A Pre-matriculation Success Program to Improve Pharmacy Students’ Academic Performance at a Historically Black University

Abstract

Objective. The Pharmacy Biomedical Preview program is a five-week summer academic reinforcement program held for students entering the Howard University College of Pharmacy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the program and preadmission factors on pharmacy students’ first semester academic performance. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted of students entering the preview program from 2012 to 2015. The primary outcome assessed was first semester grade point average (GPA). Descriptive statistics of all study variables were conducted. Bivariable analyses were used to compare students by program status. Pearson correlations and point biserial R were conducted to evaluate which factors were associated with the first semester GPA. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate whether participation in the preview program predicted GPA during the first semester in pharmacy school after adjusting for other factors. All analyses were conducted using SPSS, version 23, at an alpha of .05. Results. Incoming overall undergraduate GPA was the strongest predictor of students’ first semester GPA in pharmacy school, followed by participation in the Pharmacy Biomedical Preview Program. After adjusting for other factors, mandatory participation in the program was associated with a higher first semester GPA, and voluntary participation in the program was also associated with a first semester GPA that was higher. Conclusion. Findings from this study indicated that implementation of a pre-matriculation success program at a college of pharmacy in a historically Black institution is a viable strategy to improve students’ academic success in the first year.