Since 2023, The University of New Mexico College of Population Health (COPH) leaders have been working toward one major goal: continuing accreditation for all its undergraduate and graduate programs.
This year, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) granted the maximum seven–year accreditation for all three COPH programs—Bachelors in Science of
Population Health (BSPH), Master of Population Health (MPH) and PhD in Health Equity Sciences— through July 1, 2033.
COPH Dean Tracie C. Collins, MD, MPH, MHCDS, reflected on the significance of this achievement and the collective effort behind it.
“Receiving the maximum seven-year CEPH accreditation for all three of our degree programs is both a tremendous honor and a powerful affirmation of the quality, rigor and impact of the work taking place across the UNM College of Population Health,” Collins said. “Accreditation is the gold standard for public health education and achieving the highest accreditation term reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners who continuously strive for excellence in teaching, research, service and community engagement.”
The accreditation process began approximately two years before COPH submitted its self-study to CEPH, said Kristine Tollestrup, PhD, MPH, the former director of special projects for COPH. The process required the college to address established CEPH criteria, including areas such as curriculum and learning objectives, faculty qualifications, student achievement and support and community engagement. COPH also provided extensive documentation demonstrating how its programs met CEPH’s accreditation standards.
We should be very proud that we were accredited for seven years for all three-degree programs. That allows us to move forward to become an accredited school of public health.
– Kristine Tollestrup, PhD, MPH, Former Director of Special Projects, UNM College of Population Health
COPH also formed an accreditation committee and began collecting and reviewing large amounts of data, Tollestrup said. The final self-study document was approximately 170 pages and represented years of work from faculty and staff throughout the college.
Tollestrup led the initiative to begin COPH’s new accreditation process.
“We should be very proud that we were accredited for seven years for all three-degree programs,” she said. “That allows us to move forward to become an accredited school of public health.”
COPH’s accreditation builds on a long history of public health education at UNM. The college’s MPH program has been accredited since 1996. The BSPH was later incorporated into the college’s academic offerings after COPH was established in 2016, expanding the college’s educational opportunities at the undergraduate level.
The PhD in Health Equity Sciences was subsequently brought into the accreditation process, creating the opportunity for all three-degree programs to receive accreditation together. With the latest decision, each program has received seven years of accreditation, extending through 2033.
The accreditation process involved collaboration among faculty and staff across the college.
“They were amazing and supportive, and we couldn’t have done it if we hadn’t worked together as an effective team,” Tollestrup said.
With the accreditation process successfully completed, COPH is now turning its attention toward accreditation for the entire COPH.
The college will begin planning for the next stage, including developing and completing an initial application to CEPH. Once the initial application is accepted, COPH will then determine the timeline and steps needed to pursue school of public health accreditation, Tollestrup explained.
The seven-year accreditation concludes the current CEPH review cycle and provides COPH with a framework for continued evaluation and development of its academic programs. The college will continue to assess its programs, responds to the needs of students and communities and identify opportunities for growth in public health education.
When reaccreditation rolls around again, the baton will be passed to assistant professor in the COPH, Katie Coakley, PhD, MS, RDN. She will lead the college in achieving the same mission while continuing to deepen its academic strength.
“It is a team effort, and there is no one person that is responsible for the process,” Coakley said. “I am most looking forward to strengthening the curriculum, increasing engagement with the Community Advisory Council (CAC) and continuing to improve the college for students and everyone we serve.”
The CAC is a group of community members, employers of COPH graduates, and leaders in public health and health care across the state. Together, they provide insight about student outcomes, curriculum and overall planning processes, as well as ways to reach potential students and train students to meet community-centered issues, Coakley explained.
After years of preparation and a collaborative effort across the college, COPH can now look ahead to its next chapter with a strong foundation and a shared vision for the future.
Source: hscnews.unm.edu
