Mission & Vision Statement

Mission Statement: The respiratory care program is committed to the effective development and preparation of individuals as respiratory therapists and polysomnographic technologists through academic and clinical opportunities to develop requisite competencies, stimulate professional growth through scientific curiosity and promote leadership skills. The programs are designed to encourage students to participate in activities, which encourage their potential placement in leadership positions in the profession. The curriculum for the RC and PSG Programs are structured to foster habits of continued study and professional growth for its graduates.

Vision Statement: The vision of the Department of Respiratory Care is to produce quality graduates who meet the expectations of the communities of interest served by the program, to maintain an excellent national reputation, and to be a leader in innovative educational endeavors in the profession. The department expects to accomplish these goals by:

Updating the curriculum as national higher education & professional standards evolve.
Maintaining accreditation by meeting the new essentials set by CoARC to include polysomnography theory & clinical practice.
Recruiting and retaining qualified/diverse faculty.
Encouraging faculty to pursue professional development through participation in continuing education, recredentialing, etc.
Encouraging faculty & students to participate in professional organizations and community service projects.
Increasing external funding for the university, college and department through grant activity.
Maintaining and increasing student racial, gender and ethnic diversity.
Utilizing the Respiratory Care Clinic for asthma education and polysomnography sleep lab studies and research.
Implementing the polysomnography (PSG) program at the undergraduate- and post-bac levels to meet accreditation guidelines, to properly prepare PSG majors for clinical practice and to meet community diagnostic needs for the surrounding rural geographic area.
Establishing articulation agreements with community colleges and associate degree respiratory therapist programs throughout Texas.
Maintaining specific courses in respiratory care to be transmitted via interactive and web-based technology.
Maintaining current and establishing new consortia with health care facilities and/or schools to offer respiratory care education to medically underserved areas of Texas.