Overview
ACC’s Health Sciences programs have restricted admissions policies that are based in large part on grade point average and other scholastic markers. The Health Sciences division has begun a thoughtful, inclusive, research-based process to develop a more holistic approach to admissions that reflects student aptitude and interest, not just grade point average. The goal is to diversify the population of students who are admitted while also admitting more students who have the interest and aptitude to build a health-sciences career.
Accomplishments
- Created a Holistic Admission work group encompassing various stakeholders.
- Completed the Holistic Admission review process for the Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) program.
- Implemented the holistic admission process for the PTA program application period opening fall 2022.
Impact
Data will be analyzed once the first cohort of PTA students (22 students) enters in fall 2023. Early qualitative feedback indicates this holistic approach will positively impact the diversity of students admitted to health sciences programs.
This work has led to a shift in approach to the admission process within Health Sciences as a whole. The relevance of the data in the literature is guiding us in the work around the holistic admission review process, not just the admission criteria. We are recognizing the power of focusing on the attributes of students who apply to health sciences programs rather than just focusing on a grade point average or other scholastic data points. This work will impact several aspects of recruitment opportunities as well as progression through the program and completion.
Next Steps
- Continue with the work group efforts to gather data and best evidence on the holistic admission review process to refine the approach and apply lessons learned.
- The work group will also evaluate the process of supporting the PTA program as they undergo the review process.
- Collect and assess the data from the first cohort of PTA students admitted using the holistic review process.
- Identify the next three programs that will go through the holistic admission review process.
- Enrollment of the first cohort for PTA selected through the holistic admission review process.