After an extensive three-year planning process, the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health has created a new opportunity for students earning a Transfer Single Articulation Pathway (TSAP) associate’s degree in Biology through Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University. This new 2+2 pathway, the first of its kind in the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B), will enable these students who have graduated with a Biology TSAP AS degree from either of these institutions to transfer to IU Bloomington. Here, they can earn a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) in Environmental Health in only two years.
With a goal towards boosting enrollment numbers and fostering student support, initial conversations with leadership at Ivy Tech about the TSAP program began in 2023, spearheaded by EOH Assistant Professor Sarah Commodore and Department Chair Patricia Silveyra. Commodore credits the Director and Associate Director of Student Recruitment Sarah Hatch and Trisha Doyle for putting her in touch with Kyle Hetrick, Department Chair of Biology & Biotechnology and Dean Sarah Cote at Ivy Tech.
“We are hoping that now that we have broken ground on this, other departments within SPH-B can join, as it raises our visibility,” says Commodore, who is thankful to Silveyra for granting permission to explore this pathway. “In our experience, environmental health is often a ‘discovery major’ for our students…when they come to our department, they find it to be very practical to make a difference in whatever way they want to.”
For example, students interested in topics such as food safety or respiratory health can work in labs, engage in internship opportunities, and attend nationwide conferences to present their research findings and become exposed to different career opportunities.
Like any big initiative, it takes a village. Just a few of the many who pitched in meaningfully on this initiative include Former Executive Associate Dean and current Kinesiology Professor NiCole Keith shared valuable information about the success of TSAP programs currently active at IU Indianapolis. Senior Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Michael Lundell was crucial in assisting the EOH team through the appropriate channels of policies and procedures to bring this TSAP opportunity to life. (More acknowledgements can be found at the end of the article).
Commodore adds, “Right now, we all know more than we did when we started and that makes me happy because the next time someone else wants to do something similar, we know we can put our heads together and figure it out.”
Students interested in this specific TSAP opportunity must be on a transfer as a junior pathway and get a minimum of a C grade in all required courses in their freshman and sophomore year to start their journey at SPH-B. More information for Ivy Tech students can be found here, and for Vincennes students here.
“I am incredibly grateful to Sarah for her vision, persistence, and leadership in bringing this program to life,” says Silveyra. “She recognized early on the value of creating a stronger pathway between our department and the community college students and never stopped moving the process forward. This program will strengthen our academic reach and create meaningful opportunities for students. Sarah’s dedication was essential to making it happen.”
For more trailblazing stories about our students, faculty, and staff, visit go.iu.edu/48bx.
Editor's Note—Commodore would also like to acknowledge the following for their support: the SPH-B Dean's Office, including Director of Degree Administration Becky Baugh and her team. Associate Chair Lisa Kamendulis and all faculty and staff in the department were very supportive in providing suggestions and feedback. Former EOH Director of Undergraduate Studies Jo Anna Shimek provided crucial information to get the team started. Assistant Dean for Academic Programs Jon Macy helped get the program paperwork to the finish line, and SPH-B Director of Academic Advising Jessica Staten, Assistant Director Myc Wiatrowski, and their team helped with graduation requirements.