PharmD Student Handbook & Policy Library

1.  Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure fairness, accuracy, and ethical conduct in the University at Bufalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS) PharmD and graduate programs admissions process by establishing clear expectations for applicant integrity and outlining procedures for addressing misrepresentation, falsification, or other violations related to admissions applications.

2.  Scope
This policy applies to:

• All applicants to the PharmD, MS and PhD programs
• Admitted students prior to matriculation
• Note: Enrolled students adhere to the UB Graduate Admissions Integrity Policy when integrity concerns relate to their admissions application.

3.  Policy Statement
Any form of misrepresentation, omission, falsification, or unethical conduct undermines the integrity of the admissions process and may result in denial of admission or rescission of an offer.

Applicants to the PharmD program are expected to adhere to the PharmCAS Applicant Code of Conduct.

4.  Definitions

Application Integrity Violation includes but is not limited to:

• Falsification or alteration of academic records or transcripts
• Misrepresentation of coursework, degrees, or academic standing
• False or misleading information regarding employment, clinical, volunteer, or research experiences
• Submission of plagiarized or fabricated personal statements, essays, or supplemental materials
• Misrepresentation of letters of recommendation
• Failure to disclose prior academic, disciplinary, or legal actions when required
• Use of third-party services to complete application materials
• Falsified application information may include but is not limited to: making inaccurate or plagiarized statements on the application, withholding information requested on the application, omitting transcripts for prior college-level work, giving false information, submitting fraudulent or falsified documents in support of a professional or graduate admissions application, or using artificial intelligence in an unauthorized way.

5.  Review and Investigation Process

a) Identification of Concern
Potential integrity issues may be identified through routine verification, third-party reports, institutional records, or self-disclosure.

b) Preliminary Review
The UB SPPS Office of Student Success and Engagement will conduct an initial review to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant further investigation.

c) Notification to Applicant or Student
If concerns persist, the applicant or student will be notified in writing and given an opportunity to respond by providing clarification or supporting documentation within 10 academic days* from the date of identification of concern. *From the UB Graduate Admissions Integrity Policy Procedures, academic days are defined as weekdays, when classes are in session, not including the summer or winter sessions.

d) Formal Evaluation
The UB SPPS PharmD Recruitment and Admissions Committee (for the PharmD program) or Graduate Education Committee (for graduate programs) will review all available information and determine whether a violation occurred within 20 academic days from the date of identification of concern.

6. Possible Outcomes
Depending on the severity and timing of the violation, outcomes may include but are not limited to:

• No action (if concerns are resolved)
• Request for corrected or additional documentation
• Denial of admission
• Rescission of an admission offer
• Referral to the university’s academic integrity or student conduct process

7.  Confidentiality
All application integrity reviews will be conducted in accordance with institutional privacy policies and applicable laws. Information will be shared only with individuals who have a legitimate educational or administrative need to know.

8.  Relationship to Other Policies
This policy operates in conjunction with:

• UB Graduate Admissions Integrity Policy
• UB Student Code of Conduct
• PharmD Progression
• PharmD Dismissal
• SPPS Graduate Academic Progression
• SPPS Graduate Dismissal

9.  Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with accreditation standards, legal requirements, and institutional best practices.

Admission criteria and application details for our Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program are available on our Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) admissions pages. Students may apply through the Early Assurance Program if currently in high school, or through PharmCAS if they are current or former college students.

Audience: All PharmD Professional Degree students

Purpose:  To ensure a strong foundation in the professional PharmD program and serve patients effectively, students must dedicate their full attention to the PharmD curriculum. The PharmD program is full-time which involves significant time and effort. Simultaneously pursuing an undergraduate degree would potentially compromise their performance in both programs.

Policy: Once enrolled in the graduate/professional PharmD program as a P1, P2, P3, or P4, students may not simultaneously pursue an undergraduate degree program, unless enrolled in an approved Combined UB Degree. Students who wish to earn their Bachelor’s degree are required to complete it prior to enrollment in the PharmD P1 year.

Audience: All pre-pharmacy Early Assurance undergraduate students at UB SPPS

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to outline the Early Assurance progress review process, specifically for students who do not successfully satisfy a grade or grade point average (GPA) requirement.

Policy:

Pre-Pharmacy undergraduate students who do not satisfy the minimum grade or GPA requirements for the Early Assurance program as outlined on the UB SPPS Early Assurance for High School Students website can submit a request for continued consideration to the UB SPPS PharmD Recruitment and Admissions Committee. Appeals must be submitted through the Early Assurance Progress Review and Admissions Decision Appeal form by 11:59 PM on the posted due date. This date will be posted in UB Learns Pre-Pharmacy Advising.

Early Assurance academic progress reviews take place following the fall and spring semesters only. These progress reviews include summer and winter grades, respectively. The Early Assurance Progress Review and Admissions Decision Appeal form will be due before progress reviews commence. Deadlines for submission will be posted at the start of the semester in UB Learns Pre-Pharmacy Advising, not to exceed 5 calendar days following the Registrar’s published deadline for faculty to submit final grade rosters (see Current Academic Calendar). Progress reviews will conclude within 10 calendar days following the final grade deadline. All decisions made at this time will be final.

