Advanced placement (AP) and CLEP credit (credit by examination) may be used to satisfy prerequisite coursework provided that the credit is accepted by the applicant’s institution and is posted on the applicant’s official academic transcript. Applicants receiving credit for a math or science course, such as chemistry or calculus, will be expected to validate those courses through successful completion of one higher level course in the respective area.    Acceptance of credit is at the discretion of Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy based upon course equivalency standards.  Back to top.

All work in the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy is graded by letters. Each letter is in turn assigned a quality-point value according to the list provided below. 

 

 

The College has adopted a numerical scoring system where a 70% score is the minimum passing score. Student pharmacists obtaining scores less than 70% will be subject to course remediation per a plan as developed by the course coordinator and the Academic Progression Committee. The grading scale for the 2009-10 academic year is as follows:

 

 

Student pharmacists must maintain a cumulative and per semester GPA in all professional coursework of at least 2.0. A student who fails to attain a 2.0 GPA in any academic semester will be placed on Academic Probation. Additionally, student pharmacists with a GPA of 3.0 or less during their advanced practice experiences (APPEs) may be subject to remedial work. Student Pharmacists achieving a GPA of 4.0 will be recognized on the Dean’s List. Those with a GPA of 3.5-3.99 will be recognized on the Dean’s Honor Roll.  Back to top.

Student pharmacists will be provided a listing of all required and recommended textbooks well in advance of the next academic semester. The student pharmacists will be provided ISBN-13 identification numbers and are responsible for acquiring the textbook prior to the start of the next semester’s courses. Student pharmacists bear all responsibility regarding their purchases. The College will assure that the University Bookstore stock a sufficient number of textbooks to accommodate all student pharmacists desiring to purchase their books on campus.   Student pharmacists in the Fall semester of the first professional year will have all required textbooks bundled and available for pickup prior to the start of the semester.  Back to top.

 

Computer literacy is an entry requirement for Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy. You will not be able to complete the coursework in the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) curriculum without a solid foundation in basic computer skills, which we define as confidence in using:

·         Microsoft Word (or equivalent word processor)

·         Microsoft Excel (or equivalent spreadsheet program)

·         Microsoft PowerPoint

·         Adobe Reader

·         E-Mail

·         Internet Web Browsers (i.e., Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, Mozilla)

Student pharmacists will be required to document that they possess these minimal skills during orientation of the first professional year. Student pharmacists requesting supplemental training will be accommodated. All student pharmacists will be required to have a personal notebook (laptop) computer with wireless networking capability and software that meets a minimum set of specifications. Computer specifications are located on the College’s website under the “Computer Requirements” tab.  For more information about computer requirements, please click here.  Back to top.

A critical part of student pharmacist professionalism is showing respect to faculty and the opportunity to gain knowledge. As a part of demonstrating this professionalism, student pharmacists are expected to attend class. Each faculty member is charged with the responsibility of establishing an absentee policy for his/her course, subject to the approval of the department chairperson. This policy must be a part of the course syllabus distributed to student pharmacists and contain methodology to promote class attendance. Student pharmacists are responsible for assignments and work missed because of any absence.

Professional standards include appropriate dress and proper attention to personal hygiene. Specific activities and settings require particular attire and appearance. Student pharmacists, faculty, and staff must be aware of and adhere to these expectations and requirements.

·         All members of the College community are expected to maintain standards of modesty and decency in dress appropriate to the Christian lifestyle and consistent with professional employment expectations. For these reasons, student pharmacists, faculty, and staff are expected to adhere to the broad guidelines listed in this section. Violations of these guidelines for student pharmacists will be referred to the Office of Student Affairs. Violations of these guidelines for faculty or staff will be referred to the respective Department Chair or supervisor.

·         Clothing must be neat, clean, and relatively free of the tattered and worn look.

·         Clothing must be modest in style and length to demonstrate professionalism.

·         Clothing that is unusual or displays materials inconsistent with the mission and values of the College are prohibited.

·         The following are not allowed:

1.         Midriff or off-the-shoulder blouses, sweaters, or dresses;

2.         Tight, sheer, or revealing clothing and garments designed as underwear or sleepwear should not be worn as outerwear.

