About the College of Public Service

On July 1st, 1996, the Institute for Leadership and Public Service became the academic home for six departments of the University that share a common mission of community outreach and service. In the fall of 1998, the Institute was given the status of a College. The original departments of the College of Public Service were:

Communication Sciences and Disorders
Counseling and Family Therapy
Educational Leadership and Higher Education
Educational Studies
Public Policy Studies
Research Methodology

The College also operates the Paul C. Reinert, S.J., Clinics for Family and Child Development, which includes:

The Center for Counseling and Family Therapy
The Early Childhood Learning Center
Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
Special Learning Clinic

The founding philosophy of the College stresses faculty collaboration in teaching and research across disciplinary lines and a commitment to serve the broader University and Metropolitan St. Louis communities. In order to fulfill its commitment to the community, the College established The Centers for Community Improvement:

Midwest Center for Policy Research and Evaluation
The Center for Organizational Learning and Renewal
RegionWise
The Norman J. Stupp Geographic Information Systems Laboratory

In keeping with the College philosophy of community service and interdisciplinary teaching and research, the School for Professional Studies came under the College umbrella in July of 2004. The School for Professional Studies (SPS) is the adult education unit focusing on the needs of non-traditional adult students.

In July of 2005, the School of Social Work also joined the College. These additions provide an opportunity for creative professional, cross disciplinary education, research and service focused on the needs of families, schools, communities, government and non-profit agencies.