Leadership at institutions of higher education have historically embraced some level of commitment to the well-being of the communities where they are physically situated. This commitment is typically reflected in the institution’s mission and culture. Having campus-based programs naturally lends itself to this type of stewardship because students, faculty, and administrators live and work together in a relatively defined geographic area. For distance institutions of higher education that embrace community stewardship as part of their mission, the commitment is experienced differently, but with no less vigor.
The national dialog about best approaches to strengthen communities will no doubt heighten and become increasingly passionate as we get closer to electing the next United States president. Clearly, faculty, students and administrators engaging in these types of discussions often wonder about how to become more engaged with the communities they serve not only at individual and professional levels, but also at an institutional level.
Think Creatively about Opportunities
Many schools of public health at campus-based institutions lead institutional efforts to serve their communities by helping to address complex issues. For example, Drexel University’s School of Public Health is working with local community leaders to address the incidence and prevalence of traumatic injuries. George Washington’s Milken Institute School of Public Health launched a program focusing on cancer prevention and treatment. These types of initiatives inspire distance educators, like Excelsior College, to think creatively about opportunities to partner across regions and disciplines to address shared societal issues impacting the communities it serves.
(Next page: Excelsior’s distance model; other ways to leverage long-reach for global community challenges)
Laurie Carbo-Porter, PhD, RN, CNE is the Acting Dean for the School of Health Sciences at Excelsior College where she oversees the development of new curricula and programs as well as ongoing systematic program evaluation. In collaboration with faculty and staff, she works to establish the vision and direction for the College’s School of Health Sciences.
Dorcey L. Applyrs, DrPH, MPH is the Public Health Faculty Program Director in the School of Health Sciences at Excelsior College. In her role, she oversees the development of Public Health degree programs and faculty.
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