When the WSU-UW Joint External Doctor of Pharmacy Degree program was designed and subsequently approved by the faculty of the universities, it was determined that students entering a weekend workshop should be either be Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy or have passed a "challenge" exam on the weekend subject material.

In order to maintain the academic integrity of the weekend workshops, we have developed the following explanation:

When and How to Enroll in the Weekend Workshops

There are two steps to enrolling in a weekend workshop, one is registering for the course with the university and arranging for the challenge examination, and the other is contacting the program director at weberst@u.washington.edu or 206 616-8762 to reserve a place in a workshop.

All exams must be completed and passed at least three weeks prior to the scheduled workshop. In view of the time it takes to mail exams to the universities, to the graders, and back, the student may need to take the exam even earlier in order to ensure a place in the subsequent weekend workshop. A very few students have taken so near the deadline that when their exam was not passed it was inconvenient for them to drop out of the workshop when their transportation was already arranged. Remember it is the student's responsibilty to make sure the exam is passed before attending the workshop.

All students wanting to reserve a space in a weekend workshop should do so at least four weeks ahead of the scheduled date. This will allow time for preparatory assignments. We require a minimum of 14 participants in each weekend and cap each workshop at a maximum of 25 participants. A workshop not enrolling the minimum necessary may be canceled. We will develop a priority assignment for students so those closer to finishing the nine workshops will have the best opportunity for a space if the maximum is reached.

Important Visa Information for Foreign Citizens. Recent changes in US laws and policies has required us to develop a process that results in an I-20 Form that, for Canadian citizens, can be presented to the US Border Agents as sufficient documentation to legally enter the US for a workshop or clerkship. Below is the form and its instructions:

• Beginning September 1, 2004, a new United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule went into effect. This rule requires F-1 and J-1 visa applicants (including applicants for the I-20) to pay a one-time fee of $100 to supplement the administration and maintenance costs of the Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS). This link explains the process.
• The Request for an I-20 Form
• I-20 Request Form instructions
• I-20 Process Frequently Asked Questions
  
  

If you cannot attend a workshop after being placed on the attendance list, you MUST notify the program director at weberst@u.washington.edu or 206 616-8762 earlier than three (3) weeks before the scheduled workshop AND before assignments are made. Also you must plan on attending the workshop for all 12 hours. Please do not ask to leave early.

What Happens if a Student Fails the Examination?

If a student does NOT pass the subject examination and is scheduled for the weekend workshop within 3 or fewer weeks, he or she will be "disenrolled" from the workshop. In the event of failing the exam, it may be re-taken, but a minimum 3 week time period should elapse between exams to ensure adequate time to prepare. After failing a module examination, students have 3 months to re-take another exam in that subject area, or they will receive an "F" for the course (that pharmacotherapy module). If a person flunks the second exam, they will fail the course. Full tuition will be charged to re-take the course if a second exam is not taken within 3 months of the failure OR if a second examination is failed. Failing the pharmacotherapy module a second time is grounds for dismissal from the program.