St. Cloud State University’s School of Health and Human Services has evolved to become the College of Health and Wellness Professions.
This new name reflects our mission to prepare students to be leaders, scholars and professionals in promoting optimal health and wellness in our communities. The college is focused on delivering inter-professional education where students learn from experts in their field. Throughout their course of study, students explore a range of disciplines, so they gain a greater understanding of their role in providing care to individuals and families, while meeting broader community needs.
“I am delighted with this name change, which signifies the momentum of It’s Time in elevating the academic distinction of the university,” said Dr. Shonda Craft, College of Health and Wellness Professions dean. “We see this as a new phase of our continued growth with great possibilities for our students and faculty.”
The College of Health and Wellness Professions is a place where educators in the fields of health and wellness come together to innovate new ways of teaching and learning. Faculty and student research in the Center for Health and Wellness Innovation offers collaboration and a diverse range of opportunities and community partnerships for students.
The College of Health and Wellness Professions is made up of five departments and four programs with 12 undergraduate degrees, 11 graduate degree programs and one doctoral degree including distinctive programs in Applied Behavior Analysis and Nursing.
St. Cloud State has a long history of innovative health and wellness education. The first psychology classes were offered in 1884. Kinesiology classes were first offered in 1928, Medical technology and social work courses were first offered in 1946 and the first speech science class in 1950. The School of Health and Human Services was formed in 2011 to bring together the varied health and wellness programs across campus into one unit where collaboration and interdisciplinary research could thrive.
That mission has grown into a college that prepares students for the world with experiential opportunities like the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic, the Maciej Nursing Simulation Lab, and the Eastman Hall Counseling Lab and more than 400 community work site placements with community partners each semester.
“The College of Health and Wellness Professions will take that vision one step farther to prepare students for careers in healthcare and wellness that are most needed now and in the future,” Craft said.
