ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
AEHAP NEWS
www.aehap.org
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August 2009
Newsletter
Inside this issue:
2009 AEHAP Jack
B. Hatlen Distinguished Service
Award
2
New Member Work- 3
shop a Success
CDC Provides Sum- 4
mer Internships to
Students from
EHAC Accredited
AEHAP Awards
Four Programs with
Grants
4
Upcoming Conferences
5
ECO Pirates Clean
Up the Tar River
6
AEHAP Celebrates Our Tenth Birthday!
2009 marked the ten year anniversary of AEHAP. We
celebrated our 10th birthday
with an awards luncheon on
June 21st, in conjunction with
the National Environmental
Health Association (NEHA)
conference held in Atlanta
GA.
founding members, board
Of special mention is the
members, EHAC council
presentation of the annual
members, funders, organiza- AEHAP Jack B. Hatlen
tional partners and faculty.
Distinguished Service
Honorees included Mike
Award which went to ArHerring of CDC for his con- thur Schletty.
tinued support, and NSF
Guests were entertained by
International represented by
Atlanta’s Harmony InternaStan Hazen and Kevan
tional Youth Chorus who
Lawler for the annual NSF
Seventy people attended the
gave a beautiful singing and
Scholarship. An award was
event which featured keynote
dance performance.
given to Chuck Treser, past
addresses by long time enviboard president for his years Thanks to all who made this
ronmental health champions
of leadership at AEHAP.
event a tremendous success.
Arthur Schletty and Webb
Young. AEHAP Executive
Director Yalonda Sindé highlighted AEHAP’s ten years of
progress with a slide presentation. The celebration included
awards and gifts to honor
those who have contributed
Atlanta’s Harmony International Youth Chorus Director Joyce Ketchiemuch to AEHAP including
Carr gets the crowd moving at the celebration.
Increasing Diversity Through Accreditation of Minority Serving Institutions
Annual Update of
8-9
Accredited Programs
Summary
For the past few years AEHAP has documented monumental success in increasing
diversity in EHAC accredited
programs. Currently, nearly
48% of students enrolled in
EHAC accredited programs
are minorities.
One of the reasons for the increase is the growing number
of MSI’s accredited by the
EHAC Council. This year,
a record number of MSI’s
were accredited with the
addition of North Carolina
Central University
(NCCU) and Alabama A &
M University (AAMU).
Dr. Teferi Tsegaye of
AAMU told the EHAC
Council,
“We are honored to be accredited and want you to
know you won’t be disappointed.” AAMU is the first
EHAC accredited program in
Alabama
AEHAP has proved that our
diversity efforts are working.
Alabama A & M (cont. page
2)
AEHAP News
Page 2
Increasing Diversity... (continued from page 1)
representatives attended the April 2008 MSI workshop.
(hat AEHAP convened at Texas Southern University. The
two-day workshop was essential in providing the support
AAMU and other MSI’s needed to work towards accreditation. Dr. Yolanda Anderson of NCCU had been working
to achieve accreditation for a few years and attended an
AEHAP New Member workshop which is held at the Na- Our support and that
tional Environmental Health Association (NEHA) confer- of program mentors
was essential in her
ence each year.
efforts to achieve
accreditation
Pictured Above L to R, Dr. Teferi Tsegaye, AAMU,
status. Congratu- Dr. Sharron Lafollette, EHAC Board Chair, Tim
Ryan EHAC Undergrad Co-Chair, Dr. Carolyn Harlations to AAMU vey, EHAC Councilmember, Elica Moss, AAMU,
Vince Radke, EHAC Councilmember and Dr.
and NCCU.
Priscilla Oliver, EHAC Board Treasurer.
L to R, Yolanda Anderson, NCCU and
Yalonda Sindé, Executive Director of AEHAP/EHAC.
In addition to accrediting new programs, Mississippi Valley State
University’s (MVSU) undergraduate program was awarded full 6year re-accreditation. Congratulations to Dr. Ademola Omishakin
for his leadership efforts and we wish him continued success in his
program.
