Important Policies
Grade Point Average Registration Requirement
Immunization Requirements Student Health Benefit Plan
Program Completion Timeline Grading Policy
Probation Applying Credits to a Degree Program FERPA
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the Public Health Certificate in Core Concepts (PHCert-CC) courses is required for completion of the Certificate.
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Public Health Certificate in Core Concept students are encouraged to register for a required course at least one term in an academic year to maintain their active status. Students must register for at least one course during the term matriculation. If more than two terms pass without registration, please contact the Major Coordinator to have your status reactivated.
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Public Health Certificate in Core Concept students are exempt from the AHC immunization requirements.
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All Academic Health Center (AHC) students will be automatically enrolled in the University Sponsored AHC Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP). This plan provides easy, affordable coverage. The plan may be waived if you are eligible.
The AHC-SHBP fee provides coverage for the entire semester. The fall 2007 coverage dates are August 21 through January 15.
There are two levels of coverage offered, please see Coverage of Benefits for more information. A summary plan benefit chart is available here. The cost ends up being approximately $192 per month, or, if using the on-campus Boynton Health Services option*, $254 per month.
*This option (which includes lower pharmacy co-pays, free unlimited preventive care, and excellent dental care) requires payment of the Student Services Fee (SSF), which, as a PHCert-CC student you are not necessary charged. You can request to pay it; the fee is $324.10. For more information on the benefits provided by the SSF, click here.
Contact information for the Student Health Benefit Plan office is:
Student Health Benefit Plan Office
Boynton Health Service
Minneapolis, MN 55455
e-mail: studins@bhs.umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-0627
Fax: 612-626-5183
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The maximum time allowed by the School of Public Health for completion of the Public Health Certificate in Core Concepts is three years. The three-year period begins with the term of admission to the Certificate program. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs reviews petitions for extension of the three-year period in consultation with the Major Chair. Written documentation of the agreement is kept in the student’s permanent file. Contact the Major Coordinator for details and appropriate paperwork.
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Courses designated as part of the public health core must be taken for a letter grade (A-F). Students will be required to achieve no less than a B- grade in each core course. Students may retake public health core courses at their own expense until they achieve a grade of B- or better. However, a retaken course may be counted only once toward degree requirements in the student’s study plan.
Requirements described above are effective for students matriculating in the fall 2005 term and thereafter.
Each public health major may require higher levels of achievement for its own students in public health core courses that are also core to the major. This may include restrictions on retaking public health core courses that are also core to the major, or requiring more than a B- performance level. Students should consult their major coordinators for documentation of these requirements.
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If after completion of nine required PHCert-CC credits, a student does not have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, he/she will be placed on probation. The terms of the probation require a minimum term GPA of 3.0 each subsequent term (not cumulatively), until the program is completed. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is also required before the PHCert-CC will be awarded. Failure to achieve a term GPA of 3.0 while on probation will result in termination from the School of Public Health.
The program will provide written notification, via University email, by the middle of each term to any student whose cumulative GPA is less than 3.0 at the end of the preceding term (excluding “I” grades). The program will also provide written notification, via University email, by the middle of each term to any student who received less than a B- in a core course in the preceding term (excluding “I” grades). These notifications will inform the student that the GPA must be raised to a minimum of 3.0 and/or that a grade of no lower than a B- in each core course is required for the PHCert-CC to be awarded.
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Applying Credits to a Degree Program
1. Students completing the Public Health Certificate in Core Concepts who choose to apply for admission into a School of Public Health degree program must follow the application process for each major.* Determination of admissions is at the major’s discretion.
2. Credits acquired while taking the required curriculum in the PHCert-CC Program may be credited to an MPH within the School of Public Health under the following circumstances:
• Courses were completed for graduate credit;
• A grade of at least a “B-” was achieved in all PHCert-CC courses;
• Student earned a cumulative grade point average of at least a B level (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or above;
• Each course was completed within five years prior to application to an MPH program; and
• Minimum requirements for the program chosen are met.
Please note: the SPH has a maximum transfer credit limit of 15. HOWEVER, courses taken toward completion of PHCert-CC will move with the student to their new major and NOT count as transfer credits. Check with the specific program coordinator for details.
Please note: the Public Health Administration and Policy MPH major requires students to have completed PubH 6752 as the administration core area course. Please contact a Major Coordinator for details.
Any courses taken beyond the requirements (including curriculum alternatives) of the PHCert-CC must count as transfer credits if they are to be used towards the completion of an MPH. The SPH has a maximum transfer credit limit of 15. Individual programs can set more stringent limits on transfer credits. Students should see their major coordinator or the Student Services Center for more information.
Final admission to an MPH is based on careful review of the applicant's file and availability of space within the concentration. Admission to or completion of the PHCert-CC Program does not guarantee admission to any School of Public Health degree program.
Acceptance of credits acquired within the PHCert-CC by degree programs outside the School of Public Health is at the discretion of the major program and School to which the applicant wishes to apply.
*Applicants who have earned a Public Health Practice Certificate will be waived from submitting the GRE score as part of the application for admission to the Environmental Health Sciences MPH or Public Health Administration and Policy MPH major programs if they meet the following criterion:
• All Public Health Certificate courses were completed on a letter grade (A-F) basis;
• The overall GPA for all Public Health Certificate courses is 3.25 or greater; and
• No grade for a Public Health Certificate course was less than a B-
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The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records.
A student may request suppression electronically by visiting the One Stop website at www.onestop.umn.edu, clicking on the “Personal Information” quick link and choosing “Directory Suppression” from the drop-down Menu.
Please be aware that the following information is public information, unless the student has requested non-disclosure (suppress).
• Name
• Address
• E-mail address
• Telephone number
• Dates of enrollment
• Enrollment status (full/part time, not enrolled)
• Major
• Adviser
• College
• Class
• Academic awards and honors
• Degree received
Students have two options for directory information suppression:
1. Suppression of address and phone information -- If this option is chosen, address, e-mail and telephone number information will not be released to third parties and name will not appear in University directories.
2. Suppression of all directory information -- If this option is taken no information pertaining to attendance will be released.
Non-Public (Private) Information
Information other than directory information is not public and may not be released except under certain prescribed conditions. Non-releasable information includes:
• Grades
• Specific courses taken
• Schedule
• Test scores
• Advising records
• Educational services received
• Disciplinary actions
• Social Security Number
• Student ID Number
Students' Rights
Students have the right to:
• Inspect and review information in their educational records
• Request a correction to their record
• Suppress the release of Directory Information
• View a copy of the institutional policy
• File complaints with:
U.S. Department of Education
Family Policy Compliance Office
600 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20202
The full policy is available here
