DuBOIS, Pa. — The end of the semester is typically a busy time for academic programs, as well as the faculty and students within those programs. That couldn’t be more true for the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program at Penn State DuBois at the close of the spring 2024 semester. In addition to closing out the academic year, the program attended a health and wellness fair and celebrated achieving full 10-year reaccreditation status.

Students and faculty members from the OTA program attended the health and wellness fair at Christ the King Manor in DuBois on April 25. The fair gave the opportunity for residents of the continuing care retirement community and guests to find information and attend presentations from several organizations in the community. The OTA program at Penn State DuBois offered several health and wellness mini sessions and conducted a CarFit and safe driving event.

CarFit, a program created in 2006, is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently fit their personal vehicle. The program highlights actions they can take to improve their fit, making for safer travels. Another goal of the program is to promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility. At the health and wellness fair, students assisted attendees with working through the program and made suggestions to help improve how well the individuals fit in their vehicles.

The health and wellness fair at Christ the King Manor has become an annual event that the OTA program at Penn State DuBois attends to interact with local community members and offer them insights into improving their mobility and quality of life.

The OTA program also celebrated a milestone this semester. The program achieved reaccreditation status with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) for a full 10-year cycle. This reaccreditation will carry the program through the 2033-34 academic year. To receive reaccreditation, the program had to complete a full audit to ensure all guidelines are met within the accreditation standards.

“Achieving this maximum reaccreditation status of 10 years is a huge accomplishment for our program,” said LuAnn Delbrugge, associate teaching professor and program director. “Receiving full reaccreditation from our accrediting organization, ACOTE, demonstrates that the OTA program has met rigorous national standards and continues to stay current on advancements in the field of occupational therapy. This reaccreditation confirms that OTA students at Penn State DuBois are receiving a top-quality education that prepares them to enter a career in occupational therapy.”

To learn more about the OTA program at Penn State DuBois, visit the program website.