Dean's Message - Summer 2002

LEXINGTON, KY (June 5, 2002) -- Although financial support of the expansion proposal for the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy was not forthcoming in the recent Kentucky Legislative Session, the College already is preparing to address the issue again at the next legislative opportunity.

The 2002 regular session and a special session of the General Assembly both ended without adoption of a state budget or the funding of any capital projects for higher education in Kentucky.

Although we are disappointed, the lack of funding was in no way a reflection on the College’s programs. The state’s budget shortfall simply would not allow the funding of such large projects at any university at this time.

However, increasing enrollment at the College of Pharmacy remains critical in addressing the nationwide pharmacist shortage.

We are heartened by the continued support of President Lee Todd and the University and have taken steps within our limited physical resources to increase enrollment in the first professional year classes in the 2001 and 2002 fall semesters to 100, an addition of 12 students per class.

It is important to continue recruiting outstanding young men and women into our program.

The College saw a record applicant pool this spring for admission in the Class of 2006. We received 344 applications, an increase of 56 percent over last year and more than double the number of students who applied for admission in 2000.

These applicants were some of the best and brightest students in Kentucky and in the nation. As a result, the incoming PY1 class will have the highest GPA and PCAT test scores in the history of the College.

These are fine young people - Kentuckians - and we want to provide them the opportunity to attend our College and to return to their home regions throughout the state and live lives of service to their communities.

New and expanded facilities for our programs remain key in continuing to provide the quality of program for which the College is nationally ranked and in increasing the number of licensed pharmacists in the state.

The support of colleagues throughout Kentucky has been tremendous. On numerous occasions I have visited legislators who referred to their hometown pharmacist, who discussed the need for more licensed pharmacists in that area and voiced their support for the College’s expansion initiatives.

Our professional program students also have been proactive in contacting their legislators, and some have even spoken before legislative committees.

We appreciate such broad and sustained support and will continue to solicit your help as we move the College and the profession of pharmacy forward.

Kristi Lopez, (859) 323-473

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