71 environmental centers be established at land grant colleges only, and those schools only could receive funds under the Act. At the same time, the National Institute of Occupa tional Safety and Health advocated that a new professional category for occupational health and safety professionals be developed through a baccalaureate degree linked with an associate degree program. NEHA advocated this being developed within the environ mental health program and also called for an agency to coordinate the research that was being done, to avoid duplication. During 1972, colleges and universities having curricula in environmental health received approximately $450,000 under the Allied Health Professions Personnel Training Act. Nick Pohlit, NEHA executive director, decried the fact that this was only 4.5% of the total allotted under the Act and said that undergraduate education was then one of the Association's top priorities. He met with Dr. Tom Hatch, deputy director, Bureau of Health Manpower Education, with the goal of getting more money for the undergraduate programs. He also touted the professional in environmental health and the unique educational and experience backgrounds of these people to the U.S. Environ mental Protection Agency's Administrator, William Ruckelshaus. In 1973, the Schools of Public Health shared $5.5 million in formula grants from the Division of Allied Health Manpower. Then in 1974, NEHA, through its executive director and members who were involved in education, and with the help of other members in close proximity to Washington, D.C., succeeded in getting HEW to award improvement grants totalling $1,656,337 to 22 schools with environmental health programs. The educational scene was buzzing and student participation in NEHA was at its highest. In the January/February 1974 issue of the Journal ofEnvironmental Health, NEHA President, Dr. Monroe T. Morgan reported that in 1973 more than 445 students had received bachelor's degrees in environmental health from U.S. colleges and univer sities and there were 1,773 students enrolled in undergraduate programs. Morgan decried the fact that no state then required a degree in environmental health for beginning positions and advocated this degree as a minimum requirement. With federal funding ending June 30, 1975, educational institutions had to go it alone with environmental health programs. A few programs lost ground and a few others were terminated after a decline in student enrollment because of loss of student stipends. Other programs gained a reputation for high quality education, and an ability to respond to new environmental health concerns strengthened programs. They are today produc ing the future workforce. From the peak of activity in the late 1960's and throughout the decade of the 1970's, when NEHA was instrumental in promoting the development of, and accreditation of, environmental health programs, NEHA's role in education in colleges and universities has diminished. NEHA continues to support and work with the National Accreditation Council for the continual upgrading of programs to meet the current needs. A curriculum guide was produced as part of the six year federally funded manpower development project conducted by NEHA, and a new activity in hazardous waste credentialing is scheduled to develop a specialty curriculum recommendation in that area. Facult members from colleges and universities throughout the nation are an important and viable contingent of NEHA members. The Association encourages their collabora tion through a forum held at the NEHA annual conference. Faculty and researchers are an important ource for articles for the Journal and are a major segment of the peer re,·iewe of anicles for the Journal. Dr. Trenton G. Davis, Associate Vice Chan ellor for A ademic Support at East Carolina University is currently Editorial f r C C
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