Application and Self-Study

APPLICATION AND SELF-STUDY

Request for Accreditation Services

Programs should first submit a Request for Accreditation Services form, which is available on the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) website at the following link:

The form can be submitted online and must be signed by the CEO/President of the sponsoringinstitution.

Self-Study Report

Eachprogramshouldcompletea self-studytoevaluate complianceoftheRecreationalTherapy/TherapeuticRecreation(RT/TR)degreeprogramwithCAAHEP StandardsandGuidelinesfortheAccreditationofEducationalProgramsinRecreationalTherapy (Standards). The culminationoftheself-studyistheSelf-StudyReport. InordertopreparetheSelf-StudyReport,please respondtotheinstructionsbelow. Shouldyouhavequestionsduringtheself-studyprocess,pleasecontact theCARTEofficeforassistance.

Self-Study ReportFormat

Self-Studymaterialsshouldbecompletedandsubmittedelectronically.Saveformsandcontentin separatedocumentsas notedin the Completing and Assembling the Self-Study Report section (and screen-shot below).Electronicallysubmitone(1)copyvia the CARTEemailaddress ().

The submission should be a zipped file with your college/university name.

Within the zipped folder should be individual files/documents, as required.

Before You Begin

BeforebeginningtoprepareyourSelf-StudyReport,youwillneedtogatherthedatanecessaryfordocumentingthecomplianceofyourprogramwiththeStandardsandGuidelines.Itissuggestedthatyoubeginbyreviewingallcoursesyllabitoinsurethattheyareincompliancewithandincludethecurriculumcompetencyrequirementsforrecreationaltherapy/therapeuticrecreationcontent,supportcontent,modality/facilitationskillsandclinicaleducationexperiences. TheremustbeevidencethattherequiredknowledgeandskillsasdocumentedinAppendixBofthismanualareincludedinactualexistingcoursework.EachsyllabusforeachclassofferedintheProgrammustbesubmittedwiththeself-studyandwillbeevaluatedbysitevisitorstodeterminecompliance. A Standardized Course Syllabus Form is available in this document for use by programs.

Additionally,dataisrequestedfromgraduates,employersorclinicalsupervisors,facultyand currentstudents.Youmaycollectthisdatapriortowritingyourself-studyreport.Sampleforms including a Self-Study Student Survey, Graduate Survey, Faculty Survey, and Employer Surveyare providedfor program use inallsurveyareas.Youmayadapttheseformstoyourparticularneeds,howevertheminimum contentcontained in each of the sample surveys MUSTbeincludedinanysurveysyouconstruct.Youwillbeaskedto includeacopyofyoursurveyinstrumentsalongwithananalysisofresultsyouobtainonthesurveyof graduates,employersorclinicalsupervisors,facultyandcurrentstudents.

Finally,thereisadministrativeinformationanddatayouwillberequiredtosubmitinyourself-studyreport,soyoumaywishtocompileinformationonthenumberofstudentsenrolledinyour program,numberofgraduatesannually,accreditationofyourinstitution,etc. Wesuggestthatyou familiarizeyourselfwiththeStandardsandGuidelines,theCurriculumCompetency Requirements,andeachformrequiredforthe Self-Studypriortowritingthereport.

A complete copy of the Standards and Guidelines, including curriculum requirements, is located on CAAHEP’s website at the following link:

The Standards are also embedded into the Standards and Guidelines Compliance Response Form, which will be completed by the program as part of its report.

