Overview/Entrance Requirements

Program and Graduation Requirements

Student Responsibility

Students are advised to carefully review the College of Pharmacy chapter of the Undergraduate Calendar to ensure compliance with degree program requirements.

It is the student’s responsibility to know all relevant regulations, policies and practices.

Final completion of degree requirements is the responsibility of the student.

The University of Manitoba Registration System is not a degree audit system and the onus is on students to make sure they are selecting courses appropriate to their academic program.

Registration Assistance

If you have questions or problems with your registration you can contact the Aurora Student Help Line at (204) 474-9420, or call the College of Pharmacy Dean’s Office at (204) 474-9306.

Degree Requirements

Course Information by Year: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Courses

Faculty Academic Regulations

Admission Requirements

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

The following is a summary of the admission requirements. All admission requirements are listed in the Applicant Information Bulletin that is available on the university’s website.

Minimum 48 credit hours of pre-requisite courses including:

¹

Applicants who complete CHEM 1300 and CHEM 1310 (6 credit hours) must complete an additional 3 credit hour course (any faculty) to meet the total of 48 credit hours.

²

Applicants must complete a 3 credit hour course which meets the University’s Written English (W) requirement. Can be part of the above requirements.

Other Requirements

High school prerequisites: Biology 40S, Chemistry 40S and Pre-Calculus Math 40S

Minimum AGPA for consideration: 3.00.

The admission process requires the English Casper^® test .

Selection criteria: 75% AGPA, 25% Casper^®

Students should be aware that if admitted they must provide a current, official Adult Criminal Record Check, an Adult Abuse Registry Check and a Child Abuse Registry Check. All students enrolled in the College of Pharmacy must be immunized against specific diseases.

College Academic Regulations: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Program

Academic Self-Declaration

All students applying to the College of Pharmacy will be required to complete a Self-Declaration of Records Form which declares current or previous: academic suspensions, disciplinary action, professional misconduct, record of criminal conviction, record on the Child Abuse Registry and record on the Adult Abuse Registry. The disclosure contained therein must be satisfactory to the College of Pharmacy.

Criminal Record Check, Child Abuse Check and Adult Abuse Check

Many health care agencies where Pharmacy students are placed in a health care setting, including community pharmacies, require a criminal record check, child abuse registry check and adult abuse registry check. As a result of the above requirements, and in keeping with the future requirements of the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba, all applicants offered a position in the College of Pharmacy are required to provide a self-declaration of a Criminal Record, Child Abuse Registry and Adult Abuse Registry listing following provisional admission, and subsequently provide a current, official Criminal Record Search, Child Abuse Registry Check and Adult Abuse Registry Check. All documents must be submitted to the College of Pharmacy Dean’s Office by the first day of classes in August of the year they are admitted.

Any applicant’s name appearing on the Adult or Child Abuse Registry will be denied admission. A criminal conviction will not necessarily result in denial of admission to the College of Pharmacy. Criminal offences will be reviewed by a sub-committee of the Pharmacy Admissions Committee for the implications of the conviction in view of the regulatory professional mandate to protect the public. Failure to disclose any adult criminal record or listing on the Child Abuse or Adult Abuse Registry will invalidate an application and shall result in the applicant being denied admission, or automatic expulsion from the College of Pharmacy if the applicant has been admitted.

In addition, all undergraduate professional students of the University of Manitoba, College of Pharmacy must be registered with the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM). CPhM requires that all graduates of the College of Pharmacy who wish to obtain a license to practice pharmacy in this province, must disclose information about any conviction for an offence under the Criminal Code (Canada), the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada), or the Food and Drugs Act (Canada) in order to be considered for eligibility for registration with the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba.

The review process conducted by the College of Pharmacy is independent of the review process conducted by the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba.

