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Division of Physical Therapy

Student Assessment

The Division of Physical Therapy is committed to the assessment of student learning. The faculty believes that assessment is critical to the future of the program, and as such, the chairperson has allocated time and resources to the assessment process. Assessment is ultimately the responsibility of the faculty; however, the chair of the curriculum committee and chair of the assessment subcommittee are responsible for oversight of assessment at the program level. The assessment subcommittee is comprised of two faculty members (Scott Davis MS, PT, OCS, and Mia Erickson PT, EdD, CHT, ATC), two local clinicians (Mark Hose MPT and Tracy Rice PT), and two entry-level students (Stephanie Foutty SPT and Erin Lawrence SPT). The results of the assessment process will be used to help make informed decisions about how to improve the physical therapy curriculum; however, the results will also be used to demonstrate competency of our students and graduates to all stakeholders. The assessment plan and the yearly assessment report for each cohort will be posted on the Division's web site. The assessment plan has been designed to be in alignment with the program’s mission, goals, core values, and philosophy.

ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR THE DPT CLASS OF 2008
Student Outcome
Assessment Method
Established Bench Mark
Person Responsible
Date of Assessment
Outcome One
Second year students will demonstrate competency in clinical skills and knowledge related to clinical sciences, physical examination, and intervention procedures before starting supervised long-term affiliations.
All second year students will take a computer-based comprehensive written examination (mock board exam) and practical examination that covers all clinical courses* in the first and second year of the curriculum.
96% of the graduates will successfully score at least a 70% on the written examination and an 80% on the practical examination.
The course coordinator of PT 754 will be responsible for proctoring and grading the comprehensive written examination. All faculty who teach clinical course* will be responsible for submitting questions for the written examination. All full-time faculty will be responsible for conducting the practical examination with their individual advisees.
April 15 of each year
Outcome Two
Graduates of the program will demonstrate entry-level knowledge of physical therapy.
Upon graduation, all students will sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination offered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
95% of graduates will successfully pass the National Physical Therapy Examination on the first attempt and 100% of the graduates will successfully pass on the second attempt.
The Division’s Chairperson is responsible for reporting the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) scores to the assessment subcommittee.
March 1st of year following the examination
Outcome Three
Third year students will practice in a competent and professional manner, which is consistent with the Normative model and the Core Values established by the Division and the APTA.
Professional behaviors and clinical competence will be assessed using the Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI). All third year students will be assessed by their clinical instructors during the third year clinical rotations.
100% of the third year students will score an 8/10 or higher on the CPI for the third year clinical rotations.
The third year ACCE is responsible for submitting a summary report of the CPI to the assessment subcommittee.
July 15th of each year
Outcome Four
Graduates of the program will possess the clinical skills and knowledge necessary to practice ethical, cost-effective, and evidence based physical therapy.
Clinical skills and knowledge will be assessed by graduates and employers using an on-line assessment survey.
92% of the graduates surveyed will score a 7/10 or higher on each of the assessment items.
The chair of the assessment subcommittee is responsible for submitting a summary report of the graduate/employer survey to the assessment subcommittee.
June 1st of each year
* The following courses will be assessed on, as part of the comprehensive written and practical examination: PT 706, 711, 713, 714, 716, 718, 724, 723, 727, 728, 732, 733, 742, 734, 738, 743, 746, 744, 754, 756, 757.

RESULTS OF ASSESSMENT FOR DPT CLASSES OF 2008 and 2009
Student Outcome
Assessment Method
Established Bench Mark
Results Class of 2008
Results Class 2009
Outcome One
Second year students will demonstrate competency in clinical skills and knowledge related to clinical sciences, physical examination, and intervention procedures before starting supervised long-term affiliations.
All second year students will take a computer-based comprehensive written examination (mock board exam) and practical examination that covers all clinical courses* in the first and second year of the curriculum.
96% of the graduates will successfully score at least a 70% on the written examination and an 80% on the practical examination.
Outcome Two
Graduates of the program will demonstrate entry-level knowledge of physical therapy.
Upon graduation, all students will sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination offered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
95% of graduates will successfully pass the National Physical Therapy Examination on the first attempt and 100% of the graduates will successfully pass on the second attempt.
Outcome Three
Third year students will practice in a competent and professional manner, which is consistent with the Normative model and the Core Values established by the Division and the APTA.
Professional behaviors and clinical competence will be assessed using the Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI). All third year students will be assessed by their clinical instructors during the third year clinical rotations.
100% of the third year students will score an 8/10 or higher on the CPI for the third year clinical rotations.
Outcome Four
Graduates of the program will possess the clinical skills and knowledge necessary to practice ethical, cost-effective, and evidence based physical therapy.
Clinical skills and knowledge will be assessed by graduates and employers using an on-line assessment survey.
92% of the graduates surveyed will score a 7/10 or higher on each of the assessment items.
* The following courses will be assessed on, as part of the comprehensive written and practical examination: PT 706, 711, 713, 714, 716, 718, 724, 723, 727, 728, 732, 733, 742, 734, 738, 743, 746, 744, 754, 756, 757.

Assessment Policy and Procedures

Comprehensive Examination: The comprehensive examination will serve as a formative assessment of student learning. The format of the written examination will be consistent with a “mock board examination”. The exam will consist of 200 objective (multiple choice) questions. The written examination will be offered in a computer format. The students will have a maximum of four (4) hours to complete the examination. Each course coordinator from the listed clinical courses will submit 10-12 questions that are consistent with the objectives of the course. The examination will be tied to PT 754 (Clinical Sciences 4) and the course coordinator will use their discretion as to how the student’s score will be woven into the overall course grade. All students will be required to pass the written examination with a score of 70% or higher in order to progress in the program and participate in PT 760 (Clinical Education 3). Students who fail to score a 70% will be given one opportunity to retake the comprehensive examination. The examination will be offered on a Monday from 8-12 in mid April of each year. To allow for adequate preparation and study, there will be no written or practical examinations given the week before the examination. Additionally, no classes will be scheduled on the day of the exam. Retake examinations will be offered during finals week.

Comprehensive Practical: The comprehensive practical examination will be offered by each of the full-time core faculty. The faculty will assess their individual advisees. Each faculty member will be responsible for developing a patient case, which will allow the student to demonstrate his or her knowledge of examination and intervention. A rubric will be developed by the assessment committee that will be used to ensure consistent grading. Individual faculty may schedule their practical examination anytime between Tuesday and Friday of the week in which the written examination is offered. All students will be required to score at least an 80% on the 100-point practical examination. Students will be given one opportunity to retake the comprehensive practical examination. The retake examination will be scheduled at the discretion of the individual faculty member. All students will be required to pass the comprehensive practical examination in order to progress in the program and participate in PT 760 (Clinical Education 4). The manner in which the practical grade is incorporated into the overall grading scheme of PT 754 (Clinical Sciences 4) will be left to the discretion of the course coordinator.

Graduate and Employer Survey: A web-based survey will be designed by the assessment committee as a one-year summative assessment of the clinical skills and knowledge learned by the students. An e-mail or letter will be sent to the graduates of each class on or before May 1 of the year following graduation. This assessment will focus on identifying the level of preparation for clinical practice.