Completing and AssemblingtheSelf-StudyReport

Assemble the self-study in the following order:

*Item 1 should be in one document/file – Save/Name this file “1. Self Study [insert institution name]”and include the following:

A. Copy of CAAHEPRequestforAccreditationServices

B. TableofContents

The Table of Contents should identify the page # or Appendix where each item is located, and should includethe followingsections:

•ProgramOverviewForm

• Institutional/Program InformationForm

•StandardsandGuidelines Compliance Response Form

•Course Content and Syllabi

• InformationonFaculty

•ClinicalEducationandExperiences

•CompetenciesandLearningOutcomes

•Appendices

C. ProgramOverviewForm

ThisformincludessevensectionsregardingtheProgram,including:

•HistoricalDevelopment

•ProgramGoalsandObjectives

•MethodstoAssureContinuedAppropriatenessofProgramGoalsandObjectives

•HowProgramGoalsandObjectivesareUsedinProgramPlanningandImplementation

•SpecialConsiderationsWhichImpactYourProgramCharacteristics

•MissionoftheSponsoringInstitution

•MissionoftheProgram

D. Institutional/Program InformationForm

Thisformwilldocumentdataon:

•Lengthoftheprogram

•Totalcreditsforcompletion

•Maximumclasssize

•Actualcurrentenrollment

•Numberofstudentsadmittedeachyear

•Typeofdegreeawarded

•NumberofRT/TRfaculty(fullandpart-time)

•Numberofinternshipsites

•YearProgramenrolledthefirstclass

E.OrganizationalChart

Provide an organizational chart that reflectsthe administrativelocationof the RT/TRdegreeprogramwithinthe College/School.The ProgramDirectormustsignthisformtoverifythatallinformationistrueandaccurate.

F. StandardsandGuidelines Compliance Response Form

This formprovidestheProgramtheopportunityforverificationofcompliancewithCARTEStandards andGuidelines. Thisverificationshouldbesupportedbyinformationordatawhichshouldappear inanappendices section oftheSelf-Study Report. Foreach standard area, document how the standardis metat yourinstitutionandinyourprogramandprovidetheexactlocationofsupporting documentationwithintheappendicessoreviewershaveaclearindicationofwhereinformationon standardscomplianceislocatedinyourSelf-StudyReport.

*Item 2 should be in one document/file – Save/Name this file “2. Course Content and Syllabi” and include the following:

A.Academic Program Self-Assessment Summary Form

B.RT Compliance Matrix: Knowledge and Skills for RT and Support Content

C.Foreach Recreational TherapyContent Course andSupport Content Course, besuretoinclude arecent courseoutlinewithacopyoftheStandardizedCourseSyllabusFormprovided asacoversheet foreachcoursesyllabussubmitted.

D.The RT content courses should include a curriculum map identifying the competency, the student outcomes, and the learning activity for addressing the competency.

*Item 3 should be in one document/file – Save/Name this file “3. Information on Faculty”

Include the FacultyBiographicalSketch form provided for all RTfaculty (full and part time). Programs maychooseto useanotherformatapprovedbytheuniversity(e.g.,Sedona),butall biographicalsummariessubmittedmustbeinaconsistentformatforeachfacultymemberinthe Program.

*Item 4 should be in one document/file – Save/Name this file “4. Clinical Education Experiences”

Withinthissection,provide informationaboutclinicalexperiencesincludingclinicaleducation/practicumand clinical internships/fieldplacementsto includethe processfororientationandinteractionswithclinical supervisorsoftheclinicaleducation/practicum andclinicalinternships/fieldplacementsaswellas informationaboutverificationofqualifications,credentialsandexperienceofclinicalsupervisors. Inaddition,summarydataofclinicalperformance,assessedatthecompletionofinternships/field placements,mustbesubmittedforallstudentscompletinginternshipsforthereportingyear,using theClinicalPerformanceAppraisalSummaryandReferenceform. Thisformcanbefoundinthe ATRA Standards forthePractice ofRecreational TherapySelf-AssessmentGuide (Revised)(ATRA, 2013,pp.115-116).

*Item 5 should be in one document/file – Save/Name this file “5. Competencies and Learning Outcomes”

CARTEStandards state:

“Theprogrammustperiodicallyassessitseffectivenessinachievingitsstatedgoalsand learningdomains. Theresultsofthisevaluationmustbereflectedinthereviewandtimely revision of the program. Outcomes assessments must include, but are not limited to: national credentialing examination performance, programmatic retention/attrition, graduatesatisfaction,employersatisfaction,job (positive)placement,andprogrammatic summativemeasures.”

