(340) Student Success: Rooted in Retention, Remediation, and Relationship-Building Strategies

Objective : To describe retention and remediation strategies at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy (UFCOP) that promote student success.

Methods: UFCOP has a 7-year history of remediation designed to allow students to progress in the curriculum while achieving competency in course objectives prior to the next academic year. Retention strategies include subject matter driven approaches and best practices in student learning and retention of information. Subject matter driven approaches include GatoRx Launch (bridge program), supplemental instruction, individual and group tutoring, and formal remediation. Other strategies include connection initiatives (extended orientation, Pharmily Villages), and study and test taking strategies (student success sessions). Remediation is provided for students earning a D grade, not meeting minimum competency on an annual milestone assessment (OSCE, top 200, pharmacy calculations), APPE readiness, and situational judgement tests.

Results: The rate of successful remediation (i.e. student passed remediation, stayed on time for graduation) has ranged from 72 to 90% since its inception in 2017. The percent of students with delayed graduation has fallen below the national average each year since implementation of course remediation. Students who participated in GatoRx Launch (n=54 in 2021, n=81 in 2022), had lower mean pre-pharmacy science GPA but demonstrated higher end of year 1 GPA than students who did not participate in the program. Results from a pre- and post-survey of students in the GatoRx Launch program showed an increase in confidence in having effective learning strategies of 40% in 2021 and 61% in 2022 after completing the program.

Conclusions: A holistic approach that included subject matter driven and student success initiatives, has led to positive academic outcomes for students.