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AMHERST, N.Y. – ˿����Ƶ College and D’Youville College have established a new educational partnership that will give students the opportunity to earn a doctor of pharmacy degree in a shorter amount of time and also provides an option to receive a dual degree.

The two agreements were formally signed at D’Youville by ˿����Ƶ President Gary A. Olson; D’Youville President Lorrie Clemo; Dr. Michael Brogan, ˿����Ƶ’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college; and Dr. Arup Sen, D’Youville’s vice president for academic affairs.

“This newly established partnership between two premier private colleges in Western New York will provide our students with high quality learning and professional opportunities that represent an important step in educational collaborations in the Buffalo Niagara region,” said Olson. “D’Youville is a valued and well-regarded educational partner, and we are pleased to launch an agreement that will draw on the strength and reputation of our health sciences programs.”

As a complementary partnership for both institutions, Clemo said: “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to combine the strengths of our colleges and to provide our students with uniquely packaged programs at two of the best higher education institutions around. This college partnership will help develop a skilled and talented workforce that will fill integral roles on health care teams and fulfill a greater good for a healthier world.”

Under the 4+1 agreement, students will have the opportunity to earn a doctor of pharmacy degree from D’Youville and a master of public health degree from ˿����Ƶ, giving students the chance to complete two advanced degrees in only five years rather than the traditional six years. ˿����Ƶ will guarantee spaces each year for qualified D’Youville students in the dual degree program.

“As academic partners, this collaboration is a great example of the kind of positive impact that is possible when higher education institutions work together in a unique way that will ultimately benefit our students,” said Brogan. “This affiliation will create new educational options for students that we believe will foster a successful career path in the pharmacy and public health fields.”

For the ˿����Ƶ-D’Youville 3+4 program, students will complete three years of undergraduate study in natural science at ˿����Ƶ and then apply for admission to D’Youville’s pharmacy program. After acceptance into the program, students will have their fourth year of pharmacy courses applied toward completion of a bachelor’s degree at ˿����Ƶ. Students will then finish their pharmacy degree at D’Youville, thereby completing both programs in seven years.

“The partnering of ˿����Ƶ and D’Youville will enhance opportunities for students to earn degrees in high-paying fields and enter a job market where the demand for skilled workers has been increasing,” said Sen.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand is projected to increase for pharmacists in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals and clinics. Employment in public health fields, such as community health and health educators, is projected to grow 13 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is faster than the average for all occupations, and is projected to grow 6 percent for epidemiologists.

Additional information is available by contacting the ˿����Ƶ Office of Admissions at 839-8225 or the D’Youville School of Pharmacy at 829-8440.