In order to successfully implement program changes or starting a new program, it is important to list out the tasks that need to be completed, the timeline and order in which to complete these tasks as well as who will carry out each task.  

Physical Therapy "Aides" are not licensed individuals and an associates degree is not required for this.  Now, creating a certificate program for a Rehab Aide is not a bad idea and can definitely be investigated by our institution, especially if it can potentially improve our clinical partner relationships and generate additional enrollees to our Physical Therapist Assistant program.  Understanding any new industry is extremely important when considering the addition of a new program. 

Knowing every aspect of who your community is and what information and insight they can offer can provide insight into either the type of a new program to offer or how a current program can be modified to meet the demands of the community.  

There is a great deal involved in creating a new program.  Knowing the demographics of the surrounding communities that your school serves can help identify if there are potential leads for future students and what their challenges might be to attending your new program.  Knowing what the job market is like for your community is also important as you would not want to offer a program where there is no projected job growth.  

Marketing is how we reach out to the community to recruit our next cohort of students.  It is how we let the community know what programs are offered at our institution.  Tracking the leads that are generated through specific marketing campaigns allows an institution to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign and if adjustments need to be made.  

It is interesting to see what goes in to creating the organizational chart and the importance of having an advisory board.  As for the library services, we have a mandatory assignment early on in the program for students to learn how to navigate and utilize our online library.  

Student services is really designed to serve the student from admissions to graduation.  I was surprised to see Career Services listed under this topic since Gurnick has a separate Career Services department.  I was also surprised to see internships and externships listed as a potential service that could be offered through Student Services.  Our program has internships built in so we would not be utilizing Student Services for those experiences.  

Creating a 5 year plan involves a process by which an school looks at their current programs and identifies where growth is either appropriate or if any programs should be phased out - based on community needs and program success and continued feasibility for operation.  

Experience as a teacher, when compared with student success factors that coincide with the experience, can provide valuable insight for the assignment of instructors to specific classes and even with specific student demographics.

Prompt (w/in 30 days) evaluation of teaching faculty, then regular evaluation is vital for optimal performance and outcomes