February 5, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 5, 2015
For additional information,
Contact: Natalie Lester
Moxley Carmichael
865-544-0088
Today, South College was notified by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education that Full Accreditation was granted to the South College School of Pharmacy, a milestone achievement for the higher education institution.
“This approval has been a four-year process,” South College President Steve South said. “Our faculty and staff worked diligently to meet the rigorous standards required to be accredited, and the real beneficiaries are our students.”
The inaugural class of 32 student pharmacists graduated last December, which was a prerequisite for acquiring Full Accreditation. There are currently 230 students in the program with another class being admitted to begin classes in June 2015.
“For the inaugural class, current and future students, we are committed to preparing pharmacists who will make a positive difference for their patients and communities,” South added.
Students who are interested in the South College School of Pharmacy should plan to attend an information session on Friday, Feb. 20, 1-3 p.m. in Classroom 201 on the South College west campus.
The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education accredits colleges and schools of pharmacy and providers of continuing pharmacy education. The accreditation period is for two years, which is the customary period for a new pharmacy program receiving its first Full Accreditation.
The School of Pharmacy was founded in 2011 under the leadership of Dean Walter Fitzgerald and a highly skilled, professional faculty and staff. The program is the first doctoral degree program offered at South College.
The higher education institution offers an accelerated, three-year curriculum, the only one of its kind for pharmacy education in Tennessee. The PharmD degree enables graduates to apply for licensure as a pharmacist.
“We could not have reached this moment without support from the South College Board of Trustees and administration,” Fitzgerald said. “The many pharmacists in Knoxville and surrounding areas who provided clinical experience to students were also a key to our successful accreditation. We are at a pivotal moment in the life of the School of Pharmacy. With the teaching component of our program firmly established, we now turn our attention to related activities, including a growing research program.
“We’re also looking forward to forming an alumni organization to help guide the future of the school.”
About South College
South College is a private institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to offer programs at the doctorate, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels. For information, visit http://www.southcollegetn.edu.
