4.1 Faculty Qualifications

Tenured and tenure-track faculty

The personal experiences of faculty in community public health practice situations infuse instruction and research with field perspectives.

Contract faculty

In 2003, the School implemented a contract faculty position as one strategy for further integrating perspectives of the public health community in its teaching, research and service. Contract faculty serve under annual or multi-year contracts. They are eligible for promotion, but are not eligible for tenure. Under the terms of their contracts, these faculty members may focus on a single area of interest, such as teaching or research. Contract faculty may share their time between the School and another organization engaged in public health, such as the Minnesota Department of Health, and receive compensation proportionally. These faculty bring immediate, first-hand perspectives from the practice community.

Adjunct faculty

Adjunct faculty members include public health professionals from the community who are employed by the School to teach or lecture – and to bring perspectives from the “real-world” to School instruction.

Guest speakers, lecturers and panelists

Practicing public health practitioners frequently are invited into classrooms as guest speakers, lecturers and/or panelists to share perspectives with students.

Joint appointments

Joint faculty appointments across the University of Minnesota and other universities provide yet another avenue for richer, more diverse perspectives.

Public Health Practice Major

The Public Health Practice Major offers academic programs at the master's level geared especially for practicing public health professionals and others in the health care disciplines. As such, it serves as a conduit for bringing students – and perspectives – from the practice community to the School.

Public Health Institute

Through the School’s Public Health Institute, a three-week on-campus opportunity for study with academic credit or continuing professional education, the faculty interacts closely with practicing professionals who attend, gaining insight into the issues and perspectives of importance to the field. In addition, faculty participation in the Public Health Institute provides an opportunity to “co-lead” courses with professionals from departments of health, private industry, health care organizations and other universities locally and globally – and thus gain exposure to external perspectives.

Community Partners and Annual Community Partners Event

The School actively partners with individuals, organizations and agencies from the community to enrich the student educational experience. In addition to serving as adjunct faculty members, individuals from the community may, for example, serve as mentors, guest lecturers or preceptors. Community organizations and agencies may sponsor student events, such as the National Public Health Week Film Festival, the mentoring program or Welcome Week orientation. The School celebrates these partnerships at its Annual Community Partner Event. Individuals who have contributed to an outstanding experience for students in education, training, research or guidance are presented a Star award. Similar awards are made to one agency, one organization and one individual to recognize their significant contributions to the student experience. In addition, adjunct faculty are honored at the event for the perspectives they bring to students.

Mentoring

The School features one of the largest active mentoring programs among schools of public health in the country. Some 150 public health professionals, representing a broad range of disciplines, from throughout the state were paired with students in 2005-2006. The program’s emphasis is on matching mentors with first-year students. Its goal is to provide a link between the strong focus on theory that first-year students receive in the classroom and the application of those theories in the field. Mentors are encouraged to meet with mentees once a month for one or more hours. In addition, mentors and students interact at more formal School-sponsored events.

Community-based participatory research

Through community-based participatory research, the faculty forms partnerships with community and local public health organizations to assess needs, develop and implement appropriate interventions and evaluate success. Through the research process, community perspectives become integrated into the School.

External advisory boards

Advisory boards made up of practicing public health professionals from a range of disciplines provide perspectives that shape curricula and other aspects of School majors and Centers.

Student field work

Students gain real-world perspectives on the practice of public health through applied research and service projects. They, in turn, bring their experiences back to the faculty and other students. All professional degree students are required to do a field practicum.

Objective 3.a.: Percentage of eligible faculty who receive promotion from assistant to full professor within 11 years

80%

86%

Objective 8.b.: Recognition of community partners through adjunct appointments within the University and within external communities

At least 50% of adjunct faculty will be from external communities

61%
(67/107)