Student Senate grants Physical Therapy Club Level IV recognition
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: News
09/25/08 - The University of Rhode Island Student Senate voted unanimously last night to recognize the URI Physical Therapy Club as a Level IV student organization.
As a Level IV student organization, the Physical Therapy Club is not eligible to receive funding under Senate by-laws.
URI offers a three-year doctorate in the physical therapy graduate program, as well as kinesiology major specializations for undergraduates hoping to enter the graduate program.
Chad Burnham, who spoke on behalf of the Physical Therapy Club at the Senate meeting, said the club will work to provide new opportunities for undergraduate students.
Burnham is a graduate student in URI's Physical Therapy program and is helping to organize the club.
He said the club will provide an opportunity for students to network with their peers and with professionals in the field.
"It's pretty much a great opportunity for pre-PT students to meet the graduate PT students." he said. "Networking is definitely one of the most important features of the club."
Although the club has not scheduled any activities, Burnham said the club hopes to provide opportunities for members to visit physical therapy programs at other schools, shadow professionals in the community, volunteer within the field and the community and host guest speakers from the professional and academic worlds.
The club will also provide guidance to students unsure about their future academic and professional careers.
"Usually when you're in a pre-physical therapy program you only have the one option to do after school … to go to graduate school, and a lot of kids don't really understand where to go, so I think it's a great opportunity," Burnham said.
The club is open to any student interested in the field. The inclusion of both undergraduate and graduate students is a central feature of the club.
Burnham said graduate student involvement in the club would greatly benefit the undergraduate members.
As a Level IV student organization, the Physical Therapy Club is not eligible to receive funding under Senate by-laws.
URI offers a three-year doctorate in the physical therapy graduate program, as well as kinesiology major specializations for undergraduates hoping to enter the graduate program.
Chad Burnham, who spoke on behalf of the Physical Therapy Club at the Senate meeting, said the club will work to provide new opportunities for undergraduate students.
Burnham is a graduate student in URI's Physical Therapy program and is helping to organize the club.
He said the club will provide an opportunity for students to network with their peers and with professionals in the field.
"It's pretty much a great opportunity for pre-PT students to meet the graduate PT students." he said. "Networking is definitely one of the most important features of the club."
Although the club has not scheduled any activities, Burnham said the club hopes to provide opportunities for members to visit physical therapy programs at other schools, shadow professionals in the community, volunteer within the field and the community and host guest speakers from the professional and academic worlds.
The club will also provide guidance to students unsure about their future academic and professional careers.
"Usually when you're in a pre-physical therapy program you only have the one option to do after school … to go to graduate school, and a lot of kids don't really understand where to go, so I think it's a great opportunity," Burnham said.
The club is open to any student interested in the field. The inclusion of both undergraduate and graduate students is a central feature of the club.
Burnham said graduate student involvement in the club would greatly benefit the undergraduate members.
