sells textbooks, computer software, and materials required as necessary tools for your education. Also available is a selection of cards and items bearing the LSU logo. The bookstore also handles orders for Graduation cap and gown rental, which should be arranged two full months prior to Graduation.
LSU Health Shreveport Health Sciences Library currently occupies over 39,000 square feet on three floors, with seating for 312 users at tables, at carrels, and in study rooms. It also houses five small-group teaching rooms, teleconferencing facilities (with seating for 23), and two computer labs. The computer lab in 1-417 has 29 Windows 10 workstations, and the computer lab in 1-419 has 20 Windows 10 workstations. Both labs have a projection system for teaching classes. Five scanners are provided throughout the Library for the incorporation of graphic images into PowerPoint presentations. A book scanner is available in the copy room. Black-and-white printing and copying, and color printing, are available. Network connectivity for laptop computers is provided both through wired Ethernet jacks located in public areas on all three floors, and through wireless networking.
The Library provides access to 152 databases, 1,764 electronic books, and 4,809 current electronic journals. In addition, the Library collection includes print volumes (books and older bound journal volumes). The Library manages selected archival materials about the heritage and founding of the health sciences center.
The Library is open 102.5 hours per week. Remote access to the online catalog, databases, and electronic resources is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through the institution’s virtual private network (VPN) for LSU Health Shreveport students, faculty, and staff.
In summary, the LSU Health Shreveport Health Sciences Library provides LSU Health Shreveport affiliates with ready access to critically important information required for research, patient care, and teaching.
Contact:
318-675-5445
shlibref@lsuhs.edu
The Student Lounge is located in the School of Allied Health Building in room 1-129. There are microwaves, refrigerators, freezers, ice maker, and vending machines available to Allied Health students.
The Student Computer Lab is located in the School of Allied Health Building in room 1-132. There are computers available for Allied Health students as well as printing and copying services.
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