Policies and Procedures
September, 2003

These polices and procedures have been developed to provide guidelines for the Nontraditional Pharm.D. program. They are subject to revision at any time. Independent study should be as challenging and rewarding as resident work. Though independent study allows students to control their own pace, within specified limits, it demands of students both a great deal of self-discipline and motivation and an ability to work with a minimum amount of tutorial aid. The last date to complete degree requirements is June 30, 2008.

Introduction for Nontraditional Students

Please read the following items carefully to facilitate your progress through this program. If you have any questions or concerns, please share them. This is your program, and within the limits of accreditation requirements and programmatic resources, a sincere effort will be made to help you satisfy each of your personal and professional objectives. Also, if you have problems, share them with us. We want to help!

Academic Progress -- Coursework

The academic progress policies have been developed to provide structure and support for distance learning students. Since the courses are not semester-based, students need a framework to gauge their progress and to ensure that they have every opportunity to successfully complete the required coursework within the time allowed. Students who take the allowed time for each course will complete the program in just over three years.

Drug Literature: Students will have four (4) months to complete this course. Extensions are not available in this course.

Other Didactic Course Work: Students will have four (4) months to complete three-hour courses, five (5) months to complete a four-hour course, and eight (8) months to complete a five-hour course. However, upon request, a two-month extension is available. Thereafter, a reinstatement fee of $200.00 is charged for a second two-month extension. Those failing to complete the course after the second extension will be required to register for (including the payment of applicable tuition fees) and start the most recent version of the course.

Clerkships: Students will have two (2) months from the date of the orientation session to complete a three-hour clerkship. Clerkships are resource-intensive for faculty. Extensions of time in clerkships significantly impact the preceptor’s teaching and research schedule. The student who perceives that a clerkship cannot be completed within two months of the orientation date must petition the preceptor and clerkship coordinator for a one-time, one-month extension and pay a penalty of $200.00. Extensions will be granted in case of need, but cannot be guaranteed in every case. if the rotation is not completed within two months of the orientation date. Students must re-enroll in the clerkship and again pay tuition fees if they fail to secure an extension, or if the clerkship is not completed by the end of the authorized third month.

Academic Progression Policy

Students who have not made academic progress in a six month period (enrolled in a course or taken an exam) shall automatically be dropped from the program. Students who have been dropped from the program shall be notified and provided a thirty-day period within which to petition for readmission. Those readmitted shall automatically be reinstated at the point in the program at which they were dropped. Readmission requires the Director’s approval. Those failing to request readmission within the thirty-day period and who subsequently request readmission will need to complete another application for admission and start the program again as a new student.

Academic Progression -- Program Completion

After their respective starting dates, pharmacists will have until June 30, 2008 to complete the program.

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.

Burden of Proof

Students bear the burden of proof for documentation in regard to items sent to the College.

Clerkships

Traditional students are given preference over nontraditional students. Rotations are assigned on a "first ready" basis. Those who fail to undertake a rotation after accepting an assignment may fall to the bottom of the waiting list, if any.

Clerkship Resources

The required and selective clerkships require access to patients and patient records in an ambulatory care or adult medicine setting. To complete the clerkship assignments, the pharmacist must have access to patient records. Applicants who do not practice in a clinical setting, and applicants who cannot gain access to local patients and related records, will be required to complete at least two traditional, month-long clerkships on the UAMS campus.

Clinical Orientation

A week-long clinical orientation on the UAMS campus is required for each student as part of the Required Clerkship.

Continuing Education

The acceptance of NTPDP coursework to satisfy the continuing professional education requirements of the various states is determined by each state’s professional licensing boards.  Upon completion of each didactic course, the student receives instructions and forms to request issuance of a continuing education certificate. Continuing education credit is not available for experiential rotations. 

 Correspondence/Calls

All correspondence is to be directed to:

Director, NTPDP
UAMS College of Pharmacy,
Slot 522
4301 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205-7122.

Telephone/fax numbers:

Telephone: (800) 245-3256 or (501) 686-7124
Fax: (501) 526-6872
Email: MHCarle@uams.edu
Website: http://www.uams.edu/ntpdp

Cost

This program must be self-supporting. Therefore, student tuition and fees must cover the cost of administration, coursework development and instruction. Costs to the student include: tuition, textbooks, supplies, postage, travel, telephone calls (other than toll free), examination-related fees (if any – see below), and such others or revisions as may be indicated in the future. Grades will not be forwarded to the Registrar until all outstanding fees, and costs have been paid.

Coursework Critiques

Students will be requested to critique each course at its conclusion. Please help us help you.

Documentation for Tuition Reimbursement

Some individuals receive reimbursement from employers when proof of successful course completion is submitted. The college will need a written request for documentation and the address to whom the report is to be sent. The college can not legally send grade reports directly to a third party without written request from the student.