Arthur V. Schletty Receives 2009 Jack B. Hatlen Distinguished Service Award
Each year, the AEHAP board nominates an
outstanding individual to be honored at our
annual meeting .
mental in laying the groundwork for AEHAP. In 1998 while he was the Deputy
Director of the Centers for Disease Control
Division of Environmental Hazards and
The annual award formerly called the AEHealth Effects, National Center for EnviHAP Rock Award was renamed by the
ronmental Health, he worked with others to
board this year as the “Jack B. Hatlen Dishelp develop a structure for an association
tinguished Service Award”. The board resimilar to that for the Association of
named the award after Jack B. Hatlen beSchools of Public Health (ASPH). He was
cause he represents the qualities recognized
instrumental in creating opportunities for
in award recipients, exemplary leadership
students such as the annual Student Reand commitment to environmental health.
Art Schletty (left) accepting award from search Competition a scholarship program
Chuck Treser.
Jack a pioneer in the field of environmental
that AEHAP has coordinated since 2002,
health science, and was a primary leader in V. Schletty for his contributions to AEas well as some of the first internship opAEHAP for many years serving a volunteer HAP’s formation and of his long standportunities for environmental health stuExecutive Director and until recently, Fiing commitment to promoting exceldents.
nancial Officer.
lence in the field of environmental
Congratulations to Art and many thanks
health.
At the annual celebration the award was
for all his efforts on behalf of AEHAP.
presented by Chuck Treser to Arthur (Art) Art Schletty’s leadership was instru-
Page 3
2009 New Member Workshop a
Success
AEHAP Awards Four Programs with
Grants for Diversity Enhancement &
Student Recruitment Efforts
This year, AEHAP
hosted it’s Annual New
Member Workshop in
the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.
Since 2002 AEHAP has been providing small grants to
our member programs for student recruitment projects and
diversity enhancement efforts. This year the following
programs received $4,000 grants for the 2009-2010 grant
period:
University of Northern Sharron LaFollette (right), EHAC
Board Chair advises a program at
Iowa’s Catherine Zeman and Clemson Uni- workshop.
versity’s Debbie Falta joined AEHAP Mentors Tim
Ryan, Sharron LaFollette, Dale Stephenson, Gary
Brown, Chuck Treser, and Carolyn Harvey for the
Workshop.
Minority Student Recruitment
Efforts:
AEHAP mentors provided one-on-one support to programs considering accreditation in order to give them a
road map to creating an accredited program.
For more information on next year’s New Member
Workshop, or to begin the AEHAP Mentorship Process
with your program, email info@aehap.org
Dr. Teferi Tsegaye, Alabama
A&M University
Student Recruitment Efforts:
Dr. Tricia A. Metts, East Tennessee State University
Dr. Brian D. Byrd, Western Carolina University
“Since 2002
AEHAP has been
providing small
grants to our
member programs
for student
recruitment efforts.”
Dr. Alice Anderson, East Carolina
University
AEHAP Committees in Action!
Faculty from AEHAP member programs play
a key role in carrying out many initiatives.
Currently we have three active committees
comprised of faculty and AEHAP board
members. If you are interested in participating please don’t hesitate to email the office
or give us a call!
Tribal College & University (TCU) Partnership Committee
Chaired by past Board President Chuck Treser of the University of Washington,
the committee is comprised of Lynn Burgess, Dickinson University, Ed Garrision,
Dine College, Sandi Donohue, CSU
Fresno, Pat Bohan, East Central University, Audrie Lavallie, Turtle Mountain
Community College, Joe Amiotte, Indian
Health Service, Fan Robinson, Indian
Health Service, and Paula Stigler, San
Diego Foundation/Pala Band of Mission
Indians.
The committee has developed a plan to
link students from TCU’s with
environmental health courses and
programs. Next steps are to convene
a workshop for TCU’s to talk about
challenges and opportunities in accreditation and linking students to
environmental health science
courses and programs.
