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ABOUT US
The Department of Dental Hygiene 


MISSION: The Dental Hygiene Department provides an excellent educational environment, promotes a humanistic culture, and prepares a diverse workforce of oral health care providers who can meet the needs and improve the oral health and general well-being of our local, national, and global communities. 

Extensive community support, experiences, and personal contact enrich the learning environments for our students in the classroom, clinical and community settings. Our program is dedicated to making your education a collaborative approach in interdisciplinary healthcare settings. 

 

 ACCREDITATION
  Along with WSU's Regional Accreditation, our individual programs are accredited with their appropriate associations 

  • CODA Logo Commission on Dental Accreditation

    The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation.

    Accreditation assures that your dental hygiene education meets the required standards set forth by the ADA Joint Commission and the Department of Professional Licensing for the State of Utah. 

    The Weber State University Dental Hygiene program is accredited with no reporting requirements by the American Dental Association Joint Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been since 1975. Accreditation reviews are on a 7-year cycle. The last review was 2017; due to COVID delays, the next review is in 2025. 

    The ADA Joint Commission on Dental Accreditation serves as a resource for accredited dental hygiene education programs and will review complaints that related to a program's compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental education programs, but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal.

    Learn more about the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation here. 

 

PROGRAM OUTCOMES
guided by our program outcomes, together, we'll achieve your educational goals 

The goals of the Dental Hygiene Program are to:

  • Prepare qualified dental hygienists who meet professional and Department Competencies for Dental Hygiene Practice including, Professional Knowledge, Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Professional Development & Practice, Dental Hygiene Process of Care, and Person-Centered Care.
  • Maintain a curriculum that: provides relevant and current dental hygiene education, discipline knowledge, supports an inclusive learning environment, and provides skill development including technological advances for students.
  • Maintain a curriculum that provides high-impact educational experiences, including but not limited to unique clinical and community health settings, education, research, and service.
  • Serve as a resource of oral health knowledge and education for the community.
  • Foster professional and leadership development through engagement in education, scholarship, and service to the University, our Professional Associations and our community.
  • Maintain admissions standards and create a student body that reflects the community we serve.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
 Welcome to the Department of Dental Hygiene, thank you for your interest!  

Welcome to the Department of Dental Hygiene, and thank you for your interest! 

Weber State University's Dental Hygiene Program is part of the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions and has a Bachelor’s Degree completion option for our students.

Planning for the flagship program began in 1975, with its first graduating class in 1977. The program was established through a collaboration between Weber State University and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Salt Lake City, which foresaw the need for dental hygienists in Utah. It has continued to grow both in size and in national recognition each year.

WSU’s Dental Hygiene Program was the first program in Utah and has over 40 years of experience providing quality education to dental hygienists throughout the state. Through WSU online and distance education, dental hygienists have the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene after they have completed the Associate of Science in dental hygiene. Our growth is attributed to the support of our generous benefactors, partnerships with dentists, agencies and professional associations, and collaboration with other health care providers as part of the total health care team.

The Dental Hygiene Faculty are pleased to have the opportunity to impact the profession of Dental Hygiene through our education program. We incorporate the latest technology in all aspects of our program, along with clinical experiences that truly enhance the learning experience. We encourage advanced education to enhance the upward mobility of our students as we look toward the future with the knowledge that the nation’s health care is in the hands of the next generation of graduates. If your educational goals include dental hygiene, we would like to welcome you to the profession.

For more information regarding the application process or requirements for the program, please contact a Dumke College of Health Professions Admission Advisor at healthprofessions@weber.edu. 

Sincerely,  Frances McConaughy MS, RDH, FADHA    
 

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