JACKSON, Tenn. — Oct. 25, 2007 — 51社区鈥檚 School of Pharmacy will begin accepting student applications Nov. 1 for its inaugural class anticipated to begin in the fall semester of 2008.
Union trustees and faculty in the spring gave formal approval for the launch of the School of Pharmacy. Each class in the four-year Doctor of Pharmacy degree program will consist of 45 students. The program will focus on pharmacy from a Christian perspective, with attention given to addressing the pharmacy profession鈥檚 moral and ethical issues.
Sheila Mitchell was named the founding dean of the School of Pharmacy in May. Other faculty members have been hired, and search processes are ongoing for additional faculty.
Plans are also underway for construction of a dedicated pharmacy building with student, faculty, lab and classroom space.
Union began considering the addition of a pharmacy program during the summer of 2006, when members of the local health care community asked Union to explore the possibility of offering a pharmacy degree.
West Tennessee Healthcare provided a $2 million foundation gift to get the program started. Baptist Memorial Health Care of Memphis also donated $1 million to the program, and leaders from Union鈥檚 board of trustees contributed $3 million.
The Union School of Pharmacy is in the process of seeking accreditation 鈥� a process that will continue until the first class graduates.
Applications are available at the School of Pharmacy鈥檚 Web site, .
For more information, call the Office of Special Programs Admission at (731) 661-5092.