Bauer-Wolf, J. (2018, October 5). Sanctioned for speaking out. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/10/05/auburn-professor-sues-alleging-retaliation-after-he-revealed-athletics-scandal

McKenzie, L. (2018,October 5). Colleges use technology to help students manage mental health. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/10/05/colleges-turn-wellness-app-address-student-mental-health

Smith, R. A., & Applegate, A. (2018). Mental health stigma and communication and their intersections with education. Communication Education 67(3), 382-393. doi: 10.1080/03634523.2018.1465988

          Eisenberg, Hunt, and Speer (as cited in Smith & Applegate, 2018) reported, “in a study of thousands of college students, 32% reported symptoms that were consistent with at least one…[mental] health issue” (p. 383). In the face of this statistic, it is highly likely that a significant number of students I come into contact with will be struggling with a mental health concern. The main legal and ethical concern related to mental health in higher education is barriers to care and access to resources for students. Smith and Applegate (2018) explain that one potential barrier to care is the stigma that is attached to mental health disorders. In order to diminish mental health stigma, the first step would be to education my students on mental health, their access and right to care, and the resources that are available to them. 

          In conclusion, as my students are molded into competent clinicians, it will be valuable for them to have a respect and sensitivity to patients who may experience mental health disorders. I am currently a practicing dental hygienist and I encounter patients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. By reducing the stigma of mental health in my classroom, I can model respect and sensitivity for all health issues and conditions, especially mental health. In my opinion, bringing attention to the problem of the stigma is the first step towards improvement. 

      1. I learned that dental hygiene educators are in a unique position that requires a combination of multiple legislative bodies. Dental hygiene educators must follow legislation from the United States Government, the American Dental Association (ADA), Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA), and the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). In addition to the governing bodies listed above, dental hygiene educators are entrusted with introducing the concepts of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to students. 

     2. In my discussion with Barbara, I learned about the following current issues and legislation that may be changing in her role as program chair: concealed carry, sexual harassment and reporting, discrimination, and tobacco policies. Since MSU is a state university, Barbara explained to me that it is of the utmost importance for the university to be current on legislation in order to apply the legislation on campus. 

     3. My discussion with Barbara introduced me to House Bill 2504 (HB2504). Barbara explained that she has to ensure that the faculty meets the needs of HB2504 every semester. Essentially, this Bill requires all instructor(s) to post and maintain course syllabi on the University website for at least two years. Before my conversation with Barbara, I was not familiar with this Bill.  

     4. Midwestern’s Dental Hygiene Program is accredited; this means that the program must meet the standards outlined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). CODA requires ongoing statistics and records to demonstrate compliance, an annual survey of every program, and documentation from an accreditation site visit every seven years. 

     5. Lastly, I learned that Barbara utilizes one of the same resources that I do, the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). As a state registered professional, I consult the TSBDE website on a regular basis for new rules and legislation affecting dental hygiene. As a program chair and dental hygiene instructor, Barbara also uses this resource in order to provide her students with the most current and accurate information regarding dentistry and dental hygiene in the state of Texas. 

(DeBois, B, email conversations, October 19, 2018)