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Healthy You is a student-run health magazine of the Department of Public Health. It is a jointly funded publication of the Syracuse University David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and the Divisions of Undergraduate Studies, and Enrollment and the Student Experience. This publication enhances, broadens and supports the academic and social experiences of students. The Student Editorial Board is responsible for providing work structure for the magazine’s production, which includes the content, design, production and distribution. The information contained in this publication is not to be construed as medical advice. Readers should consult a medical professional before engaging in any activity described. The contents of this magazine may not be reprinted without the expressed consent of the editorial director.
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In The Know
By Luvenia W. Cowart and Shelby Fenton
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In higher education, accreditation is considered a voluntary quality assurance process that colleges and universities undertake to confirm that their academic programs meet high-quality educational standards. Specific to public health accreditation, CEPH says it “assures quality in public health education and training to achieve excellence in practice, research, and service, through collaboration with organizational and community partners” [1]. Accredited status is for a designated period of time. To maintain accreditation, programs apply for re-accreditation before the endpoint of the initial accreditation period. Thus, accreditation is also a form of continuous quality improvement and assurance, whereby schools participate in internal review leading up to the point of re-accreditation.
Why Is Accreditation Important?
Accreditation creates a set of standards that all public health programs follow. It also assures the public, including students, that the degrees provide high-quality and professionally relevant training. Graduates of CEPH-accredited MPH programs are also immediately eligible to
sit for the Certified in Public Health exam, a credential awarded by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
History of Public Health Accreditation At Syracuse University.
In 2016, our bachelor of science in public health was one of the first in New York state to be accredited as a standalone bachelor’s program, a new accreditation for undergraduate public health programs. In 2021, we were certified as a public health program, including the B.S.P.H. and MPH degrees. We will submit our self-study for re-accreditation in fall 2026 with an anticipated CEPH review in spring 2027.
Engaging Students And The Community In The Accreditation Process.
It is important that we involve our students, alumni and community members in our program and evaluation. We seek feedback from these groups through various means, for example, representation on department committees, course feedback surveys, exit surveys, alumni surveys and employer surveys.
What can you do? Review the assessment plan found in your course syllabus. How do the course learning objectives and assignments relate to accreditation criteria and standards? Discuss assignments with course faculty. What knowledge and skills will be demonstrated and how do these relate to accreditation? Ask questions and provide feedback. We depend on you to keep our programs strong.
[1] “About,” Council on Education for Public Health, accessed October 25, 2023,
For More Information: ceph.org/about/org-info/