Fostering student interest in academic administration through creation of an experiential learning rotation Andrew N. Schmelz, PharmD Candidate, Brian M. Shepler, PharmD, Patricia L. Darbishire, PharmD, and Christy L. Nash, PharmD Purdue University School of Pharmacy, West Lafayette, IN OBJECTIVE AND PURPOSE RESULTS DISCUSSION OBJECTIVE To develop a clerkship rotation for PharmD students focusing on the administration of IPPE and APPE programs under the direct preceptorship of the Experiential Learning directors. PURPOSE The purpose of this rotation is to expose students to this career field, generate interest, and promote the importance of both IPPE and APPE programs as an integral part of pharmacy curriculum. BACKGROUND Despite the large number of new Colleges of Pharmacy, faculty recruitment and retention remains a problem. Attracting “exceptional students with an interest in teaching or research careers” was a key issue indicated by the AACP Recruitment and Retention Committee in a 2004 report. Development of opportunities exposing students to these careers will be paramount in continued excellence in pharmacy education. METHODS ROTATION DESIGN The rotation was designed to allow students to become familiar with the operations of the Office of Experiential Learning. Its intent was to give students an opportunity to develop skills required in the academic/administrative field. Student responsibilities included assistance in the clerkship placement process and development of proposals and new policies. STUDENT EXPERIENCE The student investigator designed the rotation objectives and activities with assistance from the faculty investigators. The student investigator also participated in the initial 4-week pilot rotation to ensure: The student investigator completed a formal written assessment at completion of the experience and the Experiential Learning directors evaluated both the student investigator contribution and performance during the rotation. INTEREST SURVEY An online survey was constructed to validate future interest in the rotation, as well as determine potential activities students would desire. The survey was administered to all students in the professional pharmacy program. OUTCOME Based on the student and faculty investigators’ favorable evaluation of the experience and the preliminary survey results, the Experiential Learning directors implemented this rotation for the next clerkship year. Survey results indicate that 45% of students in the professional program would be interested in an Experiential Learning rotation. SURVEY RESULTS Students strongly interested in completing the rotation (n=32) were determined to have the following characteristics. These students also indicated they were interested in becoming a preceptor upon graduation (96%) and that they were interested in learning about the following experiences which were incorporated into the rotation. “The Experiential Learning rotation at Purdue has been an incomparable experience in which I learned the skills needed to succeed in an academic/administrative position. My experience far exceeded my expectations, and I feel extremely fortunate to have had this opportunity.” End of Rotation Reflection Andrew N. Schmelz, PharmD Candidate ANALYSIS OF SURVEY RESULTS The results of the study indicated that the Experiential Learning rotation is strongly desired by a subset of pharmacy students and that these students want to learn about the topics described. The survey results also suggest that students who have meaningful interactions with preceptors may be more interest in becoming preceptors themselves (89.6% v 83.6%). STRENGTHS The number of students completing the survey represented a large portion (52%) of the student body, including students from a variety of career interests. The survey was anonymous, and it was analyzed by outside individuals to ensure questions were appropriate, non-leading, and clear. The rotation was designed to be flexible and highly individualized. Student responsibilities during the rotation were also determined to be a great benefit to the program directors, including: LIMITATIONS Students who completed the survey may have done so because of their interest in the rotation, creating a response bias. Because a large percent of the population surveyed did respond, this is likely not a significant factor. IMPLICATIONS The current national interest in faculty recruitment and retention drives Colleges of Pharmacy to develop programs which expose students to careers in academia. The results from this survey show that by identifying students desiring an Experiential Learning rotation, an opportunity to foster interest in academic careers is created. In addition, students interested in becoming preceptors during their professional practices can begin developing the skills required to become effective experiential instructors to student pharmacists. STUDENT PROFILE GenderFemale (85%) Age24.9 years (mean) Career Interests Academia (71.9%) Community Pharmacy (62.5%) Disease-specific Clinical Specialty (59.4%) Clinical Pharmacy (53.1%) Meaningful Interactions With IPPE Preceptors (59.4%) With Professors (65.7%) (4 th year students only, n=12) With APPE Preceptors (83.3%) How rotation sites are selected How students are placed at specific rotation sites How to assess rotation effectiveness How preceptors are trained National requirements for experiential education The experience would benefit student learning Objectives were achievable Student participation was an asset to the program directors A proposal for modification of experiential curricular design Assistance in the clerkship placement process Development of a survey of the IPPE programs implemented in other Schools of Pharmacy