Making accountability less painful: program evaluation in allied health education

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Higher Education Administration

Background:

• Academic program reviews are crucial for demonstrating effectiveness and driving change, particularly in higher education settings facing potential retrenchment.
• The School of Allied Health Professions at the University of Connecticut recognized the need for a structured evaluation process for its undergraduate programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the comprehensive program evaluation process undertaken for undergraduate programs in physical therapy, medical technology, and clinical dietetics.
• To present a novel evaluation model tailored to the specific requirements of postsecondary allied health programs.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive program evaluation was conducted for undergraduate allied health programs.
• The evaluation process and a newly developed model were documented.

Main Results:

• The evaluation process provided valuable information for program change and effectiveness documentation.
• The developed model demonstrated suitability for postsecondary allied health program evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Program evaluation is an effective tool for stimulating change and validating program quality in higher education.
• The presented model offers a framework for evaluating allied health programs in academic institutions.