College & Department Policies
PCAs, Therapists, and Nurses
Requirements to have a PCA, Nurse or Therapist in the Classroom
Bucks County Community College (Bucks) is committed to ensuring that all qualified students with disabilites are provided reasonable accommodatons to ensure access to programs, services, and facilites in compliance with state and federal law. All academic accommodatons are in accordance with the Americans with Disabilites Act of 1990 (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), Sectons 504 and Secton 508 of the Rehabilitaton Act of 1973.
Accordingly, students with disabilites who require Personal Care Attendants (PCA), Nurses or Therapists to accomplish actvites of daily living are permitted to have a PCA, Nurse or Therapist accompany them while on campus. Bucks does not provide any personal care services or equipment to students attending classes and programming. All personal equipment and services must be provided by the student at their own personal expense. By signing this Memo of Understanding you are agreeing to comply with the following rules related to the ongoing health, safety, and welfare of the campus community. This document must be updated each academic year.
Any PCA, Nurse or Therapist cannot be in the classroom with a student if they are a relatve (including parents), hold Power of Attorney for the student, or have not provided the appropriate credentials and clearances or documentation per the Accessibility Office (TAO) process. The student must register with TAO and provide all appropriate documentation to have a PCA, Nurse or Therapist attend class with them.
The student must provide a copy of the contract between the PCA, Nurse or Therapist and the student in addition to documentation that the PCA, Nurse or Therapist is qualified to perform the required services (PCA certfication/ agency certfication), copy of background checks and clearances (Act 24, Act 34, Act 151, Act 126, and Act 114), and evidence of Protection of Minors Training and insurance bonding to the Accessibility Office (TAO). The names and contact information for each PCA, Nurse or Therapist must also be on file with TAO.
Section III: Guidelines, Rules, Regulations, and Procedures for having a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), Nurse or Therapist on Campus
- Purpose:
- These guidelines, rules, and procedures define the role of Personal Care Attendants (PCA), Nurses, Therapists, Relief PCAs, Relief Nurses and Relief Therapists at Bucks and establish processes that promote the safety, dignity, and independence of persons with disabilities.
- Applicability:
- These guidelines, rules, and procedures apply to students with disabilities or other health care needs who require assistance with daily living tasks including nursing services.
- Related Documents:
- Memo of Understanding for Student.
- Memo of Understanding for Personal Care Attendant (PCAs), Therapists and Nurses.
- Definitions:
- A Personal Care Attendant (PCA) is defined as an individual who provides personal care/assistance with activities of daily living including nursing services and/or assistance with normal life functions including wheelchair assistance for a student with a disability or other health care needs whether chronic or temporary.
- A Nurse is defined as an individual who provides personal health/medical assistance, personal care/assistance with activities of daily living including nursing services and/or assistance with normal life functions including wheelchair assistance to a student with a disability or other health care needs whether chronic or temporary.
- A Therapist is defined as a person trained in the use of physical methods, in treating or rehabilitating the sick or wounded or helping patients overcome physical barriers. A therapist may also be trained in the use of psychological methods for helping patients overcome psychological or behavioral challenges.
- A Relief Personal Care Attendant (Relief PCA), Relief Therapist or Relief Nurse is a person who provides temporary care/assistance to a student with a disability or other health care need when the regular PCA, Therapist or Nurse is sick, unavailable, or otherwise unable to work. Relief PCAs, Therapists and Nurses are subject to the same expectations and must adhere to the same policies as a PCA, Therapist, and Nurse including providing all documentation as outlined in this document.
- General Guidelines:
- Bucks is committed to ensuring that all qualified students with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to ensure access to programs, services, and facilities in compliance with state and federal law. Accordingly, students with disabilities who require a personal care attendant (PCA) to accomplish activities of daily living are permitted to have a PCA accompany them while on campus.
- A PCA, Therapist or Nurse is considered a personal service. Bucks does not provide services that are personal in nature including assistance with daily living. Students with disabilities who require a PCA, Therapist or Nurse are responsible for all arrangements pertaining to hiring, paying, and managing the schedule and duties of their own PCA, Therapist or Nurse.
- Same-gender PCAs, Therapists or Nurses are required when assisting students with toileting in shared or public area restrooms. If the PCA, Therapist or Nurse is of the opposite gender, the student and their aide will be required to use a gender-neutral restroom.
- If there is an emergency, it will be the responsibility of the student to contact Physical Plant to have the restroom blocked off for privacy. Physical Plant can be contacted at (215) 968-8390.
- Events that are open to all students are available to the PCA, Therapist or Nurse when accompanying the student.
- Student Responsibilities:
- The student must register with the Accessibility Office (TAO) and submit appropriate documentation to TAO that supports the medical necessity of a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), Therapist or Nurse.
- The student must secure an agency-affiliated or private certified PCA, Therapist or Nurse and provide a copy of the contract between the student and the agency/PCA, Therapist or Nurse to TAO.
- The student must provide names and contact information for each PCA, Therapist or Nurse including documentation that the PCA, Therapist or Nurse is qualified to perform the required services, copies of background checks and clearances, evidence of training and including: Act 24 Arrest/Conviction Report, Act 34 Criminal History Report, Act 151 Child Abuse History Report, Act 126 Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training, Act 114 FBI Federal Criminal History Record (Fingerprinting), Protection of Minors Training, and evidence of insurance bonding.
- The student must document all personnel changes with TAO and provide necessary documentation listed in Section VI, C.
- It is the student's responsibility to direct the activities of the PCA, Therapist or Nurse while at Bucks. Bucks will not assume responsibilities for the PCA, Therapist or Nurse or his/her failure to fulfill the contracted responsibilities.
