UM School of Pharmacy Adds Millsaps to Preferred Admission Program

A University of Mississippi pharmacy student gives a flu shot to a fellow student as part of the school’s annual influenza vaccination drive. The School of Pharmacy has expanded its Preferred Admission Program to include Millsaps College, the fourth Mississippi institution to partner with Ole Miss. Photo by Kevin Bain/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy is expanding its Preferred Admission Program opportunities, with Millsaps College becoming the fourth Mississippi institution to partner with Ole Miss.

In this program, first-year Millsaps students who perform well in pre-pharmacy coursework and demonstrate a passion for service activities may qualify for admittance to the UM School of Pharmacy after their first semester.

“The University of Mississippi is proud to be home to one of the most respected pharmacy programs in the country,” Interim UM Chancellor Larry Sparks said. “We’re very excited to have Millsaps become part of the Preferred Admission Program.

“As a result of the partnership, we’ll benefit from a close connection with Millsaps’ talented students and also have a great opportunity to fulfill our commitment to giving Mississippi students the best opportunities available.”

Robert W. Pearigen, president of Millsaps, cited the college’s proximity to the UM Medical Center in Jackson as just one aspect of the agreement from which students will directly benefit, saying that UMMC “supports research and internship opportunities at the undergraduate level.”

“This agreement demonstrates the increasingly strong relationship between Millsaps and the University of Mississippi,” Pearigen said. “The partnership offers Millsaps students a more direct route to a successful career in pharmacy.”

Jackson State University, Alcorn State University and Tougaloo College are also part of the Preferred Admission Program. Students who are part of the program will complete pre-pharmacy coursework at one of the four partner institutions before coming to UM to continue working toward a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

“Developing these agreements with four in-state institutions shows our school’s commitment to strengthening pharmacy education within Mississippi,” said David D. Allen, dean of the pharmacy school. “With the inclusion of high-achieving students from Millsaps, we are continuing the University of Mississippi’s tradition of providing quality education to our students so they can provide quality health care to their patients.”

For more information on the Preferred Admission Program, contact Kris Harrell, associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Pharmacy, at kharrell@olemiss.edu.

By Whitney Tarpy