Salus University
Latin: Universitas Salusiensis
Former name
Pennsylvania College of Optometry (1919-2008)
TypePrivate graduate school
Established1919 (1919) (PCO)
July 1, 2008 (July 1, 2008) (Salus)
Endowment$49.1 million (2020)[1]
PresidentMichael H. Mittelman
ProvostBarry Eckert[2]
Academic staff
377
Postgraduates1,200+
Location
Elkins Park
,
Pennsylvania
,
United States

40°5′10.8204″N 75°7′44.7924″W / 40.086339000°N 75.129109000°W / 40.086339000; -75.129109000
CampusSuburban
11.5-acre main campus
ColorsRed, Orange, and Gray
     
MascotSal the Salamander[3]
Websitewww.salus.edu

Salus University is a private university in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, specializing in degree programs for the health care professions.[4]

History

The university's founding college, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), which was founded as the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry (PSCO) in 1919, is one of the oldest optometry colleges in North America. The decision to establish the college was reached at an annual conference of the Pennsylvania Optical Society in 1918.[5][6] PCO was the first school in the U.S. to confer the legislature-approved Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree after its four-year educational program.[7]

In 1975, PCO was the first college of optometry to develop a comprehensive, off-campus externship program.[8] Later that year, the college began construction on its main clinical facility, The Eye Institute (TEI), which opened in 1978 to serve as a training site for the school's optometry students and as a community vision care center for the public. At the time of its opening, this was the first interdisciplinary clinical facility at an optometry school centered around patient care with graduate students.[8] Presently, TEI has two locations with the main clinical facility in West Oak Lane and a satellite location in Chestnut Hill.

In 2000, PCO became the first school of optometry in the county to offer a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree when it received approval by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[9][10] By 2003, PCO had created a distance education program for licensed and practicing audiologists called AuD online and was finalizing construction of a new building to be used by students enrolled in the AuD curriculum by their commencement. The Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI), the clinical facility of the program, was opened on November 19, 2004, shortly before the school's first class of AuD students would begin their four-year curriculum.[11] As of 2017, Salus alumni comprise more than 23 percent of all audiologists in the U.S.[9]

The change in name from PCO to Salus University occurred on July 1, 2008. The name Salus, a Latin word for health and well-being, was unanimously chosen by the university board of trustees as "an expression of the institution's dedication to the preservation of the health and well-being of the communities its graduates serve."[8] At this time, the university's College of Audiology was also renamed to the George S. Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) in the memory of Dr. Osborne who was a key individual in the development of the AuD degree program as well as dean of OCA. Over the years, the university has added programs such as Physician Assistant Studies (PA), Occupational Therapy (OT), Biomedicine and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). In 2015, the Speech-Language Institute (SLI) opened as the clinical facility for the university's SLP program.

The university currently consists of three colleges: Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Osborne College of Audiology; and the College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation.

On June 13 2023, it was announced that Salus would merge into Drexel University pending regulatory and judicial approval. The merger process was expected to take up to a year to complete.[12]

Clinical facilities

Courtyard of the campus at Elkins Park

Optometry

The Eye Institute (TEI) was established in 1978 in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia, and in 2010 completed renovation. In addition to its main West Oak Lane clinical facility, TEI has a satellite location in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia.

Audiology

Established in 2004, Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) is located at the school’s Elkins Park campus in Pennsylvania and serves as a clinical site for Doctor of Audiology (AuD) students enrolled in the Osborne College of Audiology (OCA).

Speech-Language Pathology

The Speech-Language Institute (SLI) is the clinical facility for students enrolled in the University's Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) master's degree program. The Institute opened in July 2015 at the University's main campus in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.

Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy Institute (OTI) was opened Spring 2021 in West Oak Lane in Philadelphia, within The Eye Institute of Salus University. It is a clinical facility for students enrolled in the University's Occupational Therapy (OT) master's degree program.

References

  1. ↑ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Salus University - Dr. Barry Eckert Welcomed As New Provost". www.salus.edu. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Introducing... Sal the Salamander". Salus University. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "About Salus University". Salus University. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Personals". No. Vol. LVII, No. 154. The Allentown Morning Call. December 31, 1918. p. 10. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "Technical Talks to Optometrists". No. Vol. LXXXVIII, No. 241. Harrisburg Telegraph. October 14, 1919. p. 9. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "Optometry degree program at college". No. Vol. 87, No 235. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: The Gettysburg Times. October 6, 1989. p. 19. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 "Pennsylvania College of Optometry Becomes a University". AudiologyOnline. May 20, 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Salus University - Our History". Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Justin W. Beamer receives Doctor of Optometry Degree". No. Vol. 139, No. 236. Tyrone. Pennsylvania: The Daily Herald. June 21, 2005. p. 3. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "History of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute of Salus University". Salus University. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  12. ↑ "Drexel and Salus Universities Formalize Merger Agreement at Ceremonial Signing". Drexel University. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
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