Table of Contents
Chronological History of the MPH Program at Armstrong Atlantic State University / 2List of Electronic Reference Folders/Files………………………………………….. / 4
Glossary of Terms…………………………………………………………………… / 5
1.0 / The Public Health Program………………………………………………….. / 7
1.1 / Mission………………………………………………………………………. / 7
1.2 / Evaluation……………………………………………………………………. / 12
1.3 / Institutional Environment……………………………………………………. / 21
1.4 / Organization and Administration……………………………………………. / 35
1.5 / Governance…………………………………………………………………... / 39
1.6 / Fiscal Resources……………………………………………………………... / 48
1.7 / Faculty and Other Resources………………………………………………... / 52
1.8 / Diversity……………………………………………………………………… / 61
2.0 / Instructional Programs……………………………………………………….. / 79
2.1 / Degree Offerings……………………………………………………………... / 79
2.2 / Program Length……………………………………………………………… / 81
2.3 / Public Health Core Knowledge……………………………………………… / 82
2.4 / Practical Skills……………………………………………………………….. / 84
2.5 / Culminating Experience……………………………………………………... / 89
2.6 / Required Competencies……………………………………………………… / 92
2.7 / Assessment Procedures………………………………………………………. / 98
2.8 / Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Health………………………………………… / 103
2.9 / Academic Degrees…………………………………………………………… / 103
2.10 / Doctoral Degrees…………………………………………………………….. / 103
2.11 / Joint Degrees…………………………………………………………………. / 103
2.12 / Distance Education or Executive Degree Program…………………………... / 103
3.0 / Creation, Application and Advancement of Knowledge…………………….. / 104
3.1 / Research……………………………………………………………………… / 104
3.2 / Service……………………………………………………………………….. / 122
3.3 / Workforce Development……………………………………………………... / 133
4.0 / Faculty, Staff and Students…………………………………………………... / 136
4.1 / Faculty Qualifications………………………………………………………... / 136
4.2 / Faculty Policies and Procedures……………………………………………... / 151
4.3 / Student Recruitment and Admissions………………………………………... / 158
4.4 / Advising and Career Counseling…………………………………………….. / 164
Addendum A / 171
Chronological History of the MPH Program at Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) is a unit of the University System of Georgia. AASU is located in Savannah, Georgia. As of fall, 2012 AASU had approximately 7,400 students of which 6,731 were undergraduates and 708 were graduate students. As of spring, 2013, AASU has over 300 full-time faculty members. The university offers 28 bachelor’s degree programs and 14 master’s degree programs through its College of Liberal Arts, College of Education, College of Health Professions, and College of Science and Technology. The institution was founded in 1935 as Armstrong Junior College and became a unit of the University System of Georgia, in 1959. Senior college status was conferred to Armstrong State College in 1964 after which both baccalaureate and master’s degrees were authorized. In 1996, the institution gained university status and its new name, Armstrong Atlantic State University.
The precursor to the MPH Program at Armstrong Atlantic State University, the Master of Health Science, was approved by the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG) in 1981. At that time, Armstrong State College (ASC) was one of the three Regional Health Professions Education Centers in the University System designated by the University System Board of Regents (Medical College of Georgia, Georgia State University, Armstrong State College). The Master of Health Science (MHS) degree allowed students to choose an emphasis area of study in either health education or health services administration. In 1990, the Department of Health Science, on the recommendations of its advisory committee and input from the community began deliberate faculty acquisition and thorough restructuring of its curriculum. The MHS program based its redesigned emphasis areas in health promotion/education and health services administration on institutions enjoying excellent national reputations in public health and health services administration. The MHS program experienced phenomenal growth (748% increase in quarter hours generated from 1990 -1996, AASU Data Digest).