Immunization

Maintaining an up-to-date health record is an important responsibility of being a student, and serves to protect the health of vulnerable patients with whom students will be involved, as well as the health of students and their families. In general, immunizations and health screening tests are voluntary procedures; however, required immunizations and testing are also a condition of enrolment within The College of Pharmacy. All students enrolled in the College of Pharmacy must be
immunized as outlined in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Immunization Program student manual. Students admitted to first year Pharmacy will be provided with an Immunization package at the time of acceptance into the program. Students should provide their immune status and complete their immunizations with a healthcare provider. Students will be required to complete their required immunizations by the end of their first year.

Students will not be able to attend Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences or participate in any external outreach activities until all immunization requirements are up-to-date. Students are responsible for updating their immunizations as needed. Completion of the immunization schedule is required for course progression in Pharmacy.

CPR/ First Aid Requirements

All students in the Pharmacy program are required to have valid Standard First Aid and CPR - Basic Life Support training. The Standard First Aid course is valid for 3 years and the CPR (BLS) course is valid for one year. It is the academic and financial responsibility of the student to ensure that current certification in both CPR (BSL) and Standard First Aid is maintained throughout the program and a copy of the current certificate is submitted to the Dean’s Office.

Mask Fit Testing

Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences are subject to certain requirements intended to protect the health and well-being of learners, staff and patients. One such requirement is that learners provide documentation of current (i.e., within 2 years) N95 mask fit testing. Official proof of the mask-fit test must be submitted to the College of Pharmacy Dean’s office by April 30th of the second year of the Pharmacy program.

Some learners may be unable to provide the Documentation due to religious reasons, as the N95 mask fit testing requires the absence of facial hair. In such situations, the College will work with the learner and the experiential site to accommodate the learner and make alternate arrangements that comply with human rights laws and policies, bona fide program requirements, and the health and safety requirements of the College and the experiential placement site.

The affected learner must advise the College and the experiential site of the need for alternate arrangements well in advance of the learner’s experiential rotation. If adequate notice is not provided, the learner may be reassigned to an area of perceived lower risk (recognizing that zero risk of exposure in the area of reassignment cannot be guaranteed).

In the unlikely event of an outbreak of some infectious entity that requires use of N95 masks more broadly in a facility (such as a viral outbreak or epidemic), learners without the appropriate N95 mask fit (or accepted alternate arrangements) will not be allowed on site. In such a case, the requirements for fulfillment of the experiential program will be reviewed as required and may include delayed completion of the experiential rotation, or change in location.

Introductory/ Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE/APPE)

Pharmacy practice experiences occur in Year 2 (Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience - IPPE) and Year 4 (Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience - APPE) of the PharmD curriculum. One IPPE or APPE is required to be completed outside of Winnipeg. Students may be required to be placed outside of Winnipeg for more than one IPPE or APPE depending on availability of experiential rotation locations. Students do have an opportunity to choose and rank their requests for their preferred sites but student placements will be allocated based on availability.

Eligible costs associated with pharmacy practice experiences in rural and Northern Manitoba, including travel and living expenses (accommodations), will be covered in accordance with Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Policy on Rural and Northern Manitoba Student Placement Reimbursements. Students would be responsible for all costs associated with pharmacy practice experience outside of Manitoba.

Students may request an exemption from travel to experiential locations outside of Winnipeg, based on criteria established by the College of Pharmacy Office of Experiential Education including:

1. Medical (reviewed through UM Student Accessibility Services)
2. Primary caregiver for:
   1. Children
   2. Elder, relative or partner
3. Exceptional circumstances can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Students who are unable to relocate to a rural or northern location for the period of the placement will be given preference for rural placements that are within commuting distance from Winnipeg. 

Under The Workers Compensation Act (Manitoba), students of the University of Manitoba who are engaged in a field practicum as a required part of their program are generally covered for injuries sustained in the course of and arising out of the practice experience. However, where the practicum take place outside of Manitoba, and the student is not a Manitoba resident, workers compensation coverage may not be extended, based on the provisions of The Workers Compensation Act. However, other insurance coverage may be available to registered students. Students are encouraged to contact the Experiential Program Coordinator of the Pharmacy Practice Experience Program at the earliest opportunity to determine if any such alternative arrangements are possible. 

