With the first class of students graduating this past May, SIUE has received more good luck as it has now become fully accredited, and thereby the only downstate pharmacy school in Illinois. Upon graduation, the school reached its final step in gaining accreditation, which Dean Philip Medon credits to the role of teamwork between students, faculty, staff, and administration. Gaining accreditation is a big step for many pharmacy schools, especially schools that are just starting out. Determining what the best method of learning is for students is part of growing as an institution and learning how to best attract incoming students to the school.
The influx of new pharmacy schools is due to a new demand for pharmacists around the country. Opening new schools allows students to stay within their hometown area without moving to a big city simply to receive their pharmacy degree. This has allowed many more students to enroll than was possible within the past years. Most administrators do not recognize the need for many students to stay at home for school in order to save money and not incur larger debts than they already have to for school. Therefore, the new availability of schools in places such as SIUE has allowed less of a commute for many as well as a new education opportunity. This newest addition to the pharmacy network has already boasted top marks from the national organization and has been told that it’s a model program. Achieving accreditation status for most pharmacy schools is a sign that they are thus able to draw higher-quality students and improve their standing even more.
Most pharmacy schools practice continuing-education programs like SIUE, in which students are provided more training to practicing pharmacists in the area so that they will constantly improve their education. In the case of SIUE, the national organization renewed this status for the next two years, after which it will only need to be renewed every six years. Getting accreditation status is a big step for any pharmacy school, and in the case of SIUE this will only mean increased amounts of applicants which will allow the school to grow out within the state. Many schools are still waiting to gain accreditation status around the country which will lead to a better education group of pharmacists entering the world after school.
This post was contributed by Jill Gordon, who writes about the lpn nursing schools. She welcomes your feedback at Jill.Gordon25@ yahoo.com
