Philosophy

The mission of the University of Findlay is “to equip our students for meaningful lives and productive careers.” The mission of the College of Pharmacy is to prepare ethical, entry-level practitioners who are competent within and sensitive to the ever-changing health care environment as it relates to the collaborative provision of pharmacy care. 

Students of the College of Pharmacy will acquire knowledge, skills, and wisdom to responsibly deal with and contribute to contemporary society in constructive ways. The College of Pharmacy has established Standards of Professional Conduct deemed necessary to not only achieve e missions of the University and the College, but to produce pharmacists that possess the characteristics and skills that make pharmacy a profession, and not merely an occupation.

If an individual's conduct does not meet University and College standards, the possibility of disciplinary action arises. The Standards of Professional Conduct attempt to establish the expectations that empower students to become accountable for personal behavior; to establish a personal code of conduct; and if need be, to redirect behavior in order to meet these expectations.

In enforcing the Standards of Professional Conduct, the College follows administrative procedures consistent with the fundamental principles of justice. In this regard, great care is taken to consider each situation individually, and fair consideration is given to all relevant factors in each case before a determination is rendered. The ultimate objective is a just outcome for all involved while upholding the prescribed standards of the University, the College, and the pharmacy profession.

Background

Improper conduct, both personal and academic, is incompatible with a career in the healthcare field.  Students in the College of Pharmacy are expected to abide by the University of Findlay’s policies and standards for academic honesty and integrity. It is the student's responsibility to become familiar with and abide by the University’s policies and sanctions regarding academic and non-academic misconduct.

Furthermore, The University of Findlay College of Pharmacy is committed to encouraging in all of its students a sense of professionalism and a desire to adhere to the highest ethical standards and to any laws that pertain to the pharmacy profession or to professions in the pharmaceutical sciences. Students must adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct, avoiding not only impropriety, but even the appearance of impropriety. The College of Pharmacy has a responsibility to create an atmosphere in which professional attitudes can be cultivated; each student has a responsibility to adhere to the College of Pharmacy Standards of Professional Conduct.

Professional Conduct

In addition to the College of Pharmacy standards of academic and professional conduct, students enrolled in the College of Pharmacy, as all students at the University of Findlay, are subject to the rules and regulations set forth by the University and to state and federal laws.

Examples of activities that may violate the College of Pharmacy Standards of Professional Conduct include, but are not limited to:

1)      Falsifying applications, forms, time sheets, or records used for admission or other purposes by the College of Pharmacy.
2)      Failing to be cooperative and honest in any investigation or hearing conducted by the College or its Student Affairs Committee.
3)      Threatening to or committing acts of violence.
4)      Stealing, damaging, defacing, or diverting to personal use (without permission) any property belonging to others, the University, or the College.
5)      Possessing or trafficking in illegal drugs or other pharmacologically active substance(s) of abuse, or participating in drug diversion.
6)      Students shall report knowledge of an alleged failure to adhere to the Student Professional Standards to appropriate faculty, professional practice faculty, or staff of the College of Pharmacy.
7)      Students shall carry out assigned educational responsibilities and shall refrain from engaging in any activity that may endanger the health and well-being of patients or health care professionals.
8)      Students shall maintain the confidentiality of professional matters related to education and/or training programs, including University and College committee meetings, when applicable.
9)      Students shall conduct themselves in a manner respectful of each patient's and each fellow student’s privacy and dignity.
10)   Students shall be truthful and honest in all dealings with patients, the public, and members of health professions, including fellow students.
11)   Students shall observe the rules and regulations of the pharmacy practice facilities used by the College of Pharmacy for education and/or training.
12)   Students shall maintain their own health, in order to ensure that performance is not impaired. Conditions that may adversely affect performance shall be reported to the Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs or his/her designee.
13)   Students shall observe and abide by the applicable dress code and conduct in professional practice settings. Pharmacy students participating in clerkship, externship, and other practicum experiences must adhere to the dress code of specified by their preceptor or the site in which they are training. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner which reflects favorably upon themselves, the profession, and the College of Pharmacy. Unprofessional conduct will not be tolerated and will be subject to discipline under the Standards of Professional Conduct.
14)   Students shall respect the right of patients, other students, faculty, professional practice faculty, and staff to be free from illegal harassment and/or discrimination.
15)   Students shall refrain from the use of any psychoactive substance – legal or illegal (refer to the Policy on Chemically-Dependent Pharmacy Students) – in situations in which they must be responsible for their actions unless under the direction of a physician.

Anyone who acts or observes an act contrary to the Standards of Professional Conduct will discretely address the situation or report it to the appropriate personnel.

Failure to Adhere to the College of Pharmacy Standards of Professional Conduct

The Standards of Professional Conduct apply to all students enrolled in or accepted for admission to the College of Pharmacy. The College's response to a failure to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct will be commensurate with the determination by the Student Affairs Committee of what the failure indicates about the student's ability to develop appropriately in the College of Pharmacy.

A failure to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct will raise serious concern about the student. This concern affects the College as a whole, rather than just the course or particular academic experience in which the failure arose. Therefore, these matters will be addressed in accordance with the policies set forth by the College.

