Founding Dean and Associate Professor, School of Optometry
Introducing School of Optometry Founding Dean
High Point University announces Dr. Catherine Heyman will serve as founding dean of HPU’s new School of Optometry. It will be North Carolina’s first School of Optometry.
“Dr. Heyman has led a distinguished career as a professor of optometry and built a national reputation as one of the premier optometrists,” said Dr. Nido Qubein, HPU president. “We welcome her to HPU and look forward to her extraordinary partnership as she leads HPU’s newest academic school.”
Heyman envisions bringing to optometric education the HPU approach of using experiential learning, emphasizing life skills and interprofessional education. The need for optometric doctors continues to grow in the United States, she said.
“Dr. Heyman has led a distinguished career as a professor of optometry and built a national reputation as one of the premier optometrists,” said Dr. Nido Qubein, HPU president. “We welcome her to HPU and look forward to her extraordinary partnership as she leads HPU’s newest academic school.”
Heyman envisions bringing to optometric education the HPU approach of using experiential learning, emphasizing life skills and interprofessional education. The need for optometric doctors continues to grow in the United States, she said.
Program Progress
Accreditation Council on Optometric Education
The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) is the only accrediting body for professional optometric degree (O.D.) programs, optometric residency programs, and optometric technician programs in the United States and Canada.
HPU School of Optometry does not currently hold a formal accreditation status. The ACOE has granted High Point University School of Optometry (HPUSO) Stage One designation. This classification is granted to a proposed professional optometric degree program indicating that the proposed program has demonstrated a complete and sufficiently developed needs assessment, feasibility study, and risk assessment. HPUSO is currently deemed eligible to apply for Stage 2 designation.
To learn more about the ACOE accreditation process, please visit the ACOE website.
HPU School of Optometry does not currently hold a formal accreditation status. The ACOE has granted High Point University School of Optometry (HPUSO) Stage One designation. This classification is granted to a proposed professional optometric degree program indicating that the proposed program has demonstrated a complete and sufficiently developed needs assessment, feasibility study, and risk assessment. HPUSO is currently deemed eligible to apply for Stage 2 designation.
To learn more about the ACOE accreditation process, please visit the ACOE website.
HPU Academic Expansion
The School of Optometry is part of HPU’s $400 Million Academic Expansion
The School of Optometry is part of HPU’s $400 million investment in academic expansion, which includes schools of law, nursing, entrepreneurship and the Workman School of Dental Medicine. Most of these schools will be built in a hub on the university’s Innovation Corridor. Congdon Hall, which houses the Congdon School of Health Sciences and Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, is also located in the centralized hub for graduate education. HPU students will benefit from interdisciplinary learning by connecting and collaborating with each other. Heyman said she is excited to join the HPU family and to learn from her fellow deans.
“I’m looking forward to bringing my passion for optometry, administrative experience and educating future health care professionals to our beautiful campus,” said Heyman. “All of us working together can create the HPU experience for our future students and faculty, and build the optometry program into a premier program.”
“I’m looking forward to bringing my passion for optometry, administrative experience and educating future health care professionals to our beautiful campus,” said Heyman. “All of us working together can create the HPU experience for our future students and faculty, and build the optometry program into a premier program.”
Associate Dean of Academics and Professor of Optometry
Associate Dean of Student Experience and Professor of Optometry
Contact HPUSO
Dr. Corina van de Pol
Associate Dean of Student Experience and Professor of Optometry