With greater numbers of America’s population pushing into old age, and growing advances in medicine creating more pharmaceutical products, our country is facing a critical shortage in one area of health care delivery—qualified pharmacists. 

Though pharmacists are seriously needed by community pharmacies, medical centers, and other health care facilities to meet today’s rising consumer demand, our nation’s educational institutions cannot keep pace.  With five to ten qualified applicants for every one opening in U.S. pharmacy schools, the need for a new professional school is clear.

In response, Notre Dame is about to launch a bold new initiative in fall 2009—the College of Notre Dame of Maryland School of Pharmacy.  Adding to the College’s history of firsts, the new School of Pharmacy is the first of its kind created by a women’s college in the U.S.  In addition, it will be Notre Dame’s first professional degree program.  More importantly, the School reflects Notre Dame’s commitment to service to the world by solving social challenges through innovative educational efforts.

Accreditation Disclosure Statement

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 school 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 College of Notre Dame of Maryland, School of Pharmacy was awarded Precandidate accreditation status during the January 7-11, 2009 meeting of the ACPE Board of Directors based upon an on-site evaluation conducted November 5-7, 2008, and discussion with College and School officials. Following the enrollment of the inaugural class of students in fall 2009, an on-site evaluation will be scheduled during academic year 2009-2010 for purposes of gathering additional information to be considered in the Board’s consideration of advancement to Candidate accreditation status. Based upon this evaluation, should the Board feel that Candidate accreditation status cannot be conferred, the School could respond to the Board’s concerns and reapply prior to the graduation of the first class. If Candidate accreditation status is not granted even after reapplication, graduates may not be eligible for licensure as pharmacists. If Candidate accreditation status is granted and the program continues to develop as planned, Full accreditation status of the Doctor of Pharmacy program would be considered by the Board following the graduation of students from the program.

For more information about the School of Pharmacy, contact Larry Shattuck at
410-532-5551 or lshattuck@ndm.edu.