350 apply to new Marshall pharmacy school

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Nearly 350 students submitted applications to Marshall University's new school of pharmacy by Thursday's deadline, said Dr. Kevin Yingling, dean of the school of pharmacy.

"We've extended 35 acceptance announcements so far," said Yingling, who said the majority of applicants hailed from West Virginia, southeastern Ohio and Kentucky. "We are well on our way of interviewing and vetting applicants."

Marshall's Board of Governors approved plans for the Huntington-based public school to open a new pharmacy school in December 2009. Pending approval by a national accrediting body, Marshall will join West Virginia University and the University of Charleston as the third pharmacy program in the state.

School officials plan to enroll 80 students this year and classes are expected to commence in the fall. Thursday marked the application deadline, but Yingling said he expects a few late submissions in the upcoming days.

In early February, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education granted Marshall an on-site evaluation in May for its pharmacy program -- a big step in the school netting national accreditation. The same accrediting council had refused an on-site evaluation in June, but school officials said in October they were fast-tracking improvements to the program to re-apply.

Yingling said he is confident that Marshall will receive pre-candidate accreditation status by this summer and full-accreditation status once the program has graduated its first pharmacy class.

Marshall is in the midst of a $9 million renovation project to house the new pharmacy school. Yingling said renovations to the 80,000-square-foot building are slated for completion by June 15, in time for the first class of students in August.

Tuition for the pharmacy school is $15,926 a year for in-state students and $27,916 for non-West Virginia residents.

Reach Amy Julia Harris at amy.har...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-4814.

"We've extended 35 acceptance announcements so far," said Yingling, who said the majority of applicants hailed from West Virginia, southeastern Ohio and Kentucky. "We are well on our way of interviewing and vetting applicants."

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350 apply to new Marshall pharmacy school