Student Administrative Policies

Attendance

Upon acceptance to the DKICP, students are expected to devote their entire efforts to the academic curriculum. Attendance is mandatory for all students during experiential rotations. Refer to the Experiential Handbook for specific details regarding this policy.

Absence Reporting Procedure

In the event of serious illness, personal emergency, personal incapacitation or other exceptional problem of a serious nature that causes a student to be absent from a course requiring mandatory attendance, a student must notify the Course Coordinator. If a student will be absent from a mandatory DKICP event, the student must contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. To be excused from a rotation, the student must notify his/her preceptor in addition to the Director of Experiential Education. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the course coordinator immediately upon his/her return for instructions regarding how the missed session can be made up. If a student fails to follow this procedure, the student is held responsible for the policies stated in course syllabi regarding unexcused absences. Unexcused absences may result in course failure.

Requesting an Excused Absence for Personal/Professional Reasons

The DKICP recognizes that a student may need to be excused from class or rotations for non-illness, non-emergency related reasons. The student must request an approved absence by submitting the Absence Request Form (PDF) to the Course Coordinator and/or the Clinical Education Coordinator. This request must be made at least 2 weeks prior to the day the student wishes to be excused. Completion of the request by the student does not imply the student is excused from classes or rotations until the Course Coordinator and/or Clinical Education Coordinator of the affected course(s) approves the request.

Dress Code for Rotations and College Functions

Professional dress is required for clinical rotations and college events. Course syllabi will state when a dress code is in effect and students will be notified when professional dress is required at an event. DKICP name badges will be issued and must be worn at all times. Replacement name badges will cost $10 (subject to change). It is expected that all students will conduct and represent themselves with the professional decorum and appearance of a Pharm.D. student.

Faculty Advisors

Upon entry into the DKICP, students are assigned a faculty advisor who will mentor them throughout the program. In addition to those faculty advisors, the Dean, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Director of Student Services, as well as other faculty members are also available to assist students with academic advising, career counseling and enrichment. DKICP faculty advisors act as liaisons between the faculty and students. Their responsibilities include:

Serving as the student’s advisor and academic/professional mentor,
Monitoring the academic progress and professional growth of the student,
Assisting the student in seeking academic and personal counseling services provided by the institution,
Meeting with the student, remotely or in-person, at least once per semester,
Accompanying the student if requested when the advisee’s future academic progression may be discussed,
Serving as an advocate for the student when appropriate.

Faculty advisors may be invited by the student to attend any meeting relating to their academic career.

With the continued growth in popularity of social network sites (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Google+, MySpace), online blogs, and public mailing lists, it has become increasingly important that student pharmacists who use these sites be aware of the importance of privatizing their personal profiles and applications so that only trustworthy viewers have access. Student pharmacists should also be aware that posting certain information is illegal. Violation of legal statutes (e.g. HIPAA, FERPA, etc.) and UH Hilo and DKICP policies and guidelines (e.g. Student Code, Sexual Harassment and Related Conduct policies, Professionalism Guidelines, etc.) in any online activities may not only result in disciplinary action from the College but may also expose the offender to criminal and civil liability punishable by fines and imprisonment. It should be noted that future employers (e.g., Preceptors, Residency Directors, Representatives of Pharmaceutical companies, etc.) may review networks sites when considering potential candidates for employment, therefore student pharmacists should make every attempt to portray a positive opinion of themselves online. Additionally, student pharmacists should also be aware that once an item is posted on a network site, it is not necessarily removed upon deletion by the individual. Student pharmacists are representatives of DKICP, as such; their actions are deemed a reflection on the College and the profession.

Guidelines for Ethical and Professional Behavior on Social Networking Sites _The following actions are strictly forbidden: _

You may not post the personal health information of other individuals. Not identifying an individual by name does not properly de-identify protected health information. Inclusion of data (e.g., race, gender, date of evaluation, etc.) may still allow for viewers to recognize the identity of a specific individual.
You may not report academic information (e.g. course grades, narratives, evaluations, exam scores, etc.) of another student.
In posting information on the web, you may not represent yourself as an official representative of the DKICP.
You should maintain the privacy of colleagues, faculty, and staff unless they have been given permission to use the person’s likeness or name on their site.
You may not represent yourself as another person.

