Mollie Mulvanity, MPHDeputy Director

Council on Education for Public Health

Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)an independent 501 (c) 3 agency “recognized accreditor” by the US Department of

Education accredits schools of public health and public

health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health.

to date, public health programs have only been eligible if they offer an MPH (or equivalent master’s degree)may also offer undergraduate or doctoral, but not

mandatory

CEPH BackgroundEstablished in 1974 jointly by APHA & ASPHPrivate, non-profit corporation10-member Board of Directors6 staff membersMore than 140 trained site visitors (academic and

practitioners combined)Recognized by the US Department of EducationMission: “CEPH assures quality in public health education

and training to achieve excellence in practice, research and service, through collaboration with organizational and community partners.”

We are responsive to and balance the needs of academia and practice.

CEPH: Vital StatisticsAccredit 50 Schools of

Public HealthAccredit 92 Public

Health ProgramsAccredit 142 total units32 schools and

programs currently applicants

22 schools and 8 programs include at least one UG PH degree in unit of accreditation

Accredit in 45 states plus DC & PR

Accredit in 4 countries outside US (Canada, Mexico, Lebanon, Grenada)

Public health is growing – adding about 5-10 new schools/programs annually

Recommendations of the Task ForceThat accreditation be the quality assurance

mechanism for health education professional preparation institutions and should replace existing approval processes in an orderly transition.

That CEPH is the preferred accrediting entity to provide a single coordinated accreditation mechanism for community/public health education programs and the undergraduate and graduate levels.

How does this relate to SABPAC?Task force’s recommendation has always

been that accreditation (CEPH) should replace approval (SABPAC).

SABPAC has indicated intent to “sunset” when accreditation of UG CHE programs is available.

Organizational CommentsOf 35 organizations – 11 responded (5 CHE

and 6 general public health) Generally supportive, but with overwhelming

theme:Look broadly at undergraduate education in

public health instead of focusing in one specialty area

Unintended consequence identified was that of NOT pursuing it – could it fracture the field?

Based on results, Council decided to explore further…

Consensus Statements1. Given the rapid growth in UG PH in all types of

higher education institutions, accreditation might be necessary to assure quality in baccalaureate-level PH majors.

2. Development of an accreditation system is an iterative, collaborative process that must involve key stakeholder groups.

3. Principles of quality should apply to all baccalaureate-level public health majors, whether in SPH, affiliated with graduate PHP, or in colleges or universities without graduate PH training.

What is in the draft criteria?Seven criteria

Leadership, management & governanceResourcesFaculty qualificationsProgram effectivenessCurriculumAdvisingDiversity

Curriculum

Curricular standards based on Critical Component Elements project (CCE)

Critical Component ElementsDeveloped in response to demand from the

fieldMost undergraduate programs in public health

are NOT in colleges or universities with public health schools or programs

Designed to speak to the “what,” not the “how” nor the “why”

Intended for programs in the liberal arts as well as those designed as pre-professional

CCE specifics: 4 sectionsBackground domain

contentSkills

Public health domainCumulative experience & field exposureCross-cutting areas

BackgroundContent

life/bio/health sciences social/behavioral sciencesbasic statisticshumanities and fine arts

Skillscommunication information literacy, analysis, synthesis

Public healthhistory, philosophy, core values, concepts and functionsdata collection, use and analysisconcepts of population health, and basic approaches and

interventions that identify and address populations’ health-related needs

science of human health and disease, including health promotionsocioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental and other

factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparitiesproject implementation, including planning, assessment and

evaluationUS health system as well as the differences in systems in other

countries legal, ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions of health carebasic public health-specific communication

Remaining parts...Culminating Experience and Field Exposure

Internship not required, but internship can fulfill these requirements

Cross-Cutting Areas Advocacy, community dynamics, critical thinking,

cultural contexts, ethical decision making, independent work and a personal work ethic, networking, organizational dynamics professionalism, research methods, systems thinking, teamwork and leadership

Health Education ProgramsCurriculum criterion also addresses programs

training students for CHES/other credentials These programs must also use the NCHEC (or

other credential’s) competencies to develop their criteria

NCHEC competencies are very compatible with Critical Component Elements!

CEPH currently piloting a mapping activity with two health education programs

UNC Wilmington and University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa

And, most recently…

January 2013 Focus Groups2 Focus Groups15 Participants

Representing schools from Maine to Florida, New Jersey to Minnesota

5 Community Health Programs1 historically Black universityPrograms housed in departments and

interdisciplinary programs that draw across schools/colleges

80-1500 students

Public Comment PeriodFebruary 27-Today, April 26, 2013Criteria and comment form made available on CEPH

website150+ people received the initial email blast including:

CEPH Accredited Schools and Programs CEPH Site Visitors Standalone Baccalaureate Programs Focus Groups Thought Leaders ASPH

CEPH will consider all comments submitted during this comment period at its June 2013 meeting.

Breakdown of Comments Received45 comments as of April 22, 2013Comments received from a wide range of

constituents including:Standalone Baccalaureate Programs (including

Community Health Programs)Accredited Schools and ProgramsFocus Group ParticipantsSite VisitorsAssociation of Schools of Public Health

Breakdown of Comments ReceivedIn general, the comments were very positive

Focus Group members commented that they could see the results of their conversations in the released draft

Many comments were points of clarification, which will be addressed more extensively in upcoming TA materials

Comments often noted questions about how an individual program would fit these standards

What’s next?At its June 2013 meeting, the Council will

either adopt the criteria, after incorporating revisions that arise from the public comments or will produce a second draft of criteria for public comment.

CEPH will share the results of its June 2013 deliberations no later than July 8. Watch our website!

We need your involvement!Opportunities to give input and get involved –

presentations at professional meetings, written comment periods, town hall meetings, etc.

If you would like to be included in an email list to receive notice about developments in undergraduate public health education from CEPH, email your name, institution and email address to Nicole Williams nwilliams@ceph.org

Questions?

CEPH ResourcesCEPH Website: www.ceph.orgAbout CEPH: http://ceph.org/about/#Baccalaureate Level:

http://ceph.org/constituents/programs-baccalaureate-level/

CEPH Staff: http://ceph.org/about/staff/