Consideration of Aggressive and Strategic Approaches to Address Declining Enrollment in US Pharmacy Schools

Abstract

Members from Cohort 13 of the Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP) 2016-2017 were challenged to present a debate on the topic: "In Turbulent Times, Pharmacy Education Leaders Must Take Aggressive Action to Prevent Further Declines in Enrollment" at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy INfluence 2017 meeting in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. This paper is the result of thoughtful insights emerging from this debate. We present a discussion of the question of whether pharmacy education leaders must take aggressive action or strategic approaches to prevent further declines in enrollment. There are many thoughts regarding current declines in enrollment. Some educators contend that a more aggressive approach is needed while others argue that, while aggressive actions might lead to short-term gains, a more viable approach involves strategic actions targeting the underlying causes for decreasing enrollment. This paper explores themes of enrollment challenges, current and future workforce needs, and financial issues for both pharmacy programs and students. In summation, both aggressive actions and a strategic, sustainable approach are urgently needed to address declining enrollment.

Keywords: debate; declining enrollment; pharmacist provider; recruitment; strategic planning.

Figure 1.

Data from AACP PharmCAS Comparing the Number of Applicants to Pharmacy Schools to the Number of Pharmacy Shools Participating in PharmCAS.

Figure 2.

Data from AACP PharmCAS Comparing the Number of Pharmacy School Applications per Applicant to the Number of Pharmacy Schools Participating in PharmCAS.

Figure 3.

National 10-year Trend in the Pharmacist Demand Category from 2008 through March (Q1) 2018. Dotted line represents a linear regression trendline. Demand categories: 5=high demand, difficult to fill open positions; 4=moderate demand, some difficulty filling open positions; 3=demand in balance with supply; 2=demand is less than the pharmacist supply available; 1=demand is much less than the pharmacist supply available. Redrawn with copyright permission from Pharmacy Workforce Center (PWC). https://pharmacymanpower.com/about.php

Figure 4.

Regional Generalist/Staff Pharmacist Trends for the Pharmacist Demand Category from 2017 through March (Q1) 2018. Demand categories: 5=high demand, difficult to fill open positions; 4=moderate demand, some difficulty filling open positions; 3=demand in balance with supply; 2=demand is less than the pharmacist supply available; 1=demand is much less than the pharmacist supply available. Redrawn with copyright permission from Pharmacy Workforce Center (PWC). https://pharmacymanpower.com/about.php