- The student should develop a clear job description and list of responsibilities.
- The student must have an alternative plan of action should the regularly assigned PCA, Therapist or Nurse not be available to work.
- The student is responsible for ensuring that the PCA, Therapist or Nurse is aware of and abides by the Student Code of Conduct, College rules, regulations, and policies and uses college facilities and resources responsibly Code of Conduct.
- The student is responsible for any damages (beyond normal wear and tear) caused by the PCA, Therapist or Nurse.
- The PCA, Therapist or Nurse may be subject to loss of privileges or removal from college facilities if the PCA, Therapist or Nurse is found to have acted in a manner inconsistent with their role or is found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct, or college rules, regulations or policies.
- Personal Care Attendant (PCA), Therapist or Nurse Responsibilities:
- The PCA, Therapist or Nurse must follow all applicable Bucks rules, regulations, and policies. A PCA, Therapist or Nurse found in violation of the aforementioned will be removed from campus immediately regardless of the contractual arrangement the PCA has with the student.
- In the process of fulfilling their duties, the PCA, Therapist or Nurse should allow the student to take responsibility for their own progress or behavior.
- The PCA, Therapist or Nurse may assist the student before and after class but wait outside the classroom during class (unless deemed appropriate by documentation and approved by TAO that the PCA, Therapist or Nurse remain with the student.) The PCA, Therapist or Nurse should perform their duties in an unobtrusive manner so as not to disrupt the faculty member or other students in the classroom.
- The PCA, Therapist or Nurse should not be involved with the student's work related to any class assignments or tests.
- The PCA, Therapist or Nurse should refrain from contact with or asking questions of faculty, staff, or others on behalf of the student.
- The PCA, Therapist or Nurse should refrain from intervening in conversations between the student and faculty, staff or other students.
- The PCA, Therapist or Nurse should refrain from discussing any confidential information about the student with faculty, staff, or students.
- The PCA, Therapist or Nurse must register for a parking pass with Safety and Security and abide by all parking regulations.
- The Accessibility Office (TAO) Responsibilities:
- If a PCA, Therapist or Nurse is approved for the classroom, TAO will keep all confidential clearance information in the student’s file.
- TAO will provide requested support as appropriate and answer questions from the student and/or PCA, Therapist or Nurse as they arise.
- Non-Compliance with Operating Guidelines and Memo of Understanding (MOU):
- Incidents of non-compliance with the guidelines set forth by this document and the MOU will be subject to review.
- Informal Review: Initially an attempt will be made to resolve issues of non-compliance in an informal review process. As appropriate, the Academic Intervention Team (AIT), Behavior Intervention Team (BIT), the Accessibility Office (TAO), Security and Safety and/or other appropriate departments will meet with the student to discuss issues of noncompliance, and work with the student to determine possible solutions. A written report of the resolution will be given to the student upon completion of the informal investigation.
- Formal Review: In the event that the non-compliance cannot be resolved through the informal process, a formal review will be conducted. As appropriate, Academic Intervention Team (AIT), Behavior Intervention Team (BIT), the Accessibility Office (TAO), Security and Safety and/or other appropriate departments will convene a formal review of the concern. The formal review may also include the college’s investigatory process. A written report of the resolution will be given to the student upon completion of the formal investigation.
- Sanctions may be determined if the student is found responsible for the matter under review.
- A student may appeal formal a decision per the college’s Student Code of Conduct appeal process Code of Conduct.
- Incidents of non-compliance with the guidelines set forth by this document and the MOU will be subject to review.
PCAs, Therapists, and Nurses Must register and be approved by the Accessibility Office
Adapted by permission from Kutztown University
Student Code of Conduct
Student Responsibilities for Conduct
All students at Bucks are expected to follow the Student Code of Conduct. In the higher education setting, students are provided appropriate accommodations to access all aspects of programming once the student has disclosed a disability. Once accommodations are put into place, it is the responsibility of the student to follow the Student Code of Conduct. If any student feels that they need additional supports or accommodations to meet the requirements of the Student Code of Conduct, they should reach out to the Accessibility Office (TAO) at (215) 968-8182 or accessibility@bucks.edu.
Service Animals
Policy on Service Animals on Campus
All service animals are welcomed at Bucks per federal and state law. Students at Bucks are not required to register with TAO if they have a service animal but are highly encouraged to do so. This will enable TAO staff to provide greater supports for the student and to also mitigate any conflicts with teacher or student needs in the classroom. This can include allergies and/or phobias. The full policy on Service Animals can be found in the Policies and Procedures web page.
Service Animals may travel freely with their Owner throughout the college and most other areas of the college where the Owner would be permitted. Food service establishments must allow Service Animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises. However, the college may prohibit the presence of Service Animals in certain locations due to health and safety concerns. Service Animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the Service Animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls. The college is not responsible for a Service Animal during a fire alarm, fire drill, or natural disaster.
Emotional support animals are not permitted on campus or in the classroom. An Emotional Support Animal (or “ESA”) is an animal that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. Unlike a Service Animal, an ESA may not accompany a person with a disability at all times and is permitted only in college housing. The full policy on Service Animals can be found in the Policies and Procedures web page.
Once accommodations are put into place, or a Service Animal is on campus, it is the responsibility of the student to follow the Service Animals policy. If any student feels that they need additional supports or accommodations to meet the requirements of the Service Animals policy, they should reach out to the Accessibility Office (TAO) at (215) 968 8182 or accessibility@bucks.edu.