Faculty, staff, and students achieve 10-year reaccreditation for UND occupational therapy program
January 4, 2012
GRAND FORKS, N.D.—The dedication and efforts of faculty, staff and students in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences were instrumental in achieving a 10-year reaccreditation for the department, which has a program in Grand Forks and a satellite program in Casper, Wyo.
“Very pleased,” said Janet Jedlicka, chair and associate professor for the Department of Occupational Therapy, in reaction to the report from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, which is the accrediting agency for the American Occupational Therapy Association. “We work hard to integrate the two programs and meet the standards. Our focus is on quality of teaching, and in many cases, we exceed the requirements for an accredited program.”
Joshua Wynne, UND vice president for Health Affairs and dean of the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, lauded Jedlicka and her department for the “marvelously positive report and truly outstanding accreditation evaluation, which is a direct result of the work of you and your colleagues in educating excellent occupational therapists.”
In their assessment of the department, the council’s report was noteworthy in that they cited no areas of noncompliance and eight areas of strength:
- Administrators’ “knowledge and valuing of occupational therapy in recognizing the importance of improving interdisciplinary collaboration, and in support of delivery of the program at multiple sites.”
- Program chair’s “leadership in facilitating the development of an innovative curriculum design that optimally guides course design and sequencing, resulting in students who express a confident knowledge of the curricular threads.”
- “Academic fieldwork coordinator is applauded for her creativity and innovation in designing educational materials for fieldwork educators.”
- Faculty’s “consistent and extraordinary dedication in fostering the development of excellent occupational therapists through creative course design, course delivery, and student advisement practices.”
- Support staff’s “organization and management on behalf of the occupational therapy program and students.”
- Fieldwork educators’ and employers’ “investment and strong commitment to the program.”
- “Students are positive representatives of the university, the program and the profession. They were noted for their initiative for independent learning, professionalism, and enthusiasm for occupation-based practice by the fieldwork educators and employers.”
- “The program is commended for being a leader within the University of North Dakota by delivering excellent program content at the Grand Forks location and the satellite location in Casper, Wyoming. Specifically, faculty dedication, coordination, and vigilance ensure that all students are exceptionally prepared for entry-level practice by working diligently to deliver one uniform curriculum to two separate locations.”
The accreditation council’s only suggestion to enhance the occupational therapy program was for the university to reevaluate faculty workloads “based on the high teaching loads and the unique needs of an off-site program and the university’s expectations for research and service.”
“The program receives excellent support from the fieldwork supervisors and graduates,” Jedlicka said. “We are fortunate to have wonderful students, faculty, staff and administration at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences.”
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Contact: Denis MacLeod, assistant director, Office of Alumni and Community Relations, UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, (701) 777-2733, denis.macleod@med.und.edu