Examinations

All exams are to be taken in sequence. Although two or more exams may be taken at one time, you are encouraged to take them one at a time. The examination request forms are to be completed and returned when you are ready for your exam. Please allow at least two weeks for the exam to reach its destination. Mail or fax the exam request; telephone requests will not be accepted for exams to be mailed to exam sites.

It will be the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for an approved official to supervise their examinations. Since all supervisors are to be approved by the Director of the NTPDP, the guidelines should be followed carefully.

If you live in Arkansas, and unless you receive authorization for an exception, you must take your exam at an official exam center.

If you live outside Arkansas, you may arrange to have your examinations supervised by an approved, full-time official (dean, registrar, director of testing, and director of continuing education or faculty) at an accredited college or university. Officials of nonacademic sites can not be approved. The exam request form should be mailed or faxed (501-686-8315) to this office at least two weeks before you want to take your exam. You will need to arrange an appointment to take the exam after it has been received by the official responsible for monitoring it. All exams must be taken and returned to the UAMS College of Pharmacy within 30 days after the exam has been sent. There will be a charge of $10.00 to resend an exam because the student has "failed to show."

Examination Fees

In order to provide for the greatest flexibility to students and to minimize their travel expenses, NTPDP-approved faculty/administrators at local colleges will be able to serve as proctors for exams. In some cases, exam supervisors at local colleges may require a student to pay an examination fee to have an exam monitored. If such a fee is charged, it is the responsibility of the student to pay the fee. UAMS College of Pharmacy personnel will not charge a fee to monitor exams.

Examination Request Forms

Please use these forms to request the mailing of an exam to the NTPDP-approved person who has agreed to be your exam supervisor. Please be sure the form is completed and returned approximately two weeks before you want to take the exam. This form is not necessary for those who wish to take an exam at the College of Pharmacy. If you wish to take an exams at the College of Pharmacy, just call at least two working days in advance to arrange a time and place to take the exam.

Exam Sites Directory (Arkansas)

You will find on our web site a list of college or university officials who have agreed to proctor exams for this program. If you are in Arkansas, and if you wish to use a site other than the College of Pharmacy, please make a selection, call and secure an agreement with one of the officials and note the site for future exams on the Examination Requests Form when it is completed. You will be able to change the exam site as your needs change.

Financial Aid

This program does not qualify for state and federal financial aid.

Grades

Letter grades will be assigned for each course. Unless otherwise noted at the time coursework materials are received, grades for didactic coursework will be based upon the following: A – 90% or more, B – 80% - 89%, C – 70% - 79%. Any score less than 70% is an "F" and is unacceptable.

Graduation

In order to graduate in May, all coursework must be completed and all other requirements must be satisfied by March 1. Candidates may also graduate in August or December. These dates, and the deadlines for completing degree requirements to qualify, are published annually. A formal commencement is held only in May each year.

Information Changes

If you have a change of address, employment, and/or telephone numbers, please be sure to provide notification of the change (1-800-245-3256).

Instruction

Independent study is emphasized. Upon receipt of coursework materials, you should begin to prepare for the first test in the course. Group interaction is encouraged to facilitate comprehension and the expansion of knowledge.

Out-of-State Students

Pharmacists, other than alumni, who are not residing/practicing in this state at the time of enrollment, are defined as out-of-state students for the purposes of this program.

Plan of Study

An approved "Plan of Study" must be completed before enrollment in experiential coursework (rotations). Changes will require the Director’s approval.

Postage/Shipping

Students are responsible for the postage on all items mailed to the College. The College uses the U.S. Postal Service for most shipments.

Revisions

Revisions in this program, its policies and procedures will be made as the need is identified to satisfy accreditation requirements, to insure the integrity and viability of the program and to facilitate students' completion of the program.

Scholastic Rules and Regulations

Transcripts

Transcripts are available at no charge to the student upon receipt of a written request. The request may be faxed to the Registrar at 501/686-8315 or mailed to the Director, NTPDP. Requests should include your legal name, social security number, dates of attendance, graduation date, your signature and the address to which the transcript should be sent. Official transcripts are mailed directly to the college or official agency requested by the student without the student having access to the transcript. Unofficial copies may be mailed to the student at their request.

Tuition

Tuition rates are subject to change annually by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. Please keep in mind that tuition increases, if any, apply at the beginning of each fiscal year (July 1). Tuition fees will not be refunded and cannot be transferred to another student.

Withholding of Grades and Transcripts

The Registrar is authorized to withhold grades and transcripts for any student or former student who fails to return books, videos or other University property entrusted to the student; or who fails to pay any fees, tuition, fines or other charges assessed against the student by a University official or by the campus judicial system.

 Rev. 04162001

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