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REPORT OF ACOTE ACTION Meeting of April 1-2, 2017

Program Reviewed: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University OTM program (professional entry-level master's degree) Tallahassee, Florida

Material Reviewed: 2017 Annual Report Progress Report regarding Standard A.5.3 NBCOT Pass Rate Data

Action Taken: 2017 Annual Report: Accept the Annual Report with no further information requested regarding

this report. Progress Report: Progress Report requested regarding Standard A.5.3. NBCOT Pass Rate Data: Cite an area of noncompliance with Standard A.5.6 and request a Plan of Correction.

Accreditation Status: Changed to PROBATIONARY ACCREDITATION

In addition to its continued noncompliance with Standard A.5.3 (Program Evaluation), ACOTE determined that the program is also in noncompliance with Standard A.5.6 of the 2011 Accreditation Standards for a Master’s-Degree-Level Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist related to certification exam pass rates. Noncompliance with this Standard raises concerns related to the program’s ability to deliver a quality program of instruction. Therefore, ACOTE voted that the program status be changed to PROBATIONARY ACCREDITATION.

ACOTE policy, “Classification of Accreditation Categories”, includes an explanation of the status of Probationary Accreditation. Please note that failure to come into substantial compliance with the Standards may result in Withdrawal of Accreditation. Also note that although Probationary Accreditation is an accreditation category and the program is recognized and listed as being Accredited, currently enrolled students and those seeking admission must be advised that the program is on probation.

Areas of Noncompliance: The program is in noncompliance with the Standards cited below:

A.5.3. Program Evaluation: The program must routinely secure and document sufficient qualitative and quantitative information to allow for meaningful analysis about the extent to which the program is meeting its stated goals and objectives. This must include, but is not limited to, faculty effectiveness, students’ progression, student retention rates, fieldwork performance evaluation, student evaluation of fieldwork experience, student satisfaction with the program, performance on the NBCOT exam, and job placement and performance as determined by employer satisfaction. (Noncompliant since April 2016)

History of Noncompliance with A.5.3. Program Evaluation: Based on review of the on-site evaluation results at ACOTE’s April 2016 meeting, an area of noncompliance was cited with Standard A.5.3 because the program had a goal that all students would submit a student evaluation of the fieldwork evaluation form, and the measurement criterion was 100% compliance with turning in the form. This goal did not represent qualitative or quantitative information that would allow for meaningful analysis of students’ preparedness for fieldwork, or the quality of the fieldwork experience. The program was requested to submit a Plan of Correction to address the area of noncompliance.

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449 P: (301) 652-2682 • F: (240) 762-5140 • E: accred@aota.org

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In materials reviewed at the August 2016 meeting, the program submitted modified criteria which were more clearly measurable and had assisted the program to identify areas for improvement and strategies to address these areas. However, student evaluation of fieldwork experiences was not addressed in the program evaluation plan. The new data being gathered and analyzed was about performance on fieldwork. The program was requested to provide a Progress Report to demonstrate that the program routinely secures and documents sufficient qualitative and quantitative information to allow for meaningful analysis about the extent to which the program is meeting its stated goals and objectives, including student evaluation of fieldwork.

In materials reviewed at the December 2016 meeting, the program submitted documentation of data collection regarding the students' perception of preparation for the fieldwork experience. A required component of the Standard is information related to "student evaluation of fieldwork" rather than preparation for fieldwork. The program was requested to submit a report demonstrating continued progress toward achieving compliance with the Standard, including evidence that demonstrates that the program routinely secures and documents sufficient qualitative and quantitative information to allow for meaningful analysis about the extent to which the program is meeting its stated goals and objectives, including student evaluation of fieldwork.

In materials reviewed at the April 2017 meeting, the program submitted information indicating that the Student Evaluation of the Fieldwork Experience (SEFWE) is used to gather information concerning the students' perspectives of fieldwork. Examples were provided of the types of data collected, such as the pace at the fieldwork site and clear expectations defined. The program indicated that the information is used to identify “trends in our current fieldwork placements, including the most seen conditions in the adult and pediatric setting, as well as the most used assessment and interventions.” The program did not identify how the information was used to allow for meaningful analysis about the extent to which the program is meeting its stated goals and objectives.

Next Report Requested Regarding A.5.3. Program Evaluation (due June 20, 2017): Please submit documentation to demonstrate that the program routinely secures and documents sufficient qualitative and quantitative information to allow for meaningful analysis about the extent to which the program is meeting its stated goals and objectives.

A.5.6. Certification Exam Pass Rate: Evidence must be submitted that the average pass rate of graduates attempting the exam within 12 months of graduation from the occupational therapy program is 80% or higher (regardless of the number of attempts). (Noncompliant since April 2017)

History of Noncompliance with A.5.6. Certification Exam Pass Rate: Based on review of the program’s 2016 NBCOT pass rate date, the program's NBCOT pass rate was 91.67% in 2014, 65.22% in 2015, and 68.42% in 2016. The average pass rate for 2014-2016 is 75.76% (50 passed of 66 test takers).

Next Report Requested Regarding A.5.6. Certification Exam Pass Rate (due June 20, 2017): A program evaluation plan must be provided to address the improvement of the average pass rate of graduates attempting the certification exam within 12 months of graduation from the program (regardless of the number of attempts) until it reaches 80% or higher. This must include the following: 1) Analysis of factors contributing to low pass rates. 2) Plan to address targeted factors. 3) Annual improvement targets. 4) A timeline for correction within 2 years. (Note that this Plan of Correction must be submitted through the “Substantive Change” tab.)