Inthissection,providesummaryevaluationdataof studentself-assessmentof competenciesand specificlearningoutcomesusingtheCompetencySelf-AssessmentDetailFormfoundintheATRA Guidelines forCompetency Assessmentand Curriculum Planning forRecreational Therapy Practice(ATRA,2008,pp.31-54).ThisCompetencySelf-Assessmentshouldbeadministeredduring the first recreational therapy course upon admittance to the recreational therapy/therapeutic recreationdegreeprogram. Additional measures should be takenneartheendoftheinternship/fieldplacement. Aminimumsample sizeof85%ormoreofthosestudentscompletinginternshipsinthereportingyearisrequiredfor the assessment of competencies summary data. Data from other sources documenting student learning outcomes include such data as the NCTRC Score Report for the Program, program retention and graduation data, etc. Please note,it is advantageous to the program in assessingcompliancewithCAAHEPStandardsandGuidelinesfor the Accreditationof Educational ProgramsinRecreationalTherapytoseekmaximumparticipationofallenrolledintheprogram.

Also include a summary of the data collected from communities ofinterest. According to the Standards, communities of interests are students, graduates, faculty, administration, employers and/or clinical supervisors, physicians, andthe public.

*Each Appendix the program creates should be in one document/file – Save/Name each file with the Appendix label and title of document, for example: “Appendix A Certificate of Institutional Accreditation”; “Appendix B Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes”, etc.

6. Appendices

Provide additional data to document the program and compliance with the Standards.

Survey data from students, graduates, faculty, and employers/clinical supervisorsshould be included.YoumayusethesampleformsprovidedbyCARTE in this documentasfollows:

• Self-StudyStudentSurvey
• GraduateSurvey
• FacultySurvey
• EmployerSurvey

Additionalquestionsmaybeaddedtoallsurveysprovidedthatminimuminformationasdisplayed inthesampleformsisincluded.Foreachsurvey,besuretoinserta“blank”copyofthesurvey formsusedfor the requiredgraduateand employersurveys.Theseformsare usedby the Programto collectsomeoftherequired“outcomes”data. Note,additionalorsupplementalquestionsmaybe addedtothesurveys. Inadditiontotheblankforms,thesummarydatafromtherequiredGraduate SurveyandtheEmployerSurveyshouldbeincludedintheCompetenciesandLearningOutcomessectionoftheSelf-StudyReport.

Alsoincludea“blank”copyofthesurveyformsusedfortheFacultySurveyandthe Self-StudyStudentSurvey.TheFacultySurveyis usedto collectdataaboutthe programfromindividualfacultymembers(fullandparttime).TheSelf-StudyStudentSurveyshouldallowforanonymousinputfromcurrentlyenrolledstudents.

Otherimportantinformationto includein the AppendicesSectionincludes:

• StudentHandbook
• InternshipManual
• TechnicalStandards
• AdmissionProcessand Application
• AnnualAssessment Reports(forindependentdegreeprograms)
• OtherpoliciesandproceduresasdelineatedintheStandardsandGuidelines.

AdditionalMaterials/Information

IncludeaCDorwebaddresstoaccessthelatesteditionoftheinstitution’sgeneralcatalog/bulletinforits educationalprograms.

Ifyouhaveanyquestions duringthepreparation ofthisSelf-Study document, pleasecalloremailthe

CARTEOfficeforassistance:

Bryan McCormick, PhD, CTRS, FDRT, CARTE Chair

812 855-3482

Program Overview

Name of College/University:

Degree:

Discuss the historical development of the program

State the program’s Goal(s) and Objectives

Describe methods utilized to assure the continued appropriateness of the program’s Goal(s) and Objectives

Describe how the Goal(s) and Objectives are utilized in program planning and implementation

Describe any special considerations, which impact your program characteristics

State the mission of the sponsoring institution

State the mission of the Program

Institutional/Program Information Form

Name of College/University:

Name of Program:

Program Information

What is the configuration of the Recreational Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation academic program?