Through the Early Assurance Progress Review and Admissions Decision Appeal form, students are instructed to do the following:

• include a brief description of the extenuating circumstances that prevented you from meeting the minimum EA requirements;
• share with the PharmD Recruitment and Admissions Committee exactly which steps you will take to improve your grades and/or GPA in the future;
• refer to UBlearns > Pre-Pharmacy Advising to find available resources to help you reach your academic goals; and
• meet or exceed the minimum EA grade and GPA requirements in the following term(s).

Students who withdraw from the PharmD program or who were discontinued due to non-enrollment without an official leave of absence and wish to return must request readmission by emailing pharm-admit@buffalo.edu. Readmission is not guaranteed and is subject to review by the PharmD Recruitment and Admissions Committee. If less than one academic year has passed and readmission is accepted, students may submit a reactivation form and a $350 reactivation fee to be paid by the student prior to course registration. If more than one academic year has passed, students must reapply through PharmCAS by the application deadline.

To Request Readmission:

Email your request to pharm-admit@buffalo.edu with the subject line: PharmD Readmission Request

Include the following in your email:

• Name and UB Person Number
• Date of departure from the program
• Reason for leaving the program
• A statement outlining your academic and professional activities during your time away
• A clear plan for how you intend to succeed upon re-entry, including any steps taken to address past challenges
• Intended semester for re-entry

Additional Guidelines:

• Students who are dismissed from the PharmD program and wish to return must reapply through PharmCAS by the application deadline.
• Students who were approved for an official leave of absence may return to the program by registering for courses. If you are unable to register, email pharm-advise@buffalo.edu.
• Readmitted students may be required to repeat coursework or fulfill updated curricular requirements based on the current PharmD curriculum, which could further delay graduation.
• All readmission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are subject to seat availability, academic performance, and readiness to resume professional study.
• Students with academic or professional conduct issues in their student file are subject to additional review and will be considered holistically.
• International students must take specific steps to reinstate or maintain their immigration status. Consult with ISS.

If you have any questions about the process or your eligibility, please contact us at pharm-admit@buffalo.edu.

The UB SPPS PharmD program considers ACPE accredited pharmacy school transfers for fall semester start only on a case-by-case basis. An email should be sent to pharm-admit@buffalo.edu.

We will consider transfer of credits in good standing from another college/pharmacy school into the professional program on a case-by-case basis. No more than the equivalent of one year of didactic credit shall be given to any student applying for advanced standing from any institution other than an ACPE accredited college/school of pharmacy.

Candidates must be in good standing (e.g., not dismissed from their current pharmacy school for academic, non-academic, and/or academic integrity violations).

Per ACPE Standards 2025 Transfer and Waiver Policies – A college or school establishes and implements policies and procedures for students who request to transfer credits into the program. Such policies and procedures are based on defensible and documented assessments of course equivalency. No more than the equivalent of one year of didactic credit shall be given to any student applying for advanced standing from any institution other than an ACPE accredited college/school of pharmacy. A college or school offering multiple pathways to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree has policies and procedures for students who wish to change from one pathway to another.

Curricular Review: Offices of Professional Education (PharmD) and Student Success & Engagement (OSSE)

UB SPPS PharmD + current pharmacy school course comparison and placement into appropriate courses and professional year to be done by the Associate Dean for Professional Education. The Director of Registrar and Enrollment Services will work with UB Records to post transfer credit once a student is matriculated.

Application Process: Office of Student Success & Engagement (OSSE)

OSSE will conduct the application review requiring the following:

• UB SPPS Slate PharmD application
• Previous PharmCAS PDF and all college transcripts
• Current PharmD school transcript
• Letter from the Student Success/Student Affairs office attesting that the student has not had a conduct/professionalism violation (e.g., academic integrity violation, unprofessional conduct, etc.)
• Criminal Background Check
• All UB SPPS PharmD application requirements including all prerequisite courses: See PharmCAS for College Students
• Personal statement should include a paragraph describing rationale for the transfer (if not due to a pharmacy school closing)
• Interview with OSSE Assistant Dean & SPPS PharmD Recruitment & Admissions Committee Chair

NYS Intern Permit: OSSE

The only stipulation for NYS intern permit is ACPE accreditation. If a student transfers from an accredited pharmacy school as a P2 to UB, they can obtain their NYS intern permit. Transferring students must have a course/be proficient in New York State and federal pharmacy law.

Academic Standards for Transfer Students: Office of Professional Education (PharmD)

C or better in each articulated transfer course is a requirement where C = 70% = S. The school from where the student is transferring from must certify the applicant is in good academic standing.

Acceptance/On-Boarding: OSSE

• Attend P1 Orientation & White Coat Ceremony.
• Assign OSSE Assistant Dean as Faculty Advisor.
• Specify course schedule if the transfer is not a seamless entry directly into the second professional year.