| RuthAnn: |
Welcome to Ohio University's Master of Health Administration (MHA) virtual open house. During the next 30 minutes, you will have a chance to ask questions about our program, our faculty, and what it's like to study online. |
| RuthAnn: |
I am Dr. RuthAnn Althaus, your moderator for this session. I am a Professor of Health Administration and the Coordinator of the Master of Health Administration Online Program in the School of Public Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University. We also have Judy Recker joining us today. Ms. Recker is Administrative Director of Process Improvement at Lima Memorial Health System. In addition, our Admissions Manager, Ryan Bongard, will be on hand to answer your questions. |
| RuthAnn: |
During the virtual open house we will be answering questions in order that they are asked. This isn't exactly like a face-to-face conversation and you can't always wait politely for a 'pause' in the conversation. So just jump in with your questions! Sometimes, while a question is being answered, another one shows up, so we will just try to make sure you can tell which question is being dealt with. |
| RuthAnn: |
Let's get started - questions anyone? |
| Theresa: |
How long is the program and when does the next one start? |
| RuthAnn: |
Theresa - the program is two years, four terms a year. We start again in late March. |
| Theresa: |
Dr. Althaus: so the program runs continually throughout the year? |
| RuthAnn: |
Yes - program runs continually with admissions four times a year. |
| Leeatta: |
You mentioned four quarterly start times, what are they? |
| Ryan: |
Leeatta - March 29th, June 22nd, September 7th are our next start dates. |
| Dee: |
What should the professional statement for the application consist of? |
| RuthAnn: |
The professional statement should tell our admissions committee why you want to do the program - how does it fit with your career. |
| Ryan: |
Dee - I will ensure an advisor follows up with some specific guidelines regarding the professional statement. |
| Stephen: |
Do you have a list of past students that have been through the program? |
| Nicole: |
Has the first class graduated yet? |
| RuthAnn: |
We do have students with whom you can talk but no former students - yet. |
| RuthAnn: |
Our first class graduates in December. |
| Leeatta: |
What's the biggest difference between the MHA program and the MPH program? |
| RuthAnn: |
MHA vs. MPH - MHA is more oriented to institutions and less to community health. I have more info we can send you on that distinction. Let Ryan know. |
| Jeff: |
Will we be required to log in on a set time and/or day during a particular module? |
| Ryan: |
Jeff - Great question. There are no required log in times for students. |
| RuthAnn: |
Our program has NO absolute synchronous activities. You can do the work at your convenience. We have office hours but there are alternatives and they are recorded. |
| Theresa: |
Are the classes interactive via web cams and sound? |
| RuthAnn: |
Theresa - we do have recorded lectures, etc., but it is not interactive except for office hours. |
| Tre: |
What are some of the career choices of the faculty members? |
| RuthAnn: |
Tre - you can see bios of our faculty at the website. They are very impressive!! |
| Troy: |
Do we have group assignments and how it this managed through the online program? |
| Theresa: |
Could you explain more about the group projects. Say if one or more of use were out of the Athens area? |
| Nicole: |
Judy - can you tell us about the group work? |
| RuthAnn: |
Troy - group projects are managed by students working online in discussion boards and chats. Some groups prefer to do real time work if they can manage the scheduling but that is not necessary. Projects are designed to be handled asynchronously. |
| RuthAnn: |
Theresa - all program work is done online - students work through discussion boards, chat, Skype, phone, etc. So geography doesn't matter. The projects apply learning to real life or simulated situations (like case studies). Sometimes students use their own organizations to consider what they are learning (this would be more likely to be an individual project). |
| Judy: |
Nicole - The group work enables us to get to know the other students and get exposed to people with different backgrounds. It is sometimes a little challenging to work around everyone's schedule, but very doable. The discussion boards are great. |
| Angela: |
How much time do students spend studying? |
| RuthAnn: |
Judy - want to answer about hours studying? |
| Judy: |
I spend about 20 hours a week. |
| Jeff: |
Regarding books that will be required, would these come directly from the University and what is the process? |
| RuthAnn: |
Jeff - books can be ordered through a special process through us or from Amazon, as you choose. |
| Stephen: |
Are any of the faculty currently working in the Healthcare field? |
| RuthAnn: |
Stephen - all faculty work or have worked in health care. |
| Stephen: |
But are not currently working in the field? |
| RuthAnn: |
Stephen - if you look at the website you'll find most (maybe 80%) currently work in the field. |
