Policy: 

Interprofessional Education (IPE) at Clarkson College is a program, through a zero-credit course, designed to provide students, faculty, and staff with an overview of healthcare professionals’ roles and responsibilities, which focuses on how to provide client-centered care that embodies values and ethics; insight into how to collaborate with the interdisciplinary health care team using effective communication that is respectful and assertive; and ways to develop leadership skills and take accountability for behaviors (IPEC, 2011). The ultimate goal is to promote teamwork and improve collaborative skills for optimal positive outcomes. The IPE program is tied directly to the Clarkson College Student Success Skills of Communication, Critical Thinking, Technology, Professionalism, and Diversity.  

The IPE course is pass/fail and will be recorded on students’ transcripts. Students will be expected to complete the course and their three (3) IPE events (one in each category of service, knowledge, and College community) while enrolled as a Clarkson College student before graduation to receive their diploma.  

Clarkson College defines Service as College-related activities in which students, administrators, faculty, and staff engage in a mutually beneficial relationship with an identified agency or group. Service reflects a holistic view, which focuses on how individuals provide high-quality, ethical, and compassionate service in the field of health care and the community at large. Students will become familiar with service agencies, connect theory with practice, and engage in civic service activities to live and demonstrate the Clarkson College Values of Learning, Caring, Commitment, Integrity, and Excellence.  

All students are required to complete Designated Service Course(s) as a component of their program of study. All graduate students will complete a minimum of one (1) service course as a part of their program of study. Undergraduate students will complete a minimum of two (2) service courses as a part of their program of study. Designated Service Courses can be found in the Clarkson College Academic Catalog. Successful completion of service experience is required to pass Designated Service Course(s). 

All degree-seeking students will complete the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and will participate in learning experiences that encourage growth in intercultural competence, defined by IDI, LLC, as “the capability to shift perspective and appropriately adapt behavior to cultural difference and commonalities.” The IDI assessment is “a theory-based, developmental psychometric instrument grounded in a comprehensive, cross-culturally validated theory of intercultural competence...” Engaging with the IDI highlights the Clarkson College Student Success Skills of Diversity, Critical Thinking, and Communication.  

Procedure:  

During the first semester, all incoming degree-seeking students will enroll in the IPE course and are expected to complete the first four (4) modules in that semester and the fifth (5) module before graduation. Tracking will be completed through Canvas and recorded in the Registrar’s Office. The IPE program webpage is available to provide a list of IPE experiences and procedures for establishing an IPE experience. All IPE experiences must be pre-approved, and student reflections must be submitted within 90 days of the experience. 

Program directors will update the listing of all service courses on an annual basis during the curriculum and catalog review. Courses are designated by a diamond symbol in the catalog and print materials. 

During the first semester, all incoming degree-seeking students will complete a pre-test IDI. After completing the assessment, the students will meet with an internal Qualified Administrator (QA) of the IDI to receive their Individual Profile Report and Intercultural Development Plan (IDP) by the end of their first semester. Tracking will be completed through the Enterprise Portal for Clarkson College, maintained by the internal QAs, and through Canvas, where there will be an IDI module for the IPE course shell. Once a student has completed the pre-test assessment, they will schedule an individual debrief with one of the internal QAs. Once a student completes the pre-test assessment and debriefs with a QA, the QA will mark the IDI module as “complete” in that student’s IPE course shell. 

During the final semester, students will complete a post-test IDI and have the option to debrief with an internal QA if they choose. Tracking will be completed through the Enterprise Portal for Clarkson College and through Canvas. Once a QA confirms through the Enterprise Portal that a student has completed their post-test assessment, the QA will mark the IDI module as “complete” in the student’s IPE course shell. 

Reference: IPEC 2011