Marketing EH Degree Programs
Chaired by AEHAP board member
Shiela Pressley of (cont. on page 5)
AEHAP News
Page 4
CDC Provides Summer Internships to Students from EHAC Accredited
Programs
Said Mike Herring of CDC, “All
four students are outstanding and
we have thoroughly enjoyed having
them here.”
SUPEH Interns, Samanta Kunze and
Samantha Kantrowitz stopped by the AEHAP booth at the NEHA conference.
The Summer Undergraduate Program in Environmental Health (SUPEH) is program of
the National Center for Environmental
Health (NCEH), U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) that provided
10-week summer internship opportunities to
four outstanding students from EHAC accredited programs. For information on this
program see:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/SUPEH/default
.htm.
Students collaborated with experienced federal environmental health
professionals, developed mentoring
relationships and shadowed senior
officials and scientists. The internships
provided valuable environmental
health experience intended to foster an
interest in public service in the field of
environmental health. Interns were
provided with a $500 per week stipend
for living expenses.
Congratulations to these students for
being selected for this great opportunity!
James Alan Goggins, Western Carolina
University.
Samantha Kunze, Western Carolina University
Samantha Kantrowitz, Colorado State
University
Jay Nielson,
University of
Wisconsin - Eau
Claire
Thanks CDC
for your unwavTwo of the four students selected for
ering commitSUPEH were also serving in the Comment to providmissioned Corp Officer Student Training opportuniing and Extern Program (COSTEP)
ties to students
with the U.S. Public Health Service.
from EHAC
See http://www.usphs.gov/student for
accredited proinformation on this program.
grams!
James Alan Goggins, an
intern at the CDC, also
won a top prize in the
student research competition.
Congratulations to the new and returning AEHAP and EHAC board members!
AEHAP Board of Directors, 2009-2010
EHAC Board of Directors, 2009 - 2010
President, Alice Anderson, East Carolina University General Chair, Sharron LaFollette, University of Illinois at
Past President, Chuck Treser, University of Wash.
Springfield
President-Elect, Lal Mian, California State University, Treasurer, Priscilla Oliver, U.S. Environmental Protection
San Bernardino
Agency
Treasurer, Pat Bohan, East Central University
Undergraduate Co-Chair, Chuck Treser, University of
Member at Large, Sheila Presley, Eastern Kentucky
Washington
University
Undergraduate Co-Chair, Stephen Johnson, Boeing Co.
Member at Large, Mike Kennedy, Missouri Southern
Secretary, Jim Dingman, Underwriter Laboratories
State University
Graduate Chair, Tom Hatfield, California State University,
EHAC, Ex Officio Member, Sharron Lafollette
Northridge
Page 5
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
AEHAP will be exhibiting at
the CDC National Environmental Public Health Conference, APHA, SACNAS and
HACU this year. Please see
links below for info on these
and other conferences.
Public Health Information
Network (PHIN) Conference
August 30th- September 3,
2009 Atlanta, GA
http://www.cdc.gov/
phinconference
ASTHO Annual Meeting
October 14 -16, 2009 just outside Washington, DC in Vienna, VA.
http://www.astho.org/Events/
Conferences/2009-AnnualMeeting
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 23rd
Annual Conference
Society for the Advancement
of Chicanos and Native
Americans in Science
(SACNAS) Conference
October 31 - November 2,
2009, Walt Disney World®,
FL
October 15 -18, 2009, Dallas,
TX
http://www.sacnas.org/
confNew/confClient
http://www.hacu.net/hacu/
Annual_Conference1_EN.asp?
SnID=688505209
American Public Health
Association 137th Annual
National Environmental PubMeeting & Expo
lic Health Conference
Philadelphia, PA
October 26 - 28, 2009, Atlanta,
November 7-11, 2009
GA
http://www.apha.org/
http://www.teammeetings/highlights
psa.com/2009nephc/main.asp
AEHAP Committees in Action… Continued from Page 3
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), the
committee also includes Dr. Gary Brown of
EKU. The goal is to develop strategies for
increasing awareness about the environmental health shortage and recruiting more
students to enroll in EHAC accredited programs. The group has had several meetings
and are now soliciting funds for a video project.
