The Environmental and Occupational Health Science Program at Western Kentucky University

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Project Summary Western Kentucky University offers undergraduate (B.S.) and graduate (M.S.) Environmental and Occupational Health Science (EOHS) Programs that are driven by the shortage of trained occupational safety and health (OSH) and environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals, in underserved regions of Kentucky, that will advance worker safety and health. These programs have dedicated regional support through the EOHS Advisory Board, industries, agencies, first responders, municipalities, schools, colleges, universities, and communities. The success rate of graduates from each program, the inclusion of underrepresented trainees, as well as the accreditation of the graduate program by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council, has established the credibility of the institution to offer each curriculum. Both the undergraduate and graduate EOHS Programs are supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) through a Training Project Grant (TPG). A critical need in the region is to create a more diverse EOHS workforce, especially in underserved rural areas. Continuance of the WKU NIOSH TPG will assist in meeting this need and provide opportunities for innovative educational strategies relevant to contemporary work exposures, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent tornado disaster in Kentucky. The EOHS Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degree programs at WKU are comprehensive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs built on education in basic and applied sciences, and specialized training in anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace factors that may affect the health, well-being, and productivity of workers and the public. The overall educational objective is a multidisciplinary approach that provides students a comprehensive understanding of the chemical, biological, physical, and social factors or stressors in the occupational and natural environments that impact public health outcomes. Specifically, the NIOSH TPG will provide tuition scholarships and stipends, training opportunities through NIOSH ERCs, webinars, conferences, and development and delivery of a series of workshops to train six (6) undergraduate students and seven (7) graduate students, at minimum each project annum. Continued support of the WKU EOHS Programs will ensure opportunities and training that will promote expertise in the OSH, EHS, and associated fields in rural and underserved communities in Kentucky, and throughout the region.