Professional Animal Trainer Certificate Program

All students are expected to maintain the highest personal and ethical standards of conduct consistent with the professional effort expected by DRCTI faculty and all personnel at Dolphin Research Center. These standards are outlined below. Any information indicating that such standards are not being maintained will be reviewed by faculty and may result in student dismissal by the administration.

Attendance

All students must meet attendance requirements as defined by program policy or guidelines. Absences must be planned and coordinated in advance with the program director. Programming can exceed 10 hours a day during the onsite portion of the program. As this program includes participation in the operation of a marine mammal facility that is open to the public, appropriate behavior is expected. Due to the nature of a facility that cares for live animals, students are expected to be understanding and flexible in scheduling.

Communication

All students will be expected to:

• Communicate effectively
• Meet the unique needs of different audiences
• Absorb new information without difficulty
• Speak and write clearly, concisely, and coherently
• Express information accurately and in an organized manner
• Listen to all of the information given and listen respectfully to others’ opinions
• Keep the appropriate people properly informed
• Use the appropriate communication channels.

Critical /Analytical Thinking

All students should be able to:

• Exercise sound judgment
• Prioritize
• Understand critical issues in complex situations
• Know how much analysis is needed to move ahead
• Assess risks and rewards with a minimum of data and know what data is missing and how to get it
• Gather facts before making decisions
• Take actions rather than acting on assumptions.

Interpersonal Skills

All students should demonstrate the ability to:

• Interact with individuals and groups of various ages with diverse social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds
• Facilitate cooperation to implement/adhere to program policies
• Actively seek to establish and maintain relations with individuals at all levels
• Cooperate readily with others and elicit cooperation to achieve goals
• Modify personal behavior to adapt to the requirements of the people and program involved
• Function effectively under stressful conditions
• Deal positively and confidently with unexpected events.

Personal Integrity

All students will be expected to demonstrate personal integrity in all matters including:

• Honesty
• The ability to maintain confidentiality
• Earning the respect and confidence of others
• Portraying a positive role model for others
• Accepting responsibility for negative results
• Maintaining an open mind and dealing productively with differing opinions
• Treating all others with appreciation, respect, and courtesy
• Adhering to organization policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Problem Solving

All students should show the ability to:

• Use appropriate conflict-resolution techniques and confront difficult tasks effectively
• Seek reasonable and mutually beneficial agreements/solutions to solve problems/achieve goals/directives.

Program Specific Performance Standards

In addition to DRCTI’s ‘General Student Performance Standards’, the following program-specific performance standards apply:

• Mobility: Without assistance, sufficient to rapidly walk the span of Dolphin Research Center without interruption, run and swim distances of 50 yards, easily maneuver on and off floating/moving platforms without assistance, maneuver in tight spaces while manipulating overhead objects, work outdoors in both intense sun and heat as well as under rainy and cold conditions. Students are required to participate in the cleaning of coolers and other materials related to animal care.
   
• Motor Skills: Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective animal care, including without assistance, the ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and maneuver non-motorized rolling carts carrying up to 60 lbs. over the entire span of the facility (approximately 230 yards) without interruption.
   
• Hearing: Ability sufficient to monitor human communication, auditory training bridges and animal vocalizations and behavior across large distances (half the length of the facility animal habitats combined).
   
• Visual: Ability sufficient for observation and visual assessment of animals, humans, and habitats in extreme high light (intense sun) and low light situations, both indoors and outdoors. Students must see well at a distance of 90 feet or more. This is in accordance with human and animal safety issues and observational needs.
• Swimming: Ability to swim comfortably at the surface for a minimum of 5 minutes, tread water for a minimum of 10 minutes, distance swim at least 200 meters, hold breath for at least 30 seconds, retrieve a dive ring from approximately 8-10 feet deep, and haul out of the water onto a floating dock without assistance.

Travel Expectations

Each student is responsible for his or her own food, transportation, and travel arrangements and expenses.