In addition to the above prohibited actions, the following are strongly encouraged best practices for social networking sites: - Interactions with patients through social media should be avoided as this can provide numerous opportunities for violating privacy restrictions and may have legal consequences. - Students should set their privacy settings so that only viewers they identify have access to their sites and limit access of unknown viewers to their profile or site. Due to frequent updating of social media sites, it is suggested that students check their privacy settings regularly to ensure their privacy. - If a student chooses to post something on the web, he/she should abstain from vulgar language or photographs that imply disrespect of any individual or group or can be interpreted as condoning irresponsible use of alcohol, substance abuse, or sexual promiscuity. Student pharmacists are strongly encouraged to present themselves in a professional manner that deems them as mature and responsible adults. - By identifying themselves publicly online, student pharmacists at the DKICP are creating perceptions about the College, the University, and the Profession. Students should strive to ensure that all public content is consistent with the values and standards of the College and the Profession. - Students are strongly encouraged to minimize personal information (e.g. addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, or any other information that could be used to obtain personal records leading to identity theft) on their online profiles.

DKICP’s Policy on Student Employment

Upon acceptance to the professional program of DKICP, students are expected to devote their entire efforts to the academic curriculum.

The DKICP actively discourages employment that will conflict with the student’s ability to perform while courses/rotations are in session, and will not take outside employment or activities into consideration when scheduling classes, examinations, reviews, field trips, or individual course/rotation functions.

Effective Study Skills and Tips

Academic demands of pharmacy school are typically much higher than anything previously experienced in undergraduate studies. Student pharmacists are encouraged to develop and practice effective studying habits to successfully navigate through the program. The following resources may help in developing effective studying habits:

View the How to Study Video Series by Samford University

Graduation

The degree Doctor of Pharmacy is conferred upon candidates of good moral character who have completed all academic requirements, satisfied all financial obligations, and completed all graduation requirements. All graduating students are also required to attend the ceremony at which the degree is conferred, unless excused by the Dean.

Graduation Requirements

A student must satisfy the following conditions to be eligible for graduation: 1. Successfully complete a minimum of 66 semester credit hours of prerequisite coursework including core science and general education courses, as stipulated, for full admission to the program 2. Successfully complete the program of professional and experiential coursework approved by the DKICP Faculty and Dean 3. Attain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (“C”) for all professional coursework at DKICP 4. Complete, at a minimum, the last two didactic semesters and all APPE rotations at DKICP 5. Settle all financial accounts with the institution 6. Students with holds on their account will be allowed to graduate, however they will not be able to receive transcripts or their diploma until the matter is settled 7. Students must apply for graduation with the UH Hilo Office of the Registrar by the final deadline for the semester in which they plan to graduate

Candidates for graduation must be of good moral character consistent with the requirements of the pharmacy profession and the DKICP faculty. It is the position of the faculty that anyone who illicitly uses, possesses, distributes, or sells dangerous drugs, or controlled substances, or who abuses alcohol, or is involved in any conduct involving moral turpitude, fails to meet the ethical and moral requirements of the profession and may be dismissed from any program or denied the awarding of any degree from DKICP.

Graduating with Honors

The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Faculty and Dean recognize students graduating with honors based on the accumulated grade point average earned during the didactic portion of their Pharm.D. degree as follows: Summa Cum Laude GPA of 3.9 and above, Magna Cum Laude GPA 3.8 to 3.89, Cum Laude GPA of 3.6 – 3.79. Students graduating with honors wear gold honor cords during commencement and will receive an acknowledgement letter from the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Dean.

Licensure Requirements

Laws in all states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, require applicants for licensure to: 1) be of good moral character; 2) be at least 21 years of age; 3) have graduated from an accredited first professional degree program of a college or school of pharmacy; and 4) have passed an examination given by the board of pharmacy. All states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands use the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX).

All jurisdictions require candidates for licensure to have a record of practical experience or internship training acquired under the supervision and instruction of a licensed practitioner. Some states accept the training completed as part of the DKICP Pharm.D. program.

Publications concerning the NAPLEX licensure examination and internship experience are available from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, 1600 Feehanville Drive, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056, Phone: (847) 391-4406, Email: custserv@nabp.net, or www.nabp.net.

For further information regarding licensure, please contact Daryl Masanda at the Office of Student Services, darylm@hawaii.edu.

The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Scholarship Program

All DKICP scholarship funds come from a variety of sources such as private donors, professional associations, and state and local business firms. The purpose of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy scholarship program is to recognize and reward students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance and have shown a commitment to leadership and community activities within the college. Many awards also consider financial need. The scholarship awards imply the expectation of continued exceptional performance and leadership by the recipients in the years ahead. Scholarships are contingent upon availability of funds and the continued commitment of our generous sponsors. Students are encouraged to apply for the DKICP scholarships annually by submitting the UH System Common Scholarship Application. View the online scholarship application. The online application opens in October of each academic year and closes at the beginning of March. The DKICP Scholarship Award Committee will select recipients and the scholarship award money will be applied to your tuition and cost of living expenses for the following academic year.

A list of scholarship opportunities via the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy and the UH Foundation may be viewed on the scholarship webpage