Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges A Doctor of Pharmacy program will require a level change (from Level III to Level V) with Sullivan University’s regional accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS). The Commission on Colleges approved Sullivan University membership at Level V in December 2007.

During the June 2009 meeting of the SACS Commission on Colleges Board of Trustees, SACS continued Sullivan University’s accreditation at Level V to offer the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Institutional Accreditation Sullivan University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools* to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. *(1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, Telephone number 404-679-4501.)

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredits the professional program in pharmacy leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. ACPE requires that thirty standards be met that reflect the professional and education qualities identified by the Council as essential to quality professional programs. The standards pertain to:

• Mission, Planning, & Evaluation
• Organization and Administration
• Curriculum
• Students
• Faculty & Staff
• Facilities & Resources

All Sullivan University program plans will be aligned with both accrediting bodies’ standards and guidelines. ACPE grants different accreditation statuses, depending upon a school’s stage of development. Below is an explanation of each and an estimate of when Sullivan University’s College of Pharmacy program would be granted a particular status.

Pre-accreditation: (A newly instituted College or School of Pharmacy generally progresses through two pre-accreditation statuses.)

Pre-candidate - A new College or School of Pharmacy would apply for this status when it has a Dean but no students enrolled in the program. This status indicates the institution has considered ACPE standards and guidelines and plans to progress to the next step (Candidate status). It brings no rights and privileges of accreditation.

Candidate – A new program that has students enrolled but has not had a graduating class may be granted this status, which denotes a developmental program. Graduates of a class designated as having Candidate status have the same rights and privileges as graduates of an accredited program. This status would be obtained in Y1.

Full Accreditation – A College or School of Pharmacy should seek full accreditation following the graduation of its first class and it should be achieved in the year following the graduation of the first class. An on-site evaluation is required.

Continued Accreditation – The customary on-site review cycle is every six years.

The Sullivan University College of Pharmacy will be offering the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The admission for the inaugural class is anticipated for July 2008. Sullivan University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program has been granted precandidate status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL, 60602-5109, 312/644-3575, 800/533-3606; FAX 312/664-4652, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.

Pre-Candidate Status

A new program that has no students enrolled but has a Dean may be granted Precandidate accreditation status. The granting of Precandidate status indicates that a College or School’s planning for the Doctor of Pharmacy program has taken into account ACPE standards and guidelines and suggests reasonable assurances of moving to the next step, that of Candidate status. Granting of Precandidate status brings no rights or privileges of accreditation. Full public disclosure by the College or School of Pharmacy of the terms and conditions of this accreditation status is required.

Candidate Status

(Accreditation Disclosure Statement from ACPE)

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredits Doctor of Pharmacy programs offered by Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy in the United States and selected non-US sites. For a Doctor of Pharmacy program offered by a new College or School of Pharmacy, ACPE accreditation generally involves three steps: Precandidate accreditation status, Candidate accreditation status, and Full accreditation status. Precandidate accreditation status denotes a developmental program that is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period. Precandidate accreditation status is awarded to a new program of a College or School of Pharmacy that has not yet enrolled students in the professional program and authorizes the College to admit its first class. Candidate accreditation status is awarded to a Doctor of Pharmacy program that has students enrolled but has not yet had a graduating class. Full accreditation status is awarded to a program that has met all ACPE standards for accreditation and has graduated its first class. Graduates of a class designated as having Candidate accreditation status have the same rights and privileges of those graduates from a fully accredited program. ACPE conveys its decisions to the various boards of pharmacy and makes recommendations in accord with its decisions. It should be noted, however, that decisions concerning eligibility for licensure by examination or reciprocity reside with the respective state boards of pharmacy in accordance with their state statutes and administrative rules.

The Doctor of Pharmacy program of the Sullivan University College of Pharmacy was awarded Candidate accreditation status during the June 24-28, 2009 meeting of the ACPE Board of Directors based upon an on-site evaluation conducted March 17-19, 2009. If the program continues to develop as planned, Full accreditation status of the Doctor of Pharmacy program will be considered by the Board following the graduation of students from the program.

Policies and regulations pertaining to the accreditation process are available on the ACPE website: http://www.acpe-accredit.org or by calling the ACPE office at 312-664-3575.