Do you have any
ideas for interesting
newsletter articles?
Send us your stories
about your
environmental
health program,
students or faculty
campaign.
members, and we
Community College Outreach
may include it in
Chaired by Sandi Donohue, the committee included past board president Chuck
Treser with support from Mike Herring
of CDC. The committee developed a
community college outreach plan and
staff created an outreach list and work
plan. Next steps are to make connections
AEHAP staff is revising our marketing matewith community college faculty to disrials and message and will be testing these
cuss details of recruitment plans.
materials with students before launching a
mass marketing
our next newsletter!
AEHAP News
Page 6
More Ten Year Celebration Pictures!
Capt. Mike Herring and
Yalonda Sinde at the
AEHAP 10 Year Celebration
Atlanta’s Harmony International Youth Chorus gave a
powerful performance at AEHAP’s Ten Year Anniversary
celebration.
Webster “Webb” Young JR., Rear Admiral
(Retired), U.S. Public Health Service delivered an inspiring closing keynote address.
Congratulations to
Capt. Mike Herring
of the CDC, who
Arrrrrrrrrrg! ECO-Pirates Clean Up the Tar River
received an AEHAP
appreciation award
at our Ten Year
celebration. His
support and
dedication to our
mission has been
priceless and we are
grateful for all he
does on our behalf!
East Carolina University’s ECO-Pirates- an environmental student club- spent April 18 cleaning up
their local river in North Carolina. Not a bad way
to spend a warm spring day!
What is your student club doing? Send us your pictures and we will include them in our next edition
of the AEHAP newsletter.
AEHAP News
Page 7
Student Research Competition 2009
Congratulations to the AEHAP Student Research Competition Award winners! This
year nine students participated
in the competition. Seven students from AEHAP member
programs received a travel
stipend to present their research at the National Environmental Health Association’s Annual Educational
Conference held in Atlanta,
Georgia. Student’s who presented their research orally
also received a $500 scholarship.
Poster Presentations
A Sangamon County, Illinois
Case Study: Understanding
the Relationship between
Abandoned Coal Mine Sites
and Radon Gas Densities
Ajay Myneni, Graduate, University of Illinois at Springfiled
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sharron
La Follette
Is Western Carolina University's New Smoking Policy Effective?
Annaleise Lysen, Undergraduate, Western Carolina University
Faculty Mentor: Brian Byrd
Container-inhibiting Aedes
mosquitoes on Western Carolina University's Campus
James Alan Groggins, Undergraduate, Western Carolina
Jessica Stevenson, Undergradu- University
ate, Western Carolina UniverFaculty Mentor: Brian D.
sity
Byrd
Faculty Mentor: Tracy Zontek
Bed Bugs in the Human EnviPlatform Presentations
ronment: Behind the Nuisance
Evaluation of a Synthetic EsLea Duffin, Undergraduate,
trogen as an Indictor of Human Boise State University
Fecal Contamination
Faculty and Internship MenSimon Roberts, Undergraduate, tor: Dale Stephenson and LesEast Tennessee State University lie Tenglesen
Faculty Mentor: Kurt Maier
Identification of Adult Female
Container-Inhabiting Aedes
Mosquitoes in La Crosse Virus
Endemic Areas
Michael Singleton, Undergraduate, Western Carolina
University
Research Competition, Student Recruitment Grants and
Minority Student
Recruitment grants
are funded through a
Cooperative Agreement with AEHAP
and the Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention.
Characterization of Bioaerosols and Bacterial Surface
Contamination at a Large
Washington Dairy Operation
Christina M. Rohlik, Graduate, University of Washington
Faculty Mentor: Scott
Meschke
Endotoxin Collection and
Electrochemical Detection
Method for Use in Bioaerson
Personal Sampling Device
Lauren Dunbar, Graduate,
University of Washington
Faculty Mentor: Scott
Meschke
Student Research Winners with Dale Stephenson and Capt.
