How to Improve a Fine Program?

By John R. Finnegan, Jr.
Dean and Professor
May 21, 2007

Back in 1999, the SPH began to grow and revitalize its education programs as part of a strategic planning process. In the succeeding eight years, we have developed one of the largest education programs in terms of student enrollment of any of the 38 accredited schools of public health. We are on track this year for another record year of student applications (about 1,350 at this writing).

I would like to believe that this is evidence that Minnesota has become a public health school of prime destination for many of the nation's prospective students. But as with any growth area, we experience stresses in leadership and management. How do we keep our edge in education programs? How do we stay alert to changes in the "market" for public health education? How do we respond quickly, effectively and efficiently to changing needs and not out-run our capabilities? And how do we assure continued excellence and quality?

These are a few of the important issues faculty, staff and administration leaders will discuss at an upcoming "retreat" on June 18 here on campus. The central question is, how can we improve an already fine program?

We already have considerable capabilities: excellent teachers, great staff, fine programs. It is a very solid "platform" from which we will consider how to become even better. I look forward to this discussion as a way to improve our communication, clarify our expectations, better integrate our faculty and staff leadership and management, and assure that we continue to offer our students the best education program available.