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RHOP

Dental Hygiene

Options

The Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) currently has options in clinical laboratory science (medical technology), dental hygiene, dentistry, medial technology, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and radiography. The information contained on this page pertains only to dental hygiene. For information on the other options, make a new selection from the Health Professions options page, call 888-293-2293, or email hpoffice@csc.edu.

Who Can Apply

To be eligible for RHOP, the applicant MUST:

1. Be a rural Nebraska resident (Omaha and Lincoln areas are excluded).
2. Be a Nebraska high school graduate.
3. Apply to only the Chadron State College OR Wayne State College RHOP program.
4. Be committed to practice in a rural Nebraska area.
5. Be enrolled at CSC for the entirety of their discipline guidelines.
6. If a nontraditional student: must be willing to begin their work at CSC as a freshman, regardless of previous education.

December 1 Deadline

Applications must be completed on-line, printed & together with three letters of recommendation, a copy of ACT scores, and transcripts submitted via mail to the Chadron State College Health Professions Office. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify a complete application prior to the December 1 deadline. Click here for an application.

Program Characteristics

Two years of study at Chadron State College followed by two years of dental hygiene education at the UNMC College of Dentistry-West Division in Gering. Upon completion of the professional requirements, the student will be granted a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the UNMC College of Dentistry.
The application of college credit earned through previous college work, CLEP or high school courses for college credit under an Advanced Placement curriculum will be determined on an individual basis.

Selection Guidelines

Numerous factors are a part of the selection process. For the Rural Health Opportunities Program, special consideration will be given to applicants who:

• Want to become dental hygienists.
• Demonstrate academic potential.
• Are from rural areas of Nebraska.
• Are committed to returning to rural areas of Nebraska to practice.

Interviews

Interviews will be approximately 20-30 minutes in length, informal and conducted by faculty from UNMC and CSC. The interviewers are interested in learning as much about the interviewee as possible, and in answering any questions he/she may have regarding Chadron State College, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, or the Rural Health Opportunities Program. The interviews will be held on the CSC campus. However, each person interviewed will receive a letter stating the specific time and location for the interview.

Final Selection

RHOP Positions: Up to two applicants will be selected to fill the positions in the program for the next class.

Alternate Positions: Up to two applicants will be selected as alternates. Only alternates will be allowed to fill any vacancies that may develop in this class. Those students receiving alternate status will maintain this status as long as they enroll at CSC, meet the standards set forth in the RHOP guidelines, and follow the prescribed curriculum.

All applicants will be notified of their status as soon as possible.

Career Promotional Activities

Exposure to the world of dental hygiene and rural health care is an important objective of the pre-dental hygiene studies at CSC. Each participant will be involved in several of the following activities:

• Shadow dentists and dental hygienists.
• Attend credit and non-credit UNMC conducted video conferences and classes.
• Develop a professional association with one or more practicing dental hygienists.
• Visit, work or volunteer to help with patient care in dental clinics.
• Attend classes with dental hygiene students at the UNMC College of Dentistry.
• Visit the University of Nebraska Medical Center - College of Dentistry in Lincoln for tours and seminars.
• Participate in on-campus activities for health professions students. 

Progress Evaluation

Course Work

• Follow the specific curriculum designed for this program.
• Complete courses in a timely manner in order to enter the professional program as scheduled.

Program Standards

• The student's overall GPA must be at or above 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.
• Should the participant earn a "D" or an "F" in any course, or have a semester with a GPA of less than 3.4, they must immediately meet with the RHOP Dental Hygiene academic advisor. The student and the academic advisor will determine a remedial program. At this point, the participant will be considered at academic risk and will be placed on one semester of probation. Should the GPA remain below 3.4 at the end of the semester of probation, the student may be dropped from the program. 

Journal

Each student is required to keep a journal of his or her professional activities and experiences at CSC. The journals will be turned in to the CSC Health Professions Office at the end of each semester.

Benefits of the Program

If selected as a participant in the program, each student will:

• Receive early acceptance to the Dental Hygiene Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Dentistry, as he/she begins the pre-dental hygiene curriculum at Chadron State College.
• Follow a specific curriculum at CSC, which will prepare them for their dental hygiene studies at UNMC.
• Have recognition of their desire to become a dental hygienist.
• Have the opportunity to participate in special professional training sessions. 

For course work requirements while at CSC please see the degree programs page.