Student membership on standing committees at colleges and schools of pharmacy

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and extent of participation of pharmacy students on standing committees at colleges and schools of pharmacy. A 25-item questionnaire was mailed to the 79 accredited colleges and schools of pharmacy. A total of 64 questionnaires (81 percent) were returned. Thirty-eight respondents reported that BS in Pharmacy students served on one or more committees, 49 indicated that entry-level PharmD students served, 27 reported post-BS PharmD students, 23 reported MS students, and 29 indicated that PhD students served on one or more committees. The committees on which entry-level students most commonly served were curriculum, admissions, and disciplinary. Students tended to be voting members and were perceived to be contributors to committee activities. Students should play an active role on committees, not only because this is an accreditation standard, but because serving on committees exposes them to professional governance and professional socialization.