Master of Occupational Therapy Program - Governors State University

WELCOME
We, the faculty in the Occupational Therapy Program, share in your excitement as you embark
on your academic journey at Governors State University.
Essential to the core of the Occupational Therapy Program is the belief that human beings are
continually evolving, and striving to give meaning and purpose to their lives. It is our hope that
you will embrace this transforming experience, and allow the process of learning and selfdiscovery
to occur, and to significantly enhance your personal and professional life.
To ensure that this learning and self-discovery process occurs, faculty members are viewed as
facilitators who provide experiences and opportunities for critical thinking and problem solving.
We believe that education is an active process, and the student is an active learner. Your
education will consist of a myriad of didactic learning experiences to prepare you for
interdisciplinary teamwork and collaborative practice. The educational process is
developmental and goal-directed, first with the achievement of the short-term goal of selfdirected
learning, and then ultimately and ideally...the long-term goal of lifelong learning.
“What I hear,
I forget
What I see,
I remember
But what I do...
I understand”
-Confucius, 451 BC
Occupational Therapy views human beings as being able to influence their own health. It also
views human life as a process of continuous adaptation. As a student you must actively engage
in and influence your education. This will enable you to learn the necessary theoretical
knowledge, professional skills, and ethical standards for generalist practice. As a professional
you will actively and continuously engage in the process of learning and adaptation to deliver
the most appropriate and effective services in an ever-changing society.
This Occupational Therapy Student Handbook has been compiled to present information and
policies relevant to you as an occupational therapy student. You are responsible for knowing
and understanding the information presented in this handbook. Please ask for clarification if you
have any questions about the material included in the handbook. We also welcome your
suggestions for inclusion of additional information that may be helpful to you and your fellow
students. Faculty reserve the privilege of revising policies and procedures found in this
handbook at any time. You will be notified of changes timely. Once again, we welcome you and
congratulate you on what we believe is a very rewarding journey.
Occupational Therapy is a highly respected profession, securely rooted in the human services
field, however, limitless in its opportunities and potential for continued growth and advancement.
Elizabeth A. Cada, EdD ,OTR/L, FAOTA
Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department and Professor of Occupational Therapy