One of Eastern Kentucky University’s 63 graduate programs is receiving national recognition.
EKU’s occupational therapy graduate program is ranked 24th in the country in the recently published U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Graduate Schools 2009 edition.
“We’ve had this program for about 25 years,” said David Gale, dean of EKU’s College of Health Sciences. “We’ve been recruiting nationally recognized faculty. So, we’re not surprised. We’re extremely pleased.”
“We have sought to have a national ranking in our occupational therapy,” he said. “If you look at all the programs that are above us, they are all research institutions and we’re a teaching institution. So, we’re extremely pleased we’re ranked where we are.”
The rankings are based on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators and faculty at accredited degree programs.
Respondents rated the academic quality of programs on a five-point scale: outstanding (five points), strong (four points), good (three points), adequate (two points) and marginal (one point).
One-hundred and fifty-two schools or programs were surveyed for the occupational therapy rankings.
Boston University and Washington University in St. Louis tied for first with a score of 4.6.
With a 3.4 score, EKU was ranked 24th, tied with eight other institutions — Creighton University, Duquesne University, Medical University of South Carolina, San Jose University, Texas Women’s University-Dallas, University of New Hampshire, University of Puget Sound and University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee.
The occupational therapy curriculum at EKU was established in 1976 and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
During the fall 2007 semester, the program had an enrollment of 102 students.
Students who complete the two-year occupational therapy program are eligible to take the national certification examination given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and apply for licensure in those states requiring it.
“Occupational therapy is a rehabilitation science that helps patients who often have had strokes or major accidents get ready to be at home or at a workplace with a disability,” Gale said.
Occupational therapists work in a variety of practice settings, including early intervention programs, public schools, rehabilitation facilities, mental health programs, hospitals, industry, assisted living environments, long-term care facilities and hospice.
Gale, who started the program at EKU, said the national ranking will be beneficial for the program in several ways.
“It will help us especially in the recruitment of faculty for the program,” he said. “We have a lot of student applicants, but it will help bring us more highly qualified students. Although, the students are excellent now. It also will help us in obtaining federal and state dollars for the program.”
“Our goal in the next five years is to be ranked in the top 15 of programs in the country,” Gale said. “We now have a master’s program, but we’re looking to put in place an occupational therapy doctoral program for people in the clinical area.”
Bryan Marshall can be reached at bmarshall@richmondregister.com or 624-6691.
Local News
EKU graduate program ranks 24th in nation
- Local News
-
-
‘She wasn’t just a teacher’ : Lambert retires after 43 years at Berea
Scroll to the bottom of the story to read "Love for Lambert: Berea graduates share memories of their teacher," as well as a list of other Berea retirees this year.
Writer’s Note: Brenda Lambert is the reason I write articles today (Class of 2000).
Years ago, a little blonde-haired girl from Rockcastle County gathered her friends to “play school” in a 10-by-10 foot playhouse her father built.
Even at 12 years old, Brenda Lambert knew she wanted to be a teacher one day.
“I always felt like an old person trapped in a young person's body,” said Lambert, who is retiring after 43 years of service to Berea Community School. -
Special Olympics return for 18th year at EKU
Next weekend, the Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games return to Eastern Kentucky University campus. This is the 18th consecutive year EKU has hosted the event.
The games will be Friday through June 2. About 1,300 athletes will compete this year. -
Assault charges reduced, dismissed by grand jury
Two men arrested in connection with serious assaults had their charges reduced, and in one case dismissed, by a Madison grand jury.
Jerry Wayne Edington, 34, of Berea Road, was charged Jan. 19 with second-degree assault after an altercation at the Blue Moon bar on East Irvine Street, according to a Richmond police report. -
Dump of the Day
The Dump of the Day is a recurring series the newspaper publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Page A7 in Sunday's paper to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Paradise Cove open through Labor Day
Opening day of Paradise Cove Family Aquatic Center coincided with a spike in temperatures Friday which reached 90 degrees. The facility, located in Richmond’s Lake Reba Park, will be open through Sept. 3. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
-
Dump of the Day
An old mattress, a car seat and other debris sit Friday afternoon on North Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets where it was first spotted Thursday. The “Dump of the Day” is a recurring series the Richmond Register publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Sunday’s Richmond Register to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Undefeated academic team brings pride to Madison Middle School
Madison Middle School 6th and 7th grade academic teams have been undefeated for the last two years.
The 8th grade team also has done well, having some students qualify to compete at the state level. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
-
Man is indicted on additional sex charge involving teen in 1998
A man already accused of sex abuse in November 2011 has been indicted on a charge of first-degree rape involving a child in 1998.
Charles W. Peyton, 63, of East Irvine Street, was indicted Wednesday by a Madison grand jury. He used “forcible compulsion” to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl between March 1 and May 1 in 1998, according to the indictment. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed. - More Local News Headlines
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
