Preparing the next generation of students is a primary goal of the School. The School, therefore, seeks an intellectually vibrant, yet racially, ethnically and geographically diverse student body. Diversity contributes to an enriched learning environment. Plus, students from many and varied backgrounds will contribute to a public health workforce better equipped to provide public health leadership among diverse populations.
In seeking a diverse student body, the School considers factors such as cultural and ethnic origins, social and educational background, geography, life experience, community leadership experience and interests in public health fields. In admitting candidates, the School emphasizes experience in public health and the health sciences.
The task of recruitment is a shared responsibility, involving faculty, administrators, students, major coordinators and alumni. An Office of Recruitment Services, established in 2000, coordinates recruitment efforts and can be credited, in part, for the School’s doubling in the number of students. It has also contributed significantly to the School’s increased efforts to attract students from under-represented populations.
The School undertakes numerous activities to attract high-caliber, diverse students:
Assessment. The School participates in market research to gain insight into factors that shape student decisions to pursue master’s degrees. This information is helpful both for planning recruitment strategies and for developing programming that meets student needs for flexibility. For example, in 2004, it collaborated on “Pathways to Public Health Focus Group Assessment Research,” an effort to gather market information relevant to increasing the number and diversity of Minnesotans who pursue graduate education in public health. The focus groups suggested that before enrolling in a master’s program, participants focused on two key questions: (1) “Should I pursue higher education?” and (2) “Which path will allow me to do ‘meaningful work’ (i.e., help others, social justice), help me accomplish my goals, give me the flexibility I need in school and career and allow me to make a living?”
Online applications. The School is an early and enthusiastic adopter of the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS), the online centralized application service for schools of public health. This exciting capability serves the needs of students – providing time-savings through the ability to submit an application completed once to many schools – and the School, which benefits from the broad marketing and outreach capability inherent in Web-based technology.
Informational events. The School holds numerous events throughout the year to introduce its programs, faculty and staff to prospective students. These events – free and open to the public – include many 1.5-hour information sessions and several half-day School Preview Days, through which prospective students can interact with faculty, staff and students. In addition, the School’s degree programs also hold open houses and information events.
Advertising. The School regularly advertises in journals, newsletters, periodicals and via Web sites and list-serves that reach a wide audience of health professionals, particularly in minority populations.
Networking. The School actively encourages personal contact, networking and enthusiastic recruiting of applicants by faculty members and staff at local and national events and key undergraduate programs.
Other. In addition, the School uses a number of other recruitment strategies, including:
Distribution of the School catalog, view book, information sheets and related information (most recent versions available in the Resource File)
Distribution of major and Division brochures
Posting of a toll-free telephone number
Attendance at recruiting fairs (see list of Recruiting Events, below)
Updates to the School Web site
A listing in Peterson’s Guide
Enrollment or link on other Web sites, including GradSchools.com
4.4.b. Statement of recruitment policies and procedures
Application review process
The Student Services Center coordinates the application process and forwards completed applications for review to the School’s Admissions Committees. (Each M.P.H. Major and Graduate Program has an Admissions Committee composed of at least three faculty, at least two of whom hold primary appointments in the School or on the Graduate Faculty.) The Admissions Committees evaluate each completed application and forward their recommendations to the Major Chair and Dean for review and admission signatures.
Procedures for application review
Admissions Committees consider the candidate’s complete file including:
Evidence of interest and intent (usually appearing as a CV/resume and personal essay regarding public health interests and personal directions);
Evidence of past academic performance achieved at a properly accredited institution of higher education in the form of an official transcript of a baccalaureate degree or of a post-baccalaureate graduate or professional degree. (No applicant is permitted to matriculate who has not completed a baccalaureate degree from a properly accredited university or college);
Evidence of academic potential usually in the form of standardized test scores taken within five years previous to the application that are acceptable to the major for graduate and professional study. Generally test scores considered acceptable include those from the GRE, GMAT or MAT examination, although some majors may permit Medical or Law School scores or academic performance in the Public Health Certificate in Core Concepts (within past three years) as sufficient evidence. Majors may also choose to accept an earned doctorate (e.g., M.D., J.D., Ph.D.) or other advanced degree (e.g., M.S.N.) as sufficient evidence of academic potential.
Applicants who have earned a Public Health Certificate in Core Concepts (which includes all six core course requirements, which are the same as the M.P.H. core) are waived from the GRE requirement for admission to the Environmental Health Sciences M.P.H. or Public Health Administration and Policy M.P.H. major programs if they meet the following criteria:
All core courses were completed on a letter grade (A-F) basis
The overall GPA for all core courses was 3.25 or greater; and
No grade for a core course was less than a B-.
Evidence of external evaluation of the candidate in the form of three letters of recommendation, each accompanied by an evaluation form. At least one of these must comment on the applicant's potential as a graduate student and public health professional.
Evidence of fluency in English is required of international students whose primary language is not English. The operational standard for admission to the School is a TOEFL score of 90 on the Internet-based (iBT) test, 600 on the paper test or 250 on the computer-based TOEFL. International applicants are exempt from this requirement if they have completed 16 semester credits (or 24 quarter credits) within the past 24 months at a recognized U.S. institution of higher learning. Other students whose primary language is not English may submit a TOEFL score or other evidence of written and oral fluency.
Other evidence is welcome, including information about the applicant’s professional and life experience, potential contribution to diversity and compatibility with faculty expertise and program directions.
To guide applicants, the School program catalog and Web site provide expectations and points of reference in these areas of admissions review.
Admissions decisions
Admissions Committees may render one of three decisions in reviewing an application:
Admit the applicant. The decision to admit an M.P.H. applicant is confirmed by the Major Chair or Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean (acting through the Associate Deans for Academic Affairs or Student Affairs). A letter of admission is issued by the Dean.
Do not admit the applicant. The Major Chair informs applicants who are not accepted of the reasons in writing. Unsuccessful applicants are invited to address deficiencies and to reapply in a succeeding cycle if they so desire.
Conditional admission. Under rare circumstances, an M.P.H. Admissions Committee may recommend in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs that an applicant be granted conditional admission. This designation may be requested in those rare cases in which an applicant has demonstrated strong potential for public health practice or public health leadership skills.
With the Dean’s approval, conditional admission will require the student in the first semester to complete a minimum of nine credits in program core courses (of which one course must be a designated biostatistics or epidemiology core course) with no less than a B- in each course and an overall GPA of 3.0. Successful completion will result in full admission. Unsuccessful completion will result in withdrawal of the conditional status and non-continuation in the program. Conditional students must register and receive letter grades (incompletes are unacceptable). All conditional students are assigned a faculty adviser by the Major Chair with special consideration for academic need. The conditional designation is also available to M.S. and Ph.D. Admissions Committees but is regulated separately and according to the customs of the Graduate School.
4.4.c. Examples of recruitment materials
The School offers comprehensive recruitment materials, each of which is designed to address specific audiences. Examples of these publications include:
Introduction to the Profession
School Overview
Ph.D. brochure
Office of Multicultural Services
In addition, the School’s three recruitment Web sites serve specific purposes:
School home page: www.SPH.umn.edu. Entry point to the School geared for everyone
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