Nontraditional graduate training for administrators of neighborhood health centers

Because of the shortage of qualified health care administrators who are members of minority groups, many neighborhood health centers, organized as a result of the Great Society legislation of the 1960's, suffered from their staffs' lack of administrative skills and from rapid turnover as staff members gained experience and moved upward to other jobs. To rectify this shortage, the National Association of Neighborhood Health Centers was funded to offer master's degree programs at the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California. These on job/on campus programs, which began in 1972, allowed participants to work and study concurrently. At Michigan, students attended class 8 hours a day, 4 days a month, for 2 years. At U.S.C., they attended classes for 14 consecutive days 3 times a year for 2 years. Since the usual admission requirements of established graduate programs limit access of minority students, who frequently lack adequate educational backgrounds, admission criteria were modified for the 56 persons enrolled in the program. For example, the Graduate Record Examination scores were not considered in the program at Michgan. Findings in an independent evaluation conducted in 1974 indicated that the programs at both universities were successful in providing graduate education relevant to the special needs of the staffs of neighborhood health centers. Only four students were dropped for academic reasons. More special programs in health administration are needed in both graduate and undergraduate schools to train people in the effective administration of health care centers, particularly those serving communities of disadvantaged persons.