Academic Services, Honors, and Awards

SPH Resources and Facilities

SPH Ombudsperson

SPH Computer Listserves

There are two student listserves at SPH: SPHNEWS and SPHVIEWS.

The SPHNEWS Computer listserve is the main way for students to receive the latest official announcements relevant to their careers in public health while at UIC. It is the primary communications link between students and faculty and staff. By subscribing to this electronic mailing list, students will receive email messages almost daily about:

• New courses to be offered.
• New and changed academic policies.

Only School administrators can post to SPHNEWS. If students have items that are appropriate to post to this listserve they should contact their Division's Academic Coordinator for help with getting the information posted.

To subscribe to the SPHNEWS Student Listserve, you will need to create a UIC email account. To create this account visit "Activate Your UIC Netid and Password." Once your account has been activated, send an email message to jasonr@uic.edu and write in the email subject line "add to SPHNEWS Listserve". Provide your name and email address in the body of your email.

The second SPH listserve is SPHVIEWS. This is an open and unmoderated forum for expression of ideas, for announcements of events of interest to all students, for posting of news and views of interest to public health students, faculty, alumni and community practitioners.

To subscribe to SPHVIEWS follow the steps listed above and write in the email subject line "add to SPHVIEWS Listserve".

While subscribed to the SPH listserves, it is important to be tolerant and respectful of other points of view that may be expressed on them. Sending inflammatory or disrespectful messages to anyone on the listserve is grounds for being removed from the list and may result in other sanctions. By reading message descriptions you can often tell whether you want to open and read a message’s content. If a message does not seem relevant or interesting, simply hit the "delete" key before opening and reading a message.

It is also important to respond to the appropriate person or persons on the listserve accordingly. Unless a message is addressed to you personally and not to the SPHVIEWS Listserve, if you use the reply feature your message will be sent to the entire list. To respond to someone on the listserve individually (and privately), be sure to put their address in the "To" line when you are composing your message.

You can leave SPHVIEWS at any time by sending a "SIGNOFF SPHVIEWS" command to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU.

Student Library Support

Library of the Health Sciences
1750 W. Polk Street
http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/lhs/

Your library is the Library of the Health Sciences, 1750 W. Polk. Wondering where to begin your research for a class assignment or capstone project? Have a question about tracking down a Library book or journal article? Librarians are available for one-on-one appointments or for quick answers to any questions about Library resources. Send an e-mail to lib-cref@uic.edu.

Pre-Award Research Services

The Office of Research Services, Office of the Dean, in its efforts to support the grant proposal development efforts of our faculty, staff, and students, now offers a menu of services (ranging from the facilitation of scientific grant review to budget development to formatting to "one-stop shopping") that investigators can choose from to meet their proposal development needs. This service allows the investigator to write the science while SPH ORS manages the pre-award logistics including getting the proposal approved through the Campus and out the door. Consultation with the division staff regarding division specific issues will always be included. There is no "fee" attached to this activity. This office is staffed by Julie Kong, Irene Oliynyk, and Janet Mattocks.

We are pleased to be able to provide this expanded level of service in facilitating the increasing productivity of our SPH community.

The list of services is listed on http://www.uic.edu/sph/research_proposaldvlp.htm. Requests for proposal development can be made to Julie Kong.

Poster Printing Services

The SPH Office of Research Services provides professional-looking poster printing services for faculty and students who are presenting at research/practice conferences. Posters for other activities can not be accommodated.

SPH students are entitled to two (2) free posters per student per academic year (summer, fall, and spring terms). SPH faculty, alumni, and staff will be charged $50 per poster

If you have any questions regarding this service, please contact Julie Kong, jckong@uic.edu.

To download a poster printing request form go here.

Paul Q. Peterson Study Center

The School of Public Health Paul Q. Peterson Study Center, located on the first floor of the 1603 West Taylor Street Building, offers a quiet study area with tables and chairs for student use. Students will have access to this area during all hours that the building is open, as the Study Center will never be locked. In addition, students who sign up for after-hour entry into the building will also be able to use the Study Center and its computers. The Study Center is conveniently located immediately adjacent to one of the building's two computer labs with seventeen public health workstations: IBM compatible personal computers with Internet connections. Students can access an extensive collection of online databases from the public health workstations including LCS (Library Circulation System) and LUIS (Library Users Information Service), a database useful for locating books, serials, and subject headings at other campuses. The public health workstations are free of charge to SPH students.

