Northeastern State University

Outcomes Assessment
Doctor of Optometry Degree
Bachelor of Science in Vision Science

• 2010-2011
• 2010-2011 Progression
• 2010 Passage Statistics
• Academic Retention Standards

2010-2011

The following information assesses the achievement of outcomes objectives expressed for the Doctor of Optometry and Bachelor of Science in Vision Science degrees. The outcomes assessments for both degrees are identical in years one and two of the programs; years three and four complete the outcomes assessments for the Doctor of Optometry degree.

1. Students admitted to the professional optometry program will have a broad foundation in those basic sciences which will enable them to proceed to the study of those scientific concepts directly applicable to optometry. Students applying to the College of Optometry must take the Optometry Admission Test and score satisfactorily on that exam. Knowledge areas tested on the exam include mathematics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics. Entering students must also have achieved a minimum of 2.7 GPA on all undergraduate course work.

Students admitted into the College of Optometry have consistently met and exceeded entering standards for the program. The admissions exam (OAT) is administered by the American Dental Association and can now be taken on-line at any time. Scores on the exam range from 200 (lowest possible score) to 400.

A class profile for the past six entering classes follows, as well as a Progression Rate for all students for the current academic year (2010-2011).

Class Profile and Progression Rate - Academic Year 2010-2011

* Class statistics may change if composition of the class at point of matriculation changes - fall 2011.

National Board of Examination in Optometry (NBEO)

The National Board administers two types of examinations: complete, integrated comprehensive examination Parts; and a short, limited-scope, special examination. The three Parts of the standard "National Boards" are designed primarily for different stages of a candidate's optometric education and training. Special examinations, on the other hand, are designed primarily for practitioners who wish to broaden their scope of practice in accordance with expanding practice statutes. Listed below are the National Board examinations scheduled for 2011.

Comprehensive Part Examinations ("National Boards")

• Part I (Applied Basic Science)
• Part II (Patient Assessment and Management)
• Part III (Clinical Skills)

Special Examination

• Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease (TMOD)
• Advanced Competency in Medical Optometry (ACMO)

The three comprehensive examination Parts are designed as a complete set of examinations to assess the cognitive, psychomotor, affective, and communication skills that are essential for entry-level optometric practice.

Each examination Part is developed by a broad geographic cross-section of the optometric community, which includes faculty members, state board members, and practitioners. These subject-matter experts comprise test development committees that are responsible for developing a specific portion or section of an examination Part. For written examinations, this activity consists of reviewing, editing, and selecting test items written by the National Board's team of consultant item writers and case writers. All test items are scrutinized for accuracy, conformance to the specific test content outline, and appropriateness for entry-level difficulty.

Each examination development committee is represented on one of the three examination councils, each of which also has representation by a liaison member from the Board of Directors. Every council is responsible for the integration of the component sections of one of the Parts, and may be responsible for a related special examination (e.g., TMOD). Throughout this process, the examination councils are responsible for monitoring and maintaining the entry-level appropriateness of all test content.

Each examination council also directs and reviews the scoring of the corresponding examination Part. This process includes the identification of flawed test items that should be deleted from scoring and any irregularities that might exert either a random or systematic deleterious effect on the scoring. The councils are accountable to the Board of Directors, which is ultimately responsible for the validity of the examinations, and the reliability of the examination results.

Each of the three examination Parts of the National Board is administered twice each year. Both administrations of the respective Parts are designed to be alike with respect to content, difficulty, and pass-fail cutoff scores. As these examinations are integrated tests, they each have one overall pass-fail standard that must be met. This allows candidates to compensate for areas of relative subject-matter weakness by other areas of relative strength. However, candidates who fail the overall Part must repeat the entire Part.
National Board Passage Rate

Ultimate Pass Rate Statistics for Graduation Year 2010 – NSUOCO (most recent report as of publication date).

2. Students will acquire a knowledge and understanding of those aspects of optics and general human biology which will in turn allow them to study the visual process. Successful completion of basic courses in the first year of the curriculum will demonstrate that the student has acquired the foundation to continue on in the program.

Twenty-seven (27) of the twenty-eight (28) students who entered the program in the fall of 2010 advanced to the second year of the program. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the students completing the first year of the program met this outcomes objective and were advanced to the second year of the program.

