Hello Azimuthal!
Those are great questions that I had myself. I don't have all the answers but based on my knowledge this is what I know
Do the contracts allow you to keep your standing (grade level) or do they admit you as a DPT I if WCU fails accreditation?
I am not positive as I have not seen the exact contracts between the schools but during the interview I asked and they said that since they will know if WCU is accredited during our 3rd year (which is mostly clinical internships) they are making sure that WCU clinical curriculum matches the clinical curriculum at the contracted schools to make the transfer easier. But to answer your question, I am not positive how we would transfer.
What is the average number of teaching years of the faculty?
All of the faculty that I know of have at least 5 years of teaching PT.
I also miss-read your next question (I better not do that on a test!) and thought you asked "what is the ratio of faculty to student?" Alas, you did not ask that but since I typed up an answer here it is!
During the interview, they mentioned that because we will be the first class, instead of having upper classmen mentors, each faculty will be given about 5 students to mentor through the program to provide support. I am not sure of the exact ratio but I would assume 5 to 1 because of that program. They also said that during lab classes, there will never be more than half the class (15-20 students) in there at a time so that each student gets a high/low table.
What ratio of faculty has had previous faculty positions?
I am not sure of the ratio for the whole school but of those who interviewed me (3 faculty members), all had previous faculty positions.
How many are still practicing?
All of the faculty (that I know of) except the dean are currently practicing PTs (or within one year). Some faculty are from inpatient and some outpatient settings.
Again, all of the faculty that I know of are either a specialist or a PhD or both. And they have some breadth: One prof has his board certification in orthopaedics and recognition as a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists and another prof received her Neurological Clinical Specialization, Geriatric Clinical Specialization, and Vestibular Rehabilitation Certification and she is a APTA Certified Exercise Expert in Aging Adults. And all of them have published.
I asked that during my interview. They said that at the end of our second year, we can choose to do our elective in research with one of the faculty members.
Tuition alone for the whole program is $106,400 and they estimate $111,885 including books. I know it is not cheap, but it was less than or comparable to the other schools I was looking at: Samuel Merritt approx $133,200 and UOP approx $140,000 and USA in San Diego approx $100,583.
Honestly, the website looks like one of a diploma mill but I'm hoping it is not. Good luck all those who are prospectives.
Hahaha! I know what you mean, there are just a little too many stock photos on the dpt part of the website but once I interviewed and saw the school and met the faculty, I felt like (and hope) it will be a good place to become a DPT!
Hope this helps! Best of luck to you all!