| Leeatta: |
What's the process for disputing grades? |
| RuthAnn: |
Leeatta - we haven't had any real disputes - all grading is pretty transparent with clear rubrics. A further dispute would progress up through me and into the university system. |
| Leeatta: |
Where are graduations held? |
| Ryan: |
Leeatta - Graduations are held on campus, in Athens, Ohio. |
| Jeff: |
Do the modules follow a learning pattern and if not how available will the classes we need be? |
| RuthAnn: |
Courses are offered in a sequence and completion in two years is assured! |
| Eric: |
How do you foresee the curriculum changing when congress passes Health Care reform? Is there a course(s) specific to the changes being implemented for IT including EHR's? |
| Troy: |
How current is the program content and how often is it updated? |
| RuthAnn: |
Eric - ah change - the only thing we can depend on. Our curriculum changes all the time to keep up or stay ahead of what is needed by professionals in the field. |
| Judy: |
Troy - I feel that the program content is very current. Some of the issues discussed in class are issues that I'm currently dealing with at work. |
| RuthAnn: |
Program content is updated every offering. So my module, offered every term, is updated four times a year. Modules offered less frequently are updated ahead of their offering. |
| Nicole: |
Ruth Ann - I thought that all of the classes were the same - do the modules change depending on when you start? |
| RuthAnn: |
Each time a module is offered it is updated to fit with what is happening in health care (and maybe for a textbook change, etc.) Is that what you mean? |
| Troy: |
What are we graded on? Papers, group projects, tests? |
| RuthAnn: |
Troy - grades are based on papers, group projects, tests, discussion boards, etc. Not many papers - more applied project assignments. |
| Tre: |
Are there any special computer system requirements for the online program? |
| Ryan: |
Tre - there is a specific list of computer requirements on our website. If you have more questions, I would be happy to follow up with you. |
| RuthAnn: |
Tre - our website lists the exact requirements. Most important - you need high speed internet. |
| Angela: |
What do the students have to say about the MHA program? |
| Angela: |
How practical is the information learned in the program to my career in healthcare? |
| Judy: |
Angela - I have really enjoyed the program. It has been very applicable to my current job. The subject matter has been very interesting. |
| Judy: |
I have found the information to be very practical. I am currently in an administrative position in a hospital. |
| RuthAnn: |
I always figure the greatest compliment to a course is when a student says they are using the info right away. I think Judy commented on that, too. |
| Rohan: |
What is an example of an applied project assignment? |
| Troy: |
I have talked to one existing student and he indicates that he writes a lot of 1-2 page papers. |
| Leeatta: |
Will all assignments due be based on Eastern Standard Time? |
| RuthAnn: |
All assignments are due at 3:00 AM Pacific time. |
| Tre: |
Is there access to an online library or research services? |
| RuthAnn: |
Tre - we have a fabulous library and extension into outside libraries. Everything except standing in the stacks is available! |
| Angela: |
Do I need to have a specific undergraduate degree in order to apply to this program? |
| RuthAnn: |
Any baccalaureate degree is fine. |
| Troy: |
How many students are currently in the program? |
| RuthAnn: |
We currently have 175 students in the program but sections are never larger than 25. |
| Dee: |
A couple other schools had a class you take to see if you liked online learning. Does Ohio University? |
| RuthAnn: |
Dee - we don't have that type of trial class. |
| Rohan: |
How much time between classes? |
| Ryan: |
On average there's 10-14 days between modules. Around the holidays, there is 6 weeks off. |
| Lynette: |
Can you take one class at a time? |
| RuthAnn: |
Lynette - our program requires registration for two classes at a time because they are related to each other inside the module. |
| Dee: |
So a module consists of two classes per term? |
| Dee: |
Are two classes 6 credit hours? Is that what you pay for at a time or do you pay by module? |
| RuthAnn: |
There are 8 credit hours per module, and payment is required for one whole module each term. |
| Tre: |
Will we have an assigned academic advisor or any advisor for that matter? |
| RuthAnn: |
Tre - you do have an advisor who follows you through the program! |
| Rohan: |
What types of accreditation does the MHA program have? |
| RuthAnn: |
We are accredited by the Higher Learning Council of the North Central Association. |
| Ryan: |
Rohan - We are regionally accredited by NCA. |
| RuthAnn: |
We're almost out of time, but I want to thank you all for 'coming.' If you have further questions, please convey them to your admissions advisor who will pass them along to one of us. |
| Ryan: |
Thanks everyone. Our admissions staff will follow up with each of you. |
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