Transfer of Credit Earned Elsewhere

The College of Pharmacy will transfer in external grades in a manner that is consistent with the University of Manitoba policy on the transference of external grades. The relevance of courses completed to the student’s educational objective at the University of Manitoba and the quality of academic achievement as evidenced by the student’s grades will be determining factors in assessing acceptability of credits earned elsewhere. No transfer of credit will be given for courses taken ten years or more prior to the application date. No transfer of credit will be permitted for courses where a “D” grade (or its percentage equivalent) has been awarded.

Scholastic Progress

The University of Manitoba Academic Calendar and Catalog applies to all students. In addition, the College of Pharmacy has regulations and requirements, published within the Academic Calendar in the College of Pharmacy section and yearly in the College of Pharmacy Student Handbook that apply specifically to its students.

For course progression in the College of Pharmacy students must achieve a minimum combined fall and winter term GPA of 2.00, and attain the minimum passing grade of “C” in each course, except where the course evaluation is in a “pass/fail” format, where “pass” is required, or as otherwise described in the course outline.

A student in Year 1-4 of the pharmacy program who records no more than one grade of “D” during the academic session, and who achieves a minimum combined fall and winter term GPA of 2.00, may at the discretion of the of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy be permitted to write a supplementary examination in that course.

Supplementary Exams will not be granted if a student records more than one grade of “D” during the academic session within any year or if a student records a grade of “F” during the academic session within any year. No more than two supplemental exams will be offered to any student throughout the Pharmacy program. Supplementary Exams are not available in most courses and are at the discretion of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy. Please refer to the current College of Pharmacy Student Handbook for specific details.

Application forms for supplementary examinations are available in the College of Pharmacy Dean’s Office, and the examination is subject to a prescribed fee. Supplementary exams, if granted, will normally take place in mid-summer, following the academic session. Students may not be awarded a grade higher than “C” in a course for which a supplementary exam is written.

The grade achieved following supplementary examination will replace the grade originally recorded on the student’s academic record.

A student who fails to achieve a passing grade of “C” in one course, following supplementary examination if that option is offered, and who achieves a minimum combined fall and winter term GPA of 2.00, will be considered to have failed that year, and will be required to repeat that course and may at the discretion of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy be required to repeat all, or a number of courses in the following academic year.

A student who fails to achieve a minimum passing grade of “C” in two courses, and whose combined fall and winter term GPA remains above 1.75, will be considered to have failed that year, and will be required to repeat those courses and may at the discretion of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy be required to repeat all, or a number of courses in the following academic year.

The records of all students who fail a year, and the disposition of the cases, shall be reported to the Pharmacy College Council for information, but not for debate. Students who have cause to disagree with the disposition may file an appeal against the decision according to University of Manitoba Student policies and procedures.

A student who fails more than one year in the program, or who fails the same year twice, shall be required to withdraw from the Pharmacy program.

A student who fails to achieve a passing grade in more than two courses in the academic session, or whose combined fall and winter term GPA falls below 1.75, or who fails to achieve a passing grade in a repeated year, will be required to withdraw from the Pharmacy program.

Appeals Concerning Scholastic Progress

Should a student wish to appeal against any decision concerning scholastic progress, the following procedures should be followed:

Appeals of Term Work

Term Work refers to anything for which marks or grades are assigned and which have been returned or made available to students prior to the close of the last day of classes. This may include such things as tests, essays, class presentations, class participation, assignments, laboratory and other reports, preceptor evaluations and any other component of a final grade completed and evaluated during the term. Any student who is dissatisfied with a grade on term work has the right to appeal that grade. Students should recognize, however, that term work grade appeals are only upheld when there are good reasons to support the student's request for an elevated grade.

Reasons for submitting a Term Work Grade Appeal may include; miscalculation of marks, misgrading of a paper/exam, application of an evaluation or grading system which was not included in the course outline, and unfair or inequitable processes in determining the final grade.

