By Erica Lamberg

Seventy-eight students will graduate with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Arcadia University on Saturday, Jan. 28. (Watch the ceremony online.)

President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III will preside over the event, which begins at 10:30 a.m. and includes an Invocation, an address by Provost Dr. Steve O. Michael, and the announcement of several achievement awards. Following the awarding of academic hoods and conferring of degrees, closing remarks will be given by Dr. Rebecca L. Craik, Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. The program will conclude with a reception at Grey Towers Castle.

This is the first class to graduate with revisions in the department’s curriculum. The graduating class did not have a seven-week break between its first and second years but continued with classes through the summer. Students were also required to collect data on patients and enter this information into a database, where the data was analyzed. They were also required to complete a six-month final internship.

“The class has been willing to help us work through these changes while maintaining a positive attitude,” says Craik. “The class, as a whole, has been transformed into a group that has begun to understand best practice and decision making. They have exceeded our expectations in the areas of altruism and professionalism.”

The DPT Class of 2012 includes 54 entry-level students and 24 transitional students. Thirty-nine students participated in an international experience while at Arcadia.

This year’s Commencement will be held in the Commons, Arcadia’s new student center in the heart of campus, providing more space for lectures, seminars, art exhibitions, performances and many other student, faculty and community needs.

“This is a dream come true,” said Dr. Craik. “The Commons is going to be beautiful space and we will be one of the first events in this new building.”

Kelly Frederick ’08, ’12D.P.T. said it’s exciting to have Commencement take place in the Commons. “Having been at Arcadia since 2004, I have seen how the University has grown,” says Frederick. “It will be exciting to celebrate the start of a new chapter in our lives with the start of something new at Arcadia.”

Likewise, Colleen Sullivan ’12D.P.T., President of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Student Board of Directors, says hosting Commencement in the Commons will make the milestone even more memorable. “After being on our clinical internship for the past six months, graduation week will be our first time back on campus as a class,” she says. “It is exciting to think about all the renovations that the Commons has undergone since we left in May. We are humbled to be the first event held in the new auditorium.”