Future directions for AUPHA (Association of University Programs in Health Administration)? Results of a survey of...

As part of its strategic planning process, the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) conducted a survey of individual faculty members in health administration programs. The objective of the survey was to assess the faculty development needs of individual faculty members in terms of their professional association affiliations, and to identify what, if any, additional roles might be filled by AUPHA. The findings supported a role for AUPHA beyond its historical role of serving the needs of health administration programs primarily through program directors. Of particular importance to faculty members were exchanges with faculty in other health administration programs around research and teaching issues. While these views were held by those of all academic ranks and educational levels, the importance of these activities was judged higher by those respondents with doctorates and those of assistant professor rank. A specific role indicated for AUPHA is one of creating opportunities for exchange among individual faculty members in health administration programs. Furthermore, the data suggest that those faculty members of assistant professor rank should be a major focus for AUPHA faculty development activities. Roles for AUPHA in the areas of revising curricula and exploring new methods of instruction, developing closer linkages with management practitioners and discussions of ways to facilitate multidisciplinary exchange and research were outlined in this study.