Slippery Rock University announced Tuesday the 10 departments that will be included in its new College of Health Professions when it opens this fall.

The university said its college of Health, Engineering and Science is splitting its departments among the soon-to-be college and the remaining College of Engineering and Science.

Founding Dean John Bonagura said the new college was announced in August 2021, but plans for its implementation began in January 2021.

“What happened was SRU started to create new health profession programs. In 2016, they added the master’s in public health, then the physical assistant study program that same year, then the masters in social work in 2020,” he said. “Graduate enrollment grew from 143 students to 292 by fall 2020.”

The college of Health, Engineering and Science has 3,300 students, more than 50 percent of the university's overall enrollment.

“Looking at this growth ... the university decided they needed a college for the new programs to grow them, nurture them, and potentially add new ones,” Bonagura said.

Bonagura added that he believes the separation of the two colleges will attract more students.

“It will give us visibility in the health professions,” he said. “It will mean students will be looking at SRU for health professions and go on to (earn) graduate degrees at the institution.”

The new college also is providing an opportunity to organize departments that are currently in units. As an example, Bonagura said the Public Health and Social Work program will become two separate departments and Healthcare Administration and Management will migrate from the Business college to the new one.

“We’re trying to highlight professions and majors,” Bonagura said.

This is Bonagura’s second time as a founding dean of a College of Health Professions. He previously helped to found Western Kentucky University’s college. Bonagura said permanent deans are being sought for Health Professions and Engineering and Science.

“I arrived with the very specific task of implementing the college of health professions. The new dean’s job in the first year will be defining ‘what’s our vision and our mission,’” he said.

Bonagura said what he enjoys most about the position is bringing the professions together and working toward a common goal with the community.

“I’ve been talking to UPMC about partnerships. These are new programs, and there’s potential for other collaborations in the future,” he said. “The program is committed to advancing professions in the local community. (The goal is) to be a leading university and advance the healthcare and quality of life of our community.”