A Message From the Dean |
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It is my pleasure to welcome you to the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS). As you explore the CHHS web pages, you will find the richness of our degree programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. CHHS is the newest college at WKU, established by our Board of Regents in August, 2002, to bring together all health and human services programs under one administrative unit. Student enrollment has grown in CHHS by over 32% in the last five years. This growth is attributed to the implementation of new programs. The college developed new graduate programs, the Masters in Social Work, and two web-based distance learning programs, one in Physical Education and the other in Communication Disorders. New baccalaureate degrees were offered in health science, sport management, and exercise science. The expansion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an increase in Kentucky’s first accredited Masters in Public Health program all contributed to our growth.
In 2007, WKU created the School of Nursing from our department of Nursing, only the second School established at the University. Dr. Mary P. Bennett from Indiana State University was selected as director. In addition to the newly formed School of Nursing, CHHS supports six departments -- Allied Health (Dental Hygiene), Communication Disorders, Consumer and Family Sciences, Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport, Public Health, and Social Work, and several programs -- South-Central Kentucky Area Health Education Center, known also as AHEC; The Kentucky Emergency Medical Services Academy or KEMSA; the Institute for Rural Health Development and Research; and the Center for Gerontology.
These disciplines have their roots in outreach to the community and prepare students to be “stewards of place”—that is, our programs provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to be engaged in the communities in which we reside. Students are required to complete clinical experiences, field work, or internships as part of their academic preparation. A nationally recognized mobile health and wellness unit provides opportunities for students to apply skills learned in the classroom in the provision of preventive services to residents in our region. The Clinical Education Complex (CEC) at WKU is a community-university partnership that helps individuals and families by providing services in these areas: Kelly Autism Program (KAP), Early Childhood Center (ECC), Family Counseling Clinic (FCC), Acquired Brain Injury Resource Program (ABIRP), and the Communication Disorders Clinic (CDC). The CEC provides students across disciplines opportunities to conduct research and apply their skills to enhance education and service to the community.
Our focus is to provide the highest quality of education and field experiences to prepare our students to become leaders in careers related to health and human services. To explore the many career options available, students may enroll in our Exploratory Program. The CHHS Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) provides tutoring and career advising for its majors. WKU’s first Living and Learning Community (LLC) allows freshmen to live on the same dormitory floor and enroll in three general education courses together. These initiatives, as well as the highly qualified faculty and state-of-the-art instructional technology, have increased student success in CHHS.
I invite you to explore our web site and read about our distinguished faculty and programs of study. If you have any questions or would like to request more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Contact Information:
Phone: (270) 745-7003
Fax: (270) 745-7073
chhs@wku.edu
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