3. The student will acquire a thorough knowledge and understanding of the optics, anatomy, physiology, and neurology of the eyes, vision, and perception. Students may demonstrate this knowledge by successful completion of the courses in years I, II and III (summer and fall) of the program and by passing Part I of the National Board of Examination in Optometry (Applied Basic Science Section). Students are eligible to sit for this section of the exam during the spring semester of their third year of the program (March administration).

As indicated in item 2, during the 2010-2011 academic year, twenty-seven of the twenty-eight students who completed the first year met all course requirements and were advanced into the second year. All twenty-eight (28) of the students in the second year of the program (100%) met course requirements and were advanced into the third year of the program.

The table above indicates the ultimate passage rate of NSUOCO students on all three parts of the National Board of Examination in Optometry prior to graduation. Historically, NSUOCO student performance on the NBEO consistently exceeds the average performance of students on the national average. Each year, the test scores are analyzed by the College and compared to the national averages. Faculty review each student’s performance as it pertains to their teaching area. Although no significant trends or areas of weakness within the curriculum have been indicated by our students' performances, the faculty review performance and discuss strategies for helping our students improve their performance. Faculty volunteer to hold workshops specific to their areas of teaching, and the student body also contracts with a group called KMK which holds a four-day review session on the campus for students preparing to take Part I. Students are encouraged to organize all of their study notes and materials at the completion of each semester, rather than wait to begin reviewing just prior to the NBEO and to use those study items in addition to the KMK Review Course.

4. Students will develop the skills to perform the tests, techniques, and procedures necessary for the detection of vision anomalies and ocular disease. Students are required to demonstrate these skills in successful completion of a practical examination in each of the four Optometry Clinical Methods courses.

During the 2010-2011 academic year, 100% of the students in all levels of the program completed the appropriate clinical practical examinations in each of the four Optometry Clinical Methods courses to demonstrate competency in their level of training.

5. The student will acquire the general principles of drug action, as well as the principles of ocular pharmacology and medical treatment, clinical administration of ocular drugs, utilization of diagnostic agents and specific treatment of ocular diseases. Students may demonstrate this knowledge by successful completion of the courses and by passing Part II of the National Board of Examination in Optometry (Clinical Science Section which includes Pharmacology). Students are eligible to sit for this section of the exam during the fourth year of the program (December administration of the exam).

During the 2010-2011 academic year, all students were successful in completing the appropriate courses dealing with drug action, principles of ocular pharmacology and medical treatment, clinical administration of ocular drugs, and utilization of diagnostic agents and the treatment of ocular diseases. The December 2010 performance of NSUOCO students on Part II of the National Boards is included in the table on page 2. All twenty-six (26) students who took Part II for the first time in December 2010 passed the examination for a pass rate of 100%.

6. Students will be provided with enough supervised patient encounters to enable the student to put to use the knowledge gained in a clinical setting. Students may demonstrate this knowledge by successfully achieving a passing grade on daily clinical encounters.

During the 2010-2011 academic year, all students in all four years of the program received a passing grade in all clinical courses (100%).

7. Students will acquire understanding of scientific methodology and have an appreciation for research and statistics in order to continue their life-long education after optometry school. Students will demonstrate this knowledge by successfully completing an Optometry Research Project during the third and fourth years of the program.

During the 2010-2011 academic year all students enrolled in the Research Methodology class and Optometry Research Projects courses were successful in completing the course requirements.

8. Students will be provided with appropriate information about running a private practice with all small business aspects to enable them to make a living for themselves and their families. Students will demonstrate this knowledge by successfully completing the courses in Practice Management.

During the 2010-2011 academic year, 100% of the third and fourth year students successfully completed all courses in the Practice Management area and received passing letter grades.

9. Students will be provided with enough supervised patient encounters to enable the student to put to use the knowledge gained in a clinical setting. Students may demonstrate this knowledge by successfully achieving a passing rate on daily clinical evaluations and by passing the Clinical Proficiency Tests which are scheduled throughout years three and four of the curriculum. Students must also demonstrate clinical proficiency by passing Part III of the National Boards (administered in April of the student's last year).

During the 2010-2011 academic year, 100% of the third year students and 100% of the fourth year students successfully completed all courses in the Clinical Practice area and received passing grades. Twenty-six (26) OS IV students took the Part III NBEO in April 2011, but scores have not yet been received.

10. Students will be generally prepared to pass any state licensing examination they might encounter. Students will demonstrate this level of knowledge and clinical skills by successfully completing state written and practical examinations.

