Undergraduate public health program poised for growth, approved by BOG for five more years
After receiving approval from the West Virginia University Board of Governors, the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is poised for continued growth.
The WVU BOG is required to review one-fifth of all programs offered at the University and its divisional campuses each year, so that all programs are reviewed every five years.
“This formal approval is a testament to all the good work that’s been done relative to quality and the parameters that have been set up for our undergraduate program – both as reflected by our CEPH accreditation review and approval and, now, the Board of Governors review,” said Jeffrey Coben, MD, dean of the School of Public Health and vice president for Health Affairs. “Surpassing this milestone positions us to focus our efforts on further building the program and enhancing our enrollment.”
Approved for an additional five years during the BOG’s June 25 meeting, this move affirms the program is dedicated to and engaged with a continuous improvement process and directed to and connected with the relevant resources to support areas of improvement.
Director of Undergraduate Studies Audra Hamrick sees the accomplishment as the collective result of numerous benchmarks being met.
“From my predecessor Janet Hunt who laid the groundwork for our undergraduate program to Toni Morris, patient navigation coordinator, and all the faculty, staff, and community partners who mentor our students, it has taken a team effort over the past five years to arrive at where we are today,” Hamrick said. “As a result, we can now have confidence in our programs’ learning outcomes, which include equipping our students with skills that prepare them for successful careers in public health.”
Included among the improvements made to the program during the review period:
- the implementation of curriculum changes, beginning fall 2020, to better address the public health work force needs and accreditation standards;
- the addition of a patient navigation area of emphasis and the integration of those students into the Health Sciences Interprofessional Education programming;
- the inclusion of a field placement preparatory seminar and a writing for public health audiences course, based on feedback from advisory councils and community partners;
- the expansion of the School’s network of community partners with whom students complete field service and capstone projects; and
- the requirement that all undergraduate students give a poster presentation on their field experience work, which is viewed and evaluated by faculty from all departments, alumni, community partners and other stakeholders.
Such improvements have been reaping positive results, as the school has experienced an upward enrollment trend of its first-time freshmen over the past five years with continued growth on the horizon.
“We have our largest number of first-time freshmen entering for the 2021-22 academic year, and we expect this upward trend and growth to continue,” Hamrick said. “In addition to adding another undergraduate major in health services management and leadership, the hiring of a second recruitment specialist and new development advisor have supported this growth.
“This is an exciting and momentous time for our undergraduate programs and School as we continue working toward making our public health offerings the most sought-after – all in an effort to meet rapidly growing public health workforce needs.”
Visit publichealth.wvu.edu to learn more and apply to the School’s undergraduate programs in public health and health services management and leadership.
Pictured above: Undergraduate students present their capstone projects during a poster session on Dec. 13, 2019. (WVU Photo/Jessica Wilmoth)
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CONTACT: Nikky Luna, Director of Marketing and Communications
WVU School of Public Health
304.293.1699