The College of Public Health claims the distinction as one of only 55 accredited schools of public health in the United States after being awarded the maximum five-year term from the Board of Councilors of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). CEPH is the nationally recognized accrediting body for both schools of public health and public health programs. To earn the designation, the college met a set of rigorous quality standards in the areas of teaching, research, and service.
Kent State University President Dr. Beverly Warren said, “Achieving full accreditation from the CEPH is an outstanding achievement that recognizes the College of Public Health as a leader and innovator in public health education, and I am so pleased that, undergoing its first accreditation review, it achieved this standard of excellence."
“This specialized accreditation attests to the quality of our educational program that prepares our students for entry into a recognized profession,” said Jen Miller, Academic Services Director. For prospective students and their parents, accreditation serves a consumer protection purpose and provides assurance that the school or program has been evaluated and has met accepted standards established by and with the profession.”
Specifically, CEPH-accredited institutions offer students:
Comprehensiveness: A variety of degrees in public health, including undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees in a number of areas of study.
Rigor: Regular site visits and screenings to assure students of a quality educational experience.
Flexibility: Online programs, dual degree programs and executive programs.
Qualification: Eligibility to sit for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam, administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE).
Opportunity: Eligibility for public health internships and fellowships sponsored by various federal agencies, as well as student assistance resources available only through accredited schools and programs.
Recognition: Because CEPH-accredited schools and programs are peer-reviewed, students can be sure their institution has met the standards established by CEPH.
For graduates, it promotes professional mobility and enhances employment opportunities in positions that base eligibility upon graduation from an accredited school or program. In fact, some employment is only open to graduates of CEPH-accredited public health schools or programs such as U.S. Public Health Service, many U.S. military public health jobs and some state and local agencies. Finally, the National Board of Public Health Examiners, the body for the national credentialing exam for individuals possessing a graduate-level degree in public health, offers its exam only to graduates of accredited programs and schools (www.nbphe.org).
More information can be found at the CEPH website.