Improving Student Matriculation and Retention in an Online Pharmacy Pathway

Authors

Shawn E. Fellows, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Remah Ali, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Priyanka Bhatt, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Todd Camenisch, St. John Fisher University
David McCaffrey, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Angela Nagel, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Andrew Wolf, St. John Fisher University
Christine R. Birnie PhD, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

7-2023

Abstract

Objective : To describe a series of coordinated efforts that have been enacted to improve student progression in the online pathway of a pharmacy program.

Methods: A series of intentional retention efforts included engagement activities prior to the start of the program and throughout the academic year. The P-Zero program, a voluntary asynchronous course, was offered to students online the summer prior to their first academic pharmacy semester. The program consisted of six modules addressing time management, strategies for , wellness and improving performance, and included introductions to content from several courses that have been identified as high risk for student remediation within the P1 year. Estimated time commitments for online students, incorporating both academic and wellness activities, were shared with students upon program acceptance, followed by students completing a signed attestation of time commitment. A professional development hour and study hall block were built into course schedules throughout the year to further support student’s academic and professional development. Further wellness efforts have included the development of an ad-hoc Wellness Committee in addition to technology making mental health resources available to online students not able to directly access campus resources.

Results: On-time retention rates after the first semester in the online pathway have increased from 77% to 83% for the classes of 2025 and 2026 respectively. Total retention has also increased from 94% to 97%, respectively.

Conclusions: Successful student matriculation and retention within the pathway was improved through targeted initiatives. Student preparedness and wellness in addition to providing instruction on evidence-based time management strategies appear to be effective tools to improve progression through an online pharmacy pathway.

Comments

Poster Presented at AACP Pharmacy Education 2023, July 22-25, 2023, Aurora, CO. https://pharmed23.eventscribe.net/fsPopup.asp?efp=TU9KWkxTVEwxMjg1Ng&PosterID=593208&rnd=0.7055475&mode=posterInfo

Publication Information

Fellows, Shawn E.; Ali, Remah; Bhatt, Priyanka; Camenisch, Todd; McCaffrey, David; Nagel, Angela; Wolf, Andrew; and Birnie, Christine R. PhD, "Improving Student Matriculation and Retention in an Online Pharmacy Pathway" (2023). Pharmacy Faculty/Staff Publications. Paper 570.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/pharmacy_facpub/570

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