Springfield College School of Human Services
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Campus to award bachelor’s degree credit for H.E.A.L. Institute Training Springfield College School of Human Services Houston

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Jan. 14, 2010 -- The Houston Department of Health and Human Services’ (HDHHS) managerial professionals will be eligible for credit toward their bachelor’s degrees from the Springfield College School of Human Services (SHS), with a regional campus in Houston, Texas, thanks to a new agreement between the college and the City of Houston.

Springfield College will award 10 credits toward its 120-credit bachelor’s degree to HDHHS employees who complete H.E.A.L. Institute for Supervisors and Managers and enroll in the SHS undergraduate program.

According to Noel Pinnock, HDHHS human resources administration manager for organizational development/training and selection services, “We are pleased that Springfield College, which has an international reputation for higher education in the human helping fields, has recognized the quality of H.E.A.L. Institute training as college-level learning. Working together, we can advance the knowledge and skills of Houston’s public employees in health and human services to assure high quality service to residents of our area.”

Robert J. Willey, dean of the Springfield College School of Human Services, said, “Professionals who have successfully completed H.E.A.L. Institute training have consistently demonstrated solid academic preparation in their fields. We welcome the experience that they will bring to our learning environment and look forward to advancing their preparation to become leaders in health and human services.”

The new agreement will assist graduates of H.E.A.L. Institute courses to complete their bachelor’s degrees in as little as two years at the SHS. The school, with its base at the main campus of the 125 year-old college in Springfield, Mass., offers degree programs in human services at 10 campuses throughout the United States.

SHS programs are designed for working adults with classes two weekends a month for bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates. Many students enter the program with years of experience in human services work. The SHS offers a process for undergraduates to claim up to 72 credits for courses successfully completed at other accredited colleges and universities, various professional certifications and trainings, and for knowledge gained through experiential learning. The school follows standards of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning in awarding such credit.

SHS undergraduate programs are accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education, and Springfield College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

All aspects of Springfield College’s academics and student life are characterized by the humanics philosophy, which emphasizes educating the whole person, consisting of spirit, mind, and body, for leadership in service to other people. There are more than 5,000 students at its main and regional campuses, and 41,000 alumni in 60 nations.