PHS Education Committees
Public Health Sciences (PHS) Education Steering Committee
The PHS Education Steering Committee reviews existing policies and develops new policies regarding PHS graduate education in public health, and in population health and clinical research, including academic and student policies, class sizes, enrollment policies, and final projects. The PHS Education Steering Committee advises the directors of the MPH, MS-CR, and other programs on particular student issues, for example, course performance and special student requests. The PHS Education Steering Committee seeks input from, and communicates key information to, faculty and students. The PHS Education Steering Committee recommends faculty and student appointments for membership on the PHS Curriculum Committee, Admissions Committee, and other committees. It provides strategic planning, in alignment with developments in public health practice, and in population health and clinical research. It explores potential interdisciplinary and interprofessional education and research with other schools and departments in the University, as well as with professionals and partners in the community.
The PHS Education Steering Committee is advisory to the directors of the educational programs and chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences.
The PHS Education Steering Committee shall consist of at least 5 primary PHS faculty members who teach and/or have leadership roles in the PHS educational programs and at least one student. PHS Education Steering Committee members are appointed by the chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences. The department chair (or designee) chairs this committee ex officio and has voting privileges.
The PHS Education Steering Committee meets monthly and more often as needed.
PHS Academic Promotion and Achievement Committee
The PHS Academic Promotion and Achievement Committee (APAC) is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that each student in the department’s graduate programs masters the educational program objectives and meets the program requirements. These objectives include assuring that each student demonstrates the required level of academic accomplishment and the required level of professionalism in order to be promoted and to graduate. The APAC oversees, monitors and enforces the educational requirements established by the PHS Curriculum Committee and ensures that the PHS graduate programs have established and follow clear standards for academic progress.
The APAC approves the list of graduates for May, August and December graduations. The APAC also 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 behaviors. The APAC does not establish the academic standards, which are set by the PHS Curriculum Committee, or the professionalism standards, which are set by the institution.
The PHS graduate degree-granting programs are responsible for developing and implementing the academic standards, academic progress, and evaluation policies. The APAC monitors the implementation of the policies regarding student remediation and dismissal, ensuring due process for students. The APAC assesses whether policies have been followed and assures fairness and consistency. Students for whom an adverse action may be taken will have the opportunity to present their case to the APAC but will not be present during deliberation. A student may contest a decision of the APAC by following the appeals process outlined in Public Health Sciences Academic Rules on Petitions, Appeals and Grievances.
The APAC is comprised of at least seven faculty members appointed by the chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences. It is chaired by the chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences (or designee).
The APAC will meet no less than three times a year, and more often when necessary.
A quorum is constituted when a simple (greater than 50% of voting members) is present. All motions are passed by a three-fourths majority of voting members present.
An administrative staff member from the PHS graduate programs office will take minutes of each meeting and record every official motion and its numerical vote. Official letters sent to students will constitute part of the minutes of each meeting. Minutes of all meetings are kept in the PHS Academic Programs Office and are made available to the dean and/or the dean’s designee. Letters from the APAC chair to individual students are kept in the student’s academic files.
PHS Admissions Committee
The PHS Admissions Committee provides the framework for an informed, inclusive, and integrated admissions process. Metrics considered by this committee include academic credentials such as GPA and GRE, experience, recommendations, and personal statements.
The PHS Admissions Committee has final authority for all admissions policy decisions with the goal of creating a fair and consistent admissions process.
The Admissions Committee is composed of the graduate program directors and at least four faculty members and two students appointed by the chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences. The PHS Academic Programs Administrator is a non-voting member. The PHS Admissions Committee chair is the chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences (or designee) and has full voting rights.
The chair of the PHS Admissions Committee will call meetings as needed.
A quorum is constituted when a majority (greater than 50% of voting members) is present.
The chair of the PHS Admissions Committee records the votes at each committee meeting. The chair presents an annual report to the dean and/or the dean’s designee. The report will include information on the students who applied, were offered admission, and matriculated to the School.
