Critical Issue 1

"St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) launched our new strategic plan, STLCOP 20/20, in June 2011. The plan has identified five critical issues, the first of which is academic programs. For this critical issue, the College will examine how best to diversify its academic offerings to provide options to our students, capitalize on strengths, and ensure relevance, demand, and excellence."

Academic Programs

How does STLCOP diversify academic offerings to provide options to our students, capitalize on strengths, and ensure relevance, demand, and excellence?

• Develop and implement a revised Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum that incorporates market and financial analyses to meet current and future societal needs.
  • Complete a feasibility analysis, including financial and market research, on the type of Doctor of Pharmacy program that capitalizes on STLCOP’s strengths, and ensures relevance, demand, and excellence.
  • Develop an outcomes-based pharmacy curriculum that could include an integrated bachelor’s program.
  • Develop a comprehensive assessment plan to ensure the Doctor of Pharmacy program is meeting the desired outcomes.
  • Meet all accreditation/compliance requirements.
  • Ensure the quantity and quality of students in the program (including transfer students).
  • Complete the business plan to support the implementation of the curriculum.
  • Implement the new curriculum.
• Offer Bachelor of Science degrees in appropriate areas of study based on comprehensive analyses.
  • Complete a feasibility analysis, including financial and market research, to determine relevant areas of study.
  • Develop outcomes-based curricula.
  • Develop affiliation agreements with other academic institutions so students are able to matriculate into professional programs, (e.g., medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, etc.).
  • Develop a comprehensive assessment plan to ensure that degree programs are meeting desired outcomes.
  • Meet all accreditation/compliance requirements.
  • Ensure the quantity and quality of students in the program (including transfer students).
  • Complete the business plan to support the implementation of the curricula.
  • Implement new curricula.
• Offer a Master of Science degree in health professions education.
  • Complete a feasibility analysis, including market research, for a Master of Science degree in health professions education.
  • Develop an outcomes-based curriculum and assessment plan.
  • Create a business, organizational, and infrastructure plan.
  • Design and implement a marketing plan.
  • Before the degree program is designed, ensure that faculty are developed to implement the program, and/or hire new faculty as needed.
  • Enroll first students into the program.
• Restructure a Master of Science degree in pharmacy administration that allows focus in specific and relevant areas (e.g., managed care, pharmacy benefit management, outcomes management, health-system pharmacy, informatics, entrepreneurship, community pharmacy, and community engagement).
  • Complete a market analysis/environmental scan to determine the marketability and viability of this program and the specific areas of subspecialty that would have the highest value proposition.
  • Develop an outcomes-based curriculum and assessment plan.
  • Create a business, organizational, and infrastructure plan.
  • Engage appropriate partners to implement the program.
  • Design and implement a marketing plan.
  • Enroll first students into the program.
• Develop joint degree programs with the Doctor of Pharmacy degree in the areas of business, pharmacy administration, public health, health law and/or research that are supported by a comprehensive assessment.
  • Coordinate market analyses for educational programs and related research programs.
  • Establish partnerships to implement joint degree programs.
  • Design and implement a marketing plan.
  • Enroll first students in the program(s).
• Expand College-sponsored and regional residency programs.
  • Evaluate national residency program models and, based on the results, create infrastructure vision and plans to support the development, operation, and accreditation of new and existing College-affiliated residency programs. Coordinate with Master of Science programs.
  • Develop a minimum of three new postgraduate year (PGY)1 pharmacy practice residency positions, a minimum of three PGY1 community care residency positions, and a minimum of two PGY2 residency positions (consider infectious disease, cardiology, ambulatory care, oncology, psychiatry, and pediatrics).
  • Assist partner institutions in developing residencies.