Dr. Daniel R. Czech, Dean
Rowlett 203
(859) 622-1137

Dr. Michael Ballard
Associate Dean
Rowlett 204
(859) 622-1916

Dr. Michelyn Bhandari

Associate Dean

Rowlett 220

(859) 1145

Mission

Our Commonwealth is our common health.  With a guided focus on student transformation, our purpose is our people.  We demonstrate this through our recruiting and selecting of a diverse and inclusive faculty, staff, and student body, innovative strides in teaching and research to enhance knowledge, continuous performance improvement in operational efficiencies, and being intentional with community engagement endeavors.  We listen to our people, affirm our purpose, and take action to this end. 

Vision

To make a sustainable impact through the development of future health science practitioners.  We strive to optimize the success, health, and well-being of the students and communities that we serve.

Core Values

We stand united and committed to student success. This is demonstrated through equitable and inclusive behavior. The values that guide our behavior include:

• TRUST - A team climate of respect in which people are comfortable being themselves.

• OPTIMISM - Seeing and expecting the future in a positive manner.

• BELONGINGNESS - The degree to which members of Team CHS feel accepted.

• SERVANT LEADERSHIP – A servant focus on the well-being of the people to which we belong.

Strategic Pillars and Goals

Pillar 1: Student Success

Team CHS supports students in achieving their individual goals and provides a wide range of opportunities for engagement in academic, personal, and professional activities to enhance knowledge and community contribution. Team CHS will promote environments, opportunities, and resources designed to transform students to reach their full potential. Through engagement with the college and institution, and exposure to innovative student-centered approaches, students can thrive, complete their degree, and reach their goals.

1. Recruitment & Retention

Goal 1.1:  Recruit, support, and engage students to be successful and to enter their respective undergraduate and graduate programs of study. 

Goal 1.2:  Increase the retention and engagement of students for a timely progression to degree completion. 

2. Student Development and Transformation 

Goal 1.3:  Develop students’ long-term success and ability to become leaders in their communities.

Goal 1.4: Enhance curricular and co-curricular environments to ensure holistic student development.

Goal 1.5:  Support students with programs and services that help them discover and better understand career paths.

PILLAR 2:  Teaching and Research Excellence

Team CHS (CHS) promotes the advancement of knowledge and innovation through a culture of student-centered, transformational integrated teaching, research, and creative scholarly activities.  Teaching and research are the keystones to advance knowledge, foster creativity, inspire innovation, and transform quality of life.  Team CHS will invest in research programs, faculty development, and current technology that enhance the faculty as teacher-scholars and their ability to model best practices for students. As a result, faculty can improve student learning, prepare students to compete in the global marketplace, and transform student success by providing access to a complete experiential learning environment that develops students into holistic critical thinkers in the professional community.

GOALS TO ACHIEVE PILLAR 2

1.Teaching 

Goal 2.1.  Enhance student success through innovative academic programming that promote excellence.

2.  Faculty Instructional Support

Goal 2.2. Promote and invest in faculty support services to maximize instructional effectiveness.

3. Foster Belongingness and Collaboration Across CHS Faculty

Goal 2.3 Create opportunities for the mutual exchange of teaching, scholarship, and professional development.

4. Expand Research Opportunities & Infrastructure

Goal 2.4 Develop infrastructure that fosters research and creative scholarly activities of faculty and students.

PILLAR 3: Community Engagement

Build and nurture sustained, mutually beneficial, collaborative partnerships to transform quality of life in the community, to share knowledge and innovative resources and to foster civic and social responsibilities among students, citizens, faculty, and staff.

By deepening strategic relationships, expanding opportunities, and encouraging community members to engage with CHS on multiple levels, the College will distinguish itself as a valued regional partner and critical community resource.

GOALS TO ACHIEVE PILLAR 3

1. Partnerships and Collaborations 

Goal 3.1 Develop long-term relationships and build multiple pathways of clear communication and reciprocal engagement with stakeholders.

2. Assessment of Engagement

Goal 3.2:  Strategically coordinate, implement, assess, and enhance mutually beneficial engagement efforts related to community stakeholders.

3. Education and Enrichment 

Goal 3.3 Increase educational opportunities for citizens across the region.

Admission Requirements for College

The College of Health Sciences accepts applications from all persons who are qualified for admission to the University. All applicants must provide evidence of their ability to meet the academic standards established by the various programs. Due to enrollment limitations of some programs, applications should be made early. Applications received after the deadline of a program will be processed and admissions recommended on a space available basis. Specific entrance requirements for each program are shown in the departmental sections of this Catalog.