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Public Notification: As required by the U.S. Department of Education, decisions to place a program on Probationary Accreditation must be publicly disclosed within 24 hours of confirmation that the program has received notification of ACOTE’s decision. At that time, the program’s status on the ACOTE website will be changed to Probationary Accreditation. In addition, decisions to place a program on Probationary Accreditation will be disclosed in the next edition of OT Practice and in response to written or verbal inquiries.

No later than 15 business days after receipt of this letter by the institution, please submit (to accred@aota.org) any comments that your institution or program wishes to add to the following full disclosure statement. Within 20 business days after receipt of this letter by the institution, the following full disclosure statement will be posted on ACOTE’s website along with the comments, if any, that your institution or program wishes to make regarding the decision:

ACOTE’s Disclosure Statement regarding Probationary Accreditation Action: The occupational therapy master's program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, Florida, was placed on Probationary Accreditation effective April 1, 2017, for failure to comply with 2011 OT Standards A.5.3 (Program Evaluation) and A.5.6 (certification exam pass rate).

The program has been requested to submit a Plan of Correction and Progress Report to return the program to full compliance with the Standards within the mandated time period for correction.

Next Report Requested: Plan of Correction relative to noncompliance with Standard A.5.6. Progress Report relative to noncompliance with Standard A.5.3. Documentation that currently enrolled students and those seeking admission have been

advised that the program is on probation.

Report Due Date: June 20, 2017

Report Submission Instructions: The reports must be submitted through e-Accreditation (https://acote.aota.org). The program director will receive notification as soon as the system is ready for data input.

Plan of Correction for Standard A.5.6 (through the Substantive Change Tab): The report must be submitted using the Plan of Correction report form which may be downloaded from the “Accreditation Surveys, Forms, and Templates” section of the ACOTE Web site: www.acoteonline.org.

Prepare a scanned signed copy of your Plan of Correction and any attachments. You will receive an e-mail with instructions for submission of your report through ACOTE Online (https://acote.aota.org) using the Substantive Change tab. Include documentation that currently enrolled students and those seeking admission have been advised that the program is on probation.

For each area, provide a description of the plan for bringing the program into compliance with the Standard, a projected time line, a description of the documentation to be submitted to demonstrate compliance, and progress on actions (if any) implemented to date.

The plan must include a schedule for correcting the cited areas of noncompliance within the following time limit: — 12 months if the program is less than 1 year in length; — 18 months if the program is at least 1 year in length, but less than 2 years in length; or

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— 2 years if the program is at least 2 years in length.

Please ensure that you are using planned report submission dates that correspond to the ACOTE due dates for upcoming meetings: February 20th (April ACOTE meeting), June 20th (August ACOTE meeting), or October 20th (December ACOTE meeting).

It is strongly recommended that the program plan to correct all cited areas at least 4 months prior to the end of the allowable time limit.

Progress Report for Standard A.5.3 (through the Report POC/PR Tab): The report must be submitted through e-Accreditation (https://acote.aota.org). The program director will receive notification as soon as the system is ready for data input. Once notification is received, please follow the steps below to submit your Progress Report: o After you log in to ACOTE online https://acote.aota.org, click on the POC/PR tab under the

"Reports" Tab. Click on the first noncompliant Standard. o Scroll down - ACOTE's concern will be displayed. There will be a box for your narrative

response/timelines, etc. o You may also upload additional Supporting Material by clicking on "Upload More Files." o When your response is complete, set your response status as "Ready for Submission."

Note that all noncompliant Standards must be set to that status before you may submit your response.

o Click on the POC/PR tab under the "Home" tab to submit your report to your dean for approval. o The dean will receive an e-mail notification to log into ACOTE online https://acote.aota.org to

approve and submit the report to ACOTE.

Additional Comment: The occupational therapy master's program has entered its second year of carrying an area of noncompliance with Standard A.5.3 (cited by ACOTE in April 2016). Per ACOTE requirements, programs that are at least 2 years in length must correct all cited areas of noncompliance within 2 years.

A program’s status may be changed to Probationary Accreditation when the program is in jeopardy of having its accreditation status withdrawn due to the mandated time limit for carrying areas of noncompliance. If the area of noncompliance has not been corrected by April 2018, the U.S. Department of Education requires that ACOTE must withdraw accreditation unless the period for achieving compliance is extended for good cause.

You must either submit documentation that the cited area of noncompliance has been fully corrected or request an extension of the period for correction by submitting a letter to ACOTE, c/o the AOTA Accreditation Department. The letter should be submitted with the requested Progress Report and include the length of the extension being requested, the reasons for exceeding the 2-year timeframe, and address each of the following criteria that ACOTE will use in making its decision to grant an extension for good cause: 1) The program has submitted an appropriate plan for achieving compliance within a reasonable

time frame. 2) The program has provided a detailed timeline for completion of the plan. 3) The program has provided evidence that the plan has been implemented according to the

established timeline. 4) The program has provided reasonable assurance that the program will achieve compliance as

stated in the plan.

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The length of an extension of time for achieving compliance is solely within the discretion of ACOTE based upon its assessment of all relevant factors. Generally, the maximum period of extension is limited to two years.