PHS Education Committees
PHS Educational Programs Oversight Committee
Provides oversight for all PHS educational programs and issues/topics with cross-cutting relevance. Provides guidance, reviews, and approval for new courses and other substantive program changes recommended by the educational steering committees and/or directors of the individual educational programs (MPH, MSCR, Certificate Programs, Global Public Health undergraduate program). Explores advances in teaching methods (such as the use of Artificial Intelligence and new/changes to statistical software). Provides in-service opportunities and a forum for faculty led discussions on teaching methods. Oversees, monitors, and enforces educational requirements to ensure that the PHS graduate programs follow clear standards for monitoring student academic progress to ensure fairness and consistency. Reviews and acts on all recommendations regarding students failing to remain in good standing based on grades or other academic performance and/or failing to meet professional standards or exhibiting unethical or unprofessional behavior; reviews and acts on official student grievances; decides on actions from remediation up to and including dismissal from the School. Approves the list of graduates for May, August, and December graduation. In addition, once each month the regularly scheduled department meeting is devoted to educational programming discussions, allowing all instructional faculty the opportunity to provide input to the educational programs.
This committee has final decision-making authority regarding courses and curriculum for PHS educational programs. This committee also determines student academic status and processes for remediation and/or dismissal, if necessary.
Vice Chair of Education (chair), Program Directors, Director of Academic Programs, MPH Concentration Directors, at least one other instructional faculty member, one MPH student, one MS student.
Meets quarterly and more often as needed.
Paige Hornsby (chair), Tracey Brookman, Jean Eby, Wendy Novicoff, Aaron Pannone, Katy Quissell, Kristen Wells, Heather Zelle, student members.
MPH Steering and Curriculum Committee
Monitors degree requirements, as required by accreditation (CEPH) criteria and developments in the field of public health, to ensure that students meet MPH foundational and concentration competencies. Monitors overall program curriculum and approves curriculum changes. Reviews and approves new MPH courses, in coordination with Oversight Committee. Periodically reviews the curriculum and existing courses and recommends revisions as needed. Identifies non-MPH courses for appropriate electives. Provides guidance on external program relationships, such as with the MPH Community Advisors, applied practice preceptors, and other community organizations and leaders. Proposes policies for addressing special student circumstances, such as student performance issues and progress, and other questions regarding student affairs. Oversees the running of the program and monitors student progress. For MPH program re-accreditation activities, this committee also serves as the CEPH Self-Study Committee, providing the written material required for CEPH accreditation reporting and the self-study. Meets monthly, except during CEPH re-accreditation.
The MPH Steering and Curriculum Committee has the authority to establish educational requirements, specify teaching and assessment methods, and evaluate educational outcomes for the MPH program, in coordination with the Educational Programs Oversight Committee.
MPH Program Director (chair), Vice Chair of Education, Director of Academic Programs, Assistant Director of Student Affairs, other Education Staff, MPH Concentration Directors, at least two MPH alumni, at least two current MPH students.
Meets bi-weekly at the discretion of the MPH Program Director.
Aaron Pannone (chair), Tracey Brookman, Kenny Davis, Jean Eby, Alexa Eisenbart, Paige Hornsby, Heather Zelle, alumni members, student members.
MPH Admissions and Recruitment Committee
Develops and implements a recruitment plan for the MPH program; reviews the plan on an annual basis in the summer for the coming academic year. Identifies recruitment activities and delegates among committee members and others in the department as needed. Reviews applications and recommends qualified candidates for admission. Monitors application trends and suggests appropriate recruitment strategies. Establishes the number of student openings each academic year. Ensures that MPH program admissions comply with University policies. Selects student applicants for scholarship awards.
The MPH Admissions and Recruitment Committee has the final authority for all admission decisions.
Director of Academic Programs (chair), MPH Program Director, MPH Concentration Directors, at least two other faculty members, at least two current MPH students.
Meets monthly and as needed during the spring admissions cycle.
Tracey Brookman (chair), Jean Eby, Kelsie Kelly-Smith, Paige Hornsby, Aaron Pannone, Tanya Wanchek, Heather Zelle, student members.
PHS Clinical Research Education Committee
Provides oversight and guidance for PHS clinical research education programs. Determines the curriculum for the Master of Clinical Research (MSCR) and Certificate programs. Reviews applications and recommends qualified candidates for admissions to each program. Monitors application trends and suggests appropriate recruitment strategies. Establishes the number of student openings for each program each academic year. Ensures that MSCR and certificate program admissions comply with University policies.
The PHS Clinical Research Education Committee has the authority to establish educational requirements, specify teaching and assessment methods, and evaluate educational outcomes for the clinical research education programs, in coordination with the Educational Programs Oversight Committee.
Director of Clinical Research Education (chair), Vice Chair of Education, Vice Chair of Research, at least two other faculty members.
Meets monthly and more often as needed during the spring admissions cycle.
Wendy Novicoff (chair), Paige Hornsby, Beth Horton, Jason Lyman, Kathleen Porter, Sarah Ratcliffe, Kara Wiseman.
MPH Student Activities Committee
The Student Activities Committee, which includes all MPH students, has regularly scheduled meetings twice a month to allow for: informal social gatherings among students; discussion with MPH Program faculty and staff about Program information, including input on evaluation reports and accreditation updates; and planning sessions for student service opportunities and social activities.