Faculty Perspectives on Teaching Public Health at Community Colleges: An Exploratory Snapshot

Abstract

The role of community colleges in training public health professionals is of growing importance to the continuum of public health education. Some 5 years have passed since the Framing the Future initiative outlined curricular models at community colleges, and colleges deploying these models are serving as learning sites for public health education at community colleges. While past research has focused on capturing insights from community college executives and program administrators, this study captures perspectives from teaching faculty. Drawing on a national sample of teaching faculty at community colleges and universities accepting transfer students throughout the United States, an online survey of teaching faculty affiliated with public health programs was coupled with follow-up interviews. This study characterizes the nature and scope of public health programming in community colleges and transfer settings, and highlights associated challenges and opportunities as public health becomes further integrated into health professions pathways in 2-year settings and beyond.