July 13, 2018
By Sydney Slotkin DuPriest
OXFORD, Miss. – In an effort to expand access to pharmacy education within the state, the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy has completed its third admission agreement in a year with a Mississippi college.
Tougaloo College and the UM School of Pharmacy have partnered in a Preferred Admission Program that offers admission to the pharmacy school for Tougaloo freshmen who excel in pre-pharmacy classes and demonstrate a passion for service activities.
Jinghe Mao, Natural Science Division dean, (left) and Richard McGinnis, professor of chemistry and pre-health advisor, of Tougaloo College join UM School of Pharmacy’s associate dean Kris Harrell and dean David D. Allen as the programs have partnered in a Preferred Admission Program.
This initiative of the School of Pharmacy is meant to encourage more students to apply to pharmacy school who may prefer to complete pre-pharmacy courses at institutions that are closer to home or that offer more affordable tuition.
“The Preferred Admission Program will allow us to reach some of the best and brightest future pharmacists enrolled in Mississippi’s other college and university partners,” said Kris Harrell, associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Pharmacy. “It’s a win-win-win for the students, the partner institutions and the School of Pharmacy.”
University of Mississippi chancellor Jeff Vitter said the Preferred Admission Program contributed to the university’s mission of making a positive impact on the lives of Mississippians.
“As Mississippi’s flagship institution, UM’s top priority is to use its resources to transform lives and communities,” Vitter said. “The School of Pharmacy’s Preferred Admission Program simultaneously increases educational opportunities across the state and contributes to the future of healthcare in Mississippi and beyond.”
Students admitted via the Preferred Admission Program will assume a traditional graduation track to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Alcorn State University and Jackson State University are also part of the program.
Tougaloo’s president Beverly Wade Hogan said her institution was pleased to be participating in the Preferred Admission Program.
“Traditionally, a significant percentage of our graduates enter graduate and professional schools to study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and other fields of healthcare immediately after receiving their undergraduate degrees,” Hogan said. “This is an opportunity for more of our graduates who are interested in pharmacy to study and stay in Mississippi, retaining the talents and skills so critically important to strengthening Mississippi and positioning it for heightened competitiveness.”
David D. Allen, dean of the School of Pharmacy, also stressed the benefits the Preferred Admission Program could have on patients.
“The goal of this partnership is to educate the very best future pharmacists who will contribute to and innovate within health care for the benefit of their patients,” said Allen. “Providing more opportunities for students interested in pharmacy can positively impact our profession for years to come.”
For more information on the Preferred Admission Program, contact the UM School of Pharmacy’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Kris Harrell at kharrell@olemiss.edu.