ASOT OTD Program Student Handbook

Due to the high expectations of this doctoral-level, professional program and the high caliper of students admitted to this program, OTD student academic or professional behavior that has been reported and is deemed to be misaligned with or unsupportive of the ASOT OTD Statement of Professionalism will be actionable according to the Spalding University Catalog, specifically policies within the Academic Status and Appeals and Student Life Violations sections. In alignment with this governing document, actions taken by this ASOT OTD program may include developmental advising, issuing a formal Notification of Concern, probation, suspension from the program, and/or expulsion from the University. Each action will be documented in the student’s record.

In the event that the reported concern is (a) out of compliance with the identified governing documents, (b) a growth opportunity for the development of behavior, and (c) considered remediable, then a Success Plan may be drafted. The Success Plan may be shared with the OTD student, his/her faculty advisor, and Program Chair and saved in the student's ASOT file.  

If the reported concern about an OTD student's behavior includes poor ethics, safety, and/or judgment, then a Notification of Concern (NOC) is drafted. An NOC is considered a “warning” as defined in the University Catalog.  An NOC may be written by any ASOT faculty, ASOT leader, or Spalding University administrator who witnesses OTD student behavior that is inconsistent with this Statement of Professionalism. Copies of the NOC will be sent to the OTD student, the student’s faculty advisor, the ASOT OTD Chair, and the Dean of Graduate Students (as needed) and saved in the student's ASOT file and the official file within the University.

An ASOT OTD student may receive no more than two (2) NOCs throughout his/her enrollment in this program. If an OTD student earns one more, then the student will be dismissed from the program. This policy is in alignment with Spalding University's Catalog, Professional Integrity section, item #4.

The attachments in this section contain ASOT's OTD Success Plan and Notification of Concern (NOC). These documents will be used to support and/or require professional development according to the policies described in this Student Handbook. These documents will be edited for updates and modifications as this program and the demands of health care evolve. The student is responsible for being up-to-date with the content of this handbook and these documents.

The following steps will occur when an academic or professional behavior-related issue is identified:

1. The ASOT  faculty member or leader receiving the formal report will meet with the student to identify or discuss the behavior, to discuss his/her perspective, and to counsel the student on behavior consistent with ASOT’s Statement of Professionalism. One or each of the following steps will occur, depending on the nature of the reported concern:

   1. The student will have an opportunity to share his/her perspective regarding the behavior of concern;

   2. Faculty/Chair will document the meeting in the student’s record;

   3. A Success Plan may be drafted (as a supportive document);

   4. A Notification of Concern (NOC) may be drafted.

2. If the faculty determines that the student has a recurrence of an unprofessional behavior prior to the completion of the program OR terms of the Success Plan or NOC are not being fulfilled, then the student and faculty member will meet with the ASOT OTD Chair and the Spalding University Dean of Graduate Studies to determine the next course of action to include revision of the Success Plan/NOC, academic probation, or dismissal from the ASOT OTD program and/or Spalding University.

3. Upon completion of the Success Plan/NOC or the time frame has expired per terms of these documents, whichever occurs first, the Program Chair, Spalding University Dean of Graduate Studies, and faculty member will assess the student’s progress to determine if the terms of these documents have or have not been met. If met, then the student will continue progression in the program with his/her student record showing these events. If not met, see the next section, "Repercussions."

This section aligns with Spalding University Catalog's Academic Status and Appeals policies.

According to the purview of this OTD program and depending on the nature of these academic and/or professional behavior-related issues, the student may be dismissed from the program upon the first offense, as well as the University. Students are responsible for reading and understanding the policies, procedures, and processes, to include appeal processes, described in Spalding University’s Catalog and Student Handbook.

The following actions are the repercussions resulting from academic and/or professional behaviors that are out of compliance with the AOTA Code of Ethics, Spalding University’s Catalog and Student Handbook, and the ASOT OTD Student Handbook, specifically the Statement of Professionalism. Each item is documented in the OTD student’s record.

• Advising on behavior with or without a Success Plan or formal Notification of Concern;

• Probation for actions that require a Success Plan;

• Dismissal due to student unwilling or unable to meet the terms of the Success Plan or due to substantiated reports of egregious behaviors unbecoming of Spalding University, ASOT, or the profession;

• Immediate dismissal due to felony conviction or behaviors that would prohibit occupational therapy licensure.

According to the purview of this OTD program and depending on the nature of these academic and/or professional behavior-related issues, the student may be dismissed from the program, as well as the University, upon the first offense. Students are responsible for reading and understanding the policies, procedures, and processes, to include appeal processes, described in Spalding University’s Catalog and Student Handbook.