SPH Computer Laboratories

The School of Public Health operates three personal computer labs. One lab, located on the fifth floor of the School of Public Health-West building has 26 personal computers, a laser printer, LCD display device, an overhead projector, a projection screen and a white board. All of the computers in the lab are connected to the UIC ACCC’s local area network via ethernet connection. This connection provides a wide variety of software, and email and Internet access. Two computer labs are located in the SPHPI building at 1603 West Taylor Street. The larger of the two labs, located in SPHPI B34, is equipped with 31 hard-wired terminals and a high capacity laser printer, a display device, a projection screen and a white board. The smaller lab is located in the SPH Paul Q. Peterson Study Center (SPHPI 178) and has 17 hard-wired terminals and a high capacity laser printer. The labs are available for public use when not being used by a class. A validated UIC identification card is needed to enter the SPH after normal business hours and on weekends.

Student Lounges and Additional Study Areas

In SPH-W, lounge areas for students are available on the first and fifth floors. The fifth floor lounge contains vending machines and a microwave oven.

In SPHPI, a café (110), vending machine area (112) and a parenting room (138), are located on the first floor. In addition, The Alan W. Donaldson Student Lounge (194) as well as other lounge areas are provided for student use and are located on the first floor. Two group study rooms (134 and 142) and four smaller interview rooms (103, 105, 107, and 130) are also located on the first floor. Students may reserve these rooms by signing the reservation sheet located on the doors to each room.

Common areas are also located on floors six, seven and eight of SPHPI.

Building Access

The 2121 West Taylor Building is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Those entering before or after normal business hours will need to call ahead to make special arrangements. The 1603 West Taylor Street Building is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. After-hour access to both buildings will be by key-card only. To obtain key-card access, contact the SPH Office of Student Affairs, Room 175 SPHPI. Students can download the building access form at: http://www.uic.edu/sph/downloads/building_access_form.pdf

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Campus Facilities and Services

Academic Center for Excellence

Location: Suite 2900, Student Services Building

Address: 1200 West Harrison Street

Telephone: (312) 413-0031

ACE offers courses, workshops, individual academic advising and counseling to help undergraduate, graduate and professional students improve their academic performance. Doctoral students needing assistance with project management and writing avoidance, may contact Cecelia Downs, M.A., Academic Skills Specialist at the UIC Academic Center for Excellence at. cdowns@uic.edu or 312-413-7396.

Counseling Service

Location: Suite 2010, Student Services Building

Address: 1200 West Harrison Street

Telephone: (312) 996-3490

Staff: Consists of staff psychologists who specialize in either clinical or counseling psychology and academic learning skills professionals.

Disability Services

Location: Suite 1190, Student Services Building

Address: 1200 West Harrison Street

Telephone: (312) 413-2183 (Voice/TTY) (312) 413-0123 (TTY only)

Disability Services acts as a consultant to verify disability (with the student’s permission) and to recommend appropriate accommodations; assists in arranging for sign language interpreters, notetakers, readers, tutors, assistive technology, and adapted transportation; and can arrange appropriate test-taking accommodations, given sufficient notice (usually one week).

Urban Health Program

Location: 173 College of Medicine East Tower

Address: 808 S. Wood Street

Telephone: (312) 996-7727

The Urban Health Program provides support for students underrepresented in the healthcare workforce, specifically African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans, who wish to work with underserved urban populations.

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Honors and Awards

Amuwo Minority Fellowship Fund

The The Amuwo Minority Fellowship Fund is named in honor of the school's former associate dean for community, government, and alumni affairs, Shaffdeen A. Amuwo, PhD, MPH, a dedicated advocate and mentor of minority students. The scholarship was established to provide assistance to public health students who are committed to working on health issues within the Black/African-American or African Descendants communities.

Delta Omega Society

The Delta Omega Society is a national honorary public health fraternity established to recognize and encourage scholarship and research among those undertaking post-baccalaureate study in public health and to recognize attainment in the field of public health. The Society was established in 1924 at the School of Hygiene and Public Health of the Johns Hopkins University. There are now forty-six active chapters. The University of Illinois School of Public Health petitioned for the establishment of a chapter early in 1980, and it was formally recognized at the meeting of the National Council in October 1980. There are three categories of members elected each year in May. Student members are elected from summer, fall, and spring semester graduates from all four degree programs.

To be eligible for election a student must be in the upper twenty-five percent (by GPA) of the graduating class, and from this group not more than ten percent of the graduating class is elected on the basis of "demonstrated real or potential qualities of leadership in public health in addition to academic excellence." Alumni members may be elected up to a maximum of ten per year, from among our graduates "whose work in the practice of public health would serve as a model for future graduates of the School". The Chapter may elect annually up to three percent of the full-time faculty as Faculty members on the basis of outstanding performance in public health scholarship, teaching, and research. The Society sponsors meetings and speakers on topics of general interest to public health students and faculty.

