The Commencement season is upon us. Last month, we marked the graduation of students in our health professions programs. In June, we will celebrate Commencement on our University City Main Campus. On behalf of the entire University, I applaud all of our graduates and wish them successful futures.

Our graduates, as well as our students, faculty and staff, have another reason to be proud to be a part of one of America’s top universities — one more of our schools has received national recognition. The School of Public Health recently received notice of preaccreditation from the Council on Education and Public Health (CEPH), the nationally recognized accrediting body for schools of public health. Preaccreditation indicateshat CEPH feels the that our schoolSchool has demonstrated the ability to meet all criteria for full accreditation within one to two years. Given the relative newness of the School within Drexel, this is an outstanding accomplishment.

With CEPH’s designation, all rights and privileges of accredited schools of public health have been granted to our School, including membership in the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH), the premier organization representing accredited and preaccredited schools in the nation. Attendance at an ASPH member school assures students will receive a well-rounded graduate education based upon the five core public health areas. Our School is just one of 36 in this Association, one of two in Pennsylvania and the first school with this designation ever in the Greater Philadelphia region.

As a result of preaccreditation, our students, alumni and faculty now have the opportunities afforded to all students who attend accredited schools of public health, including the assurance that the educational activities of the institution or program have been found to meet the needs of students; advanced degree opportunities, such as doctoral education; assistance in the transfer of credits between institutions, or in the admission of students to advanced degrees; and eligibility for public health internships and fellowships sponsored by various federal agencies. Additionally, an array of federal funding opportunities is now open to our faculty.

The Drexel community is working for a healthier today and ensuring a healthier tomorrow at an unprecedented time in the history of public health. We are proud to now be among the top universities in the nation with a School of Public Health. Congratulations to Dean Marla Gold and the students, faculty and staff in the School of Public Health on this achievement.

C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni Interim President