Harvison

1. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Utilizing OTCAS for Holistic
Application Reviews
Neil Harvison, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Chief Officer, Academic and Scientific Affairs
Do Not Copy without Permission. AOTA, 2015

2. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Objectives
• Participants will:
– Review the descriptive data on diversity in
occupational therapy education
– Understand the principles of holistic
application review
– Explore the barriers to holistic application
review
– Understand how OTCAS can be utilized as a
tool for holistic application review

3. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Disclosures
• No individual financial relationship exists
• AOTA and Liaison International have a
formal agreement in which Liaison
International hosts and supports the
centralized application system (CAS)

4. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Where are we on the diversity factor?
GENDER
Percentage of students who self-identify as male
Source: ACOTE (2014) Annual Data Report, AOTA, Bethesda: MD

5. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Where are we on the diversity factor?
ETHNICITY
Source: ACOTE (2014) Annual Data Report, AOTA, Bethesda: MD
Percentage of students who self-identify as Hispanic

6. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Where are we on the diversity factor?
RACE
Source: ACOTE (2014) Annual Data Report, AOTA, Bethesda: MD
Percentage of students

7. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Where are we on the diversity factor?
RACE
Source: ACOTE (2014) Annual Data Report, AOTA, Bethesda: MD
Percentage of students who self-identify as white

8. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Bottom line: We have a long
way to go ………

9. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Are holistic reviews part of the
answer?

10. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
What is a holistic application
review?
Establishing and implementing institution-
specific, diversity-related policies,
processes, and practices that will advance
the institutional mission, core student
learning outcomes and entry-level
competencies in support of shaping the
workforce.
Adapted from AAMC https://www.aamc.org/initiatives/holisticreview/

11. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Holistic Application Review
A flexible, individualized way of assessing
an applicant’s capabilities by which
balanced consideration is given to
experiences, attributes, and academic
metrics and, when considered in
combination, how the individual might
contribute value as an OT student and future
practitioner.

12. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Holistic Application Review
• Broad-based
• Clearly linked to mission and goals
• Promote diversity as essential to
institutional excellence

13. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Experiences-Attributes-Metrics
(EAM) Model
• Experiences: Life path leading up to applying to
OT/OTA school
• Attributes: The applicant’s skills and abilities at time
of entry into OT school, personal and professional
characteristics, and demographic factors
• Metrics: Academic and quantitative components (i.e.
GPA, GRE, etc.)
Adapted from AAMC https://www.aamc.org/initiatives/holisticreview/

14. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
EAM Model
EXPERIENCES
• Employment history
• Education
• Volunteer roles
• Community service
• Research experience
• Leadership roles
• Travel
• Time spent with different
cultures and communities
• Military service
• Affiliations
• Religious service
• Primary care-giver for an ill
family member
• Experience in a healthcare
setting
ATTRIBUTES
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Ethnicity
• Race
• National origin
• Nationality
• Legal residential status
• Age
• Religion
• SES
• Parental status
• Family status
• Physical ability
• Health status
• Maturity
• Beliefs
• Values
• Commitment
• Interpersonal style
• Other
METRICS
• GPA
• Grade trends
• GRE
Adapted from AAMC
https://www.aamc.org/initiatives/holisticreview/

15. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
How do we weigh this data?
Experiences
Attributes
Metrics

16. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Holistic Application Reviews:
Barriers
• Challenges conventional thinking
• Outcomes would be impacted
• Time
• Costs

17. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
Outcomes
• A new study, funded in part by the National Institute
on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD),
finds holistic admissions have a positive impact
on diversity, student success and academics in
health professions schools. Holistic review is a
university admissions strategy that assesses an
applicant’s unique experiences alongside traditional
measures of academic achievement such as grades
and test scores.
Source: http://www.nimhd.nih.gov/news/holisticStudy.html

18. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Do not copy without
permission.AOTA, 2015
New study finds holistic admissions
benefit health professions schools
• The majority of schools using holistic review reported an
increase in the diversity of the student body—not only in
race, ethnicity, and gender, but also in experience,
socioeconomic status and perspective—over the past decade.
• In addition,
– 90% of schools using holistic review reported that the average GPA of
the incoming class remained unchanged or increased
– 89% reported that average standardized test scores for incoming
classes remained unchanged or increased
– 96% reported that graduation rates were unchanged or increased
Source: http://www.nimhd.nih.gov/news/holisticStudy.html

19. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Using OTCAS to decrease time
& costs…….

20. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Searchable OTCAS Fields
EXPERIENCES
• References
• Certifications
• Health Related
Experience
• Volunteer/Community
Enrichment
• Employment
• Clinical Experiences
• Observation Hours
• Teaching Experience
• Research
• Leadership
• Honors and Awards
• Publications
• Extracurricular Activities
• Personal Statement
• Secondary (High) School
• College(s) Attended
• Military Experience
ATTRIBUTES
• Gender identity
• Ethnicity
• Race
• Legal residential status
• Age
• English as native language
METRICS
• GPAs by Year
• GPAs by Subject
• GPAs by School
• Applicant Reported ACT
• Applicant Reported GRE
• Applicant Reported MAT
• Applicant Reported SAT
• Applicant Reported
TOEFL

21. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Step 1: Create a list…..

22. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.

23. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.

24. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.

25. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Step 2: Create Reports with the
Custom List……..

26. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.

27. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Save the report and download as an excel spreadsheet.

28. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.

29. AOTA’s Centennial Vision
Weenvision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized,
science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society’s occupational needs.
Thank you!
nharvison@aota.org