What is program evaluation & why is it important?
All occupational therapy programs must evaluate their success in preparing students for the profession. Jamestown Community College measures student preparation for practice through degree completion, certification exam pass rates, graduate surveys, employer surveys, and graduate employment rates. Program evaluation allows faculty to objectively measure their strengths and weaknesses to ultimately maintain and improve the quality of the program. This information can also be used by potential students and employers.
It is the responsibility of the Jamestown Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant program to communicate program graduates numbers and rates to the public.
OTA program retention rates
| Fall-to-Fall Year | Students Entering | Students Retained | Retention Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 | 17 | 13 | 76.5% |
| Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 | 25 | 18 | 72.0% |
| Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 | 22 | 20 | 90.9% |
| Fall 2022 to Fall 2023 | 20 | 14 | 70.0% |
| Fall 2023 to Fall 2024 | 14 | 10 | 71.4% |
OTA program graduation rates
The total number of graduates from the SUNY Jamestown Community College program during the 3-year period 2022-2024 was 48, with an overall graduation rate of 76%.
| Graduation Year | Students Entering | Students who Withdrew for Reasons other than Academic Performance | Students Graduating | Graduation Rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 25 | N/A | 16 | 64% |
| 2023 | 22 | N/A | 19 | 86.4% |
| 2024 | 19 | 3* | 13 | 81% |
| Total | 66 | 3 | 48 | 76% |
*Graduation rate does not include students who withdrew for reasons other than academic performance.
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is charged with developing the national examination for OTA certification. Students are eligible to take the exam following graduation from an accredited OTA program. This examination tests entry level OTA competence and indicates that students who pass have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be licensed as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. NBCOT's comparison of JCC’s OTA program to other schools »