Itawamba Community College Program Review Career-Technical and Health Science Programs

(1)

Itawamba Community College

Program Review

Career-Technical and Health Science Programs

I. Program Information

1. Name of Program

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program 2. Submission Date of Program Review

5/16/2011 (ex. 01/23/2009) 3. Name of Director or Coordinator

Suzanne Chittom, M.S., OTR/L

4. Purpose Statement for the Program (This can be found on CHIEF)

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is designed to prepare qualified occupational therapy assistants for entry into the healthcare environment with the requisite skills needed to provide services related to the field of occupational therapy.

5. How does the purpose of the program support the overall mission/purpose of the College as adopted by the Board of Trustees? (Mention College goals that show a linkage to your program. Mission and Institutional Goals can be found on CHIEF.)

In accordance with the mission statement of ICC, the occupational therpay assistant (OTA) program respects the worth, dignity and potential of students, faculty and staff. Students can best be served in a college environment that recognizes the importance and contribution of each faculty and staff member, who collectively create a positive, synergistic learning environment. Therefore, the OTA program affirms its commitment to a campus climate that encourages respect for others with an emphasis on study, performance, values and manners. The OTA program at ICC strives to support the overall mission/purpose of the College in the following ways: 1. Instructional Services Goal - The OTA faculty strives to provide a learning environment that fosters change in the individual; is flexible in time, place and mode; is collaborative and creative; is driven by learner need; has measurable, predictable outcomes; and engages learners in an active mode. 2. Student Support Goal - The OTA program continually strives to improve student programs and services needed to maximize student potential and

(2)

monitor the progress and performance of the students in relation to their needs and expectations. The OTA faculty participate in a variety of continuing education opportunities to enhance academic instruction and knowledge base. 3. Technology Goal - The OTA program continually assesses program equipment and technology to ensure that students have access to the latest and most appropriate technology to support and enhance all operations, programs and services. Examples include classroom computers, laptops for testing, physical agent modality therapeutic equipment, and lab supplies/furniture for optimal learning. 4. Building Goal - The OTA program director has worked directly with administration and College architects to design an ideal OTA designated area within the upcoming Health Science building. 5. Public Relations Goal - The College will continually develop and implement an effective public relations program designed to enhance the

position, prestige and esteem of the college, both within the community it serves and the education community at large. The OTA program honors this College goal by raising money to assist individuals with disabilities within the 5 district community that ICC serves. 6. Service Goal - The College will serve as a resource to promote the personal, professional and social development of people and communities throughout the region. Students within the OTA program are active members of the American Occuaptional Therapy Association, the Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association, and the Student Occupational Therapy Association.

(3)

6. List the current Faculty and Staff with their titles for this program.

Name Title

Suzanne Chittom, M.S., OTR/L OTA Program Director __________________ Dee Dee Lomenick, OTR/L OTA Academic Fieldwork Coordinator _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________

(4)

II. Syllabi, Curriculum, and Instruction

6. Are all syllabi current?

YES NO If “NO”, explain below.

________________________________________________________________ 7. Are students provided with written and clearly stated goals and requirements of

each course, the general nature of the course content, and the methods of evaluation to be used in each course?

YES NO

8. Are grading policies made available to students in this educational program? YES NO

9. Is the curriculum sequenced in a manner that is acceptable? YES NO

10. Does the curriculum fully satisfy the respective general education core? YES NO

11. Does the curriculum contain sufficient and appropriate numbers and types of elective courses?

YES NO

12. Does the curriculum fully satisfy the educational needs of the students in this major?

YES NO

13. If any of the curriculum questions were answered with a “NO” response, state your recommendations for changes in the current curriculum.

________________________________________________________________ 14. In the clinical experiences, cooperative agreements, or affiliations with other

agencies or institutions utilized in instruction, does the college faculty ultimately control and supervise the student learning?

YES NO N/A If “NO”, why not?

(5)

15. Does the academic preparation of instructional faculty in this program meet accreditation and approving agency standards?

YES NO If “NO”, why not?

