Southern Adventist University’s newest academic department, the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program, has been delayed in its accreditation process, after plans to begin in January of 2019.
Department Chair and Program Director Christopher Stewart, DPT, and Director of Clinical Education Mandy Sharpe, DPT, have been working with Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) to secure initial approval to start teaching classes, but after a final evaluation, were asked to review different parts of the curriculum and procedures.
The program admitted 15 students prior to finding out about the lack of approval. The administration said that participants were aware that there was a possibility of a delay and were each informed personally.
“We’ve tried to be up front with them since the beginning that this is a developmental process; there are no guarantees,” Stewart said. “From what we can see, it’s very common that programs go through this second step.”
In response to the delay, Shelby Lewellen, sophomore PTA major, is taking a break from school this semester and is instead working full time. She plans to return in the fall of 2019, when the organizers hope to have the program up and running.
“I think they handled it the best they could,” Lewellen said. “I can imagine how frustrating it must before them to be declined in something they’ve been working on for so long. They reached out to all of us and made sure to help us with whatever paths we may take--whether it be transfer, change majors or wait for the program. They were very helpful and my frustration is towards my delayed life timeline, not towards administration. I definitely believe they did the best they could.”
Initially the PTA curriculum was slated to run from January to December, but will now work on a 15 month schedule, giving students the summer off. Additionally students that were not ready to apply in December, will be able to apply in April, pending approval.
For more information about the program, visit southern.edu/pta.