The College of Health Affairs, as of Sept. 26, is referred to as the College of Health Professions. This change was initiated by the Division of Health Affairs.
Along with the name change, the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work are now separate colleges.
Sofia Hernandez, the chief of staff for the Division of Health Affairs, said the split of the schools can allow for more programs within the College of Health Professions.
“Having the division really brings all the health profession programs together,” Hernandez said.
She said the name allows for a “richer” experience professionally in regard to adding more programs that can fit under “professions,” as well as the School of Nursing being able to provide more advancements.
Hernandez said the process for approval started in April and went before the University of Texas System board of regents. Once the board approved the proposal for the name change, the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work, it went to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for final approval.
In College of Health Professions, Hernandez said the division is considering master’s degrees in dietetics, biomedical sciences and doctoral degrees in physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy and audiology.
Christopher Ledingham, an associate professor for Health & Human Performance, said the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work hold careers that are in high-need in the Rio Grande Valley.
Ledingham said programs previously in or presumed to be in the College of Health Professions are proposed to be in stand-alone colleges.
“The administration looked at this as a way to increase our ability to attract the best students and the best faculty,” he said.
Ledingham said the College of Health Affairs made it sound like it was a government office, but the College of Health Professions showed that the college is for “training the next generation of health care professionals.”
Hernandez said this change affects not only current, but future students, as well. Although some students would agree that it only affects future students, some current students still struggle with their own programs.
Sophia Ochoa, a senior exercise science major, said she is glad that UTRGV is able to expand the colleges and programs for the future students, but she and her fellow students have struggled in their own program.
“When there are already so many flaws within the existing programs, I feel that money going to these new colleges and programs should be used to fix the issues that we have first, before adding anything else very new,” Ochoa said.
She said some students in her major are having trouble with capped classes, classes being available on both campuses and prerequisites. The problems have been addressed to administration, but she has yet to get a response.
Brianna Escobar, a master’s student in the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program, said she is glad they are adding more opportunities and hopes they can find more professors.
She acknowledged that some students do not care about the new programs because they don’t pertain to them and stressed that they should care for their community.
“Even if they believe that it won’t affect their family or affect them in any way, they have cousins, they have siblings, they have somebody that they know that they hold near and dear to them, that’s going to attend this campus eventually,” Escobar said.
Hernandez said that for the students, this doesn’t change anything organizational and they will continue with their classes, but it does open new possibilities.
“I think it means great opportunities for students pursuing careers in health professions and interested in getting additional degrees in their respective degrees,” she said.
She hopes students can continue their journey in health care and the school, as a whole, can grow together.
