Pathways to Public Health is an innovative, integrated approach to the recruitment and retention of students historically underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences workforce. This program helps students become aware of career opportunities in public health-related professions while they attend classes at community college, helps students obtain early field experience in four public health emphasis areas relevant to food and agricultural sciences, and helps students with the transition from community college to Kansas State University (K-State) where they may complete Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees. This program is partially funded by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Higher Education Challenge Grant.

Initiatives

• Develop an introductory survey public health course to be delivered via distance education that will be available to K-State and Kansas Community College students—Available Fall 2009 through Johnson County Community College and Kansas City Kansas Community College; Additionally, Kansas State University and Dodge City Community College will offer the course in Spring 2010
• Develop a summer immersion experience course that will expose students to the four public health emphasis areas associated with K-State’s MPH program—Currently Available
• Develop an accelerated Bachelors/MPH program
• Create the position of Director of Undergraduate Public Health Programs to coordinate program components and to mentor and advise students in PATHWAYS—Completed
• Establish connections with the existing programs at K-State and Kansas Community Colleges that serve students from groups currently underrepresented in food, agricultures, and public health