Mission
The Physical Therapy Program is dedicated to excellence as demonstrated through national recognition. We are committed to academic inquiry and expression by fostering evidence-based healthcare research, teaching, service and public engagement. We are committed to cultivating leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Our mission is to advance the health and well-being of the citizens of Connecticut, the nation and beyond, in a sustainable manner, through research and the preparation of highly competent physical therapists prepared for general practice.
Strategic Goals and Expected Program Outcomes
Strategic Goal 1: Provide a challenging, collegial, and diverse learning environment that fosters academic achievement, intellectual curiosity and excellence in preparation for contemporary clinical practice.
Expected Outcomes:
- Demonstrate excellence in teaching and student evaluation as well as contemporary expertise in areas of teaching responsibility as measured by:
- 100% of the core faculty will demonstrate contemporary expertise in assigned teaching content as measured by University and Departmental Student Evaluation of Teaching, graduate assessment, and peer assessment
- 100% of core faculty will score an average of “very good to excellent” on University and Department Student Evaluation of Teaching annually
- 100% of core faculty will be recognized for Teaching Excellence by the University Provost
- At least 50% of core faculty will maintain evidence of advanced specialty training, including ABPTS Clinical Specialization, Fellowships, and other recognized credentials of advanced clinical practice skills
Strategic Goal 2: Continue a record of research and scholarship as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, presentations at regional, national and international meetings by faculty and students and intramural and extramural funding.
Expected Outcomes:
- 50% of core faculty will be actively engaged in scientific research with at least one grant submission, two published manuscripts, and regular scholarly presentations at the state, national, or international level annually.
- 100% of core faculty will have an active scholarly agenda with at least two disseminated scholarly products each year.
Strategic Goal 3: Faculty and students serve the physical therapy profession through service, scholarship and leadership.
Expected Outcomes:
- 100% of core faculty will be actively engaged in service to, scholarship and/or leadership within the profession through local, state, or national level of a health sciences-related professional organization or journal
- 100% of students participate in one or more professional activities annually (i.e., attending conferences, PT student service initiatives, state or national meetings) prior to graduation
- One student annually will serve as liaison to the Student Special Interest Group of APTA Connecticut.
Strategic Goal 4: Faculty and students serve our communities through initiatives that promote a healthy, active lifestyle to promote health and wellness.
Expected Outcomes:
- Faculty will facilitate 100% of DPT students in the provision of a minimum of 30 hours in a service learning/public engagement experience in the community.
- 100% of DPT students will plan for and provide an annual health and wellness fair at a local facility in the community with faculty supervision and guidance.
Strategic Goal 5: Faculty and students serve our communities through sustainable initiatives that provide best-practice physical therapy to underserved and vulnerable people.
Expected Outcomes:
- Core faculty will integrate provision of best-practice physical services to underserved and vulnerable people into core clinical courses
- 100% of core licensed faculty will meaningfully contribute to the provision of physical therapy services to underserved and vulnerable people in our community
- 100% of students will participate in program initiatives that deliver care to underserved and vulnerable people
Values
The Physical Therapy Program faculty:
- Value truth, honesty and open communication;
- Consider academic freedom and debate necessary for program development and well-being;
- Expect all members of the Program to be thoughtful, considerate, patient and to maintain positive working relationships with each other;
- Expect transparency in administrative actions within the limits of protection of personal privacy as is in keeping with the public mission of the University and an inclusive Program community;
- Anticipate that each member of the Program will accept responsibility for their performance improvement and that of the Program;
- Expect professionalism (conforming to the standards of the academic and physical therapy professions) of each member of the Program community;
- Consider instruction that integrates research and practice and is offered within an environment that both challenges and supports students essential to the development of life-long clinician-scholars;
- Embrace diversity in patients, students, faculty and staff as essential to the development of effective physical therapy practitioners and leaders;
- Accept responsibility to pursue scholarship that advances science and clinical practice;
- Value the integration of the best available evidence, clinician experience and patient values in the practice of physical therapy;
- Recognize that a high quality clinical teaching program is a vital part of the curriculum and integral to the success of the Program;
- Value service and public engagement as essential experiences that enhance student and faculty research, support curriculum development and promote the University, Department, and Program as well as its faculty and students.