Admission Policies

1. Students must meet requirements and be admitted by the University before being considered for enrollment in programs within the College of Health Sciences. Specific admission criteria are provided under each of the Health Sciences programs. The student is responsible for obtaining information for the application process including department deadlines.
2. Transfer work must be from an accredited institution and with a minimum grade of “C” in major and supporting courses. The applicant must be eligible to return to the last institution attended.
3. Work taken more than eight years previously must be approved by the Dean of the College.
4. In the event that a student is not accepted for a program, the student who wishes to reapply must submit a new application and related materials that will be considered when a new class is accepted.

Students desiring to complete collegiate work required for admission to professional programs may complete this work at any accredited college or university. Students are urged to carefully plan their course of study to be consistent with the individual program’s curriculum progression plan of study. Students who plan to complete coursework before declaring a major in a College of Health Sciences program should consult with the individual program directors or with the College of Health Sciences Advisors.

Students who have not reached a decision on a specific health science major may obtain counseling/guidance from individual program directors in the College of Health Sciences or from College of Health Sciences Advisors.

The programs in the College of Health Sciences are designed to prepare graduates for practice in health and human services professions. Most require licensure and/or certification after graduation and prior to practice. A criminal record (excluding minor traffic violations) may make a person ineligible for licensure or certification in these professions. Students with such a history should contact the licensing or certifying body prior to enrollment to determine whether this might be the case.

Clinical Agency Placement Requirements

Placement in clinical sites for certain programs in the College of Health Sciences requires students to meet specific clinical agency placement requirements. Clinical agency placement requirements for certain programs (particularly those involving direct patient contact and/or practice with children) require a criminal background check and/or a urine drug screen. Students whose results from these screenings do not meet clinical agency placement requirements will be unable to participate in clinical experiences which are required for satisfactory progression and completion of the program. Most clinical agencies and programs where students may be potentially exposed to blood borne pathogens mandate that students comply with the Hepatitis B vaccination requirement. [see Blood Borne Pathogens and Hepatitis B Statement]. Other requirements may include documentation of tuberculosis screenings indicating student is free of disease, specific immunizations, certifications, licensures, student professional liability insurance purchased through the University [see Student Liability (Malpractice) Insurance], and individual health insurance. Students who have not met clinical agency placement requirements will not be permitted to participate in clinical and laboratory learning experiences mandated for satisfactory progression and completion of the program. Specific requirements for individual programs may be obtained by contacting the departmental office for the program.

Student Agreement Statement

Programs in the College of Health Sciences may require a student to sign an agreement statement that encompasses professional expectations related to the program. This statement is to be signed when the student enters courses in the major.

Student Liability (Malpractice) Insurance

All students whose programs require participation in clinical learning experiences must purchase and maintain liability insurance through the University during the entire clinical experience. Proof of such insurance coverage must be furnished to the department before the clinical experience is scheduled to begin. The University has arranged for appropriate insurance coverage at a modest cost to the student. Further information may be obtained at the student’s major departmental office.

Clinical Facilities

The University maintains formal contracts with many health care Human Services and Educational agencies located throughout Kentucky and the United States. Almost every specialty within the entire health care spectrum is available for use in providing high quality experiences for students enrolled in the programs. A list of cooperating agencies is available through the Office of the Dean.

The University is not liable for, nor is there a fund from which payment can be made for those who are inconvenienced or incur expenses based upon canceled classes, assignments, or clinical placements, etc.

Bloodborne Pathogens and Hepatitis B Statement

The College of Health Sciences attempts to minimize the risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens for students who will be involved in clinical and laboratory learning experiences where the risk of exposure could occur. To this end, students majoring in clinical programs within the College of Health Sciences where a potential risk of exposure could occur are required to receive education in universal precautions and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Regulations. Students will be responsible for complying with the Hepatitis B vaccination when indicated before participation in the clinical training phase of their respective programs [see Clinical Agency Placement Requirements]. The Blood Borne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan is posted on the College of Health Sciences website and should be carefully reviewed. More information regarding specific program requirements may be obtained through the departmental offices, program student handbooks, and other program informational sources.

Graduate Course Credit

All 700 level courses have undergraduate counterparts bearing the same last two digits. The 700 level courses are offered only for graduate level credit and require additional appropriate experiences for all students enrolled. Students who have previously taken the undergraduate counterpart of these courses at the 500 levels will not be permitted to enroll for graduate level credit in the 700 level counterparts. Credit will not be awarded for both the 700 and 500 level of the same course.

Cross Listed Courses

Some courses are offered under different prefixes with the same course content. Students will not be awarded credit for any course which they have previously received credit under a cross-listed prefix.