Professor, students hoping Delta will offer COTA degree

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant program will be cut this fall.
In accordance with the LA Grad Act, all associate degree programs will be cut from universities and transferred to community colleges.
Part of the act aims to increase the number of associate degree programs at community colleges.
“It is always sad to lose a program. I, personally, am in my 21st year teaching in this program, and it is hard to see it end,” said Patti Calk, head of the occupational therapy program.
“However, we are proposing an occupational therapist program specifically designed for working occupational therapist assistants.”
Those currently enrolled in the program and those admitted for the summer session will be allowed to complete their degrees at ULM.
Calk said the department is talking with Delta Community College about continuing the program there.
Calk said ULM will keep its pre-occupational therapy assistant curriculum, and the department will help students with the prerequisite courses transfer to Delta to get the degree.
“Due to cuts in state funding for academics, we want to make judicial decisions that best utilize the funds that we have available,” Calk said.
Calk also said they want to offer a master’s program in occupational therapy because of the local need for occupational therapists. Also, they want to create this program in case Delta cannot pick up the associate degree program.
“Our occupational therapist assistants alumni and the healthcare community in the area have asked for us to offer that degree since there is a high demand for occupational therapists in the area,” Calk said.
Some ULM students are upset by the department cuts, especially those seeking a spot in the program.
“I feel like this is a major disappointment. ULM’s COTA program is the best in the region. Their graduates are hired over any other schools,” said Michael Roboski, a sophomore earth science major.
“It’s a field I was really hoping to get into, but now it just won’t be an option anymore since this coming class is the last one they will be accepting,” Robsoki said.