Procedure:

1. A student may formally appeal a grade received for term work provided that the matter has been discussed with the instructor in the first instance in an attempt to resolve the issue without the need for a formal appeal. If the grade discrepancy cannot be resolved, the student should make an appointment with the Associate Dean (Academic) who will provide information about the appeals procedure, academic regulations and related matters.
2. A formal appeal of the grade(s) for term work may be made on an "Application for Appealing a Grade Given for Term Work" form and is to be submitted to the Cashier’s Office with the appropriate fee payment. The time limit for submission of this appeal is ten working days following communication of the grade to the student. Once paid, the form should be submitted to the academic unit offering the course. Subsequent processing of the appeal and communication of the disposition of the appeal is the responsibility of the Associate Dean (Academic) responsible for that academic unit. The result of the appeal will be forwarded in writing to the student and the instructor not later than fifteen working days after the formal appeal has been lodged.
3. Normally the re-evaluation of a grade shall be undertaken by the instructor(s) responsible for the particular course (section) in consultation with at least one other instructor, in the same or related subject area.
4. The fee charged for each term work grade appeal will be refunded for any grade which is changed (increased) as a result of the appeal.
5. Should a student not be satisfied with the decision, he/she may wish to seek advice from The Office of Student Advocacy, University of Manitoba.

Appeals of Course Final Grades

The appeal of a final grade should be discussed with the Associate Dean (Academic) of Pharmacy, who will supply information about the appeals procedure, academic regulations and related matters.

Students who still wish to proceed with an appeal should consult the office of Student Advocacy for advice and assistance, and a letter of appeal must be sent to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy within 21 days of receiving notification of the decision. The letter should state the nature of the decision being appealed and the alternative that is being requested.

The Dean will respond in writing to notify the appellant of the date and time the student should attend a meeting of the College Appeals Committee.

The Appeals Committee will comprise: the Dean of the College of Pharmacy (or designate) as chair; one senior support staff member as secretary; and three members of the full-time faculty. The senior support staff member is a non-voting member. The Chair shall only vote in the event of a tie.

Appellants have the right to attend the hearing of their appeal and may have a representative to assist them at the appeal hearing. This representative may be the Student Advocate or a fellow student or other full-time member of the university community not receiving payment for appearing or working for Legal Aid. In addition, if the student wishes, one member of his or her immediate family, and also if desired a lawyer, may be present, but as observers who do not participate and have no speaking privileges. The decision of the Appeals Committee will be conveyed to the student as soon as possible after the hearing.

If the appellant is still dissatisfied they may wish to discuss the issue further with the office of Student Advocacy. Student appellants should not expect a favorable decision when their appeal is based on grounds related to external factors such as employment, sports, or hobbies, etc.

Attendance at Class

Regular attendance is required and expected of all students in all courses. Students who are absent from class for a period of three days or more due to illness must notify the Dean's Office. An instructor may initiate procedures to debar a student from attending classes and from final examinations where unexcused absences exceed three continuous sessions. Students must obtain prior approval from the Associate Dean (Academic) for an absence exceeding two days for reasons other than illness.

Voluntary Withdrawls

Any student seeking to withdraw from a portion of, or all of their courses must provide written notification to the Dean’s Office outlining the reasons for this request. Re-entry to the College of Pharmacy by students who voluntarily withdraw, will be dependent on the availability of space and external rotation facilities. Any student who has voluntarily withdrawn from a portion of, or all of their courses in Pharmacy on more than one occasion will not be permitted re-entry into the program. Withdrawals for medical or compassionate reasons will not contribute toward this maximum. Students who, for medical reasons, withdraw from the program may not re-register until they have established, through proper medical consultation and documentation, their fitness to resume studies.

Reinstatement following a voluntary withdrawal will be subject to current and satisfactory:

1. Criminal Records, Child Abuse Registry and Adult Abuse Registry Search results;
2. College of Pharmacists (CPhM) Registration;
3. Immunization, Standard First Aid and CPR (HCP) certification;
4. Reinstatement may also be subject to the student signing an undertaking to either or both of the College of Pharmacy and CPhM of certain terms and conditions.

