Criterion I Mission, Goals, and Objectives s1

CRITERION IX – STUDENTS C. ADVISING AND COUNSELING

IX.C.1 Advising and counseling services

Students in the RSPH have several avenues of academic advisement. All on-campus MPH and MSPH students are initially assigned to a faculty advisor, and their work is overseen by a departmentally-based staff advisor (the Assistant Director for Academic Programs, or “ADAP”). Students who write theses work under the supervision of a faculty thesis advisor during the last year of study, and some students who work on research projects with faculty investigators may use the faculty member as a mentor or advisor. Some students elect not to avail themselves of faculty advisors until beginning their thesis or special studies project. An additional option open to these (and all) students is the use of staff in the Office of Student Services for advice on admissions, student life, enrollment and career options. Some departments also arrange student-to- student mentoring by assigning each new student to a student who is in his or her second year of study.

Department Faculty Advisement All on-campus entering MPH and MSPH students are assigned to a full-time faculty member in the student’s academic department who serves as an academic advisor. Because of their unique needs, Career MPH students are advised by their Assistant Director for Academic Programs (ADAP) until they begin their special studies project. Students are encouraged to consult with their faculty advisors about academic and career- related concerns. The extent to which faculty members interact with students varies among departments.

Faculty Thesis Advisor Departments in which MPH and MSPH students write a thesis or choose a special study project assign a faculty advisor (often by the student’s choice) as the chair of the thesis or special study project committee. This may be someone other than the initially assigned department faculty advisor.

Other Faculty Interactions Many students are employed by faculty members as research or teaching assistants. (See Table VI.5.2.) Adjunct faculty members may also serve on thesis or special study project committees and, in some departments, they are formally recognized as “field advisors” for student theses and special study projects. Adjunct faculty members regularly serve as site supervisors for students during their practica field experiences.

Assistant Director for Academic Programs All departments have one or more Assistant Directors for Academic Programs (ADAP). This staff person, typically masters trained, is knowledgeable about the academic requirements of the school and the department and provides advisement to students and faculty on course enrollment and other school-related activities. The ADAP, along with

156 RSPH the faculty advisor, may assist the student in arranging for the practicum experience and finding an appropriate thesis project and advisor. ADAPs work across the school as a team coordinated by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in scheduling courses, the admissions process, student recruitment and alumni affairs. ADAPs monitor student progress from the point of admission through graduation and beyond, serving as an advocate based on individual student needs.

Student Orientation All students participate in an extensive orientation that reviews school academic expectations and support services in the university, school and their individual departments during the week prior to fall semester. The schedule for the most recent student orientation session is included in Appendix IX.C.1. Students can also review or obtain information about school-wide academic requirements, support services and administrative policies through the Student Handbook, available online at http://www.sph.emory.edu/studentservice/studenthandbook2003.pdf, and on site. Some departments provide students with a separate handbook, although most also place information on the department’s web site. The full set of information is in the resource file on site and on the web at the following sites:

 http://www.sph.emory.edu/bshe/bshefaq.html (BHSE)  http://www.sph.emory.edu/bios/orientation.html (BIOS)  http://www.sph.emory.edu/eoh/require.html (EOH)  http://www.sph.emory.edu/epi/02newstudent.html (EPI)  http://www.sph.emory.edu/hpm/programreq.html (HPM)  http://www.sph.emory.edu/ih/ih-pgreq.html (IH)

RSPH Office of Student Services The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs oversees the Office of Student Services (OSS). The OSS includes most school-wide functions pertaining to student support including Recruitment and Admissions, Career Services, Student Activities, Enrollment (Registrar), and International Student Affairs. Students frequently seek advice and direction through this office. All international issues such as visa requests, English as a Second Language, and student language evaluations are coordinated in the OSS. Department ADAPs coordinate their activities with the personnel in Student Services via the Student Leadership Team. The Student Leadership Team plans and coordinates functions such as Open House, CareerFair and Visit Emory!

Career Services The RSPH Office of Career Services provides advice to students on developing career options and seeking employment. The office includes the Associate and Assistant Directors for Career Services who both report to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.

The office maintains a web site, The Public Health Employment Connection, at http://cfusion.sph.emory.edu/PHEC/phec.cfm (used by all schools of public health), and resource materials to assist students in considering their careers in public health. A

157 RSPH jobs listserv to all students and interested alumni notifies participants of new opportunities as they come to the department’s attention. The office offers guidance in preparing resumes and in employment-related networking through periodic workshops as well as mock interviews and a fall mentoring event. As an additional service to current students and alumni, this office provides critique services for resumes, cover letters, etc. The Career Services team oversees an annual CareerFair (latest program available on site in the resource file) during which employers visit campus to interview and recruit students. Students have the opportunity to perform many of the logistical coordination activities of this school-wide event.

