Doctor of Physical Therapy Granted Accreditation, Welcomes First Cohort

In January, North Central’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program welcomed its first cohort, a total of 48 students, after it was granted its Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in the fall.

“This moment has been much anticipated for a very long time,” said Dr. Sara Scholtes, the program’s founding director and professor and chair of the department of physical therapy.

Housed within the College’s Dr. Myron Wentz Center for Health Sciences and Engineering, the program was announced in January 2022. The curriculum spans 28 months and is competency focused, being the only pass/no pass program of its kind offered in Illinois. The focus is on mastery

ARTS & SCIENCES NEW HOME, NEW GRANT FOR SHIMER GREAT BOOKS SCHOOL

Now settled in at its new location, 5 S. Loomis St., the Shimer Great Books School recently hosted an open house with Shimer alum Dr. Michael Weinman’98 and Dr. Aron Dunlap, assistant professor of liberal arts, discussing Weinman’s latest book. Also, Dr. Stuart Patterson, chair of the Shimer Great Books School, has secured a new Knowledge for Freedom implementation grant from the Teagle Foundation to support the Civic Humanities Project, including a residential humanities summer camp for high school students from underserved communities.

Read More Online

of knowledge, critical thinking and skill acquisition to prepare students for a high-demand degree and career path, while meeting the current and future health care needs in the community.

“Our DPT offering joins a growing roster of graduate clinical programs. North Central has established a model for designing distinctive health sciences programs, rooted in the liberal arts tradition, that tackle broad societal issues, while at the same time addressing the unique needs of the communities in which we live and work,” said Dr. Marci J. Swede, dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences.

BUSINESS MBA PROGRAM NAMED AMONG “BEST ONLINE PROGRAMS”

For the first time, North Central College’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program has been ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online MBA Programs for 2023. The online MBA is a 12-course (36 credit hours) degree program that can be completed in as little as a year, during which students learn how to strategically manage highperformance teams and solve real-world business challenges.

Scholtes said that vision is what attracted the first cohort. “They are very passionate individuals who want to be part of our program’s distinct mission and vision and contribute to the physical therapy field in the future.”

Enrollment Increasing Opportunities For Undocumented Students

To help make higher education more affordable and accessible, North Central has partnered with TheDream.US to provide scholarships for undocumented students from Illinois. The scholarships aim to address financial barriers such as lack of access to federal or state financial aid and higher, out-of-state tuition rates based on immigration status.

“I am proud and delighted that North Central College has partnered with TheDream.US to support academic opportunities for undocumented students,” said Interim President Donna M. Carroll. “This is a moral leadership moment for the College in the context of its Methodist mission.”

You can find expanded coverage of these stories and other news by visiting the College website. northcentralcollege.edu/news