Annual Review 2020-2021 THE YEAR IN HIGHLIGHTS
Behind-the-scenes support key to readying new academic center
Physician assistant studies launches January 2022
In January 2021, the master of occupational therapy (MOT) program relocated into new lab spaces in the Dr. Myron Wentz Center for Health Sciences & Engineering. The Operations team worked through the pandemic to oversee construction and ensure that the facility was ready for occupancy. In addition, the master of physician assistant studies (MSPAS) program required the installation of extensive program equipment, including three Anatomage tables, five high- and low-fidelity “Manikins,” and a software and camera suite for patient simulation and exam rooms.
The first cohort of future physician assistants will begin their two-year degree program in January 2022. The staff and faculty in the medical sciences department worked hard to ensure that the master of science in physician assistant studies (MSPAS) program would receive Initial Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA), the accrediting body for physician assistant education. This distinction means the College meets the high standards of excellence and innovation established by ARC-PA.
Information Technology Services provided significant technical support and learning space engineering for implementation of this highly advanced health education technology. This included installation of three high-end video management and software servers; 16 academic cameras for simulation, teaching and exam rooms; multiple network switch and wireless installations; and support for the Manikin-based, real-world simulators. The team also provided support for the engineering department in order to ensure lab equipment was operational for fall semester. The new facility is 40,000 square feet, bringing the on-campus square footage devoted to College operations to 1.22 million square feet.
Physician assistant students will focus on content area instruction during their first year, followed by a year of clinical rotations, completed in both inpatient and outpatient settings in a variety of hospital and private practice sites. “The demand for highly trained healthcare professionals is on the rise and has sharply increased throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is ready to meet that need,” said Marci J. Swede, dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences at North Central College.
Application process opens for future physical therapists The doctor of physical therapy program (DPT) is accepting applications for its first cohort of 48 students to begin in January 2023. The application for candidacy is on track to be submitted in June 2022 to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The DPT program has 44 clinical contracts and 100 letters of intent with local, regional, and national clinical sites to offer full-time clinical education experiences to North Central College DPT students.
Health Science graduate program enrollments are projected to climb while engineering majors have quickly attracted significant numbers of students.
Engineering total enrollment growth 2018-2019
2019-2020
2020-2021
FALL 2021
Computer Engineering
11
16
17
22
Electrical Engineering
15
18
21
24
Mechanical Engineering
33
54
70
93
TOTAL
59
88
108
139
Goals for graduate program health sciences enrollment 2019-2020
2020-2021
2021-2022
2022-2023
2023-2024
Masters of Athletic Training
0
3
8
13
16
Masters of Occupational Therapy
80
80
80
80
80
Masters of Physician Assistant Studies
0
0
32
64
64
Doctor of Physical Therapy
0
0
0
48
96
TOTAL STUDENTS ENROLLED
80
83
120
205
256
