University Receives $1.6 Million Department of Education Title III Grant to Develop College of Health and Human Services

On Tuesday, April 5, 2005, administrators at Cal State San Marcos were informed by Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham that a major funding proposal submitted by the university to the U.S. Department of Education has been approved. Through a Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant, Cal State San Marcos will receive approximately $1.64 million over five years to start up the university's fourth college-the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS).

"The Strengthening Institutions Program grant proposal led Cal State San Marcos to focus on key objectives and planning steps to build successful programs in health and human services," explained university planning officer Terry Allison, who drafted the proposal. "We are pleased that the Department of Education will provide more than $1.6 million in start-up funding for faculty, staff, library materials and equipment to serve students in the five new majors of the College of Health and Human Services."

According to Allison, CHHS will serve as a model for future college and program development. The first five programs to be housed in the planned college will be kinesiology, nursing, social work, physical/occupational therapy and health care management.

"Establishing these CHHS programs," explained Allison, "will increase the university's capacity to maintain and grow enrollments to meet regional needs; institutionalize learning outcomes assessment; and create community partnerships to share personnel and space costs."

According to Provost Robert Sheath, the chief academic officer of the campus, "The creation of this new college is part of an overall plan to significantly increase our academic program offerings to meet the well documented student demand and align our strategic plans to our growth projections."

The Title III program assists eligible institutions of higher education to become self-sufficient by providing funds to improve and strengthen their academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability. One-year planning grants and five-year development grants are awarded. Funds may be used for faculty development, administrative management, development and improvement of academic programs, joint use of facilities and student services.

"I am very delighted about the news delivered to us by Congressman Cunningham," said President Karen S. Haynes. "Developing the new college is integral to our goal of meeting regional needs in the very critical areas of health and human services. The university developed a comprehensive proposal, and I am pleased with the Department of Education's response. This builds upon support that we've already received from the federal government and our community partners, and it allows us to move forward as swiftly as possible to offer these new programs."

The Title III funding adds to a pipeline of financial support that has helped develop nursing. With support from Congressman Cunningham, the university received $750,000 in federal funding from two 2004 Omnibus Appropriations bills to help build the planned nursing degree program. This funding, matched with $150,000 from Palomar Pomerado Health and $75,000 from Tri-City Medical Center, has helped streamline the development process for the program, which is scheduled to begin in fall 2006. Recently, the program was given an additional boost when PPH announced it will spend $2.5 million to develop a nursing education center across from campus. This center will become the home base for the school of nursing.

Contact: Paige Jennings, 760/750-4048 or pjenning@csusm.edu