MEQUON, Wis. - Concordia University Wisconsin officials today announced that the Board of Regents has approved an allocation of funds intended to begin a pharmacy school at the university starting with the 2010-2011 academic year.

The board approved a nationwide search to hire a dean to oversee the proposed new school. An additional 25-35 full and part-time pharmacy faculty and support staff would also be needed to support the pharmacy school.  Several steps, including final approval by the Concordia University Wisconsin faculty, are part of the timeline approved by the Board of Regents.

"This is a tremendous step forward for our university which has experienced exceptional growth over the past 5 years," said President Patrick T. Ferry. "The new school will fit perfectly within our university’s focus on the health sciences and with our mission of preparing people for service."
Concordia has offered a popular nursing program since 1982 and Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Graduate Nursing programs since 1994. In 2001, the University also established a Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program.

The preliminary plan is for the new Pharmacy program to be on a two/four model with students taking a minimum of two years of undergraduate courses before applying to the graduate school of Pharmacy. Upon acceptance, students would then take 4 years of graduate study and graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Concordia is planning to accept approximately 50-75 students per class. Admission requirements and tuition rates are still being finalized.

Currently, the state's only pharmacy school is located at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Annually, the school graduates approximately 130 students; however, between 300 and 400 applicants apply to the program each year.

Nationally, there are approximately 99 accredited pharmacy schools. 

SPRING 2009

- CUW officially seeks pre-candidate status from ACPE.

SUMMER 2009

- ACPE authorizes on-site review for pre-candidate status.

- Academic office continues the recruitment of faculty, Board of Regents, and CUW Board of University Education approval of pharmacy program.

FALL 2009

- ACPE conducts on-site review for pre-candidate status.

- First pre-pharmacy students attend CUW courses.

- Recruitment of students for Fall 2010 professional program start date.

FALL 2010

- Courses begin for students admitted to professional program.

WINTER 2010

- ACPE announces status of pre-candidate review.

SPRING 2010

- ACPE conducts on-site visit to consider CUW advancement to candidate status.

SPRING 2012

- ACPE conducts on-site visit to advance CUW to full accreditation.

- ACPE grants accreditation for CUW School of Pharmacy Program.

SPRING 2014

- CUW graduates first class of Pharm. D. students

While Concordia University Wisconsin's plan and goal is to establish a pharmacy program according to this timeline, the information does not constitute an express or implied guarantee of either the timeline or the proposed goal of a pharmacy program.