To the best knowledge of the College, all students who have graduated from the College of Optometry since 1983 and who have been eligible to sit for the State Board of Optometry in Oklahoma have been successful in passing the examination. The College has no information on the passage rates of our graduates on state boards outside of Oklahoma.

Clinical Education Assessment Tools

The College recently adopted a computerized clinical grading system which created a more efficient process for rapid and effective evaluation of the students at the end of each clinical experience. The enhanced clinical evaluation process has resulted in quicker intervention for students who have areas in which they need to improve. The automated process will also enhance the collection and analysis of cumulative student data for faculty review and analysis.

Each year, the faculty utilizes a broad range of assessment tools to monitor performance of students. No significant curriculum changes have been warranted for the past several years. Minor adjustments to the sequencing or content of courses has enhanced the students exposure to Vision Rehabilitation. Justification for the change is as follows: With the increasingly aging population of the U.S, there is a need to increase the number of optometric physicians who provide vision rehabilitative services as part of their clinical practice. This expansion by one additional credit hour allows for greater emphasis on clinical patient evaluation, examination procedures and application of optical devices.

The courses in the Student Research Projects sequence were slightly modified (primarily in scheduling for the courses) to facilitate enhanced quality of the projects and to encourage students to submit projects for publication. As a result several of the student projects are published each year.

As always, the objectives in the College's mission, goals, and objectives serve as outcomes measures. In addition to our program objectives, the following list identifies outcome measures utilized annually by our program.

1. Academic qualifications of admitted students to the professional program;
2. Successful completion of all students in each year in the didactic portion of the curriculum;
3. Student performance on NBEO Part I;
4. Student performance in the clinical proficiency associated with the four Clinical Methods courses;
5. Student performance on NBEO Part II;
6. Daily evaluation of student performance in providing patient care;
7. Three Clinical Grades Meetings each fall and spring semester and two in the summer session where faculty review and deliberate students' clinical performance;
8. Student performance in completing Optometry Research Project during the third and fourth years of the program;
9. Student performance and application of skills learned in Practice Management courses;
10. Evaluation of progressive improvement of students' clinical skills through passage of the Clinical Proficiency Tests which are scheduled throughout years three and four;
11. Evaluation of progressive improvement of students' clinical skills through successful completion of clinical test checklists;
12. Student performance on NBEO Part III;
13. Graduates' performance on State Boards;
14. Periodic Performance Improvement Studies of patient charts (Quality Assurance);
15. Patient Satisfaction Surveys;
16. Student evaluations of faculty teaching and course quality;
17. Student evaluations of clinical teaching by faculty;
18. Periodic evaluations of student externship experience;
19. Resident evaluations of program, faculty, and learning experiences;
20. Periodic review of clinical financial and activities reports;
21. Yearly evaluation of non-tenured faculty;
22. Evaluations of tenured faculty every three years;
23. Annual Reports on various aspects of the College to the President and Vice Presidents of the University
24. Periodic assessment of policies and rules addressing academic and professional behavior standards;
25. Annual Report to the ACOE as well as periodic accreditation visits;
26. Periodic Faculty Meetings and Annual Faculty Retreat;
27. Periodic Council Meetings of the Optometry Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean for Administration, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, and Director of Student Affairs who meet with Optometric Student Association leaders and/or all students;
28. Frequent meetings of the Optometry Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean for Administration, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, and Assistant Dean for Development;
29. As necessary and appropriate, counseling sessions with individual students and faculty;
30. Periodic staff meetings with administrators and supervisors;
31. Periodic performance evaluations of administrative and clinical support staff;
32. Recommendations that come from the deliberations of the various Committees of the Oklahoma College of Optometry;
33. Evaluations of Continuing Medical Education Programs.

Academic Retention Standards

The Student Academic Evaluation Committee (SAEC) is a standing committee of the College of Optometry which reviews academic performance and recommends appropriate actions for students in academic difficulty, including clinical performance. Following the review by the SAEC, a recommendation is forwarded to the Dean for final approval and implementation. The SAEC acts as advisor to the Dean who may accept, reject, or modify its recommendations. The Committee is a standing committee and is comprised of five (5) members. Standing committees are selected by the Dean at the beginning of each new academic year. The membership is selected from the faculty and administrative staff of the College and currently is comprised of four (4) faculty and one staff. One of the faculty members serves as chair.

The following policies apply to retention of students in the professional optometry program.