Bachelor Degree in Recreational Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation

Option in Recreational Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation under a different degree

Level of Program(s) / Undergraduate
Length of program (in semesters)
Total credit hours for completion
Maximum class size (capacity)
Actual current enrollment
Number of students admitted per year
Semesters students are admitted
Type of degree awarded
Number of paid RT/TR faculty / FT: / PT:
Number of internship sites
Year program enrolled first class

*Please add a current program organizational chart that reflects the administrative location of the RT/TR degree program within the College/School.

Program Director: ______Date: ______

Signature

Standards and Guidelines Compliance Response Form

Name of College/University:

Name of Program:

Directions: This form provides the Program the opportunity for verification of compliance with the Standards and Guidelines. This verification should be supported by information or data which should appear in an appendices section of the Self-Study Report. For each Standard, describe how the

Standard is met at your institution and in your program. Include supporting documentation in the appendices that further documents compliance with each Standard. Suggestions for documentation are provided. Provide the exact location of supporting documentation within the appendices so reviewers have a clear indication of where information on standards compliance is located in your Self-Study Report.

I. Sponsorship

Standard / Narrative Verification by Program / Documentation for Appendices
I.A. Sponsoring Education Institution
A sponsoring institution must be at least one of the following:
1. A post-secondary academic institution accredited by an institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and authorized under applicable law or other acceptable authority to provide a postsecondary program, which awards a minimum of a baccalaureate degree at the completion of the program. or / Suggested Documentation:

• letter and/or certificate showing current institutional accreditation award/status

2. A foreign post-secondary academic institution acceptable to CAAHEP, which is authorized under applicable law or other acceptable authority to provide a postsecondary program, which awards a minimum of a baccalaureate degree at the completion of the academic program. / Suggested Documentation:

• letter and/or certificate showing current institutional accreditation award/status

I.B. Consortium Sponsor (IF APPLICABLE)
1. A consortium sponsor is an entity consisting of two or more members that exists for the purpose of operating an educational program. In such instances, at least one of the members of the consortium must meet the requirements of a sponsoring educational institution as described in I.A. / Suggested Documentation:

• letter and/or certificate showing current institutional accreditation award/status for member meeting I.A.1 or I.A.2

2. The responsibilities of each member of the consortium must be clearly documented in a formal affiliation agreement or memorandum of understanding, which includes governance and lines of authority. / Suggested Documentation:

• copy of consortium agreement/memorandum of understanding

I.C. Responsibilities of Sponsor
The Sponsor must ensure that the provisions of these Standards are met.

II. Program goals

Standard / Verification by Program / Documentation for Appendices
II. A. Program Goals and Outcomes
There must be a written statement of the program’s goals and learning domains consistent with and responsive to the demonstrated needs and expectations of the various communities of interest served by the educational program. The communities of interest that are served by the program must include, but are not limited to, students, graduates, faculty, sponsor administration, employers, physicians, and the public.
Program-specific statements of goals and learning domains provide the basis for program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Such goals and learning domains must be compatible with the mission of the sponsoring institution(s), the expectations of the communities of interest, and nationally accepted standards of the roles and functions. Goals and learning domains are based upon the substantiated needs of health care and human service providers and employers, and the educational needs of the students served by the educational program. / Suggested Documentation:

• Copy/list of program goals and learning domains from program publications

II. B. Appropriateness of Goals and Learning Domains
The program must regularly assess its goals and learning domains. Program personnel must identify and respond to changes in the needs and/or expectations of its communities of interest.
An advisory committee, which is representative of at least each of the communities of interest named in these Standards, must be designated and charged with the responsibility of meeting at least annually to assist program and sponsor personnel in formulating and periodically revising appropriate goals and learning domains, monitoring needs and expectations, and ensuring program responsiveness to change. / Suggested Documentation:

