College of Pharmacy hosts open house

August 4, 2016 | Pharmacy |

The College of Pharmacy held its summer open house for prospective students July 29. The college’s open house event was created to educate interested students and parents about the University’s Doctor of Pharmacy degree program.

“The goal of most colleges of pharmacy right now is to be stagnant — to get as many applications as they did the previous year,” said Dr. Shawn Turner, assistant professor of pharmacy and chair of the open house committee. “We are actually 90 applications above what we had last year, which is huge.”

The open house committee is made up of six College of Pharmacy faculty members. The first event was held in February 2015 for prospective students, and committee members researched how schools hold similar events and created a program to compliment Harding’s mission and the college’s academic objectives.

“Why is Harding special? It’s the relationships,” Turner said. “The students know [their teachers] outside of school. We play basketball together, we serve on mission trips together, and we have them over for dinner.”

In an opening session, college faculty introduced prospective students to the University’s four-year pharmacy program and explained logistics for each year. Graduate financial aid counselor Renee Bissell spoke about financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and Dr. Glen Metheny, chair of the graduate school of business, introduced a unique opportunity for students to pair their Pharm.D. degree with an MBA — a program that started in 2010.

“Our intent is to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them for executive positions in the pharmaceutical industry,” Metheny said. “The pursuit of an MBA helps prepare them for the financial aspect of running a business as well as the organizational and personnel aspect of a business.”

After the opening session, students were split into smaller groups and visited with faculty and students in five mini sessions surrounding topics such as international opportunities for rotations, faculty tips for success, life as a pharmacy student, and others. Guests were able to ask questions and get to know students and faculty in a personal setting. They also toured campus and explored Searcy.

Robert Abbott of Princeton, Louisiana, and his wife came with their daughter, Kelley, to the open house event to learn more about Harding. Kelley graduates with her undergraduate degree in spring 2017. With 135 colleges and schools of pharmacy in the U.S., Kelley has narrowed her school choice down to three and attended two other open house events in addition to Harding’s.

“She’s trying to make that decision of which one she’s going to go to,” Robert said. “Touring the school makes a big difference. It’s been very relaxed, and the people have been great. I love the facilities.”

Jennifer Moore of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, graduated from University of Central Arkansas and has been working in a pharmacy for four years as a technician. She decided she wanted to go back to school and get her Pharm.D. and is considering Harding’s program. After attending the open house, Jennifer said she really enjoyed meeting students and faculty and getting to know people in a smaller group setting.

“Here, you have a more intimate setting,” she said. “It was very inviting. I loved every bit of it.”

The College’s next open house is Oct. 21. For more details and to register, visit harding.edu/pharmacy.