NSUOCO engages in an ongoing, systematic process of planning and self-study and regularly reviews its mission, goals and objectives, revising as needed. Annually, optometry administration prepares the Northeastern State University “Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Report” for the previous academic year and submits to the university. During this process, administration reviews the mission, goals, student learning objectives, outcomes, assessment measures, performance targets and results. The generation of this annual report engages NSUOCO administration in a systematic process of taking an in depth look at our learning objectives and outcomes, and provides a regular for an annual time to analyze assessment results in order to make plans for the future. Additionally the curriculum committee chair, reviews board score results and trends each year prior to the fall faculty retreat. Data, trends and analysis are shared and discussed with all faculty and plans to address any issues or areas of concern are discussed.

Clinical assessments begin with a clinical proficiency given to all second year students before entering direct patient care. Any deficiencies in skills is addressed and remediated. Daily assessment and feedback is given to each student in clinic via the NSUOCO Clinic Grades System (CGS). Additionally, clinical checklists are given to each student the spring of third year and fall of fourth year. Each student is required to satisfactorily perform a variety of clinical skills in the presence of a faculty member. 

Program’s Definition of Entry Level Practice:

The optometric physician is a healthcare professional trained and state licensed to provide primary eye care services.  These services include comprehensive eye health and vision examinations; diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and vision disorders; the diagnosis of ocular manifestations of general health problems; the prescribing of glasses, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation and vision therapy; the prescribing of medications and performing of certain surgical and laser procedures; and the counseling of patients regarding their vision needs as related to their occupations, avocations, lifestyle, and surgical alternatives.  The optometric physician has completed pre-professional undergraduate education in a college or university and four years of professional education at a college of optometry, leading to the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree.  Some optometric physicians complete a residency. 

The College has defined entry level practice.  This definition is a set of measures which all students must successfully complete during the four-year curriculum.  The measures which define the College’s entry level practice are:

•  the clinical skills tested in the clinical course proficiencies
•  the clinical skills tested in the clinical test check-off lists
•  the learning objectives in the didactic courses and
•  the clinical proficiency expectations and requirements found in the Clinic Manual in the section entitled, “Maturation of Clinical Proficiency”                                                                                        

The first measure is a series of clinical methods practical examination tests which take place throughout the four-year curriculum.  These practicals  examinations occur in each of the four clinical methods courses and are structured on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry practical format.  The students are also required to perform a specific list of clinical procedures under faculty supervision during spring clinic of the second and third years, and fall semester of the fourth year.  Cumulatively, these practical examinations define the program’s clinical entry level skills.  When successfully completed, the College has a direct measure that a capstone benchmark has been achieved by each student.

The program’s didactic entry level skills are embodied by the learning objectives found in every course syllabus.  These learning objectives are a direct reflection of the course content and specify the entry level skills and knowledge expected of each student upon completion of the curriculum.  The examinations held in each didactic course are intended to assess if the course learning objectives have been achieved. Successful completion of each course assures the program’s didactic entry level skills have been achieved.

The clinical proficiency expectations and requirements in the “Maturation of Clinical Proficiency” are used to evaluate every student in the clinical curriculum.

In addition to didactic and clinical instruction, professionalism and ethics are overarching themes throughout the four years of the program. This begins in the first year at new student orientation as the incoming class takes the student pledge of professionalism and the optometric oath. Professional standards and the Code of Ethics of the American Optometric Association are addressed as well. These are reinforced during White Coat ceremony in the program’s second year. Ethical values and professionalism are addressed in clinic orientation every semester and in Practice Management courses. The result is an optometric physician who embodies professionalism and ethics in their practice and professional interactions.