1/6/2004

Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu

SRU ONE OF TWO SITES IN NATION SELECTED FOR ACHA HEALTH CENTER ASSESSMENT       

          SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The American College Health Association has awarded Slippery Rock University's McLachlan Student Health Center one of two national needs assessment grants which are being used to conduct a review of the center's operation related to building and strengthening capacity to prevent HIV infection and outline other important health problems among youth.

          The grant is part of ACHA's Building Healthy Campus Communities  Project, a cooperative agreement between the organization and the Division of Adolescent and School Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

          "I am excited we have been selected to participate in this educational endeavor," explains Linda Beatty, health center director. "Once the process, which is already under way with focus groups and staff interviews, is completed, we will have more tools to work with students in providing information about HIV infection as well as other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. I see this as an opportunity for myself and our staff to expand our knowledge and to learn new ways of transmitting information to students. The yearlong process will bring about important changes that can affect our students' health," she adds.

          The assessment includes an intensive review of the center's current health information programs related to the specific topics. The program includes development of a needs assessment plan, including both qualitative and quantitative methods of receiving input from health center staff, students and other key stakeholders. A needs assessment plan will be implemented by the McLachlan staff and as a final step ACHA will offer a day-long strategic planning session with health center staff regarding the report's findings and workout final details of the strategic plan to be implemented to enhance the center' cultural competency. The program would be ready for campus use by fall 2004.

          SRU is a member of the American College Health Association.

          The university's health center was the first Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities to earn accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

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