SOPHAS Subcommittee Looks at Recruiting Challenges and Strategies
During the summer of 2008, 31 out of the 40 ASPH schools of public health provided input on a series of questions being studied by a SOPHAS subcommittee on recruiting strategies.
Among other survey items, respondents were asked to identify opportunities and threats to the current recruiting environment; which degree and discipline programs were experiencing either significant increases or decreases in applications; and which populations of applications were the highest priorities for schools of public health. The subcommittee will be discussing these results with the full SOPHAS committee in October in San Diego at the ASPH annual meeting, and will be putting forth both a short-term and long -term recruiting strategy for ASPH on behalf of the schools of public health. Specific questions that will be discussed include: Are there specific populations of applicants which should be targeted for recruitment efforts? Do the schools need to reach out beyond pre-health students? Are there new partnerships which could be beneficial for the schools of public health? Should more efforts be put into on-line resources, exhibits or other activities? Should other factors which influence the ability to recruit, such as financial aid, be part of the long-term strategy as well?
In the meantime, the subcommittee wanted to share some of the information that was collected for contemplation prior to the October meeting. Some of the questions and answers are below:
Generally speaking, how have applicant numbers been over the past several years?
All Schools – N=31
17% Sharply increasing
49% Moderately increasing
24% Slightly increasing
7% Slightly decreasing
3% Flat |
SOPHAS Schools participating in cycle two – N=21
19% Sharply increasing
52% Moderately increasing
14% Slightly increasing
5% Flat
10% Slightly decreasing |
 Are applications to your schools decreasing or disproportionately slowing down for the following programs or degrees?
42% Environmental health
22% Biostatistics
7% Health Management/Health Policy
5% Behavioral Health Sciences
2% Epidemiology
10% DrPH
3% Masters
3% Joint Degrees
3% Distance learning
3% Other |
What do you consider to be current external threats/challenges to recruiting for PH?
Lack of understanding about public health and public health careers
- Low-cost unaccredited competitors
- Inability to recruit beyond pre-health students
- Growth in number of schools
- Lack of financial aid opportunities
What are some current external opportunities in recruiting for PH?
- Increased understanding of public health
- Opportunities to exhibit at graduate fairs
- More interest from undergraduate students
- More national coordinated events
What are the strengths of current recruiting strategies (national and your school)?
Responses included increasingly targeted marketing, participation in SOPHAS, activities to promote one-on-one interaction with applicants, use of creative media in recruitment strategies, reputation of school, and participating in exhibits such as Idealist.org.
What are the weaknesses of current recruiting strategies (national and your school)?
The overwhelmingly common answer was lack of funding to support recruitment activities.
|
