The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64252

Karl E. Umble, PhD, Center for Distance Learning, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Campus Box 7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 919-966-8214, kumble@sph.unc.edu, Pamela McQuide, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322-4207, Kelley Hummer-McLaughlin, MPH, RN, CHES, Health Promotion Consultant, 203 Cedar Trail Lane, Apex, NC 27502, and James Porto, PhD, Executive Masters Program, UNC School of Public Health, Campus Box 7411, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.

Since 1969, UNC-CH has offered an Executive Master's Program for healthcare and public health administrators, with the goal of providing its 800 graduates with concepts and skills to lead and manage their organizations more effectively. Teaching and program delivery methods have changed with technologies available, and today the program makes considerable use of the Internet as well as face-to-face education. A comprehensive evaluation completed in 2002 examined reasons why learners enroll and chose this program over others available; how learners respond to the curriculum and instructional methods and specific content; and how and how much learners actually apply what they learn in classes to their jobs. This presentation will include highlights of these findings, and emphasize how a thorough appreciation of learners' lives and work environments can help providers of education and training offer more appropriate and relevant education.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe the basic structure of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Executive Master's Program in Health Policy and Administration, including use of distributed learning principles and methods
• 2. Describe key findings about enrollment, learning, and application of skills learned to the work environment
• 3. Explain how facets of the learners' life and work environments shaped their enrollment, learning, and application of skills in the work environment
• 4. Explain several implications of the findings for employers and providers of education and training for working public health professionals

Keywords: Distance Learning, Workforce

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Grant.