Growing a post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (ppOTD) program can help universities expand access to advanced education for working occupational therapy professionals. But sustainable growth requires more than increasing enrollment.
Institutions also need to consider faculty capacity, curriculum, student support, technology, and the infrastructure required to maintain a high-quality academic experience as programs grow.
What Does It Take to Grow a ppOTD Program?
Increasing enrollment can affect nearly every part of a program.
Before expanding capacity, institutions should consider:
- Faculty workload and availability
- Curriculum development and delivery
- Student support
- Technology and learning infrastructure
- Program operations
- Academic quality and consistency
Understanding these needs early can help leaders identify potential capacity constraints before they limit growth.
How Can Universities Increase ppOTD Capacity?
Expanding capacity does not have to mean placing additional demands on existing faculty.
Universities can evaluate where curriculum resources, technology, standardized processes, and additional support could strengthen program delivery while allowing faculty to focus their expertise on student engagement, feedback, mentorship, and assessment.
Strelis Programs™ supports post-professional health professions education through models designed to extend institutional capacity while preserving faculty leadership and academic quality.
Why Does Sustainable Program Capacity Matter?
Growth should be sustainable for the institution, faculty, and students.
Evaluating capacity alongside enrollment goals can help leaders understand what resources will be needed to support growth without sacrificing the quality of the educational experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a ppOTD program?
A post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (ppOTD) program provides advanced doctoral education for occupational therapy professionals who have already entered the profession.
How can universities expand ppOTD enrollment?
Universities can evaluate faculty capacity, curriculum, technology, student support, and operational infrastructure to determine what additional resources or support may be needed to accommodate growth.
How can universities support faculty as ppOTD programs grow?
Institutions can evaluate where curriculum resources, technology, standardized processes, and additional support can reduce unnecessary workload and allow faculty to focus their expertise on higher-value academic activities.
Explore the Infographic
Building sustainable ppOTD capacity requires institutions to think beyond enrollment and consider the resources that make growth possible.
Building ppOTD Capacity provides a closer look at how universities can strengthen the infrastructure needed to support program growth.
[View the Building ppOTD Capacity Infographic]
