Eastern Michigan University’s Board of Regents Educational Policies Committee discussed retention rates and garnered new proposals for a public health major and a master’s program in the field of philosophy on Tuesday at Welch Hall.
The public program is intended to prepare students for careers in the health field and provide these students with other outlets associated with that field.
Regent Mike Morris said that he is excited about the program and that is was a “grand” idea.
Another proposal presented at the meeting was an M.A. in philosophy.
Assistant professor of history and philosophy John Koolage said that this master’s degree enhances the undergrad program, and that careers that can be obtained with the degree can stem from involvement in the publishing industry, creative writing and even in the field of law.
A retention update was also presented to the board with the reminder that the incoming freshmen class for this semester had an average ACT score at 22 and a GPA at 3.25.
Provost Rhonda Longworth and the director of career development and outreach at the University Advising and Career Development Center, Sarah Otto, shared an Academic and Career Services update from the IRIM survey from 2011, which states that 5,300 students per year are advised with 99 percent satisfaction rates and 93 percent job placement rate.
The survey also states that there are 31 on-campus job fairs, 21 career planning services and 21 résumé critique or interview advising sessions.
Otto said that the career coaches can help students decide on career routes, as well. Coaches also help with student employment, part-time and summer off-campus jobs, practicals, clinicals, field work and even student teaching.
“We really feel like we have a greater impact,” Otto said.