1)    Students, faculty, professional practice faculty, or staff who have reason to believe that a student has failed to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct should contact the Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs or his/her designee within ten days of learning of the alleged failure. The Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs or his/her designee will advise the alleging party of the appropriate University and College of Pharmacy procedure that may apply to the situation.
2)    The Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs or his/her designee will instruct the alleging party to prepare a written statement describing the alleged failure to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct. This statement, along with any supporting materials, will be submitted to the Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs or his/her designee within ten days of the issuance of the instructions.
3)     A conference(s) will be held by the Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs or his/her designee with the alleging party to discuss the alleged failure to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct.  At each conference, an additional College of Pharmacy Faculty member will be present.
4)    Should the Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs or his/her designee, find the allegation sufficiently credible, then he or she will report and outline the allegation in writing to the student who is alleged to have failed to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct . A written response to the allegation, along with any supporting materials, will be requested from the student; the response must be submitted to the Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs within ten days of the notification.
5)    After the written response is received, a conference(s) will be held by the Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs or his/her designee with the student alleged to have failed to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct.  At each conference, an additional College of Pharmacy Faculty member will be present. If, after the conference(s), the allegation remains sufficiently credible that the student did fail to adhere to the Student Professional Standards, the Assistant/Associate Dean of Internal Affairs or his/her designee will convene with the Student Affairs Committee. This committee will take over authority in the matter.
6)    The Student Affairs Committee will hold a meeting about the alleged failure to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct. Each party may make a presentation, including any supporting or corroborating documents, materials, or persons to the Committee. Each party must speak for him- or herself, even if counsel has been retained. The Committee will have access to all relevant College records.
7)    After holding a meeting, the Student Affairs Committee will determine whether the student failed to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct, and, if so, what the response of the College of Pharmacy will be. Possible responses include, but are not limited to: 
    a)    Modification of the grade for the course in which the failure to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct. Such action will be taken with the concurrence of the course instructor. 
    b)    Placement of the student on Professional Probation. A student on Professional Probation who, in the future, is again found to have failed to adhere to the Standards of Professional Conduct may be suspended or dismissed from the College of Pharmacy. 
    c)    Establishment of conditions for continued enrollment in the College of Pharmacy. 
    d)    Suspension from the College of Pharmacy for up to one year, during which time remedial activities may be prescribed as a condition of later readmission. Students who meet these readmission conditions must apply for readmission to the appropriate College of Pharmacy admissions committee; such students will be admitted on a space-available basis. 
    e)    Dismissal from the College of Pharmacy. 
    f)     Withdrawal of an offer of admission.
8)    A written report of the findings of the Student Affairs Committee will be provided to the student, the alleging party, and the Dean of the College of Pharmacy. For a student in a professional practice program, a written statement describing the basis for the committee's decision and instructions for correcting the behavior may be provided to: 
    a)    The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Board; 
    b)    The Board of Pharmacy of the state to which the student will apply for licensure; 
    c)    The student's future internship and advanced practice experience preceptor(s); or, 
    d)    Any other authority required by law.

Appeal Rights of a Student Found to have Failed to Adhere to the Student Professional Standards

A student found by the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) to have failed to meet the Standards for Professional Conduct may appeal to the Executive Committee (EC) of the College of Pharmacy within ten days of the receipt of the Committee's decision. Decisions involving medical leave, suspension, or dismissal will be appealed automatically to the Executive Committee of the College of Pharmacy. The student’s request for appeal -- excluding those involving medical leave, suspension, or dismissal -- and any additional supporting material or documents must be received by the Dean of the College of Pharmacy no later than the close of business – 4:00 PM Eastern Time – on the tenth calendar day after the first notification to the student of the SAC decision [by either registered mail or official University e-mail account (_@findlay.edu)]. It is solely the student's responsibility to insure that the request for appeal and any supporting materials are received on time. Except under automatic appeals, failure to reply within this period is considered a waiving of appeal.

Students who are appealing the SAC decision should contact their advisor (or the person who may be fulfilling that function during a time the student's advisor is unavailable) for information and advice prior to submitting an appeal. The request for appeal must include a supportable rationale as to why the appeal should be upheld (e.g. violation of policy) along with any supporting materials, documents, or relevant information to the appeal.

The written appeal and supporting documentation, along with the full record of the SAC proceedings, will be provided to the EC. The Executive Committee will convene to render a decision within ten days of receipt of the appeal record and supporting materials. The student will be notified of the date and time of the scheduled meeting of the EC. The student will be officially notified of the Committee's determination and recommendations by mail and e-mail.

If the appeal is upheld, the recommendations of the EC will take precedence over the determination of the SAC. If the appeal is denied or the determination by the EC is otherwise unacceptable, the student may appeal to the full faculty.

The appeal will be heard as an agenda item at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the faculty. The same materials provided to the SAC for appeal will be provided to the full faculty. No other materials may be offered, unless it relates to a breach of policy regarding the initial appeal decision. The student will be afforded 5 minutes to provide an oral presentation followed by a question and answer period afforded to the faculty. The student will be excused for faculty deliberations and vote. Any determination requires a simple majority vote of those voting members present. The student will be notified of the full faculty's decision immediately after the conclusion of the meeting, but will receive official notification by mail and e-mail. The decision of the full faculty of the College of Pharmacy is final.

Students suspended or dismissed from the College in accordance with these policies (and who remain in good academic standing per University's standards) may apply for transfer to another academic program. Students who are suspended may contact their pharmacy academic advisor for assistance with the procedure for changing majors within the University.