West Oso extends affiliation with Del Mar College for occupational therapy assistant internships
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Summary
The board approved a three-year affiliation agreement with Del Mar College allowing OTA students to complete required fieldwork rotations at West Oso campuses from Jan. 1, 2026 through Jan. 1, 2029; administrators said the partnership has supported student training and local workforce development.
The West Oso ISD Board approved a three-year affiliation agreement with Del Mar College for the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program covering 01/01/2026 through 01/01/2029.
Dr. Rivera introduced the request and said the partnership began in spring 2023 and has supported five Del Mar students through on-campus fieldwork that gives students supervised clinical experience required by national accreditors. "The national accreditors require students complete at the very minimum 16 weeks of full time rotation," said Delva Gomez, Del Mar's field work coordinator, and she described how West Oso practitioners (named in the transcript as Alma Ruiz and Margarita Guerrero) have supervised and mentored students who then graduate and enter the workforce.
Trustees welcomed the partnership as a pipeline for local clinicians and career opportunities. Trustee Arredondo and others noted the relationship strengthens ties to regional higher-education institutions and can help retain students in South Texas college and career pathways. The board approved the affiliation agreement by unanimous vote (6-0).