Faculty Advisor(s)
Kathleen Hughes-Butcher
Abstract
Emerging Through the College Experience was a doctoral capstone project designed to support students during the pivotal transitions of college while substantiating the role of occupational therapy (OT) in higher education. Inspired by the Emerging statues by Dugan located on Misericordia University’s campus, this project focused on developing institutional resources to support college students as they adjust to the college lifestyle. A scoping review was conducted to explore the role of OT in supporting college students with emphasis on adult life skill training. Results from the scoping review identified life skills development as foundational for increasing confidence, academic success, and developing a sense of belonging with influence from the college environment. Utilizing these results, the Emerging Through the College Experience was developed and consisted of three focus areas: program development, education, and advocacy. The First-Gen College Success Series, an 11-session workshop, was designed specifically for first-generation college students and allies to provide hands-on training of life skills. This Wasn’t on the Syllabus: A Student’s Guide to Real Life, a three-season educational video series, provided visual demonstration of adult life skills for on-campus, off-campus, and post-graduation living. Advocacy efforts supported the establishment of Catherine’s Closet, a professional clothing closet on Misericordia’s campus. To support this initiative, two clothing pop-ups events were executed to meet student needs for professional attire and operational policy was developed for Catherine’s Closet. The Emerging Through the College Experience project further supports the role of OT in supporting college students during their pursuit of higher education.
Publication Date
2026
Document Type
Poster
Department
Occupational Therapy
Keywords
occupational therapy, college students, first-generation, adult life skills, institution, higher education, universal approach
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy | Rehabilitation and Therapy
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Dixon, Kaitlyn, "Emerging Through the College Experience: Supporting the Role of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education Institutions" (2026). Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026. 13.
https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/otd_capstone2026/13