Meeting & Agendas

The March 27, 2017 minutes were approved electronically. Copies were available to review.

Welcome to new dental hygiene graduate members: Melissa Vetter & Kallie Yoas; those members with terms that need to reaffirmed are: MS Crow, MS Foster, Dr. Smith, MS Stark, MS Waite and Dr. Yu. Members introduced themselves and their role with the Committee. A follow-up communique will be sent to members with terms that need to be reaffirmed.

Legislative Session Update: the Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee was eliminated and the State Board configuration changed to 6 dentists, 3 dental hygienists and 2 public members. Governor appointments have yet to be announced. The program is experiencing some challenges with EagleSoft and the signature pads. The Chair surveyed the group to determine if their practices are experiencing the same.

1) Program outcomes: 100% first time pass rate National Board exam, Board results are above the national average for all content areas; 2) Clinical – Western Regional Board Exam (WREB), 100% first time pass rate, average score of 95% (program average to date 94%). 3) Enrollment and admissions statistics: currently 16 second year students. The program has already lost one first year student due to personal reasons with a current enrollment of 17; the program averages 116 qualified applicants per year; the Department Chair presented the admissions selection ranking score changes implemented for the 2018 cycle. Committee members expressed some concern over the use of the TEAS language usage and reading scores and the one-time-per-year allowance of the exam. The Department Chair will compile comparison data using the new admissions ranking score for the 2018 entering class and the prior ranking process to report to the Committee

ACC will serve as a WREB site April 26-29, 2018. November 8th is the Buda town hall meeting to discuss city water fluoridation;The local hygiene component name changed to Greater Austin Dental Hygienists’ Association; the Communitycare RBJ clinic is closing and staff are being absorbed by other sites; the Capital Area Dental Society November meeting is November 14th as the 3rd Tuesday falls within the Thanksgiving week.

Next meeting date and time TBA