Institutional Strategies to Achieve Diversity and Inclusion in Pharmacy Education

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the impact of institutional initiatives to enhance recruitment of minority students as a strategy to increase diversity and inclusion. Methods. The Office of Recruitment, Development, and Diversity Initiatives (ORDDI) was established and several initiatives were developed within the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy to promote student diversity and engagement. Applicant demographics and admission data were tracked from 2007-2012 to assess program performance and effectiveness.Results. Over the 6-year period, 812 recruitment events were facilitated. Twenty-nine percent of the students admitted from 2007-2012 participated in 1 or more ORDDI recruitment programs prior to admission. Forty-two percent of this cohort were minorities. The overall average minority profile of students increased from 19% to 25% after establishing the ORDDI. Conclusions. To achieve student diversity and inclusion, a multifaceted effort is required, involving a continuum of institutional strategies, including innovative practice models and high impact programs.

Report of the 2014-2015 AACP Standing Committee on Advocacy: Access, Affordability and Accountability: Academic Pharmacy’s Approaches and Challenges in Addressing Issues of Higher Education Policy

“…Programs that have developed specific initiatives to recruit and retain minority students, such as the Office of Recruitment, Development and Diversity Initiatives (ORDDI) at UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, have also reported the importance of mentorship and networking opportunities in order to achieve success in minority recruitment and retention. 66 …”

Using Simpson’s diversity index to examine multidimensional models of diversity in health professions education

“…Creating diverse educational environments has important implications for institutions tasked with preparing students for 21 st century health care. 1 - 3 Research suggests that institutional culture associated with characteristics like race and gender can significantly impact the educational experiences of students and the training of aspiring health professionals. 4 Student attitudes and perspectives about health and culture, for example, are influenced by diversity-related interactions and experiences during school.…”

Report of the 2016-2017 Student Affairs Standing Committee

“…Although resource intensive, this multi-faceted approach has been successful at centralizing and intensifying recruitment efforts and increasing UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy's enrollment and retention of diverse students. 11 Collectively, this research suggests that recruitment efforts are resource intensive and there is opportunity for centralized coordination at the national level guiding and assisting local efforts to promote pharmacy careers.…”