________________________________________________________________ 16. Are the program’s faculty routinely involved in professional development and

other in-service training? YES NO Explain:

The OTA faculty participate in professional development opportunities at the College. In addition, OTA faculty members complete a MINIMUM of 20 continuing education hours every 2 years that are directly related to the field of occupational therapy

17. Do instructors in this program devote adequate time to preparation for the courses they teach?

YES NO

18. Do instructors provide effective academic advising? YES NO

19. Is there evidence that program advisory committees meet at least twice annually to provide advice and consultation?

YES NO

Describe the nature of interaction between program faculty and the advisory committee (Give example(s) of advisory input or changes that resulted from the advisory relationship in the last five years.):

Overall, the OTA advisory committee has been satisfied with the curriculum layout of the OTA program. Members have volunteered to serve as guest lecturers based on their area of specialty. Some changes were made to the pre-admission observation forms based on advisory committee feedback.

20. Is there evidence that competencies being taught in this program are the competencies needed to perform in the workforce or at a higher level of education?

YES NO

If yes, how are the competencies determined?

All competencies/objectives addressed within the OTA program are in

accordance with the American Occupational Therapy Accreditation standards and the Mississippi Research and Curriculum unit of the Mississippi

Department of Education.

21. Are students who complete this curriculum ready for transfer and/or immediate employment in the field?

YES NO

(6)

22. Are instructors and administrators in this program careful in protecting the security, confidentiality, and integrity of student records?

YES NO

23. Are appropriate and adequate laboratory experiences provided to supplement and reinforce the subject matter?

YES NO N/A

24. Do courses in the program use a variety of means to evaluate student performance?

YES NO

Describe examples of student learning assessment (not related to end-of-semester course grades):

The following surveys are provided to assess student learning and professional development: "Student Assessment of Professional Development; Student Survey of Program Learning Resources; Pre-Graduation Student Survey: Knowledge of OTA objectives and Competencies." In addition, information student survey responses are collected throughout each semester.

25. Is the length of this program appropriate for the degree offered? YES NO

III. SWOT Analysis

(Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats)

26. What are the program/unit’s strengths or strong points? (Strengths are

documented with data such as information on number of customers served, program/unit’s performance, staff credentials or other factors that contribute to the success of the unit.)

One hundred percent of 2009 and 2010 graduates passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy upon the first attempt. One hundred percent of OTA graduates have aquired immediate job placement within the field of occupational therapy upon graduation. Staff credentials are in accordance with requirements set for by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education.

27. What are the weaknesses of the program? (Any problems that the program/unit

may have encountered in the past are appropriate for this section.)

(7)

28. What opportunities are available for the program/unit? (Any opportunities for

improving the program should be included in this section.)

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is in the process of assessing needs for an OTA to OT bridge program. Such a program would allow for occupational therapy assistants (associate of applied science) to continue their education - primarily through distance learning- to obtain a master's in occupational therapy.

29. What are the threats or difficulties that the program/unit must overcome in the next five years? What is your plan for addressing these threats or difficulties? (If there are changes in the near future that are foreseen as negatively affecting

(8)

IV. Program Data

30. Data from your program for the previous three years

(provided by Office of Institutional Research)

Fall Student Enrollment Fall # of Majors Annual Completers Annual

Graduates Board Pass CPAS Pass

Positive Placement Duplicated Unduplicated _# _# _# _# _% _# _% _# _% 2008 50 10 10FT 0 2009 71 21 21FT, 1PT 8 8 100% 8 100% 2010 153 28 27FT 15 15 100% 15 100% (Enter percentages as decimals and round up. i.e. 75% would be .75 or 74.5% would be .75)

31. Provide an overview of significant results, honors, awards, and milestones achieved, as well as enhancements made to this program in the past five years. The Accreditation Council for Occuaptional Therapy Education (ACOTE) chose the ICC OTA self study as a well organized document. ACOTE provides our self-study to developing programs across the United States as an exemplary sample document.

V. Vision

32. State the vision for your program for the next five years or beyond? What goals do you hope to accomplish?

The program strives for continued success with national board pass rates and student workforce placement within the field of occupational therapy and the possibility of continued education for program director's doctorate degree.