1. To graduate from the College of Optometry, a student must maintain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 in the professional optometry program. If a student's semester GPA is less than 2.0 for that semester the student will be placed on academic probation.
2. Receiving a failing grade in any optometry course may result in suspension or dismissal from the optometry program. At a minimum, a student who fails any course in the program will be placed on academic probation regardless of his or her GPA. In addition, when a student receives a failing grade in a course, the student will not advance in the program and his or her continued enrollment will be determined by the SAEC who will review the student's overall academic performance and make a recommendation to the Dean. Among other options, the student may be required by the SAEC to re-enroll in the next academic year and retake all of the curricular courses for the academic year in which the failing grade was received. The student will receive a new grade in each course. Both grades will be shown on the student's academic transcript and both grades will be included in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average. The SAEC will handle each student's performance on an individual basis and the Committee will formulate a recommendation for appropriate remediation which will be forwarded for final approval to the Dean.
3. A student on academic probation will remain on academic probation for a minimum of one semester. To be removed from academic probation, the cumulative GPA must be raised to 2.0 or higher, and all courses repeated by a student must be completed with at least a grade of "C" or "Pass" (for Pass/Fail courses). To remain in the optometry program, the student on academic probation must achieve a 2.25 GPA or higher for each succeeding semester. A student on academic probation who attains a GPA below 2.25 in any semester will be dismissed from the optometry program.
4. While a student remains on academic probation, his or her academic progress and plan of remediation must be monitored and approved by the SAEC.
5. The College of Optometry will not modify the curriculum of the optometry program to accommodate a remedial plan for a student who receives a failing course grade, and the College does not endorse a reduced class load.
6. No student may graduate from the program who has a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 or who is on academic probation.
7. A student who is suspended or dismissed from the optometry program for academic reasons may appeal to the Appeal Board for academic sanctions for readmission. Requests for appeal must be made in writing and submitted to the office of the Dean by letter post marked within five (5) University business days after the student's receipt of the letter notifying the student of the recommended sanction.
8. In the event that a student requests an appeal within the specified period of five (5) University business days, the student will continue in the program until the completion of the appeals process.
9. Upon receipt of the written appeal, an Appeals Board will be selected by the Dean's Office. Names will be randomly drawn from the pool of potential members. Within one week of receipt of the written request for an appeal, the Dean's Office will notify the student of the date and time of the hearing. The appeal process will be completed expediently and should be completed no later than four weeks after the convening of the appeal board.
10. If readmission is granted, the student will be re-entered on academic probation, and continued enrollment will be contingent on the student meeting all appropriate policies and any specific requirements outlined by the SAEC and approved by the Dean.
11. The appropriateness of a leave of absence longer than two weeks (for academic, health, emergency, or other reasons) will be reviewed by the SAEC. The SAEC may impose conditions upon the leave (such as requiring the student to seek counseling) and conditions to be fulfilled for eligibility to return from leave. In most cases, students granted an extended leave will be required to stay out the remainder of the academic year and will be returning at the beginning of the same semester of the same year of the program or may be required to repeat some portion of the program. Students returning from leave must notify the Dean of their intent to return at least two months before the start of the semester in which they would be enrolled. Students who fail to notify the Dean will be considered to have withdrawn from the College. If conditions have been placed upon the student's return, the student must furnish evidence that those conditions have been met. Failing this proper notification or meeting of conditions, the student will lose his/her status with the College and must apply for re-admission to the Admissions Committee in order to return.
12. If a leave is taken for medical reasons, the confidentiality of the student-physician relationship will be respected; no medical information will be made available to the SAEC without the consent of the student. A letter from the treating physician supporting the advisability of a leave will assist the SAEC in making its decision. A student returning from leave may choose to release medical information to support the return from leave; however, the SAEC will generally require an examination by a physician or other health care professional of its choosing to document that the student is fit to return from leave. The cost of this examination will be borne by the College.

The Academic and Professional Behavior Policies of the College of Optometry underwent major changes and modifications in the summer of 2001. The final version of the policies was approved by the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges in November 2001. During the 2003-2004 academic year, each one of the policies was tested by due process procedures on behalf of students. This included a petition for Grade Appeal, a hearing for professional behavior charges and an appeal of that decision, and an academic sanction with an appeal of that sanction. Based on the actual experience and review of those processes, the College feels that the Academic and Professional Behavior Policies are well written and provide a fair and impartial hearing for all involved.