Survey of New Pharmacy Schools:Insights on Structure and Planning

The purpose of this study is to provide insights into the structure and planning involved in opening a new school of pharmacy. The authors surveyed Pharmacy CEO-Deans at new schools of pharmacy in the US. A "48- item questionnaire" was developed and administered online through www.SurveyMonkey.com to 23 deans/provosts/presidents of institutions with a "new" school/college of pharmacy. A "new" school/ college of pharmacy was defined as academic entities that have received or are in the process of obtaining pre-candidate or candidate status from Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). In addition, fully accredited schools that within the past year had started a new branch campus were also included. At the time of the survey in January of 2008, the authors identified a total of 26 schools or colleges that were at various stages of Pre-accreditation. Additionally, fully accredited schools that had started a branch campus within the past year were also included.

Three schools indicated that they were too early in the process to answer the survey adequately. Twentythree schools comprised the sample size. Out of the 23 schools, 19 schools responded (83% response rate).

The survey had five sections: organizational structure of the school/college, administrative structure, curriculum structure, faculty structure, and admissions process.

This study provides an insight into the planning of a new pharmacy program including organization, administrative, faculty, curricular characteristics, and admission process. The results may be helpful to entities that are planning to open a new college or school of pharmacy.