From 1990-1997, the Department of Health Science existed as a dichotomy with two distinctly separate faculty specializations and produced students prepared in either public/community health or health services administration. Therein lay the dilemma; because the student’s academic preparation was a major rather than a degree designation, there was often confusion as to the exact academic preparation of the student, thus resulting in reduced marketability of the program as well as the student. The faculty proposed the degree re-designations to better meet and serve student demands, to facilitate program accreditation, and to better define an educational experience which more accurately reflected the fields of Public Health and Health Services Administration.
As a result of a successful history of program delivery (as the MHS with an emphasis area in health/promotion education), community support, well established collaborative relationships with other system institutions and a positive report from the consultant from the Accrediting Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the Master of Public Health degree received a priority one status from AASU in the institution’s strategic plan for new programs
In early 1997, the MHS, with input from its advisory committee, the faculty members of the Health Science Department (this designation was later changed to Health Sciences Department) presented a proposal and needs assessment to the BOR requesting a re-designation of the MHS degree with an emphasis in health promotion/education to the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and the MHS with an emphasis in health services administration to the Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) degree. This change enabled Armstrong Atlantic State University to improve its existing programs in the direction that would better achieve a goal central to the 1998 proposed mission of Armstrong Atlantic State University and its School of Health Professions, namely (a) “to promote academic excellence and provide appropriate access to its programs. . ..in Health Professions . . .and to form partnerships with other institutions in the university system” and (b) ensure that academic needs are not duplicated elsewhere.
The BOR approved the request to establish the MPH degree (40 semester hours) at AASU in December 10, 1997 (note: the total hours in the program of study for the MPH was increased to 42 semester hours and subsequently 45 semester hours).
In 1999, the MPH Program at AASU submitted its proposal to begin its accreditation process to CEPH. AASU was notified on June 30, 1999 that CEPH had approved the request to begin the accreditation process and that the self-study must be submitted prior to June 2001.
On September 29th, 2000, the MPH Program at AASU submitted its initial Self-Study to CEPH. The initial site visit was scheduled for October 2000. The result of the site visit was full initial accreditation of 5 years.
In October 2005, the MPH Program at AASU submitted a self-study for re-accreditation to CEPH. A site visit was scheduled for April 2006. On October 16th 2006, the CEPH Board of Councilors accredited the program for the maximum seven year term.
The MPH Program is located in the Department of Health Sciences which is located organizationally in the College of Health Professions. In addition to the MPH Program, there are three additional programs: the Bachelor of Health Science, the Master of Health Services Administration and the Master of Science in Sports Medicine. There are also two certificate programs, Gerontology (graduate and undergraduate) and Strength and Conditioning (graduate only). There are currently 5 core faculty members and 16 in the total faculty complement. As of spring 2013 there were 64 students enrolled in the MPH Program.
Since 2006, the MPH Program has thrived increasing in faculty complement, collaborative community partnerships and producing well prepared graduates to enter the public health workforce.
