The University of Arizona

Fact Sheet

Mission

To develop and offer rehabilitation education, research, and community services of excellence that will lead to leadership and practice that is in the forefront of the rehabilitation field.

 

Program Description

  • Only program approved by the Arizona Board of Regents to deliver academic degrees in rehabilitation.

  • Long history of delivery of award winning, innovative on and off-campus coursework.

  • 1st CORE Registered BS program in the U.S. (1999).

  • 1st CORE accredited MA program in the U.S. (1975); reaccredited in 2005 for eight years until 2013.

  • One (1) of two (2) programs west of the Mississippi delivering rehabilitation Ph.D.

  • Delivers through video conference continuing education to rehabilitation professionals throughout Arizona.

Strengths

  • Six (6) highly productive, visible full-time faculty in leadership positions in national and local associations, as well as on-campus committees – faculty received American Counseling Association Research Award 2002 and 2003.

  • Successful partnerships have resulted in last year’s student population of 28% with disabilities, 22% Hispanics, 8% African-American, and 17% Native-American.

  • Grant Productivity – program has been able to meet needs of students and external constituents through grants received that generate approximately 20% of the external funding received by the College.

  • Yearly Grant Total = over $800,000

  • Provides tuition, Graduate Assistance, stipend, and/or scholarship support to 43 full-time and 51 part-time Masters and 8 doctoral students.

  • Provides salary for two (2) full-time & four (4) part-time faculty, four (4) GA’s and one administrative assistant.

  • Received national recognition for grant activity by federal governmental and national associations in 2001-2004, received the national Rehabilitation Service Administration Commissioner’s Award in 2000, Honorable Mention-2005 Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education, Study Abroad category.

  • Ranked 5th nationally by most current US News and World Report 2007.

Per Land Grant Mission

  • Meets statewide Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (AzRSA) need to have full-time employed counselors pursue a masters degree though the delivery of an “off campus” program.

  • Collaborates with Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration in developing an off-campus videoconferencing site to deliver courses to students in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Yuma, Havasu City, and on the Navajo Nation.

  • Develops international student and faculty exchanges with universities in Mexico and Canada.

Future

  1. Increase faculty emphasis on research by implementing the proposal for an International Institute for Rehabilitation Research (IIRR).

  2. Place greater emphasis on enhancing the doctoral program of study in rehabilitation education and research while maintaining a strong masters in rehabilitation counseling and undergraduate career ladder program.

  3. Continue partnerships with Community Colleges to develop and deliver an innovative Career Ladder program for the recruitment and retention of students, esp. minority and disabled students.

  4. Continue the development of partnerships with tribal rehabilitation programs, Hispanic organizations, and other colleges.

  5. Maintain our national leadership as a program and develop and expand our international impact.