Mike Herring
The Student
For more
information on
how to enter next
year’s Student
Research
Competition, visit
www.aehap.org.
AEHAP News
Page 8
Annual Update of EHAC Accredited Programs Highlights
AEHAP staff collected and analyzed data submitted to EHAC by thirty-one EHAC accredited
programs. The following trends were identified for the 2008-2009 academic year.
“This year’s
undergraduate
enrollment is
7.2% above
the 10 year
average &
8.5% over the
5 year average”
Number of Accredited Programs
There were a total of 31 accredited programs for the 2008-2009 academic year. One program was
lost, (the undergraduate program at Indiana State University and one new program was accredited
(West Chester University) in June 2008.
Enrollment Rates
•
Overall undergraduate enrollment increased from 1,252 in 2008 to 1381 in 2009, a 9.3% increase over last year’s reported enrollment.
•
1381 undergraduate students enrolled and 278 graduate students were enrolled for total of
1659 students.
•
This year’s undergraduate enrollment is 7.2% above the 10 year average & 8.5% over the 5
year average
Graduate student enrollment continues to increase. This year there is a 6.5% increase in enrollment. Graduate enrollment levels have increased 57.6% over the last 10 years and 73% in the last
five years.
Program Changes in Undergraduate Enrollment
Three Program’s Enrollment Increased by over 24%
Two Highest Increases in Enrollment Since Previous Academic Year:
California State University at Northridge - 26
Eastern Kentucky University - 31
Three Highest 2008—2009 Enrollment Rates:
“Nearly 48%
of students
enrolled in
EHAC
programs are
minorities.”
California State University at Northridge – 141
California State University Fresno – 104
Eastern Kentucky University – 130
Graduation Rates
•
327 undergraduate students graduated and 59 graduate students graduated for a total of 386
graduates.
•
This year, undergraduate graduation rates rose by 9.8%. Graduate graduation rates have risen
73% since the 2004-2005 school year.
Diversity
Diversity increased by 5% over last year. Diversity trends continue to rise. There was a 66% increase in minority student enrollment since 2002. Nearly 48% of students enrolled in EHAC programs are minorities. The student body is showing an increase in diversity for the eighth year in a
row.
Page 9
Programs were asked which of the off and on campus recruitment strategies they found to be
the most effective method of recruiting students. Their responses are summarized in the following tables.
Table 13: Most Effective (Off Campus Recruiting Technique's)
Number of Responses
Percentage Out of 31
Electronic Media
7
22.6%
Participation in Career Day
6
19.4%
Alumni
5
16.1%
High School Class Presentation
4
12.9%
Participation in Local Events
4
12.9%
Science Fairs
3
9.7%
Community-University Partner-
3
9.7%
None of these
3
9.7%
Use of News Media
1
3.2%
Other – Word of Mouth
1
3.2%
Other – Students on Campus
1
3.2%
Technique
Our research
shows that
students are
our best
recruiters on
and off
campus.
Table 15: Most Effective (On Campus Recruiting Techniques)
Number of programs Implementing the Strategy
Percentage Out of 31
Responses
Students Recruiting Other Students
15
48.4%
Recruitment Class
10
32.3%
Outreach to Undeclared Majors
5
16.1%
Working with Admissions Office
3
9.7%
Student Club Activities
2
6.5%
Others (Website)
2
6.5%
Financial Aid Incentives
1
3.2%
Participating in On-campus
Events
1
3.2%
Other (Career Day)
1
3.2%
Other (Working with Advisors)
1
3.2%
None
1
3.2%
Posting Advertisement Flyers
0
0.0%
Articles in School Newspaper
0
0.0%
Technique
For the full Annual
Update Report,
visit
www.ehacoffice.org
and download a
pdf copy.