DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Showing that transparency is the best policy in a crisis. The Department of Health Sciences is the largest department within the Marieb College and it accounts for approximately 42% of the student credit hour production for the college. Most of the programs in the DHS already had some degree of online curriculum. So that transition went smoothly. Students kept their normal class times, but just attended online. The MPAS in Physician Assistant Studies program, however, was different. For graduation, school accreditation and student licensure, there are specific rotations students have to complete to qualify. So the MPAS program had to come up with other ways to meet those requirements. Through the summer of 2020 they used simulations to mimic real-life experiences. Then, when students returned in the fall, they worked extra hard to make up any requirements they had missed. In the end, the entire cohort gained the hands-on experience they needed to graduate, with 95% of them passing the licensure exam — two points higher than the national average of 93%.
A key focus during the crisis department-wide was transparency. Students, faculty and staff had input into decision-making and were kept abreast of developments. Students thanked us for making the process easy, remarking that they “have it better than all the other programs in the state.” Here are more Health Services highlights from 2020: } Molecular Diagnostics Program started in Spring 2021, a program that has partnered with local employer NeoGenomics Laboratories in a workforce talent development pipeline consisting of scholarship support for eligible students. } Clinical Laboratory Science received re-accreditation for 10 years in Spring 2021 based on a successful review from its accrediting body, NAACLS, in Fall 2020. } Redeveloped MS in Health Sciences curriculum to have a more administrative focus and expanded hours from 36 to 45. The new curriculum went into effect in Fall 2020. } Reactivated the BS in Health Administration program for Fall 2020.