PHS Curriculum Committee
The PHS Curriculum Committee has the responsibility to monitor and set educational objectives, establish educational requirements, review and approve courses, ensure the integration, coordination and coherence of program courses and teaching methods, allocate curriculum time, and evaluate educational outcomes.
The PHS Curriculum Committee is advisory to the directors of the graduate programs, the PHS Steering Committee, and the chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences.
The PHS Curriculum Committee shall consist of at least six faculty members and two student members. The chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences (or designee) chairs this committee ex officio and has full voting rights.
The chair of the PHS Curriculum Committee will call meetings at least once each semester and as needed.
A quorum is constituted when a majority (greater than 50% of voting members) is present. Official votes may be taken only when a quorum is present and all motions shall pass by a simple majority.
Meeting minutes are sent directly to members and to the PHS department chair and/or the dean.
MPH Steering Committee
This Committee reviews and makes recommendations on all aspects of the Program, including short- and long-range plans for student enrollment, faculty capacity, and curriculum, in accordance with (a) CEPH accreditation criteria, (b) the Program’s values, mission and goals, and (c) stakeholder feedback, including from faculty and students. The MPH Steering Committee also serves as the entity responsible for reviewing and making recommendations based on the MPH Program evaluation report and for providing accreditation and Self-Study leadership. The MPH Program Director serves as Committee Chair (or can appoint a chair) and appoints committee members.
This committee:
- Provides overall planning and administration for the Program, including making recommendations for additional faculty or staff to the MPH Program Director.
- Provides direction to, monitors, and reviews Program evaluation, including data collection and analyses prepared by the MPH Director of Evaluation and Engagement.
- Makes proposals to the MPH Curriculum Committee for changes to the Program such as new course recommendations and academic policies related to Applied Practice experiences, faculty and student service, and Integrative Learning experiences.
- Monitors and addresses student issues regarding admission and academic progress.
- Monitors and provides guidance on external program relationships, such as with the MPH Community Advisors, applied practice preceptors, and other community organizations and leaders.
- Provides guidance to the MPH Program Director and Director of Student Affairs and Advising for addressing special student circumstances, such as student performance issues, program progress, and other questions regarding student affairs.
- Provides guidance to the MPH Director on opportunities to work with other schools and departments in the University to enrich public health research and teaching in the MPH Program.
Faculty and students are appointed by the MPH Program Director. Members must include the Concentration Directors, the Director of Student Affairs and Advising, the Department Administrator, the Director of Evaluation and Engagement and at least four students.
MPH Admissions Committee
This Committee reports directly to the MPH Program Director on all aspects of admission for the MPH Program. The Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the MPH Program Director regarding all policies and procedures that pertain to MPH student recruitment and admissions. This Committee meets at least once each semester and as often as necessary to review applications from December through April.
This committee:
- Reviews MPH applications.
- Makes admission decisions.
- Conducts recruitment activities, such as meeting with interested students, attending recruitment fairs in undergraduate programs, and placing Program advertisements.
Faculty and student members are appointed by the MPH Program Director. Members include the Director of Student Affairs and Advising, at least four Program faculty who teach core MPH courses, and a minimum of four students.
MPH Curriculum Committee
This Committee reports directly to the MPH Director and has responsibility for developing and implementing the curriculum and academic program for the MPH Program. The Committee has responsibility for guiding the MPH Program of study and ensuring it meets the changing needs of the public health workforce. The Committee is comprised of all MPH teaching faculty and at least two students. This Committee meets at least once each semester (generally September, January and May), and more often as needed.
This committee:
- Provides guidance for, reviews, and approves new courses and other substantive Program changes recommended by the MPH Steering Committee and/or MPH Program Director.
- Provides creative ideas about new courses and potential Applied Practice experiences, based on faculty experience and involvement in specialized areas of public health.
- Explores advances in teaching methods, providing in-service opportunities and a forum for faculty led discussions on teaching methods.
The MPH Program Director invites all faculty teaching in the MPH Program to serve on the MPH Curriculum Committee, along with two students.
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.