Student Learning Outcomes – Asheville
The following goals represent the hallmark of our graduates and are reflective of the mission of the program and the college as a whole:
- Provide a comprehensive and challenging curriculum that prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to function as an entry level occupational therapy assistant in current and emerging practice;
- Graduate OTAs who reflect a commitment to the profession’s core values and ethics, lifelong learning, and evidence based practice;
- Create a learning atmosphere that is safe and fosters personal and professional growth;
- Provide opportunities to develop clinical reasoning through experiential learning and exposure to a variety of professional experiences through partnerships within the occupational therapy community; and
- Foster development of the students’ interpersonal and collaborative skills to meet the complex challenges in providing quality client-centered care.
Student Outcomes
The goal of the OTA program at South College is to develop occupational therapy assistants that possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for competent entry level practice. Upon completion of the program, the graduate should be able to:
- Effectively communicate orally and in writing to meet demands and requirements of the profession.
- Utilize effective interpersonal skills with clients, families and interdisciplinary team members.
- Review and incorporate evidence-based material to deliver best practice.
- Exhibit conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal and ethical and integrate Principles of Occupational Therapy Ethics, as defined by the AOTA.
- Consistently demonstrate principles and techniques to ensure safety of the patient, oneself and others.
- Employ the occupational therapy process for service delivery and differentiate the roles of occupational therapy practitioners.
- Respect client diversity, values, and individual preferences during service delivery.
- Analyze activity demands, performance skills, performance patterns, and client factors, within the context of occupational performance.
- Demonstrate competence in administration of selected assessments relevant to the role of an occupational therapy assistant.
- Select, prioritize, and sequence occupations, purposeful activity, and treatment techniques relevant to the goals and interests of individuals served in occupational therapy settings.
- Demonstrate competence in instruction, adapting, and grading of activities and techniques, and modifying environments to meet the needs of clients in their sociocultural context.
- Demonstrate clinical reasoning by prioritizing holistic needs of clients and engaging in creative problem solving.
- Utilize and teach compensatory strategies when desired life tasks cannot be performed.
- Assume roles of leadership and management of occupational therapy services relevant to the role of an entry level occupational therapy assistant.
- Understand federal and state regulations and their effect on delivery of occupational therapy and other health services.
- Demonstrate an awareness of professional and social responsibility, and advocacy including participation in national and state professional organizations, and community service organizations.
- Explore and utilize community resources to promote occupational function of clients in least restrictive environments.