School of Applied Human Sciences newly established

The Department of Design, Textiles, Gerontology and Family Studies merged with the Mental Health and School Counseling Program to form a new school within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Aug. 5, 2010.  The new school is collectively titled the School of Applied Human Sciences.

    The notion for the merge came about two years ago from Dr. Phillip Mauceri, who later became the Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the fall of 2009. The departments discussed ways to collaborate for the good of the college as collaboration would spur more additions into the programs and extend the range of applicable majors. In an Aug. 5 meeting with the Iowa Board of Regents, it was declared that "the intent of the collaboration is to establish a foundation or core of faculty members and academic programs focused on applied human sciences to stimulate synergy among faculty members across the campus which transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries, fosters cooperation and inspires more collaborative research."

    To receive a name change for two departments merging, a variety of internal and external approvals needed to be achieved, including as agreement between the merging programs as well was approval from dean of the college, the provost, the university curriculum committee, faculty senate, and finally, the president of the university. Outside the target college, approval had to come from the three state universities' counsel of provosts, or COPS, along with the Board of Regents Iowa. For this specific name change, Iowa State University was contacted for approval because of a recent similar name change.

    With the programs' name change came a leadership change as well. When the School of Applied Human Sciences was established, Howard Barnes, who was the head of the Department of Design, Textiles, Gerontology, and Family Studies for 13 years, was promoted to director.

 "I have very much enjoyed all my years here…there is no place better than UNI," stated Barnes, who has been an administrator at UNI for16 years.

    A variety of careers can be pursued by enrolling in the School of Applied Human Sciences. Students in the interior design program will make a portfolio for future references to employers, Family Services sends students off to work with government and local programs, and a gerontology degree can start a student on either the long- term care track to work on the local level with long-term care facilities or the social science track to find a career with AARP or similar programs.  Counseling majors are required to enter into the graduate program; from there they may begin a career track within schools or mental health facilities.

    For more information about the School of Applied Human Sciences, visit Barnes in Latham Hall. He recognizes that a lot of work needs to be done yet, but hopes that this wonderful opportunity will lead to the program's "special sense of belonging" on campus.