Deferred Final Examinations

Students may request a deferred final examination(s) on the grounds that they are unable to write said examination(s) due to: (a) participation in an inter-university, provincial, inter-provincial, national or international scholastic or athletic event; (b) religious obligations; or (c) a medical condition.

Students may request a deferred final examination from the Associate Dean (Academic) of the College of Pharmacy by submitting a Self-declaration form to the Dean's Office.

The request should typically be communicated before the final exam is written, but must normally be filed within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled date of the missed examination. Based on the evidence provided, the Associate Dean (Academic) shall decide whether the application is approved. The College of Pharmacy may request further documentation as required.

Students requesting a deferred examination due to a known situation as listed above must file an application normally twenty (20) working days prior to the day of the scheduled examination. 

Any student requesting deferred examination(s) will be required to sign an undertaking that the student has not discussed, reviewed, had access to, or otherwise become aware of the contents of the deferred examination.

Any student requesting deferred examination(s) will be required to sign an undertaking that the student has not discussed, reviewed, had access to, or otherwise become aware of the contents of the deferred examination except as expressly authorized by the instructor or professor for the course in which the deferred examination is being undertaken.

Incomplete Courses

A student who is unable to complete the term work prescribed in a course may apply to the course instructor 5 working days prior to the end of lectures for consideration of a grade classification of ‘incomplete’, and a time extension to complete the work. Should an ‘incomplete’ be granted the student will still be required to write the final examination if one is scheduled for the course. Taking into account the results of the final examination, the value of the term work completed, and the extent of the incomplete term work, the course instructor shall calculate the temporary grade using a zero value for incomplete work. Incomplete final grades are entered with the grade code and the letter ‘I’. In addition to the grade, the recommendation for an ‘incomplete’ should indicate the reason(s) for consideration being given, a description of the outstanding work to be completed, and the date by which the work must be submitted. If a final grade is not reported by the extension deadline, the letter “I” will be dropped, and the grade will remain as awarded. The student’s opportunity to improve the grade will have lapsed, unless where specific circumstances warrant, the Associate Dean (Academic) extends the date by which an incomplete must be cleared.

Leave of Absence

Any student seeking a leave of absence must submit a written request to The Dean of The College of Pharmacy normally by June 1st. The request for the leave of absence must clearly outline the reasons for the request and the Dean may require further supporting documentation to support the request. The duration of a leave of absence is typically one year and will count towards the maximum number of years to complete the pharmacy program. Students who wish to be reinstated after the leave must contact the Dean’s office by May 1st for the upcoming academic year and request reinstatement. At the point of reinstatement for students on leave for an academic year, students must provide a current, official Criminal Record Search, Child Abuse Registry Check and Adult Abuse Registry Check.

Reinstatement following a leave of absence will be subject to current and satisfactory:

1. Criminal Records, Child Abuse Registry and Adult Abuse Registry Search results;
2. CPhM Registration;
3. Immunization, Standard First Aid and CPR (HCP) certification;
4. Reinstatement may also be subject to the student signing an undertaking to either or both of the College of Pharmacy and CPhM of certain terms and conditions.

Dean's Honour List

Eligible year 1-3 students who achieve a combined fall and winter sessional GPA of 4.00 or higher will be placed on the Dean's Honour List. Eligible students must have completed a minimum of 13 credit hours in each of the fall and winter terms in years 1-3 of the program. The Dean's Honour List designation is not applied until the end of the winter term. Fourth year students are not eligible for the Dean's Honour List as there are no graded courses in year 4 (all courses are Pass/Fail).

Academic Honesty

Many courses in the College of Pharmacy require group projects and students should be aware that these are subject to the same rules regarding academic honesty as individual projects. Due to the unique nature of group work, all members of the group should exercise special care to insure that work completed does not violate academic integrity. Should a violation occur, group members will be held jointly accountable unless the violation can be attributed to a specified individual, or group of individuals. In the College of Pharmacy, all suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be passed to the Dean’s Office for evaluation.

