The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) has extended the accreditation of Concordia University Wisconsin’s School of Pharmacy for a full eight-year term and named CUW SOP one of only five “Noteworthy Examples” of exceptional achievement during its most recent accreditation review.
ACPE shared in a letter received earlier this week that CUW SOP had been granted continued accreditation through 2028. The eight-year term is the maximum approval period that a pharmacy school can earn.
ACPE accreditation signifies that CUW SOP has met the qualifications and educational benchmarks that are deemed necessary for a high-performing Doctor of Pharmacy program. ACPE evaluates schools based on 25 standards.
While CUW SOP received high marks on a majority of the standards, the “Noteworthy Example” distinction was awarded for Concordia’s work in interprofessional education. At the conclusion of each accreditation review cycle, ACPE and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) recognize model programs throughout the nation. CUWSOP was one of only two schools nationwide recognized for exemplary IPE activities.
“It is an honor that the accreditors are recognizing our IPE efforts as an example for other schools to emulate,” said Erik Jorvig, PhD, dean of Concordia’s School of Pharmacy. “Interprofessional practices have been shown to improve patient care, lower costs, and reduce medical errors. Once healthcare professionals begin to work together, patient care improves, and I think it’s significant that our School of Pharmacy has been identified as teaching this high level of patient care with excellence.”
Upon graduation, each Concordia pharmacy student will have completed an IPE “pathway” comprised of structured learning activities in classrooms and in practice settings that develop the interprofessional education collaborative (IPEC) competencies. Students who complete the required 30 hours of IPE competencies – whether through requisite, elective, or co-curricular opportunities – receive recognition on their transcript. Students also have the option to extend the pathway through an IPE graduate certificate.
Interested in applying to Concordia’s School of Pharmacy? Visit our program page.
— This story is written by Kali Thiel, director of university communications for Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. She may be reached at kali.thiel@cuw.edu or 262-243-2149.
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