EAP faculty approve new divisional name
Miami’s School of Education and Allied Professions moved a step closer to a new name when EAP faculty voted overwhelmingly April 23 to approve renaming the division “Education, Health and Society.”
The vote followed a six-month process involving EAP faculty, staff and students. Carine Feyten, EAP dean, initiated the quest after it became apparent to her that a sizeable portion of faculty wanted a name that better reflected what the division is about.
Following review by Miami’s president and provost, the proposed new name will be presented to University Senate next fall and then to Miami’s board of trustees for approval.
“While no three words can completely represent the complex work that goes on in our division ‘Education, Health and Society’ does offer language, which suggests the diverse paradigms, practices and departments, which encompass what we do,” said Feyten.
EAP consists of five departments:
- Educational Leadership
- Educational Psychology
- Family Studies and Social Work
- Kinesiology and Health (formerly Physical Education, Health and Sport Studies—the new name was approved at the April 27 board of trustees meeting)
- Teacher Education
Dr. Feyten explained that the proposed new name represents not only the scope of these departments, but the interrelationship between and among the academic disciplines. For example, while an individual’s well being is obviously important to that person, it also has broader societal implications. From an educational perspective, it is increasingly important to not just focus on classroom instruction, but to look at the whole child—her or his family situation, nutrition, wellness, etc.—in trying to improve academic performance.