Liability

The University’s insurer, The Canadian Universities Reciprocal Insurance Exchange (CURIE), includes malpractice coverage for pharmacy students, in respect of activities related to their Pharmacy studies, whether conducted on or off campus. The limiting factor is that the students must be doing the activity in furtherance of their education or training while a registered student of the University of Manitoba.

Professional Unsuitability By-Law

The Senate has approved a by-law granting authority to the College of Pharmacy to require a student to withdraw for reasons of professional unsuitability.

Residence Requirements

Students are required to complete all years of the Pharm.D. degree program with the College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. Under exceptional circumstances, residence requirements may be altered with permission from the Dean of Pharmacy.

Completion of the PharmD Program

The maximum time allowable for completion of the Entry to Practice PharmD degree is seven years after admission into the College of Pharmacy. Students must successfully complete all of the course work associated with a year in the program prior to being allowed to register for courses in the next year. In exceptional cases, the Dean of the College of Pharmacy may grant exceptions to this requirement.

Introduction

This chapter contains the regulations and requirements that apply to all students, regardless of faculty or school.

Each faculty and school has its own supplementary regulations and requirements. These are published in the faculty or school chapters of the Academic Calendar. Some faculties and schools also have additional regulations and requirements governing their programs; these are available from the faculty or school.

It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the academic regulations and requirements of the University of Manitoba in general and of the specific academic regulations and requirements of their faculty or school of registration. Accordingly, students are asked to seek the advice of advisors in faculty and school general offices whenever there is any question concerning how specific regulations apply to their situations.

Residence and Written English and Mathematics Requirements

Residence Requirements For Graduation

The grade of “D” is regarded as marginal in most courses by all faculties and schools. It contributes to decreasing a term, degree or cumulative Grade Point Average to less than 2.0. Courses graded “D” may be repeated for the purpose of improving a GPA. Note that some faculties and schools consider a grade of “D” as unacceptable and will not apply the course toward the program as credit. In most cases the course will need to be repeated to attain the acceptable grade. Refer to faculty and school regulations.

Calculation of Grade Point Average

The University of Manitoba will report cumulative and term grade point averages for all students through Aurora Student.
Please also refer to the Grade Point Averages Policy found in the University Policies and Procedures..

Quality Points

The quality points for a course are the product of the credit hours for the course and the grade point obtained by the student; e.g., 3 credit hours with a grade of “B” (3.0 points) = 3 credit hours x 3.0 = 9.0 quality points.

Quality Point Total

The quality point total is the sum of quality points accumulated as students proceed through their program of studies.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average (GPA) is the quality point total divided by the total number of credit hours.

Example:

Grade point average: 240 Quality Points / 15 Credit Hours = 3.20

Poor Grades and Program Progression

A course in which a “D” standing is obtained may need to be repeated by probationary students in certain faculties or where a minimum grade of “C” is required in a prerequisite subject or to meet degree requirements.

Students in doubt as to the status of their record should consult an advisor in their faculty or school.

For minimum grade levels, especially as they affect progression requirements, see the faculty or school regulations in the Academic Calendar or consult an advisor.

Academic Honours

Students qualify for the Honour List (Dean’s, Director’s, University 1) when they achieve qualifying grade point averages, as specified by the faculty/school or program regulations.

In addition, outstanding academic achievement will qualify students for other honours and awards.  These include:

• the University Gold Medal, which is awarded at graduation in each faculty or school to the student with the most outstanding academic record;
• program medals, which are awarded by faculties and schools to the best student graduating from a specific program;
• graduation “with distinction”, which is recorded on the transcripts of all students who attain a qualifying grade point average;
• and other medals and prizes that are specific to programs or disciplines.

Academic Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation

Students shall be informed of the method of evaluation to be used in each course, as specified in the Responsibilities of Academic Staff with Regard to Students Policy, found in the University Policies and Procedures.

In departments where a course is offered in more than one section, the department offering the course endeavours to provide instruction so that all sections cover similar topics and that all students achieve a similar level of competency in the topic. However, there will be differences in evaluation as well as in teaching style, readings and assignments from one section to another. Students may contact the department for additional information before registration.

Credit for Term Work