The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy has learned that its accreditation is no longer in jeopardy thanks to funding for a permanent building approved during the recent legislative session.
The school at the University of Hawaii at Hilo has been fully accredited since 2011, the year the first class graduated, but was given a warning last year by accreditation reviewers for not having proper facilities.
As a result of the $33 million appropriation by lawmakers, the American Council for Pharmacy Education has notified the DKICP that it is compliant with all 30 standards used to evaluate colleges of pharmacy.
Extensive but unsuccessful lobbying efforts to secure the funding during the 2013 session had left university officials concerned about the school’s future.
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“If we had followed the path we were on just a year ago, I could be saying that we have been placed on probation, which would’ve been disastrous for the future of the college,” said John Pezzuto, the pharmacy school’s founding dean.
“It is heartening that our accreditation is once again secure, but we all must remain diligent and prepare for the next steps.”
Those include a self-study due by September to be followed by an on-site visit from the American Council for Pharmacy Education in October.
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The results of both will be reviewed at the next ACPE board meeting scheduled for January 2015.
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