University of Albany School of Public Health Earns Full Seven-Year Accreditation from Council on Education for Public Health

Courtesy: University news ALBANY, N.Y. (December 6, 2007) -- The University at Albany's School of Public Health has received a full seven-year re-accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the accrediting body for Schools of Public Health. Seven is the maximum number of years granted by CEPH.

The University at Albany School of Public Health is one of only 40 fully-accredited Schools of Public Health in the nation, and the only School that is based upon a unique partnership between a research university and a state health department. The School is located at the University at Albany's East Campus in Rensselaer and also has academic departments in the Wadsworth Center at the New York State Department of Health.

"The University applauds the fine work of the faculty and staff of the School of Public Health in educating future generations of public health researchers and practitioners while concurrently assisting in the professional development of our local, regional and state public health workforce," said Interim President George M. Philip. "This achievement is a result of dedicated faculty and the unique opportunities offered through the University's partnership with the New York State Department of Health."

A team of public health representatives of CEPH that included public health academicians and practitioners conducted a three-day site visit was conducted at the School in April 2007. At the October 2007 meeting of the CEPH Board of Councilors, approval of the School of Public Health's request for re-accreditation was granted with a full seven-year re-accreditation.

"The unique and successful partnership between the University at Albany School of Public Health and the New York State Department of Health is demonstrated in the School's achievement of seven-year accreditation," said Richard Daines, MD, Commissioner of Health, New York State Department of Health. "The State Department of Health is proud to be part of this success in training the public health workforce and leaders."

"I congratulate the School of Public Health for this significant achievement," said Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno. "The school is the key academic component to what is becoming a thriving partnership of State government, higher education and private industry on the University's East Campus. It is through the fine work of its faculty and researchers that we will find the solution to today's health issues."

"Receiving a full seven-year re-accreditation speaks to the quality of our academic programs, faculty and research, and the efforts of many within our school," said Philip Nasca, dean of the School of Public Health. "I want to thank Edward L. Hannan and Edward Fitzgerald, co-chairs of the School's Accreditation Committee, for their work. The committee, comprising school leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members, prepared an in-depth self-study document, articulating how the school has achieved and, in some instances, exceeded the rigorous academic criteria defined by CEPH."

Among the School's faculty are two members of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, a Howard Hughes Institute Investigator, fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and a Fellow and former president of the American College of Epidemiology. The School also houses several well-regarded research centers including the Center for Public Health Preparedness, the Center for Health Workforce Studies, the Prevention Research Center, and the Northeast Public Health Leadership Institute. The School's award-winning Continuing Education Program trains public health practitioners from throughout the region and the state, and broadcasts original public health programming to all 50 states.

Through its partnership with the New York State Dept. of Health, UAlbany's School of Public Health offers students immediate access to internships at the Health Department, Albany Medical College, and variety of other public and private health institutions throughout New York. The school serves as the academic anchor of the East Campus, the biotech hub of the university's life sciences research, including the Gen*NY*Sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics. Students have unique access to study the most profound health issues facing us today: the threat of bioterrorism, the spread of HIV/AIDS and other emerging diseases, the lack of affordable and accessible health care for individuals and families, environmental hazards, substance abuse and social violence, maternal mortality in developing countries, the promises and threats of genetic engineering, and protecting food and water supplies.