EDUCATING LEADERS IN PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES SINCE 1886
Student Focused Initiatives
At the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPPS), we strive to provide innovative, student focused educational programs, preparing you for dynamic and progressive positions in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences.
Guided by recognized leaders in education, practice and research, we've reimagined our approach to education and have developed the following student focused initiatives to support your academic, social, emotional and professional success.
We are one of a select group of pharmacy schools to implement a non-letter grade approach to student learning, improving student success and PharmD program quality.
Our new Honors/Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (H/S/U) PharmD grading system emphasizes learning over the attainment of traditional letter grades, improves assessment of student knowledge and empowers our PharmD students to become the next generation of pharmacy leaders.
H/S/U student benefits:
- Improved faculty-student communication: concepts – not grades
- Performance evaluations: mastery of concepts – not grades
Our transformational approach to education has allowed us to implement a renewed educational blueprint for our PharmD student success.
Building on the strong foundation of our legacy curriculum, our renewed curriculum will act as a blueprint for our incoming PharmD students, providing them with a more integrated learning experience and a comprehensive path for student success, guiding them academically, professionally and personally.
PharmD students will partner with UB SPPS faculty and staff in an engaged learning community. These communities focus on fostering intellectual curiosity and provision of patient-centered care through:
- application of the foundational and pharmacy sciences
- supervised practice in various models of clinical practice
All students will be provided with the resources, tools and mentorship to reach their full potential and become the pharmacy leaders of the future.
A UB PharmD graduate is a life-long learner who is passionate, accountable and independent, and a collaborative practitioner with effective communication skills. The graduate applies a solid foundational clinical knowledge base to optimize health through compassionate patient care centered on medication therapy management.
SPPS students learn in innovative Learning and Engagement Communities (LEC), where students, faculty and staff partner to explore the profession of pharmacy and develop shared connections fostering our students’ professional and personal journeys.
- Comprised of a network of Houses containing smaller groups of students paired with their faculty advisor
- Houses will each have faculty, staff and Dean’s Student Ambassador Peer Mentor leaders
- LEC Houses will be a touchpoint for aligning students directly with program relevant resources and defined access to school, university, regional and global opportunities
- Students will meet for required group advisement each semester with their assigned advisor. Faculty advisors will each be a part of a House
- Presentations, workshops and other sessions related to career advisement, professional development, well-being activities and community outreach will occur each semester
- Relationship Building: Develop longitudinal relationships between faculty and students to promote mentoring, wellness, and community
- Connect and Belong: Develop a feeling of connectedness and belonging to community, school, faculty, peers and alumni to support student transition and learning
- Professional Development: Incorporate formal and informal opportunities for students to develop leadership and teamwork skills as well as enhance their personal and professional development through mentoring by faculty and alumni mentors who provide academic support and career advising
We're thrilled to announce the official launch of our six newly established LEC houses. The six new houses are guided by house leaders and are distinguished by unique colors and with names derived from a tenet of the Oath of a Pharmacist, the pledge of professionalism that serves as an ethical compass for pharmacists over the course of their careers.
The Office of Student Success and Engagement provides a supportive environment to enrich and empower students by promoting personal growth, academic success and professional and career preparation. Dedicated to improving student well-being, the office oversees all student services, including recruitment, admissions, academic advising, career development and student support resources.
Café & Commons enhances the student experience by providing a welcoming space for connection, collaboration and well-being. Located in the Pharmacy Building, the space features convenient grab-and-go dining, study and gathering areas, and a recreation space with games, creating opportunities for students to build community, recharge between classes and engage with peers.
- Café Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Game Room Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Our holistic approach to developing student focused programs with resources and events promotes inclusion, wellness and a stronger sense of community.
Dedicated reflection room
Financial literacy workshops
Midday breaks
Robust student organization and club network
Student organizations dedicated to fun extra-curriculars
Workshops to enhance and build interpersonal and resiliency skills
Since 1886, we have been a leader in the education of pharmacy students and pharmaceutical sciences researchers. We continue our progressive journey into the 21st century with innovative research led by outstanding faculty along with the initiation of progressive educational paths, preparing our students to be the clinical and research leaders of the future. Read more about our journey and how these student focused initiatives are improving student success and creating solutions to address society’s most pressing healthcare needs.