Accreditation for the College of Public Health

• Draft Self-Study
• Narrative
• Appendices
  

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the only independent agency recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and certain public health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health. There are presently 40 accredited schools of public health and UGA is preparing to join that elite group. Accreditation by CEPH (www.ceph.org) reflects achievement of academic program excellence, and it is required in order to be fully recognized as a member of the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH). Pending accreditation, the College of Public Health is an associate member of ASPH (www.asph.org). Because CEPH accreditation represents the standard for peer recognition in public health education, it is important for students, faculty, the university community, and our public health practice partners. Accreditation serves as a measure of academic program quality, ensures acceptance in the public health professional community and provides access to important training and research opportunities.

Like most peer accreditation processes, CEPH places significant emphasis on self-evaluation. The foundation of accreditation is the comprehensive self-study document which is prepared over a two year period by the institutional applicant. The self-study is structured to address the 27 criteria for accreditation which address issues related to institutional and college structure, academic programs, research and service, and faculty, staff and students. The College’s Accreditation Working Group is coordinating the self-study and related activities.

To view the accreditation criteria, click here (PDF link).

The College will submit its preliminary self-study to CEPH in September 2008. Beginning in May 2008, the draft self-study will be posted on this site and circulated for review. We encourage your suggestions, comments and critiques.  Please email your information to cphstudy@uga.edu.

Following its submission, a detailed process of review, validation and critique of the transparency and merits of the self-study is then undertaken by CEPH organizational staff and peer reviewers, culminating in a multi-day campus visit involving university leaders, community partners, faculty, students, and alumni. UGA’s College of Public Health is scheduled for its accreditation review site visit during February 23 – 25, 2009.