UNC School of Public Health - Student outreach and recruitment

At the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, diversity, inclusiveness and civility are core values as well as characteristics of the School. We strongly encourage applications from diverse individuals, including but not limited to diversity in such characteristics as race/ethnicity, color, national origin, age, gender, socioeconomic background, religion, creed, veteran�s status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and disability. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Diversity

Student outreach and recruitment

Mission

The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health is committed to the diversity of our students, faculty and staff and the reduction of health disparities in the world around us. In the spirit of this commitment, faculty, staff and students throughout the School seek to foster conditions that attract a diverse group of top-notch students and enable them to thrive.

What we do

We engage in numerous activities and services aimed at attracting qualified students with diverse backgrounds, including under-represented minority and international students.

Stephanie Baker, doctoral student in Health Behavior and Health Education, 2009 Summer Outreach Coordinator, engages Project Uplift students in learning about public health.

Audiences

We create and support presentations, events and other activities to encourage the public health interests of students and professionals at various levels of education and experience. We connect with a wide variety of people interested in learning more about public health opportunities.

Elementary school students
Junior and high school students
Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students
Recent graduates
Working professionals
K-12 and higher education counselors, advisors and faculty

Activities

Throughout the year, student services staff, faculty and students talk with hundreds of diverse students and professionals about our training opportunities. Last year, we participated in over 50 individual events, many of which were targeted to under-represented minorities.

School and class presentations about public health fields, academics, careers and admission to schools of public health
Attendance and/or participation on panels focused on health careers and schools
Career and college fairs
Open houses and informational meetings
Presentations, tours and groups activities for participants in a variety of summer programs
Individual consultations/meetings with prospective students
Online community support via Speranza Place
UNC Summer Public Health Fellowship Program

Where we visit

Sherry Rhodes, Director of Student Services, travels across the country to speak with prospective students about the many opportunities available at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

Our staff have traveled as far west as California, as far south as Louisiana, as far north as New York and to myriad cities and towns in our home state to connect with prospective students!

If you would like to coordinate a visit to our School or a visit from a School representative to your event or program, please contact us at sph-osa@unc.edu.

A few of the events we attended in 2009-10:

American Indian Sciences and Engineering Society (AISES) Regional Conference
California Forum for Diversity
Minority Health Conference
NC OPT-ED Alliance Day
NC-MSEN State Competition Day
20th Annual Public Health Awareness Conference
Triangle Health Consortium - Young Professionals in Public Health

In addition to these graduate and profession school fairs, we also participated in campus events, including Carolina Testing and Orientation Program (CTOPS), Family Weekend Open Houses (BSPH programs) and an NC-HCAP Dean's Panel.

2010-11 Outreach Opportunities

Here's where we plan to visit this year. Please check back occasionally for updates.

Recruiting Calendar 2010-11

We hope to see you at one or more of these events!

Our partners

The School relies on its staff, faculty, students and alumni to be able to fully engage the variety of its outreach and recruitment initiatives.

SPH offices and groups engaged in outreach/recruitment:

Office of Student Affairs
Departmental faculty and staff
Student groups, e.g. Minority Student Caucus, Student Global Health Committee, Environmental Student Organization

We welcome more opportunities to work with organizations interested in supporting minority students as they pursue careers in health professions, particularly public health. Please contact us at sph-osa@unc.edu with your ideas on how we can best work with you!

Dr. Felicia Mebane, Assistant Dean of Students and Ms. Paula Borden, Interim Director for NC-HCAP at an UNC SPHF event.

University partners

General Alumni Association
Health Careers Opportunities Program (HCOP) (MED Program)
The Graduate School
North Carolina Alliance to Create Opportunity Through Education (NC OPT-ED)
North Carolina - Health Careers Access Program (NC-HCAP)
Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs

External partners

NC Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
North Carolina Mathematics and Society Education Network (NC-MSEN)
North Carolina Alliance for Health Professions Diversity (link coming soon!)
North Carolina Central University

back to the top

More information

If you are interested in collaborating with the School on student outreach and recruitment, please start with the Office of Student Affairs. You can contact us at sph-osa@unc.edu or (919) 966-2499.

Reports of OSA-organized outreach and recruitment activities:

Last updated November 14, 2011