1. Welcome to the Master of Health Administration Program Murray J. Côté, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director, MHA Program August 21, 2013

2. Welcome to the MHA Program Our mission The mission of the MHA program is to develop effective healthcare managers and leaders through education, research, and service to advance the health of all populations, especially rural or underserved communities.

3. Our MHA program This is a terminal, professional Master’s degree We educate early careerists on how to become managers and leaders of healthcare organizations August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program

4. Who you are … Ethnicity Gender Totals FemaleMale African-American527 Asian112 Caucasian31114 Hispanic415 Totals131528 11 of you are not from the State of Texas 10 of you are Aggies 19 of you have less than 4 years of work experience Most diverse and biggest class, ever! August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program

5. Our MHA program (cont’d) Continuously and fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) Full member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) Part of a school of public health (not in a business school nor in a standalone department) The School of Rural Public Health has been continuously and full accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program

6. Our MHA program (cont’d) 12 years old (176 graduates as of May, 2013) 44 new MHAs in the last two years Expect to graduate between 20 and 25 new MHAs per year In 2011, ranked 39 th (of 67 Master’s programs) by U.S. News & World Report August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program

7. Our MHA program (cont’d) One of 18 Master’s level health administration programs in the State of Texas We have a tier 1 research university at our doorstep We are the “low cost, high quality” provider of the Master of Health Administration degree in the State of Texas August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program

8. Our expectations for you August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program This is graduate school, you are at one of the premiere institutes for higher education in the State of Texas, and you are here by choice. Why are you here?

9. Our expectations for you (cont’d) August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program Appearance Attendance Communication Competencies Involvement Visibility

10. Our curriculum 19 courses for 57 credit hours (21 months full- time, 33 months part-time) Lockstep (no electives) First 10 courses are your foundation, next 9 courses are integrative Emphasis on the academic content (including population and public health) necessary to become effective healthcare managers and leaders August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program

11. Advising Each student assigned to a faculty member Must meet at least once per semester Necessary to register for subsequent semesters No topic is off limits (within reason) Your advisor is your first and best point of contact regarding most (academic) issues during your time here August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program

12. Competencies An evolution in how we assess student learning (i.e., knowledge, skills, other attributes) of course material and professional preparation Continuous range of abilities from “don’t know anything” or “novice” to “facile” or “expert in the field” All courses structured on competencies (e.g., “At the end of this course, students will be able to …”) Necessary part of professional development (i.e., American College of Healthcare Executives) August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program

13. Our goals for you Help you develop as a manager and leader Receive your MHA in 2015 (or 2016) Facilitate your entry into the healthcare industry workforce as an administrative fellow or employee Celebrate your professional successes Help us with the students who follow you August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program

14. What’s next? August 21, 2013Welcome to the MHA Program