More information on the application process, can be found on the SPH website.

Viron L. Diefenbach Public Health Scholarship Fund

The Viron L. Diefenbach Public Health Scholarship Fund, established in memory of the second dean of the School of Public Health, provides an award each year to a student in the Health Policy and Administration Division. Each recipient is selected on the basis of a combination of academic achievement and financial need.

Alan W. Donaldson Endowment Fund

The Alan W. Donaldson Endowment Fund supports a monetary gift presented in conjunction with the Alan W. Donaldson Memorial Award, given annually to one graduating student for academic excellence, qualities of leadership and community service. Given in memory of the School’s first associate dean, this is the highest award granted by the School. The Donaldson Endowment also helps students defray travel costs related to their professional development and academic training.

Alumni Achievement Award

The distinguished Alumni Achievement Award is the highest honor a University constituent alumni association can bestow. The award is presented to an individual who has brought honor to the University and the School of Public Health through significant contributions to the improvement of the public's health, to public health literature, and/or public health professional education. When an award is made, the Awardee is recognized at the May Commencement ceremony.

Chicago Bar Association Public Health Award

Students who have completed 50% of their required hours for graduation with a minimum grade point average of 4.75 are eligible to apply. Continuing students at the School of Public Health are given preference for this $1000.00 award. Details and qualifications can be obtained from Ms. Gwendolyn Slaughter at (312) 996-6628.

Haenszel Research Award

The Haenszel Research Award is presented annually to an outstanding student in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division. This award is acknowledged at a special awards ceremony, and the winner receives a voucher for $200 to be used for travel, books, software, or equipment relevant to their work. The intent of this award is to foster high quality research among Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division students. Application information can be obtained in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division Office.

The Loretta Pratt Lacey Scholarship Fund

The Loretta Pratt Lacey Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Dr. Lacey, a nationally renowned alumna and faculty member of the School of Public Health. The scholarship is used as an incentive to encourage applications from African-American students at the doctoral level whose studies focus on women's health. Details and qualifications can be obtained from Associate Dean Babette Neuberger at 996-5381.

The Paul Q. Peterson Endowment Fund

The Paul Q. Peterson Endowment Fund provides scholarships to encourage and support outstanding graduate/professional students interested in the practical application of public health delivery and/or research. Awards are made to continuing students to help support their research. The fund was made possible through an endowment established by the Alumni Association of the School of Public Health to honor Paul Q. Peterson, the first Dean and founding father of the School. Amount of scholarship varies based upon Fund resources. Awards may be given annually and can only be given once to an individual. Generally, up to three students may receive this award annually. Details and qualifications can be obtained from Adela Pena at 312.996-3447.

More information on the application process, can be found on the SPH website.

Scrimshaw Family Scholarship Fund for Hispanic and Latino Students

The Scrimshaw Family Scholarship Fund for Hispanic and Latino Students reflects the decades of research and service Dean Susan C. Scrimshaw and her family have dedicated to improving the health of Hispanic and Latino families in the Americas. The fund supports students of Hispanic/Latino origin, descent, or identity who are committed to improving the health of their communities.

Golden Apple Award

The Golden Apple Award is presented each year to a faculty member in recognition of outstanding teaching and unusual service to students at the School. The recipient is chosen by the student body and the award is presented by the Student Council president at the May Commencement. The SPH Alumni Association also presents to the recipient a check for $100.00 as evidence of the Association's continuing interest in encouraging high quality teaching at the School.

The Douglas Passaro International Award

The Douglas Passaro International Award honors the memory of Dr. Douglas James Passaro, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Illinois, Chicago and Attending Physician in Infectious Diseases at the UIC Hospital from 2001 to 2005. The award reflects his intense interest in addressing international public health problems worldwide through his work in Africa during his service in the Peace Corps and through his continued work in Latin America while at UIC. The award is designated to provide travel support to graduate students for health-related, hands-on field experiences in Latin America and Africa to carry on Dr. Passaro's important work in promoting global health that was interrupted by his untimely death at age forty-three.

Bonnie C. Minsky Award Fund

The Bonnie C. Minsky Award Fund supports students enrolled in the UIC School of Public Health with preference given to students whose research and educational interests relate to maternal and child health, women’s health, healthy aging and nutrition.

Estelle Goldstein Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Estelle Goldstein Memorial Scholarship Fund honors the memory of Estelle Lorraine Goldstein, mother of Paul J. Goldstein, PhD, UIC SPH faculty member in epidemiology. The fund supports students who are enrolled in the School, with preference to be given to a student returning after the age of forty, with a demonstrated financial need, and interest in issues of aging and/or gerontology.

 

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