(328) Seeking Collaboration: Pathways to Enhance Retention and Individualized Student Success

Objective : The 2020-21 AACP Argus Commission highlighted the “need for active initiatives to promote wellbeing and resilience,” recommending “modifications to enhance student retention and resilience while still assuring professional competence.” Given the high variability in student readiness to engage in graduate/professional education, family and financial support, and demands on time and focus outside of school, robust strategies are necessary to ensure academic success across the entire pharmacy academy. We approached this challenge by embracing a student-centric learning partnership, embodying our mission at West Coast University (WCU).

Methods: With efforts starting in 2020, three primary interventions were made to support students across the arc of each semester to improve program and learning outcomes and reduce attrition. (1) The Early Detection and Intervention Plan (EDI) provides a mechanism for identifying and helping at-risk students early in each course. Proactive engagement by the Office of Academic Affairs, course instructors, and faculty advisors provide focused and high-touch support until improvements are noted. (2) High-stakes exams are routinely evaluated by the Assessment Committee to improve question quality, mapping, and ensure achievement of learning outcomes. (3) The Academic Standing Committee (ASC) reviews individualized action plans developed by course coordinators, for students who need to revisit and remediate course content. Remediating students are required to complete a self-reflection assignment that assists in the development of their individualized action plans and increases their self-awareness on the path towards academic success.

Results: The results of these three synergistic interventions have been promising, with failed remediation of 20% in 2020, 6% in 2021 and zero in Fall 2022.

Conclusions: We share our findings and methods and invite collaboration, seeking strategies to enhance student retention and resilience while assuring competence.