Identifying and Mapping Skill Development Opportunities Through Pharmacy Student Organization Involvement

Abstract

Objective. To describe a process for identifying skills that students can gain through co-curricular involvement and to map these skills to curricular outcomes. Methods. This pilot study used a mixed-methods approach involving document reviews, student involvement surveys, and focus groups/interviews to evaluate skill development opportunities in three pharmacy student organizations. Investigators reviewed key documents (eg, student organization websites, annual review forms) to identify skills emphasized by the organization. Student participants completed modified Extracurricular Involvement Inventory surveys to measure the intensity of their student organization involvement. Two student focus groups, one student leader focus group and one general student member focus group, were held for each student organization. Interviews were conducted with each student organization's faculty advisor. Data sources were triangulated to identify and map skill development opportunities to program core competencies. Results. Six of nine core competencies were identified as skills pharmacy students can develop through involvement in the pilot student organizations. All three organizations provided opportunities for members to develop communication skills and in-depth knowledge and proficient skills of the discipline of pharmacy. Two organizations provided opportunities for students to develop collaboration skills. Conclusion. A mixed-methods approach can be used to identify and map skills that students can develop through co-curricular involvement. This approach provides several advantages: objective evaluation and triangulation of skill development opportunities, evaluation of students' involvement, and identification of linkages between the co-curriculum and curriculum in the context of curricular outcomes.

Keywords: co-curricular; health professions; pharmacy; skill development; student organizations.