MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

I am proud to say the College of Allied Health Sciences has experienced another successful year.  Fall 2008 was the 40th anniversary of the arrival of our first class of students.  We celebrated this historic anniversary event during homecoming with a reception and an awards luncheon attended by a record 193 participants.  Many of the 40 distinguished alumni honored last year helped us recognize 40 outstanding students this year.  Dr. Ed Monroe, founding dean of allied health provided a wonderful glimpse of the early years.  

Regarding growth, we have expanded from 465 students in 2001 to 794 students in 2008, a 69% increase in enrollment.  Regarding productivity, in the fall 2008, 246 courses were offered by the college accounting for 492 classes a week.  Thirty-five courses are web-based distance education and 211 were face-to-face with 3,816 students attending class weekly.  Regarding instructional quality and student success, the first time pass rates of last year's graduates were slightly higher than 96%, and indications are that percent will rise this year.  Regarding development, $450,000 was raised last year including the Barbara Bremer Endowed Professorship in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the first in the college, including an increased number of student scholarships across the college.  

Regarding research, last year, we experienced a 53% increase in grant submissions.  Research and special projects emphasis areas include falls in the elderly, gait and balance, health informatics, Research in Older Adult Driver Initiative, Project Working Recovery, Wounded Warrior/Project Re-entry, pediatric healthy weight project, older runners research, and learning disabilities, to name a few.  Regarding service, this year's 5th Annual Jean Mills Health Symposium on minority health issues was held at the Greenville Hilton and Greenville Convention Center on February 6, 2009, during Black History Month on the topic "Empowering Individuals to Take Responsibility for Their Own Health."  Some of the projects and events I just identified will be covered in this issue of the Alliance.  

Our new building has not only served to enhance teaching, research, service, and clinical practice but has helped to recruit top faculty and students and has been the envy of allied health faculty and deans around the state and nation.  This year, the college filled all of its faculty positions, something that has not happened since my employment here in 1980.  

Please stay in touch and visit us when you are in the area.  We would love to show you what we are doing.

Stephen W. Thomas, Ed.D
Dean