Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Student Success and Retention Strategies

Ensuring the success of all students throughout the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) education program represents the unified commitment and highest priority of all faculty and staff. The department implements its student success and retention strategies through a multi-layered approach that begins with a comprehensive university and department orientation upon matriculation to the OTD program and continues through graduation.
These strategies include:

• Recognizing that students come from varying backgrounds, have different life experiences, and face different pressures that may change over the course of the OTD program
• Providing academic advising and regular check-ins by program faculty to monitor student progress
• Providing peer support services from advanced students in the program
• Providing academic Teaching Assistants in the Gross Anatomy course who provide additional review sessions for students
• Conducting a comprehensive review of all students’ progress at the conclusion of each semester to ensure that all are meeting criteria toward on-time degree completion
• Providing information about student support services through multiple communication channels, including email announcements, printed materials, orientation sessions, advising meetings, and posted signage on campus.
• Referring students to university support services such as Educational Support Services, Counseling Support Services, or Financial Aid when concerns are noticed by faculty
• Maintaining a high level of faculty availability for students for individual meetings or mentoring sessions
• Supporting students’ applications to internal and external scholarships and awards through promoting these opportunities, advising students on applications, and providing recommendations and support letters to students
• Conducting an annual Professional Behavior Evaluation process in Years one and two of the program to support students’ professional growth
• Providing well-being programming and resources during orientation, in specific courses, through advising, and as part of the Professional Evaluation process
  Providing career development services through specific course assignments (resume preparation, mock interview experiences) and supporting attendance at school-organized career fairs with area employers
• Integrating National Board Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam preparation in courses, including providing several NBCOT practice exam experiences, so students may assess their readiness and preparation for the exam after graduation
• Communicating frequently with students about registration deadlines so they do not incur late fees, and providing individual support in this process when needed
• Fostering a collegial, supportive cohort-based program in which students learn together and support the success of one another
• Conducting ongoing program reviews based on student input and identifying ways to effectively meet students’ needs during the program
• Providing reasonable accommodations as approved through the campus Educational Support Services
• Providing multiple interprofessional learning experiences during the didactic portion of the curriculum to support students’ preparation for immersive learning experiences of Fieldwork and Capstone
• Conducting Level II Fieldwork mid-term evaluations with each student and their fieldwork supervisor to support the successful completion of fieldwork
• Providing individual support through the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator if unexpected issues arise during the fieldwork phase of the program
• Assigning faculty mentors to provide input, expert guidance, and individualized support throughout the doctoral capstone project, facilitating students' development as emerging scholars, and ensuring the successful completion of this degree requirement
• Providing individual support through faculty mentoring or Doctoral Capstone Coordinator involvement if unexpected issues arise during the capstone phase of the program

• Mentoring students to disseminate their scholarly work through professional presentations and publications