Before you do anything else: Be sure you have an ACTIVE VCU Email address. When you registered for the course an email address was assigned to you. I use this email address in the Blackboard scoring & tracking system. Before the class starts on August 30. IF YOU do not have an active VCU Email account go to the VCU Technology Site and activate your email. If you have any problem with this call the Student help desk. The number is 804-828-2227
If you want me to use a different email address for routine contact with, you please email me with your full name and preferred email contact address.
to promote, preserve and restore health.
This Mission of the MPH program at Virginia Commonwealth University is to promote health and well-being through commitment to public health education, excellence in research, and dedication to community service.
The MPH Program emphasizes community service for under served populations by working closely with local counties, municipalities, and state agencies, as well as with service organizations, to identify community needs and educational and service opportunities for program students and graduates. The Program directly advances the University Mission and the School of Medicine Mission.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires Virginia Commonwealth University to provide reasonable accommodation for any individual who advises us of a physical or mental disability. If you have a physical or mental limitation that requires an accommodation, or an academic adjustment, please arrange a meeting with me at your earliest convenience.
"Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 require Virginia Commonwealth University to provide an 'academic adjustment' or a ‘reasonable accommodation 'for students with documented disabilities. Students seeking academic adjustments or accom0odations must self-identify with the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities on the appropriate Campus. After meeting with the Coordinator, students are encouraged to meet with their instructors to discuss their needs, and if applicable, any lab safety concerns related to their disabilities
If you have not identified yourself to the Coordinator of services for Students with disabilities please do so immediately
VCU Services for Students with Disabilities
Coordinator: Cheryl Chesney-Walker (clchesneywal@vcu.edu)
Campus location: VMI Building, 1000 E. Marshall Street, Room 301
Mailing address: PO Box 980124, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0214
Voice: 804-828-9782 | TTY: 804-828-4608 | FAX: 804-828-4609
Web: www.vcuhealth.org/vp/sassdss
You should also explore Americans with Disabilities web site
All students are at all times expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the VCU Honor Code, the full text of which can be found at the medical school's website: . It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with its provisions. In brief, however, appropriate conduct includes but is not limited to:
What to Know and Do To Be Prepared for Emergencies at VCU
1. Sign up to receive VCU text messaging alerts http://www.vcu.edu/alert/notify. Keep your information up-to-date.
2. Know the safe evacuation route from each of your classrooms, Emergency evacuation routes are posted in on-campus classrooms.
3. Listen for and follow instructions from VCU or other designated authorities.
4. Know where to go for additional emergency information http://www.vcu.edu/alert.
5. Know the emergency phone number for the VCU Police (828-1234). Report suspicious activities and objects.
This 3 credit course, consistent with the above Mission Statement, is designed to provide students with an overview of the Public Health Management and Organization. Upon completion of this course students should be able to describe the activities necessary to organize, manage, budget and assess a health department's program and finances.. You should be able to describe the organization of a community's public health agency and its relation to, and interdependency with, a state public health agency. You should be able to describe the major programs and staff necessary to carry out a public health agency's mission to improve the health status of the community for which it is responsible.
The course is taught in 14 sessions, conducted by experienced public health faculty, with direction, coordination and presence of the course director. It wull be taught in room 4-026 in Sanger Hall. Check the syllabus the day prior to class in case of any change in classroom. The students are expected to read current journals on public health issues and be conversant with relevant public health matters currently under discussion in local, state and national media as well as scholarly publications.
The various faculty, teaching this course, have many years of experience. .
The prerequisite courses include completion of an undergraduate degree, which contained courses basic to public health such as history, biology, and chemistry, statistics, psychology & behavioral science
Blackboard - All students must use the Blackboard to get credit for this course. you will find this at
Use your VCU logon and password (given to you when you got your school email account) to logon to the course. If more than one of your courses is available on the blackboard system choose EPID-602 (Public Health Management and Organization, 2006). When you log on to Blackboard you will find the course and its discussion web. Use of 'Blackboard' discussion forawill be covered in the introductory session to be held during the first week of the Semester. All discussins are due midnight before each class day. I will email all students enrolled on the 30th August reminding you to send me an email so I know you have acquired your VCU email address.
After logging on to Blacboard the first time be sure to check the "help" tab and download readers for the recommended programs, if you do not already have them on your computer.
Course Web Pages
It is the intention of the lecturers that the students prepare for each weekly session by reviewing the material on the web pages in this course, plus the readings, and by using the web to search for topical information using the web links provided on the department's main web page, plus other links they may find for themselves and share with the class. Each lecture session is intended to be a give and take using the discussion board, to be sure that you understand the principles identified for each session..
Course Times, Wednesdays from 5pm to 7.50pm, room 1-026 in Sanger Hall
Team Assignments for Mid Term & Final Presentations. (Teams to be assigned after first class)
Mid Term presentation will be on selected district budget analyses. FInals will be assessment of health status for selected districts.
Major topics to be covered
This Course Address the Following MPH Competencies:
1A(8), 1B (5,8) 1C(1, 2, 8), 1D(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9), 1E( 1,4,10) 1F(1,2,3,4,5)
IIA(2,3,4,5,6), IIB(5,10,19, 26)
Students are expected to attend all evening sessions without an excuse prior to the start of class. Students who do not attend class will not be given credit for discussion board or quiz associated with evening missed. Attendance at less than 95% of classes (without excused absences) will result in a grade no higher than a B.
Session responsibilities . (A session is an evening's set of three lectures.)
Each evening has learning objectives set for the evening, found below the topics for the evening.
For each evening the student will have six days to complete an approximately 100-150 word essay on the VCU Discussion Board which will be marked by the evening lecturer(s) & Dr Buttery with a grade from A to D (A=92 and above, B = 82-91, C =70 =81 D=<70) information should be placed on the discussion board no later than midnight of the day prior to the next class.
The scores will be weighted so that each week's discussion contributes 2.5% toward the final course total, the mid Term Exam counts for 28 points and the Final Exam for 20 points for a course total of 100. The grades for all members of a group will be the same for the mid term and final exams so it is important for each group to work as a team.
Slide shows are developed in html for speed over the internet. You can download the Power Point slides shows here (Those currently listed may be updated prior to the lecture, If so they will be substituted immediately after the Fall 20076 presentations).
Governing By Network, Goldsmith S,, and Eggers WS,. The Brookings Institute, 2004
Essentials of Public Health Management. Fallon LF Jr, and Zgodzinski EJ, Jones & Bartlett,2nd Edition, 2008
" Trying Hard is Not Good Enough" This is an optional but excellent reading. by Mark Friedman. It is a "printed as needed" book and is not stocked in the bookstore but has to be ordered directly from http://www.fiscalpolicystudies.com/ You can probably get it within 3 days from Amazon.com
(http://www.amazon.com/Trying-Hard-Not-Good-Enough/dp/1439237867/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243511696&sr=1-2
Carried over from EPID 600 Essentials of Public Health -B. Turnock; and Schneider- Introduction to Public Health 2nd Edn.
Resource: The Powerpoint slides are formatted for use in class as html conversions which loads far faster. The powerpoint hard copies are found as pdf handouts and will download fastest if youwant permanent copies. The slide show links will be added after each session..