• Roster of Advisory Committee members, identifying what community of interest each member represents
• Copies of Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

II. C. Minimum Expectations
The program must have the following goal defining minimum expectations: “To prepare competent entry-level recreational therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
Programs adopting educational goals beyond entry-level competence must clearly delineate this intent and provide evidence that all students have achieved the basic competencies prior to entry into the field.
Nothing in this Standard restricts programs from formulating goals beyond entry-level competence.

III. RESOURCES

Standard / Verification by Program / Documentation for Appendices
III. A. Type and Amount
Program resources must be sufficient to ensure the achievement of the program’s goals and outcomes. Resources must include, but are not limited to: faculty; clerical and support staff; curriculum; finances; offices; classroom, laboratory, and, ancillary student facilities; clinical affiliates; equipment; supplies; computer resources; instructional reference materials, and faculty/staff continuing education.
III. B. Personnel
The sponsor must appoint sufficient faculty and staff with the necessary qualifications to perform the functions identified in documented job descriptions and to achieve the program’s stated goals and outcomes.
III.B. 1.a. Program Director Responsibilities
The Program Director must:
1)Coordinate all aspects of the program, including the organization, administration, continuous review, planning, development and achievement of program’s goals and outcomes.
2)Establish criteria for sites that provide clinical education experiences for students.
3)Evaluate on an annual and planned basis all clinical education sites where students are gaining clinical experience.
4)Provide a clinical instructor orientation and evaluation program.
5)Ensure regularly planned communication between the program and the clinical instructor.
6)Ensure all clinical education experiences of students occur under the direct supervision of a recreational therapy licensed/certified clinical instructor. / Suggested Documentation:

• Program Director Job Description

III.B. 1.b. Program Director Qualifications
The Program Director must:
1)Possess a minimum of an earned Masters Degree.
2)Be full-time consistent with institutional practices.
3)Have a minimum of three (3)years of relevant professional experience, including a minimum of one (1) year of direct service delivery in recreational therapy/therapeutic recreation.
4)Be nationally certified, in good standing, in RT/TR
5)Have registration, certification, or licensure as required by state laws. / Suggested Documentation:

• Program Director resume/vita

III.B.2.a. Faculty and/or Instructional Staff Responsibilities
Faculty and other instructional staff must provide instruction and assess students’ knowledge and clinical proficiencies and where appropriate mentor students in the development of effective recreational therapy practice competencies / Suggested Documentation:

• Faculty/Instructional Staff Job Description

III.B. 2. b. Faculty and/or Instructional Staff Qualifications
Faculty and instructional staff must:
1)Possess a minimum of an earned Master’s Degree.
2)Be knowledgeable in the subject matter taught and be credentialed as appropriate.
3)Recreational therapy faculty must have a minimum of three (3) years of related field experience, including a minimum of one (1) year of direct service delivery in RT/TR.
4)Recreational therapy faculty and staff must be nationally certified, in good standing, in RT/TR and have registration, certification, or licensure as required by state laws. /

• Include in section 3. Information on Faculty a Faculty Biographical Sketch form for all full- and part-time faculty

III.B. 3. Clinical Instructors Responsibilities
Clinical Instructors must:
1)Supervise students during clinical experiences and be consistently and physically present (i.e., provide face-to-face supervision and evaluation, etc.) and have the ability to intervene on behalf of the student (or patient/consumer) to provide on-going and consistent education.
2)Interact consistently and physically with the student at the site of the clinical experience.
3)Participate in regularly planned communication between the program and the clinical instructor.
4)Provide instruction and clinical experience inrelevant practice competencies delineated in Appendix B.
5)Evaluate students’ performance.
6)Assist students to complete a self-assessment of practice competencies at the completion of the clinical education experience. / Suggested Documentation:

