The dental hygiene program at Cabrillo College in Aptos, Calif., has been placed on probation after a visit from the state hygiene board, Santa Cruz Local reported April 30.
Five notes:
1. Cabrillo College’s dental hygiene program is the only program in the Monterey Bay region.
2. The Dental Hygiene Board of California visited the college Feb. 12 and found several violations, including improper staff ratios, students being advanced through the program without meeting prerequisites, and students having access to the clinic without supervision and lacking the minimum clinical hours required.
3. Board members suggested during meetings held in March that the program should lose its accreditation, but opted instead to levy a $5,000 fine and give the school an opportunity to correct the violations during a three-year probationary period.
4. The college is required to file quarterly reports with the board during the probationary period, and may undergo surprise visits from representatives.
5. Travaris Harris, vice president of instruction at the college, told Santa Cruz Local that the school is working to address the violations, including by hiring a second full-time employee and another administrator.
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