The Role and Responsibilities of Pharmacy Student Government Associations in Pharmacy Programs

Abstract

Objective. To identify student government designs used by pharmacy programs and to examine their functions, duties, and relationships with other student organizations. Methods. A 21-question survey was developed and distributed to pharmacy deans, who were asked to forward the survey to the leader of their student government organization. Results were analyzed in aggregate.Results. Seventy-one programs responded (56%). Of respondents, 96% had a pharmacy student government association (PSGA). Programs officers generally consisted of a president (87%), secretary (81%), vice-president (79%), and treasurer (70%). Functions of the PSGAs included oversight of fundraisers (76%), on-campus events (69%), social events (61%), organizational meetings (59%), and off-campus events (57%). Approximately half (45%) of PSGAs were part of a larger, universitywide student government. Conclusion. While student government organizations are nearly universal in pharmacy programs, their oversight of other student organizations, as well as their involvement within a larger university-wide student government, varies greatly.

Current Status and Best Practices of Shared Governance in US Pharmacy Programs

“…14 We found that little data specific to shared governance in schools and colleges of pharmacy existed, aside from a study exploring student governance. 7 However, findings from the annual AACP Faculty Survey, in which assessment of faculty satisfaction with administration and governance is a primary objective, suggest that most pharmacy faculty members are satisfied with the functioning of existing administration and governance structures. 15 For example, in the 2017 survey, 87.3% of the faculty members who responded either agreed or strongly agreed that their school or college provided opportunities for faculty participation in governance.…”

“…The only primary literature related to shared governance in schools and colleges of pharmacy is focused on student governance. 7 Thus, little is known about best and successful practices regarding shared governance models within pharmacy education.…”

Undergraduate student government participant decision-making at a California state university : an interpretative phenomenological analysis

“…Similar feelings were expressed by the participants in this study about their student constituents. These participants did not experience what Kennedy, Ginsburg, Harnois, & Spooner (2015), Klemenčič (2014), Menon (2003), and Miles (2011) have all said, which is that student constituent attitudes towards student government members were only involved to serve their own interests or the interests of only specific sub-populations of students. This sentiment may exist among student constituents, but these participants in this study did not experience those negative attitudes when they engaged with the student body.…”

“…The perception of student government decision-making that the student voters have is important. Findings in the literature showed that students who are represented by student government see those members in a negative light (Kennedy, Ginsburg, Harnois, & Spooner, 2015;Menon, 2003). Some students may view student government as serving the administration, only making decisions the institution tells them to make (Mackey, 2006;Miles, 2011).…”

“…Some students may view student government as serving the administration, only making decisions the institution tells them to make (Mackey, 2006;Miles, 2011). Other student constituents may see student government only serving subpopulations of the student body, and not representing the full diversity of the student body (Kennedy, Ginsburg, Harnois, & Spooner, 2015;Klemenčič, 2014;Miles, 2011). A study conducted by Cuyjet (1994) found students want their student government representatives to tackle issues such as tuition increases and campus safety.…”