College of Health Sciences
Sandra Gangstead, Dean
Sallie Coke, Interim Associate Dean
Mission
The mission of the College of Health Sciences is to provide undergraduate and graduate programs in disciplines that emphasize health education, promotion, maintenance, and restoration. Liberal arts constructs permeate the health science curricula thereby enhancing an understanding of the diverse, changing and complex health needs and values of society.
Vision
As an academic entity within a public liberal arts university, the College of Health Sciences seeks national recognition for its exemplary preparation of health sciences professionals. Our graduates will be empowered leaders committed to improving the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and global society through lifelong learning and service.
Goals
The College of Health Sciences has identified six goals for moving forward our mission and vision. These goals are:
- Sustain and enhance distinctive, outstanding undergraduate health sciences education in order to meet current and future needs.
- Sustain and enhance distinctive, outstanding graduate health sciences education in order to meet current and future needs.
- Increase community-based engagement.
- Increase the capacity for collaborative research and scholarship.
- Identify diverse revenue sources to ensure financial sustainability.
- Sustain and enhance a culture of wellness through continued leadership on campus.
Beliefs
The College of Health Sciences encourages the University community to embrace the concept of health as multidimensional and to respect and understand the unique role holistic health plays in the quality of individual and community life. Holistic health is viewed as an integrated method of functioning, which incorporates the physical, psychological, spiritual, cognitive and sociocultural well-being of an individual or community. Optimal health is oriented toward maximizing the potential for which an individual or community is capable. The College of Health Sciences is committed to contributing to the optimal health of those who live and work in the University environment and to community partnerships that strive to ensure health. By engaging in the University’s liberal arts experience, College of Health Science graduates attain intellectual integrity, appreciation of diversity and commitment to the best for self, family, society and the world. In response, students emerge with a more comprehensive world view that promotes leadership, initiative, accountability, stewardship and ethical respect for self, others, and the ability to effect change in a dynamic society.
Program Admission
Admission to some programs in the College of Health Sciences is highly competitive and may be limited based on availability of qualified faculty and maintaining student to faculty ratios required by accreditation standards. All students may not be admitted. Specific guidelines for individual majors follow in each major program's overview.
Many agencies where clinical and practical experiences take place require students to undergo a criminal background check, urine drug screens and to meet the CDC standards for immunizations for health care professionals. Students desiring to enter a College of Health Sciences' major should consider these requirements. Agencies may refuse any student based on failure to meet these guidelines or other agency guidelines. Refusal of an agency to accept a student may delay or prevent a student from completing a program. Professional licensing boards may also refuse to license individuals who have committed certain criminal acts or other acts of moral turpitude.