Pharmacy finalizes building plans

The college of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Florida A&M University is preparing for an accreditation site visit. On Nov. 7-9 the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education will be evaluating the college.Pamela Bryant, special assistant to the university’s interim president, said this year there has been an increase in the college’s enrollment. Therefore, in order to be accredited, additional space needs to be built to accommodate more students. She said currently, the college has 1,100 students enrolled, compared to last year’s 900.As a part of preparation for the accreditation process, the college will be adding additional space to the building. In the second phase of the construction process for the new pharmacy building, the college will be adding approximately 41,000 sq. ft. to the building. The College of Pharmacy has been approved to begin the planning process for the construction of the new wing. The planning and construction design for the new building will take at least one year.According to the press release issued by the university’s Office of Public Affairs, Interim President Castell V. Bryant said, “We are very committed to our pharmacy program and its successful accreditation, and want this visiting site team to understand we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that our program is up to par.” She said, “A decision to start the planning was made from looking at the big picture of FAMU’s priorities for the renovation of the existing building and construction of new buildings.” Pamela Bryant said the additional space will add classrooms and laboratories. The wing will also hold faculty and staff offices. The new wing will also give students an opportunity to have more research classrooms. According to the press release, Robert Thomas the interim dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences said: “We are pleased the president has made a commitment to the construction of Phase II. We can tell our site visit team this is a priority.”The university received $1.2 million from the Florida Legislature to help fund the new building. The new wing will be north of the current building.

“We definitely want to ensure that this program and all the entire programs on campus are ready and set for the accreditation process,” said Pamela Bryant. “We want to make sure pharmacy is moving in the right direction.”

In Phase II, the college will also be able to use existing funds to develop and construct a blueprint for the construction design. “I think it is needed,” said Courtney Patterson, 22, a fifth-year pharmacy student from Jacksonville. “My class was the first to start in the new building. It’s been past due, for the Phase II.” The start of Phase II is a part of Castell Bryant’s plan to immediately address the concerns for adequate space and facilities.

“This will take pharmacy to the next level, ” said Patterson. “Pharmacy is leading in research, recruitment. Now the technology will catch up to what’s already achieved.”

team to understand we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that our program is up to par.”

“A decision to start the planning was made from looking at the big picture of FAMU’s priorities for the renovation of the existing building and construction of new buildings,” she said. Pamela Bryant said the additional space will add classrooms and laboratories. The wing will also hold faculty and staff offices. The new wing will give students an opportunity to have more research classrooms, she said.

“We are pleased the president has made a commitment to the construction of Phase II,” said Robert Thomas, interim dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, in the press release. “We can tell our site visit team this is a priority.”The university received $1.2 million from the Florida Legislature to help fund the new building.

“We definitely want to ensure that this program and all the entire programs on campus are ready and set for the accreditation process,” said Pamela Bryant. “We want to make sure pharmacy is moving in the right direction.”

In Phase II, the college will also be able to use existing funds to develop and construct a blueprint for the construction design. “I think it is needed,” said Courtney Patterson, 22, a fifth-year pharmacy student from Jacksonville. “My class was the first to start in the new building. It’s been past due for the Phase II.” The start of Phase II is a part of FAMU’s Interim President Castell V. Bryant’s plan to immediately address the concerns for adequate space and facilities.

“This will take pharmacy to the next level, ” Patterson said. “Pharmacy is leading in research, recruitment. Now the technology will catch up to what’s already achieved.”