4:18 p.m., July 6, 2009----In 1997, the College of Human Resources, the College of Education and the College of Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Delaware merged to form the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy, or CHEP for short. In 2000, Human Resources was changed to Human Services, to avoid confusion with the business field of human resource management. Now, as of July 1, the college has adopted a new name: the College of Education and Public Policy. Dean Michael Gamel-McCormick answered questions about the new name during a recent interview.

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Q: Why a new college name?

A: A number of important reasons, but especially clarity, simplicity and public awareness. We need the public, our constituents and our funding sources to know who we are. Over 12 years, our acronym “CHEP” developed a clear meaning within the University, but to those outside of Newark it was confusing or meaningless.

This struck me most when I helped call alumni to invite them to join us for Forum and Reunion Weekend. I heard other callers using the term CHEP when talking to alumni and then having to explain what CHEP was. We don't need that type of confusion in a college that does as much outreach, public service and national and international work as we do.

Similarly, when I would tell potential students and their families the name of the college, they would often get the name wrong. We are a complex college with four major academic units, 14 research and service centers and over $35 million in external funding each year, so we're not a simple college by any means, but we do want to be remembered. We want folks outside the University to know to come to us. “Education and Public Policy” is easier to say and remember.

I think in some ways we will have more doors open to us with the new name. Potential funders often had the reaction that we were a business-oriented college -- even with the change from “human resources” to “human services.” I expect that the new name will allow us to get to the heart of what we do quicker, and we will not spend a lot of time explaining the name.

And finally -- and in this day and age this is important -- when you conduct a Google search for our new name, we are the first university that comes up.

Q: How was the decision made?

A: Wow -- did we spend some time on this! During the summer of 2008, I asked a task force to examine the college's overall mission and develop a set of strategic goals. In doing so, I asked the group to look at possible name changes. Well over 30 possibilities were generated -- everything from the “College of Public Engagement” to the “College of Community Development.” In the end, the faculty settled on a name that is both grounded in the history of the college and is familiar in the academic world.

Q: Your name is shorter. Does that mean you have fewer programs?

A: No, in fact we are adding a number of new majors, minors and certificate programs to the college.

Our four major academic units remain the same as before. Our two schools are nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report -- the School of Education is ranked 35th and the School of Urban Affairs is ranked 41st. Our Human Development and Family Studies Department has an outstanding early childhood education program and one of the largest human services programs in the country, with a unique focus on disabilities. And our Fashion and Apparel Studies Department is a national leader in sustainable apparel design and production and has some of the strongest students in the college who are sought after by well-known retailers and designers.

We are adding two new undergraduate majors this fall: a major in public policy and a major in energy and environmental policy. These are great interdisciplinary majors that use the strengths of many disciplines within the college and across the University. While these programs were not approved until May, we already have students enrolled in them!

We are also offering a newly approved concentration and minor in urban education that will allow our elementary education undergraduates to focus on teaching in urban settings and non-majors to gain experience and knowledge in this area. These additions to the college indicate the high level of engagement in the community that the faculty, staff and students have.

Q: Has your college mission changed?

A: No. Our mission continues to be to conduct outstanding scholarship about the most critical problems of the day -- education, family support, disabilities, sustainability, government structures -- and to prepare students to enter the worlds of education, human services, public policy, nonprofits, merchandising and many other fields.

As a college, both prior to the merger in 1997 and for the past 12 years, we have maintained a strong scholarly focus and a strong public service focus. That continues and, in some ways, is even stronger.

We take very seriously the land-grant mission of the University. We have the responsibility to find solutions and to help our society implement those solutions. If we prepare students to enter the world with the knowledge that what they do has an impact on individuals, their local communities and society as a whole, we will be a better world. It may sound highfalutin, but that should be our goal everyday with every student and every research effort we conduct.

So, as a college, we remain committed to the public service, research and teaching that have been our roots and realize that the work we do has an impact on every citizen of Delaware and many folks around the world. For instance, two of Gov. Markell's current cabinet officers and his policy director were educated in this college. We give students from Delaware and from around the world the opportunity to gain the skills to better their communities. What better mission could there be for a college?