A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
William H. Jacobson, Ed.D.
Professor and Chair
November, 2014
A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
 UALR O&M Program established in 1975
 Summer Program established in 1987
 Compressed video component between UALR and the
state of Mississippi added in 1996
 Online hybrid service delivery begun in 2002
 Far-site service delivery in Utah and Wisconsin, 2004-9
A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Components of the hybrid program of study:
 Online during the academic year
 Two, 3-Week Summer O&M Institutes*
 120-hour direct teaching in between summer terms
 350-hour Internship capstone experience
 All O&M supervisors are COMS in the students’ home areas
*Free room and board at Arkansas School for the Blind and World Services for the
Blind
A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Fully-online courses:
Medical Aspects of Blindness and Assoc. Disabilities
Principles of Orientation and Mobility
Low Vision
Research
Managing the Learning Environment
Psychological Aspects of Disabilities
Foundations of Rehabilitation
Two, 3-hour electives
A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Hybrid courses:
Introduction to Methods of Mobility (3-week summer): exams online
Advanced Methods of Orientation and Mobility (3-week summer): exams online
Techniques of Counseling Interviews (incl. weekend workshop component)
Student Teaching (in Little Rock and the student’s home community)
Internship (in the student’s home community)
A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Students matriculate any semester
Students take 1-2 three-hour courses per term
Use Blackboard 9.1 for online service delivery
Students graduate in 2.5 - 3 years
Students come to LR for two consecutive summers
RSA stipends available after having completed 6
semester hours
UALR O&M Enrollment,
2002-2012
25
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
20
Enrolled Students
15
Enrolled Students
Graduated
Students
10
Graduated
Students
5
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Benefits of a Hybrid Program:
Attract students who cannot come to campus
Students can remain employed full-time
Online and face-to-face components
Continuous full enrollment in courses
Currently 53 active students! “Small” O&M Programs can
remain viable!
A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Challenges of a Hybrid Program:
Advising 53 active students!!
Life circumstances can disrupt studies
Changes in UALR tuition policy
Face-to-face classes only in the summers
Students may take several classes before the first summer
O&M institute – and then decide O&M is not for them!
A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
What is the future for O&M Personnel Preparation
Programs?
Hybrid and fully online course delivery
Fewer solely “face-to-face” service delivery models
A mix of on-campus and far-site locations
Internal and external pressures
Faculty Retirements: Where are the future leaders?
A Hybrid O&M Program at
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Dr. Bill Jacobson, Chair
Dep’t of Counseling, Adult and Rehabilitation Education, and
Health, Human Performance and Sport Management
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2801 South University Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72204
(501) 569-8505
http://www.ualr.edu/orientationandmobility/