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GANNON ADDS SECOND
DOCTORAL PROGRAM, IN PHYSICAL THERAPY
Gannon University has introduced a second doctoral program, a clinical
offering leading to the doctor of physical therapy degree.
Gannon began offering the
doctor of physical therapy program in the fall semester, which began Aug.
25, said Charles Meacci, Ed.D., professor and chairperson of
physical therapy. More than 30 students are enrolled in the program,
Meacci said.
“The doctoral program will
provide a higher level of training that will more thoroughly prepare
Gannon University graduates to enter into the profession,” he added.
The program requires
students to earn 105 credits over the course of eight consecutive
semesters. The first class of doctoral students will graduate in May 2007.
The new program represents a
modification and enhancement of the university’s former master’s-level
program in physical therapy. While the 50-plus students who were already
enrolled in the master’s program will be able to finish their degrees,
Gannon will no longer accept new master’s-level physical therapy students.
All of the current
master’s-level students are expected to graduate by December 2005, Meacci
said. Once they have earned the master’s degree, those students will have
the option to continue and pursue the doctoral degree.
Those students would not
have to earn the full 105 credits, as would other new students entering
the doctoral program.
According to Meacci, doctor
of physical therapy degree programs are becoming the norm in higher
education. In 1999, there were only six such accredited programs
nationally. By July 2004, that number had increased to 104, according to
the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education Update.
The commission also noted
that there were an additional 70 schools that were in the process of
converting lower-level programs into doctor of physical therapy programs,
as well as a handful of institutions that were planning to introduce
entirely new programs at the doctoral level.
In a proposal to elevate the
university’s master’s program to the doctoral level, Meacci and other
Gannon faculty members detailed the trend based on a statement issued in
2000 by the House of Delegates of the American Physical Therapy
Association (APTA).
The Gannon proposal reads,
“The APTA adopted a vision … that by 2020, physical therapy will be
provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy,
recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the
practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for diagnosis
of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional
limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health.”
The doctoral program
includes several modifications from the master’s offering:
- An increase in academic semesters, from seven to
eight;
- An increase in clinical education, from 28 weeks
to 40;
- An increase in research credit hours, from eight
to 10 credits;
- The addition of a five-credit community health
initiative designed to improve students’ skills in health promotion and
wellness, and to develop their “professional role” as health educators,
advocates, and consultants;
- The addition of elective credits that will allow
students to “customize” their education and allow them to take courses
in disciplines such as business, dietetics, nursing, education,
psychology/counseling, foreign languages, exercise science and others,
to include independent study.
The university introduced its first doctoral program, in counseling
psychology, in 1998.
OUR EVENTS
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Thursday, September 9
– World
Peace Prayer Service/9-11 Memorial: To be held at 11 a.m. in the
Yehl Room.
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Thursday, September 9
–
Open Faculty Meeting: To be held at 3 p.m. in the lower level of
Nash Library. The Senators will be introduced, contact people will give
updates, and there will be an opportunity for faculty input. Sponsored
by Faculty Senate.
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Thursday, September
16
–
Community Mass: Offered at 11 a.m. in the Chapel.
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Saturday, September 18
– GIVE
(Gannon's Invitation to Volunteer Everywhere) Day: Students will
perform community service at a number of local agencies and
organizations.
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Saturday, September 18
– Nash Library Celebrity
Auction/Murder Mystery: The murder mystery, “Eat the Lutfisk,” is
written and produced by Deb West, head of reference at Nash Library. In
addition, hundreds of items will be auctioned off. The event will be
held at the library; doors open at 6 p.m.
Tickets
are $10. All proceeds will benefit Nash Library. For more information
call ext. 7667 or ext. 7666.
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Friday, September 24
–
Gannon University’s
Erie Chamber Orchestra: The concert will feature as
soloist Kelly Fiona Lynch, coloratura soprano. 7:30 p.m. at Saint
Patrick Church, 130 East Fourth Street.
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Thursday, September 30
–
Gannon
University’s Schuster Theatre: “Defying Gravity” by Jane Anderson.
Directed by Edward Helenski, technical director, Schuster
Theatre.
Scheduled for 8 p.m. Performances also will be held Oct. 1-3 and
Oct. 7-9.
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Tuesday, October 5
–
Graduate and Professional School Fair: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Yehl
Room. More than 50 schools, including Gannon, and 100 academic programs
will be represented. Call ext. 7680 or 7735 for more information.
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“Our Events”
is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events.
For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.
CURRENT BIRTHDAYS
Ann
Silverthorn. Debra Bartle. Ronda Hogan. Jay DiFrank. Abdelrahman Aburachis.
Ludwik Medeksza. Susan Grande. Judith Van Rheenen. Rev. Edward Krause.
John Crandall. Gong Chen. David Fracassi. Monica Pierri-Galvao. Lawrence
Kisko. Colin Peterson. Betty Jo Chitester. Shawn Clerkin. Shelly Bentley.
Barbara Monschein. Ann Banko. Karinna Vernaza. Anna Kranz. Donna Skelly.
David Horton. Melissa Gibson. James McPherson. Calvin McCommons. Michael
Caulfield. Mary Beth Belczyk. Mary Jo Geertson. Tammy Weary. Thomas
Comstock.
THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE
Tuesday, September 7 – Strategic Planning
Task Force Meeting. Wednesday,
September 8
– United Way Campaign Kick-off with Erie Rotary; meeting with Gannon
University fraternities and sororities.
Thursday, September 9 – Gathering in Praise. Friday,
September 10 – Civic Coordinating Committee meeting; luncheon with Dr.
Charles Glassick; Dedication Ceremony for R. Benjamin Wiley Way; GECAC
annual dinner. Saturday, September 11 –
Gannon football: vs. Ashland at Gannon University Field.
HEARD ON
CAMPUS
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Faculty Development Grant Application: the
deadline for applications is 4 p.m. on Friday, September 24. Completed
proposals should be mailed to the committee chair, Dr. Mehmet Cultu, at
box 3148. Faculty members can request applications by calling Cultu at
ext. 7624, or downloading them from http://walleye.gannon.edu/depts/faculty.
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Special thanks to Gannon colleagues for their
assistance with media interview requests. Timothy Downs, Ph.D.,
dean of the College of Humanities, Business, and Education, and Mark
Jubulis, Ph.D., associate professor and chairman of History,
Political Science, and Legal Studies, were interviewed by Veronica
Gorley of the Erie Times-News on the Erie County Academy for Collegiate
and Advanced Studies. The academy allows high school juniors and seniors
to take Gannon classes two days a week at the Regional Skills Center.
Charles
Meacci, Ed.D.,
professor and chairperson of physical therapy, did an interview with
Veronica Gorley on the university's new doctor of physical therapy
degree program (see lead story above for more information).
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The Office of Admissions
is still in its current home, the Palumbo Academic Center, and will not
move to Gitnik Manse until Sept. 30. Prior to that date, please refer
visitors looking for Admissions to the Palumbo Center. Call ext. 5759 with any questions.
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Gannon colleagues are reminded to send in responses
for the Speakers Bureau/Media Resource Directory. (The deadline
was July 6 as noted in Dr. Dalton’s memo.) If you have not
yet responded, please complete the form and return it to the
Communications Office. If you do not have a copy of the form, contact
Jeannie Kloecker at ext. 5816 or e-mail
kloecker001. Unless you provide notification otherwise by today, you
will no longer be included in the Speakers Bureau/Media Resource
Directory listings.
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