List of Electronic Reference Folders/Files
The following information is provided in a separate format (via memory stick) to support the Final Self-Study:
MPH Administration
· ACOPH Meeting Minutes 12.13.11
· Armstrong Graduate Catalog 2012-13
· Childhood Obesity in Chatham County – 2012 Community Report
· Complete List of Grants
· Constituent Letter for Comments
· eFACE Questions
· MOU List (as of 6.9.13)
· MPH Recruitment Brochure
· Public Health Workforce Needs Assessment 2011
MPH Advisory Committee
· MPH Advisory Committee Aug 09-Aug 11
· MPH Advisory Committee Spring 2013
MPH Courses
· Capstone Course_PUBH 7500 (folder)
· MPH Course Syllabi (folder)
· Practicum Course_PUBH 7675 (folder)
MPH Faculty
· MPH Faculty CVs (folder)
· MPH Faculty Meeting Minutes (folder)
· Department of Health Sciences_Tenure & Promotion Policy
· Faculty Handbook (as of May 2012)
· Graduate Faculty Status Associate & Full Application
· Graduate Faculty Status Temporary Application
MPH Students
· Figure 1.7.b_Learning Commons Floor Plan
· MPH Practicum Guide (prior to Fall 2013)
· MPH Student Handbook (as of Fall 2013)
· MPH Student Handbook (prior to Fall 2013)
· MPH Student Self Evaluation Survey – Data
· MPH Student Self Evaluation Survey – Initial Assessment Tool
· MPH Student Self Evaluation Survey – Final Assessment Tool
Glossary of Terms
Abbreviation / Definition /AA/EOE / Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
AAHE / American Association for Health Education
AAMI / African American Male Initiative
AASU / Armstrong Atlantic State University
ACOPH / Administrative Committee on Public Health
AFE / Annual Faculty Evaluation
AHEC / Areal Health Information Centers
AMA / American Medical Association
APAR / Annual Professional Activities Report
APHA / American Public Health Association
ASPH / Associated Schools of Public Health
BHS / Bachelor of Health Science
BOR / Board of Regents
CAMINO / College Access Mentoring Information and Outreach Program
CDC / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CEPH / Council on Education for Public Health
CEU / Continuing Education Unit
CHES / Certified Health Education Specialist
CINAHL / Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature
CME / Continuing Medical Education
COHP / College of Health Professions
CPH / Certified in Public Health
CV / Curriculum Vita
DrPH / Doctor of Public Health
EdD / Doctor of Education
eFACE / Electronic Faculty and Course Evaluation
FACE / Faculty and Course Evaluation
FPE / Faculty Peer Evaluation
FTE / Full-time Employee
GA / Georgia
GA / Graduate Assistantship
GAF / Graduate Affairs Committee
GAIN / Georgia Network for Medical Information
GALILEO / Georgia Library Learning Online
GIL / GALILEO Interconnected Libraries
GPA / Grade Point Average
GPHA / Georgia Public Health Association
GRE / Graduate Record Examinations
GSCC / Graduate Student Coordinating Council
HBCU / Historically Black College or University
HC / Head Count
HHS / Health and Human Services
HOLA / Hispanic Outreach and Leadership
HRSA / Health Resources and Services Administration
HS / Health Science
IRB / Institutional Review Board
JSTOR / Journal Storage
LEED / Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LGBTQ / Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer
MAT / Miller’s Analogy Test
MD / Medical Doctor
MEDLINE / Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System
MHS / Master of Health Science
MHSA / Master of Health Services Administration
MOU / Memo of Understanding
MOVE / Men of Vision and Excellence
MPA / Master of Public Administration
MPAB / MPH Program Advisory Board
MPH / Master of Public Health
MSSM / Master of Science Sports Medicine
NCHEC / National Commission for Health Education Credentialing
PhD / Doctor of Philosophy
PIER / Pirates Impacting and Evaluating Recruitment
PROF / Peer Review Outcome Form
PUBH / Public Health
QEP / Quality Enhancement Plan
SACS / Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
SDS / Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students
SFR / Student/Faculty Ratio
SOPHE / Society of Public Health Education
SSC / Self-Study Steering Committee
SSU / Savannah State University
T&P / Tenure and Promotion
USG / University System of Georgia
VP / Vice President
1.0 The Public Health Program
1.1 Mission. The program shall have a clearly formulated and publicly stated mission with supporting goals, objectives and values.
1.1.a. A clear and concise mission statement for the program as a whole.
The mission of the MPH program at Armstrong Atlantic State University is to support and enhance public health for the Georgia coastal region through workforce development, research and community service.
The mission supports the programmatic vision: To be the principal center of public health education, information and advocacy in the Georgia coastal region.
1.1.b. A statement of values that guides the program.
The MPH program embraces values that align with the values of Armstrong Atlantic State University:
· We value public health education that is student-focused, transformative, experiential and rigorous, leading to student success.
· We value balance among teaching, mentoring and scholarship to support and enhance public health for the Georgia coastal region.
