Student Experience with a Co-Curricular Program Design to Enhance Personal and Professional Growth

Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida, USA

Objectives: To assess student satisfaction of a structured co-curricular program designed to increase guidance in selecting experiences that foster personal and professional development. Background: Accreditation standards require the establishment of a co-curricular program to expose students to various types of Pharmacy practice. Method: Students were required to complete a minimum of 7 co-curricular activities divided between 5 specific areas of professional growth. P1 students completed an anonymous 17-item on-line questionnaire at the end of the first semester. A five-point Likert scale measured: impact on personal/professional growth, value of the experiences, development of problem solving skills, ability to work as a team member, interaction with other healthcare professionals and cultural awareness. Barriers to completing co-curricular experiences were also addressed. Results: 199 students, 67.3% female, 31.7% male and 1% gender neutral completed the questionnaire (74% response rate). 81% of students found the experiences helped them grow as a person/professional; 73% found the co-curricular experiences to be of value; 60% reported that their ability to problem solve increased and 79% stated that their ability to work as part of a team improved. 87% indicated co-curricular experiences allowed interaction with other healthcare professionals and 75% reported improved knowledge of individuals from other races/cultures. Academic obligations were the most common barrier to completing co-curricular experiences. Overall, 73% of students would complete co-curricular activities if not required. Implications: A co-curricular program structured to provide experiences focusing on personal/ professional growth is valued by students and promotes growth in these areas. Grants: None