MSCHE/ACOE Self Study

Students are provided with the opportunity to participate in a variety of organizations and clubs that are represented on the Student Council. A complete listing of student organizations and clubs can be found on pages 64-66 of the Student Handbook. 6.8 The [professional] program makes available to students information on postgraduate educational programs, residencies, and fellowship training opportunities. As discussed in Section B: Related Educational Activities (MSCHE 13): Residency Programs , the College has a long standing history with residency education, as well as one of the largest programs in the country. SUNY College of Optometry students are exposed to this program through a variety of mechanisms. These include meetings with the residency director who discusses various topical areas relating to doing a residency, presentations given as part of the professional curriculum, dissemination of various program announcements and information (see Appendix E-11) and interactions with residents who serve as instructors in clinical laboratories and rotations. Descriptions of each of the College’s residency programs can be found at http://www.sunyopt.edu/academics/res_descript.shtml. Announcements of non- SUNY residency programs are prominently posted on a bulletin board on the 2 nd floor student area. For SUNY classes graduating from 2002-2010, approximately 34% enter residency programs either affiliated with SUNY or another school/college of optometry (Appendix E-14). This exceeds the commonly quoted national average of about 20% of graduates going on to do residencies, but does not yet meet the target of 50% in the College’s Strategic Plan. In recent years, about 6 to 9 entering professional students elect to simultaneously enroll in the OD/MS program. These students are provided with information regarding opportunities for continued graduate studies (to pursue a PhD) as part of the MS program. Indebtedness upon graduation from optometry school appears to be a factor that limits recruitment of OD/MS students into the PhD program. NIH programs designed to encourage clinicians to pursue careers in science, such as those that forgive student loans, may help in this regard. Related to this, a faculty member, whose primary responsibilities have been clinical, was recently been granted a loan forgiveness award to pursue a PhD in vision science. Areas for Further Development  Continue and expand upon the efforts to effectively recruit a highly qualified student body that reflects the clinical population the College serves.  Conduct an analysis of career development for students at the College and write an implementation plan to develop a new Career Development Center.

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