As a way of maintaining up-to-date awareness of employment needs, the associate director initiated the Community Advisory Network (CAN) in 2004, comprised of alumni and company representatives from across the US. Through conference calls and two face-to-face meetings each year, this group provides programmatic guidance and advice. In addition, programs with alumni are designed to facilitate employment networking and preparation for entering public health practice. The local organization of the RSPH alumni association is engaged in assisting students to prepare for and find employment.

This office is also a repository for practicum opportunities and maintains a practicum database. The Associate Director of Career Services actively networks with public health institutions in an attempt to maintain an awareness of employment and practicum opportunities and to establish formal agreements for internships.

RSPH students may also use the facilities and services of the Career Center of Emory University. This office includes career advisors, libraries of background material on career opportunities, electronic databases, and a service to collect and send letters of recommendation for students applying to educational programs and for employment.

International Student Affairs The RSPH Office of International Student Affairs coordinates international student and visiting scholar admissions and visa requests, as well as an international student orientation and cultural adjustment program. Staffed by the Associate Director for International Student Affairs, this office provides advisement to international students and scholars in concert with other advising services offered by the school and the university. This office also oversees the English as a Second Language (ESL) program that includes assessments of the oral and written skills of all international students as well as course offerings in verbal and written communication.

The Office of International Student Affairs collaborates with funding agencies and facilitates third party billing for international students. The office is the primary international student services representative for advisors in the school and with university offices and committees, and also manages special programs that are of interest to international students.

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IX.C.2 Student satisfaction with advising and counseling Students evaluate support services in the school at the time of graduation through the Exit Survey. Responses are monitored and changes may be initiated in response to identified problems. For example, surveys in 2002-2003 suggested problems in the school’s career services office, resulting in a change in structure, function and personnel in 2003-04.

Exit Survey Student responses to closed-ended Exit Survey questions related to advisement and counseling follow in Table IX.C.2. Responses to open-ended questions on advisement and counseling are on file and available on site.

Table IX.C.2 Responses to Student Exit Survey Questions on Advisement and Counseling

2001-02 2002-03 2003-2004 (N) % (N) % (N) % How would you evaluate the faculty support for the thesis or special study project? Excellent (55) 43% (59) 41% (63) 40% Good (45) 35% (41) 29% (55) 35% Fair (21) 16% (26) 18% (26) 16% Poor (8) 6% (17) 12% (15) 9%

How would you assess the support available in the school for career information and job searches? Excellent (37) 27% (28) 17% (39) 23% Good (52) 39% (58) 35% (61) 35% Fair (23) 17% (34) 20% (32) 19% Poor (16) 12% (29) 17% (14) 8% Don’t know (7) 5% (19) 11% (26) 15%

How would you rate the quality of advising received from your department’s Assistant Director for Academic Programs (ADAP)? Excellent (68) 51% (63) 37% (76) 44% Good (38) 28% (55) 33% (44) 25% Fair (14) 10% (30) 18% (31) 18% Poor (9) 7% (17) 10% (17) 10% Don’t know (5) 4% (4) 2% (6) 3%

Graduating students accord relatively positive evaluations to advisement by faculty, career services and department ADAPs. Less positive evaluations of ADAPs in 2002-03 were associated with personnel changes and understaffing in three departments. A concern with career services and related advisement resulted in a recent change in personnel and structure of the office, and an expansion in services to include one-on-one career advisement, mock interviews, group and individual resume critique, cover letter editing, guidance for internships, fellowships and volunteer opportunities, access to

159 RSPH recruitment from outside organizations. By monitoring the Exit Survey evaluations, the school identified problem areas and addressed them with personnel changes and/or the addition of new staff.

IX.C.3 Assessment of the extent to which this criterion is met

Strengths  Career Services has significantly expanded its services in response to student concerns expressed in Exit Surveys.  Multiple options for advisement are available to all students.

Weaknesses  Some students do not avail themselves of faculty advisors.  The extent to which faculty members interact with students varies between departments.

Recommendations  Continue to build stronger linkages between Career Services and agencies employing graduates.  Continue to identify and address weaknesses in advisement, particularly those identified by students.  Explore ways to build stronger relationships between students and faculty in some departments.

This Criterion is met.