Technical and Behavioral Standards for Admission & Graduation
The VCU School of Pharmacy is responsible for providing education without regard to disability while assuring that academic and technical standards are met. Academic standards are met by successfully completing the curriculum for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Technical standards represent the essential non-academic requirements that a student must demonstrate to successfully participate in the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program and become employable upon graduation. An applicant and candidate for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree must have demonstrated aptitude, abilities, and skills in the following categories: sensory, mobility, learning and behavioral. The technical standards for each category identified below are consistent with the expectations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Within the scope of the Academic Performance Committee’s charge, the members of the committee may recommend sanctions, including dismissal, for students who fail to meet technical and behavioral standards. All students, upon matriculation, are required to review the standards below and affirm that they have read, understood and can meet the standards.
SENSORY
- Ability to observe demonstrations and experiments (e.g., laboratory exercises in pharmacy, pharmacology, pharmaceuticals and medicinal chemistry)
- Ability to verbally communicate in the English language to elicit information from and provide information to patients and other health professionals
- Ability to communicate in written English with patients and other health professionals
- Ability to comprehend written communications (i.e., read, understand and follow directions in the English language) to fulfill the usual tasks and duties of a pharmacist in training
- Ability to hear with or without assistance devices to elicit information from patients and other health professionals
MOBILITY
- Ability to coordinate gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and the functional use of the senses of touch and vision reasonably required to prepare and compound medications (e.g., fill label and dispense a prescription; prepare an intravenous admixture solution; compound an ointment) using the hands and fingers
- Ability to perform physical assessment maneuvers and related activities consistent with pharmaceutical care (e.g., check a patient’s blood pressure, analyze the concentration of a drug in a biological fluid using a diagnostic kit, administer an immunization injection)
- Ability to maneuver in the pharmacy practice setting (e.g., community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy) and the patient care setting (e.g., hospital, nursing home)
LEARNING
- Ability to coordinate gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and the functional use of the senses of touch and vision reasonably required to prepare and compound medications (e.g., fill, label and dispense a prescription; prepare an intravenous admixture solution; compound an ointment) using the hands and fingers
- Ability to perform physical assessment maneuvers and related activities consistent with pharmaceutical care (e.g., check a patient's blood pressure, analyze the concentration of a drug in a biological fluid using a diagnostic kit, administer an immunization injection)
- Ability to maneuver in the pharmacy practice setting (e.g., community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy) and the patient care setting (e.g., hospital, nursing home)
BEHAVIORAL
- Ability to tolerate and function effectively under stress
- Ability to concentrate in the presence of distracting conditions
- Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods
- Ability to demonstrate adherence to all laws governing the possession and use of controlled substances as defined in the Drug Control Act of the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Ability to demonstrate professional behavior and attitudes when dealing with faculty, staff, students, patients, other health professionals and administrators
- Ability to relate in a professional manner to patients and other health professionals
- Ability to accept criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior