Salus recently joined the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE), marking the first time in more than two decades that the consortium has expanded its membership.
Joining peer institutions across the southeastern region of the state, the alliance includes Arcadia University, Cabrini University, Chestnut Hill College, Gwynedd Mercy University, Holy Family University, Immaculata University, Neumann University and Rosemont College. The consortium was established in 1993 and represents more than 20,000 students in small colleges located across all five counties of metropolitan Philadelphia. SEPCHE’s mission is to improve the quality and efficiency of academic programming, student access, faculty development, institutional operations and community outreach through a range of shared activities, services, technology and information.
According to Salus University president Michael Mittelman, OD ‘80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, details about how Salus students can take advantage of member institution resources will be announced in his weekly update emails and his blog on the University’s website.
“Each campus has exceptional library services, intercollegiate sports and other activities that will be of interest to our students,” Dr. Mittelman said.
SEPCHE schools also provide the largest share of professors statewide and a significant portion of nurses and business, human services and allied health professionals.
“Our SEPCHE membership has several benefits to our faculty in that they now have access to myriad faculty development programs as well as multiple professional networks,” Dr. Mittelman said. “As higher education continues to adjust because of the pandemic and looks beyond today, having broader conversations about the future of higher education with a diversified group of faculties from different institutions will be beneficial to all of us.”
In addition, SEPCHE plans to expand its outreach efforts to local community colleges in an effort to attract more diverse students to its member institutions, which all offer strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the health sciences.
“Presidents are actively exploring deeper collaborations to improve access and to better and more efficiently prepare highly qualified graduates across our region,” SEPCHE Board Chair and Chestnut Hill College president Sister Carol Jean Vale said. “Salus is truly unique in offering graduate and post graduate degree and certificate options. Salus’ membership strengthens not only the range of career options but also accelerated access to graduate degrees and certificates in a host of new fields. We are thrilled to have Salus join our community of institutions collaboratively focused on access, excellence in teaching, liberal arts and lifelong learning in service to the broader society.”