(9)

VI. Utilization of Supportive Resources

33. Does the department of Campus Police adequately support your program? YES NO

If “NO”, explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

34. Does the Office of Institutional Research, Effectiveness, & Accountability adequately support your program?

YES NO If “NO”, explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

35. Does the Business Office adequately support your program? YES NO

___________________________________________________________________

36. Does the department of Technology and Information Systems adequately support your program?

___________________________________________________________________

37. Does the department of Physical Plant adequately support your program? YES NO

(10)

38. Does the Learning Resource Center adequately support your program? YES NO

___________________________________________________________________ 39. Does the department of Distance Learning adequately support your program?

___________________________________________________________________ 40. Do ICC sessions for Professional Development adequately support your

program?

___________________________________________________________________ 41. Does the department of Financial Aid adequately support your program?

YES NO If no, explain why.

___________________________________________________________________ 42. Does the Student Success Center area of Advising adequately support your

program?

___________________________________________________________________ 43. Does the office of Registrar and Admissions adequately support your

program?

(11)

44. Does the Student Services area of Career Planning adequately support your program?

___________________________________________________________________ 45. Does the Student Success Center area of Tutoring adequately support your

program?

___________________________________________________________________ 46. Does the department of Supportive & Disability Services adequately support

your program? YES NO If “NO”, explain why.

___________________________________________________________________ 47. Does the Bookstore adequately support your program?

___________________________________________________________________ 48. Does the Student Services area of Housing adequately support your program?

___________________________________________________________________ 49. Does the department of Student Affairs adequately support your program?

(12)

50. Does the department of Public Relations and Publications adequately support your program?

___________________________________________________________________

VII. SACS Principles Compliance Survey

Institutional Effectiveness

51. Is there evidence that the effectiveness of instruction is periodically evaluated? YES NO

52. Are research-based evaluation processes (e.g., surveys, interviews, analysis of

data) used for assessing this program?

YES NO

If yes, list the instruments and other processes used by the program for evaluating effectiveness.

1. Student Survey of Program Resources

2. Advisory Committee Survey of Program Resources 3. Self Assessment of Professional Development 4. Instructor Assessment of Professional Development 5. Informal Semester Review Forms

6 Pre-graduation Student Survey - knowledge of OTA objectives and competencies 7. Graduate Surveys

8. Employer Surveys

53. Does the use of evaluation processes result in continuous improvement in the program/unit?

YES NO

If yes, describe some of the recent improvements that have come about in response to needs identified through these evaluation processes:

1. Teaching/testing methods have been modified to better meet students' needs 2. Lab supplies and equipment have been ordered to enhance learning for students 3. Cold climate within the OTA classroom and lab is monitored to ensure student comfort

(13)

54. Does the program/unit identify expected annual outcomes for its services; assess whether it achieves these outcomes; and provide evidence of improvement based analysis of those results?

YES NO

55. If an outcome is not achieved, are documented modifications or improvements made in the unit?

YES NO

Financial Support

56. Is the number of full-time faculty members employed to teach in this program adequate to support the program effectively?

YES NO

57. Are there adequate faculty resources provided to the faculty of this program to ensure the quality and integrity of the program?

YES NO

58. Is adequate financial support available to meet the needs of this program? YES NO

59. Is the budget information available on-line to department/division heads? YES NO

Facilities

60. Does the institution operate and maintain physical facilities that are adequate to serve the needs of this educational program?

YES NO

61. Does the institution take reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for this educational program?

YES NO

62. Are the physical facilities (classrooms, laboratories, etc.) accessible to disabled students?

YES NO N/A

63. Is the instructional equipment used in this program similar to that used in the workplace or at a higher level of instruction?

YES NO N/A

64. Does the institution provide and support student and faculty access to adequate library collections as well as to other learning and information resources consistent with the degree offered in this program?

(14)

SACS PRINCIPLES COMPLIANCE SURVEY

(Action Plan)

ANY ITEMS ANSWERED WITH A NEGATIVE RESPONSE IN THE SACS

COMPLIANCE SURVEY SECTION INDICATE THAT THE INSTITUTION IS OUT OF COMPLIANCE AND MUST BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A WRITTEN PLAN FOR COMPLIANCE ON EACH ISSUE.

Provide discussion below for any questions that was assigned a “NO” answer on the Principles Compliance Survey, and then provide a plan of improvement for each of those questions in the space below. Indicate the question number, your discussion, and the plan of action.

____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________