3.         T-shirts with advertisements, sayings, or logos, with the exception of College-approved University apparel;

4.         Spaghetti strap or strapless shirts or dresses;

5.         Denim jeans;

6.         Shorts or sports attire;

7.         Caps, hats, bandanas, plastic hair bags, and “do-rags” are not permitted in classes, unless worn for medical conditions or safety purposes or established religious or cultural customs.

·         Unusual hair styles, large visible tattooing, or body/facial piercing may not reflect a professional image; therefore, any hairstyle, tatoo or piercing that draws unusual attention to the student pharmacist, faculty, or staff member should be avoided.  

·         For men, beards are to be neatly trimmed.

·         Standard scrub shirts and pants are allowed in classroom settings as long as they are accompanied by a standard Lipscomb College of Pharmacy white coat. Scrub suits may also be appropriate if required at an IPPE, APPE, and are required for certain laboratory settings.

·         During pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs or APPEs), professional dress is expected with a clean, white lab coat with the official College-issued name badge affixed. Men must wear a shirt and tie and women should dress in a skirt, dress, or trousers. No open-toed shoes are allowed on pharmacy practice experiences.

·         The Dean, in consultation with the faculty, staff, and student pharmacists, may designate special “dress-up” or “dress-down” days for a specific event(s) or theme. 
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·         Completion of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum with a passing grade in each course and with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in a maximum of six academic years.

·         Forty-six months residence in an accredited school of pharmacy, the final 24 months of which must be completed at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy.

·         Recommendation by the faculty of the College.

·         Payment of all financial obligations to the College.

·         Compulsory attendance at graduation exercises.

 

 

Student pharmacists requesting a transfer to Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy from another Doctor of Pharmacy program must follow College guidelines. 

·         Each case will be individually assessed on its merit and potential transfer students are to be informed that it is likely that an additional semester or more is likely to fulfill all required coursework. 

·         Student pharmacists must have an official transcript of their work from each school they have attended mailed to the College of Pharmacy’s Director of Admission and Recruitment office. 

·         A recommendation to accept courses will be made by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs after consultation with the University Registrar, Department Chairs, and Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Final decision to accept or deny will reside with the Dean. Each course will be reviewed by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to establish whether or not the course work fulfills existing requirements within the College’s curriculum. If components of a particular course that are deemed critical elements by the Department Chairs were not covered by the previous academic institution in their respective curriculum (for a similarly described course), then the transfer student pharmacist will be asked to repeat that particular course upon admission to the College. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will provide the transfer student pharmacist a full listing of his/her curricular requirements prior to enrollment thereby providing opportunity to accept the conditions for transfer. 

·         A transfer will only be considered if the transfer student pharmacist is in good academic standing and eligible to continue at his/her previous academic institution.

·         A grade of “C” or better must have been earned for each course for transfer. 

·         At least 50 percent of the credit hours required for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree must be earned in coursework at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy; therefore, only transfer candidates in the earliest semesters of their respective pharmacy programs are eligible for transfer. 

·         Credit must have been received from an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) approved college of pharmacy before it will be awarded. Additionally, the prospective transfer student pharmacist must complete an onsite interview process arranged by the Director of Admissions and Recruitment. 

·         Transfer student pharmacists may also be asked to complete an assessment consistent with the level of coursework the student pharmacist should have completed prior to transfer. An assessment will be made on the score received to ascertain if the transfer should move forward and at what academic level within the College.

·         Additionally, all applicants to Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy must possess a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on all previous college work. Grades from all undergraduate coursework attempted are included in the calculation of the overall undergraduate GPA which is the primary GPA used in the admissions process. All previous academic work will be evaluated.
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The College follows University guidelines and regulations regarding access to student pharmacist records and is consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Ordinarily, access to records is restricted to authorized personnel, such as deans, the Office of Student Affairs, and all University approved staff per the University policy (such as Provost, Registrar). Faculty must have legitimate academic interest to view student pharmacist records. That principally occurs when faculty serve as a student pharmacist's academic advisor. Faculty also have implied consent to view a student pharmacist's record if asked for a letter of recommendation, or if a student pharmacist asks a faculty member to act as an advisor on a research project. Student pharmacists wishing to deny faculty access to their records under either of the previously cited cases must notify the Office of Student Affairs of their wishes each time a request for faculty action is initiated. Faculty will have access to student pharmacist records in other circumstances only with permission from the College's Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or Associate Dean for Student Affairs.  Back to top.