· We value an environment of mutual trust and collegiality to support and enhance public health among our local constituents.
· We value and respect diversity.
· We value ethical behavior and accountability to support high standards of performance by the public health workforce within our local community.
· We value civic engagement through outreach and service to support and enhance public health for the Georgia coastal region.
1.1.c. One or more goal statements for each major function through which the program intends to attain its mission, including at a minimum, instruction, research and service.
Instruction
GOAL 1: To prepare, encourage, and recognize academic achievements of public health students in order to create effective public health professionals.
Research
GOAL 2: To enhance the body of knowledge in public health through academic and applied research.
Service
GOAL 3: To provide leadership, expertise, and assistance in public health education and promotion that responds to changing community health needs.
1.1.d. A set of measurable objectives with quantifiable indicators related to each goal statement as provided in Criterion 1.1.c. In some cases, qualitative indicators may be used as appropriate.
Goals / Objectives / Indicators /1. To prepare, encourage, and recognize academic achievements of public health students in order to create effective public health professionals. / 1.1. MPH graduates will demonstrate the ability to integrate and apply all core competencies. / 1.1. 90% of MPH Graduates will complete the capstone course PUBH 7500 Planning and Evaluation with a grade of B or better.
1.2. Program will maintain affiliation with at least one active chapter of health related honors society. / 1.2. Number of honor societies with which the MPH is affiliated.
1.3. Program will select students to receive awards for academic achievement at least once a year. / 1.3. Number of awards earned by MPH students each year.
1.4. The program will maintain an 80% degree completion rate. / 1.4. % of graduates who complete the degree within the allowable time period (7 years).
1.5. All graduates will report increased self-efficacy in public health programmatic competencies. / 1.5. % students with increase in scores for initial/final self-assessment of programmatic competencies.
2. To enhance the body of knowledge in public health through academic and applied research. / 2.1. 50% of faculty will submit grants/contracts for funding of research (annually). / 2.1. Number of grants/contracts submitted for funding for service activities expressed as a percentage of MPH faculty complement.
2.2. 75% of faculty will present refereed or invited scholarly presentations at state, regional, national or international scientific meetings and/or professional conferences (annually). / 2.2. Number of refereed or invited scholarly presentations at state, regional, national or international scientific meetings and/or professional conferences expressed as a percentage of MPH faculty complement.
2.3. 25% of faculty will author or co-author publications in a refereed journal or non-refereed publication disseminated at the state, regional, national, or international level (annually). / 2.3. Number of publications as author or co-author in an appropriate area of expertise in a refereed journal or non-refereed publication that is disseminated at the state, regional, national, or international level expressed as a percentage of MPH faculty complement.
2.4 100% of faculty will satisfy scholarship requirements to maintain university graduate faculty status (annually). / 2.4 % of faculty with graduate faculty status.
3. To provide leadership, expertise, and assistance in public health education and promotion that responds to changing community health needs. / 3.1. The program will maintain an advisory council that comprises representatives from nonprofit, public, and for-profit agencies with a concern for local public health issues (annually). / 3.1. Roster of current MPH Advisory Council membership.
3.2. 50% of faculty will serve in a significant consulting capacity in their area of expertise that supports local, state, national, and/or international agencies or organizations (annually). / 3.2. Proportion of MPH faculty complement who serve in a significant consulting capacity in their area of expertise that supports local, state, national, and/or international agencies or organizations.
3.3. 75% of faculty will maintain membership in national, regional, and/or state professional organizations (annually). / 3.3. % of faculty reporting membership in national, regional, and/or state professional organizations in annual APAR.
3.4. 100% of faculty will satisfy service requirements to maintain university graduate faculty status (annually). / 3.4. % of faculty with graduate faculty status.
1.1.e. Description of the manner through which the mission, values, goals and objectives were developed, including a description of how various specific stakeholder groups were involved in their development.