College of Public Health
About the College of Public Health Initiative
The University System of Ohio's strategic plan asks universities to leverage existing areas of excellence in accordance with the vision for higher education in the state of Ohio. Concurrently, I have set forth a nine-point roadmap for the future of Kent State University. The roadmap proposes a new College of Public Health. An accredited college at Kent State will improve the public health, education and economic opportunities in the entire state of Ohio.
Lester A. Lefton
President
A Note From the Provost
This is an exciting time for Kent State and the nation as policymakers debate the future of health care. It is clear that public health has an important role to play in that future. The science of prevention, the study of disease causation, the investigation into environmental and social determinants of health -- all core to public health -- will continue to inform and shape the health care reform debate. Our College of Public Health will prepare students to meet the Ohio’s challenges in public health from sanitation to surveillance to prevention. Our faculty will produce cutting-edge research that advances our knowledge of how to keep people safe, healthy and productive.
Universities are facing new economic challenges and state of Ohio officials are pondering the role of higher education. As a result, universities must consider the question, "What courses and content should we provide that will allow us to better serve the community and provide our students with the tools for fulfilling careers?" Kent State's new College of Public Health will serve all of Ohio.
A college of public health offers a full range of courses from introductory public health to specialized and advanced courses in all the public health disciplines. It provides a coordinated, integrated program that includes education, research and experiential learning opportunities for students. The designation of a college of
public health means that a university has an independent college with specialized faculty to train students, conduct basic and applied research and provide community service. A college of public health offers a master of public health and one or more doctorates in public health.
We invite you to join us as we embark on this exciting journey and build a world-class College of Public Health at Kent State University.
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