• Clinical Instructors Job Description

III.B. 3. b. Clinical Instructors Qualifications
Clinical Instructors must:
1)Possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
2)Be nationally certified, in good standing, in RT/TR and have registration, certification, or licensure as required by state laws.
3)Be appropriately credentialed for one (1) or more year(s) and have a minimum of one (1) year of direct service delivery in RT/TR / Include in section 3. Information on Faculty a Faculty Biographical Sketch form for all clinical instructors
III. C. Curriculum
The curriculum must ensure the achievement of program goals and learning domains. Instruction must be an appropriate sequence of classroom, laboratory, and clinical activities. Instruction must be based on clearly written course syllabi that include course description, course objectives, methods of evaluation, topic outline, and competencies required for graduation.
Curriculum competency requirements mustinclude the curriculum content areas and corresponding competencies adapted from the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) Guidelines for Competency Assessment and Curriculum Planning for Recreational Therapy Practice (2008) stated in Appendix B. / See requirements for section 2. Course Content and Syllabi
III. D. Resources Assessment
The program must, at least annually, assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the resources described in these Standards. The results of resource assessment must be the basis for ongoing planning and appropriate change. An action plan must be developed when deficiencies are identified in the program resources. Implementation of the action plan must be documented and results measured by ongoing resource assessment. / Suggested Documentation:

• Survey results

IV. STUDENT AND GRADUATE EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT

Standard / Verification by Program / Documentation for Appendices
IV.A. Student Evaluation
IV.A.1. Frequency and Purpose
Evaluation of students must be conducted on a recurrent basis and with sufficient frequency to provide both the students and program faculty with valid and timely indications of the students’ progress toward and achievement of the competencies and learning domains stated in the curriculum. / Suggested Documentation:

• Copies of evaluation forms used to evaluate students throughout the program

IV. A. 2. Documentation
Records of student evaluations must be maintained in sufficient detail to document learning progress and achievements.
IV. B. Outcomes
IV. B.1. Outcomes Assessment
The program must periodically assess its effectiveness in achieving its stated goals and learning domains. The results of this evaluation must be reflected in the review and timely revision of the program.
Outcomes assessments must include, but are not limited to: national credentialing examination performance, programmatic retention/attrition, graduate satisfaction, employer satisfaction, job (positive) placement, and programmatic summative measures. / See requirements for section 5. Competencies and Learning Outcomes
The program must meet the outcomes assessment thresholds of CARTE.
Student retention rates from the past three years are ≥ 65%.
NCTRC Credentialing Exam pass rate is >70%
Graduate Satisfaction average rating of ≥ 3.0 on a 5-point scale.
Graduate Survey Return Rate Data should be collected to establish appropriate threshold.
Clinical Supervisor Performance Evaluation: 70% of interns obtain rating 3.0 (achieves expectations)
Clinical Intern Competency Self-Assessment: 70% of interns rating 3.0 (average perceived competence)
Required RT Content Areas: To receive a CARTE recommendation for CAAHEP accreditation, the academic program must have courses that match 76% of RT Content Areas (5 of 7).
Required RT required knowledge and skill competencies: To receive CARTE recommendation for CAAHEP accreditation, the academic program must demonstrate evidence of teaching 91% or 77 of the 85 required recreational therapy knowledge and skill competencies.
Required Support Content Areas: To receive a CARTE recommendation for CAAHEP accreditation, the academic program must have courses that match 76% of Support Content Areas (5 of 7).
Required Support Content Areas: To receive a CARTE recommendation for CAAHEP accreditation, the academic program must demonstrate evidence of teaching 91% or 26 of the 29 Support Content knowledge and skill competencies.
Positive Placement
“Positive placement” means that the graduate is employed full or part-time in a related field; and/or continuing his/her education; and/or serving in the military.
Employer Survey Return Rate
Employer Satisfaction Survey

V. FAIR PRACTICES