The College of Health Sciences

Dean: Dr. Joseph A. Balogun

Associate Dean: TBA

The College of Health Sciences is the unit within the University responsible for developing, implementing, and administering programs related to the education of health care professionals. This unit consists of the Departments of Health Information Administration, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, as well as the Wellness Center and Student Support Center, which are the service units of the College.

The College accepts the central mission of the University and provides the opportunity for professional education to students without regard to race, age, gender, religion, ethnic origin, or disability.

The purpose of the College is to promote educational excellence and achievement of its students by preparing them to be caring, culturally sensitive, professionally responsible, competent practitioners in a global society. Towards these ends, the faculty recruits, educates, and graduates individuals from groups who are underrepresented in the health professions. Students are educated in a caring climate which fosters a deep commitment to their personal and professional growth, and instills within them an appreciation for the personal and professional growth of others.

As a community of scholars, faculty and students work with communities to develop and implement collaborative teaching, research and educational opportunities that enhance health and wellness. Graduates are prepared to successfully pass their professional licensure/credentialing examinations and to deliver quality health care to all clients.

Consistent with the stated mission, the goals are to:

Prepare competent health professionals who possess a sense of social, personal, and professional responsibility and can assume beginning leadership and management roles in a variety of health care systems.
Promote interdisciplinary education and practice among students and faculty.
Provide professional education which builds on prior educational and life experiences.
Provide a foundation for continued professional development and graduate study.
Provide health and wellness services to the community.
Provide continuing education workshops for health professionals.
Develop and implement health professional programs to meet current and future health manpower needs of the community.

College of Health Sciences Credo Statement

The College of Health Sciences faculty and staff believe

The student is the most important person on the campus for without them there would be no institution.
In the worth, dignity and uniqueness of all people.
That we live in an increasingly global society.
That strength comes from giving voice to diversity and that every student has a right to be successful.
That quality service is the foundation for everything we do.
In promoting excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship and service.
In an open world where dialogue is a way of sharing ideas, experiences and information.
That people have different ways of learning and knowing.
That learning is a dynamic and ever-changing lifelong process.

The College of Health Sciences offers a combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Occupational Therapy degree. The department of Health Information Administration offers a post-baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Administration.

Admission Process

Admission into the university and declaration of an intent to major in any health science program does not imply acceptance into the upper division professional phases of the programs. Acceptance into the professional phases will require a completed medical and dental examination, a recent PPD test or chest x-ray, and a current immunization record on file in the major department and also in the Wellness Center. Each professional program has separate and distinct application procedures; therefore, requirements and procedures for admission vary among each of the college programs. Persons intending to seek admission to any program are urged to contact the appropriate department chairperson as early in their academic careers as possible for programmatic and admission guidance.

In general, admission is limited to students who have completed the minimum required semester hours. However, the college does provide individualized alternate professional education routes which recognize and incorporate prior education or life experiences.

Requirements for each degree program appear under the appropriate academic department in this section.

College Level Student Grievance Procedure

The programs in the College of Health Sciences provide professional level students with a written copy of student and instructor responsibilities, and procedures for enforcing them. Reasons for grievances might include:

Admission to professional course sequence.
Admission to clinical experiences.
Evaluation of student performance in courses, clinical settings, or other program-related activities.

Student grievance procedures and guidelines and the “Petition for Hearing” are available from the respective academic departments.

Steps Prior to Hearing:

To initiate a formal grievance, the student must file a completed Petition for Hearing Form with the student’s department chairperson.
Before a formal grievance can rise to the college level, it must have proceeded through the prior levels of deliberation indicated below (Each department has detailed procedures for action at each level);

Conference between instructor and student.
Conference between chairperson and student.
Hearing before department level grievance committee.

College Level Grievance Process

The dean will appoint a grievance committee to hear the complaint and provide advice. The ordinary rights of parties at a hearing (student or instructor) shall apply, including the right to notice of hearing and decision reached; the right to be present at the hearing; and the right to present and inspect evidence. Specific procedures for the hearing of each case shall be determined by members of the committee. The primary role of the grievance committee is to ascertain whether the department followed their published policies and procedures. Following the hearing, the committee will present its findings and recommendations to the dean . The dean’s decision will be communicated to the department chairperson, to the instructor, and to the student. The decision of the dean will be final. If the student requests, and the instructor does not object, the dean may resolve the problem without the intervention of a grievance committee.

Composition of College-Level Grievance Committee

The Dean of the College or his/her representative from the College of Health Sciences.
One faculty member from the department involved.
One faculty member from the other academic departments in the college.
One College of Health Sciences student not from the department.
One student from the department involved.

Resolution of the committee will be based on two-thirds of the majority vote.