Milestone advances all three planned programs toward welcoming inaugural students in August 2027
Marian University has reached an important milestone in developing its occupational therapy programs, as all three planned programs have earned Candidacy Status from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
The designation applies to Marian’s planned Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT), and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) programs. Candidacy Status allows these programs to advance in ACOTE’s accreditation process as Marian prepares to welcome its first occupational therapy students in August 2027.
The three programs submitted their candidacy applications simultaneously and advanced through ACOTE’s initial review with no remaining compliance issues, reflecting the extensive planning behind Marian’s expansion into occupational therapy education.
“Earning candidacy for all three programs at the same time tells our future students that they’re joining something built with intention from the ground up,” said Kate Huber, Ed.D., OTD, OTR. “Every piece of the curriculum was shaped around the idea that education should form not just skilled clinicians, but people who understand the dignity of the individuals they’ll serve. We can’t wait to welcome the students who will be part of it.”
Marian’s planned occupational therapy programs will integrate the university’s Catholic and Franciscan mission with interprofessional learning, fieldwork experiences, and shared resources that support occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant education.
The programs will also benefit from Marian’s broader investment in health sciences education, including the new College of Community and Health Sciences and the $72 million Center for Human Flourishing, now under construction on the Indianapolis campus. The center will offer new learning and laboratory spaces to support collaboration across health disciplines.
Each occupational therapy program now advances to the next stage of ACOTE’s accreditation process, the Preaccreditation Review. Candidacy Status is an important step in that process and does not constitute full accreditation.
The planned programs are part of Marian University’s continued expansion of health sciences education and its efforts to prepare graduates for professions that enhance health, independence, and quality of life.