News

What do occupational therapy alumni think of Xavier's program?

Survey Highlights

08/10/07

See the results below from the most recent Alumni Survey that was taken one year (Summer 2007) after graduation.

DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
ALUMNI SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS*

Respondents were from the graduating Class of 2005 – Survey was taken one year post graduation. Response rate was 73% (11 responses were received from 15 alumni).

Note: All scores reported below are on a 5-point scale with 1 low and 5 high

• 70% rated Xavier’s Jesuit-based core curriculum as somewhat valuable or very valuable.
• All were employed full time with reported salaries ranging from $45,000-$59,000; most frequent response was in the range of $50-$54,000. Most had found a job before or within 2 weeks of graduation after receiving 1-4 job offers; 82% received job offers from Fieldwork II site.
• The three most common practice areas were: pediatrics, acute care and rehabilitation.
• The rating for academic preparedness of the occupational therapy process was highest for evaluating occupational performance (4.5); lowest for developing discharge plans (3.8).
• Professional behavior was rated as an important aspect of their educational preparedness as evidenced by an average rating of 4.9; students tended to value the program more after leaving than while in program but not to a statistically significantly degree.
• Identified strengths of the program included the quality of professors, professionalism of program, lab practicals, and overall academic preparedness.
• Recommended program improvements included requests for more of a focus on pediatrics and neurological evaluation/intervention, and more emphasis on splinting and acute care.
• Regarding professional satisfaction with current occupational therapy position, rated highest were overall career satisfaction (4.8), opportunities for professional development (4.7), and degree of independence afforded by job (4.7); rated lowest were salary and degree of professional confidence (4.4 and 3.9 respectively). One alumnus commented, “I am very satisfied with my career and feel that I found a profession that fits with my values and passions.”
• 88% reported they encountered ethical dilemmas on the job daily, weekly or monthly; dilemmas identified ranged from prioritizing/determining eligibility for services to conflict of interest in providing services to recommending client discharge against a medical doctor’s wishes.
• 100% (all 11) would select XU’s program again; likewise, 100% (all 11) would recommend XU’s program to others. Reasons for selecting program again included receiving a great educational background and a high level of preparedness for the career of occupational therapy. Reasons for recommending the program to others included small class size and intimate environment.

* For further survey details contact the Department of Occupational Therapy at xuot@xavier.edu

Note: This Alumni Survey is one of approximately 30 ways Xavier’s Department of Occupational Therapy evaluates its program. The results of this survey have contributed to the following program enhancements:
1). Developing discharge plans will be given additional attention in two courses: MOCT 603 & MOCT 633. 2). More pediatric content has been added into the new Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program as two classes are now devoted exclusively to cover pediatric content. Specifically, MOCT 603 covers pediatric evaluation, intervention, transition, & discharge; MOCT 605 covers pediatric technology, adaptive equipment, and seating. 3.) In the course MOCT 605 students will receive an additional opportunity to become comfortable with forming/shaping splinting material as a new splinting assignment will be added. 4). Content on acute care has also been added to the new MOT curriculum specifically in the course MOCT 633 where students go to a local hospital for a lecture and lab on acute care intervention; a competency checkout is also now an outcome of that curricular portion. 5) The new course, MOCT 633, that covers adult (as compared to pediatric) evaluation, intervention, transition, & discharge now quite thoroughly covers neurological evaluation/intervention.