Tag: natural science

Spalding University and the Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences have signed a Pathway Agreement partnership that will allow Spalding students to complete Sullivan’s pharmacy program at an accelerated pace while completing their Bachelor of Science degree at Spalding.

The agreement, signed Monday, July 8, 2019, by top administrators of both schools, establishes a pathway in which Spalding University students who are studying natural sciences and are on a pre-pharmacy track can transfer to Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences after three years at Spalding. Upon completing the first year of Sullivan’s accelerated Pharm.D. program, the students can transfer those credit hours back to Spalding for completion of their Bachelor of Science degree.

“Students that may be interested in attending the Doctor of Pharmacy, or Pharm.D., degree program at Sullivan University can take all of their pre-requisite coursework at Spalding University,” said Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Associate Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Dale English. “This coursework allows them to work towards a Bachelor of Science degree at Spalding University as well as set themselves up for application to and matriculation into the Pharm.D. program.

“While this program does not currently guarantee admission into the Sullivan Pharm. D. program, we have found the students that attend Spalding University are highly competitive candidates for admission into our program,” Dr. English said.

This agreement specifically applies to natural science students who leave Spalding before they earn their bachelor’s degree, typically after three years. Admission to Sullivan is not guaranteed, but Spalding students who complete the requirements will be guaranteed to receive an admissions interview.

“The agreement would create a convenient ‘3+3’ pathway for students to complete both a bachelor’s degree from Spalding and a doctor of pharmacy degree from Sullivan in six total years, which is a year faster – and thus more affordable – than would normally be the case if they sought both degrees,” said Spalding University Provost Dr. John Burden.

“The Pathway Agreement creates a clearly defined option for Spalding pre-pharmacy students to attend a local pharmacy school and complete their bachelor’s degree, even if they leave Spalding after three years,” Dr. Burden said. “This partnership helps solidify Spalding as a strong option for pre-pharmacy students to reach their professional goals.”

A major benefit to students is the ability to complete a Pharm.D. degree up to two years faster than a more traditional academic path.

“Most Pharm.D. degree programs take as many as seven to eight years to complete,” Dr. English said. “The six years to complete their Pharm.D. degree is the shortest amount of time to complete this process. In addition to completing one’s Pharm.D. degree in this time, the student also obtains both a B.S. degree as well as their Pharm.D. degree.”

The schools are looking forward to working together on the Pathway Agreement.

“The smaller overall size of both of these institutions provides a greater faculty to student ratio as well as an intimate family atmosphere,” Dr. English said. “Faculty at both institutions pride themselves on being incredibly student-centered and know their students beyond the classroom. Actively engaging with students to assist them in their future career aspirations and endeavors is a key component of faculty engagement at both universities.”

As the Spalding University women’s basketball team has surged to a school-record 12 straight wins and a trip to the conference tournament, the Golden Eagles have relied on senior Alex Martin to carry a major all-around load.

The 5-foot-6 Martin, was already a three-time all-conference player heading into 2018-19, but she has saved her best season for last.

She leads Spalding (19-6, 14-2 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) in scoring (17.2 ppg) and is tied for the team lead in rebounding (6.6), both career bests. She’s also first on the team in steals (48) and second in assists (63).

She’ll lead the second-seeded Golden Eagles against No. 3 Westminster at 7 p.m. EST Thursday in the SLIAC Tournament semifinals at Greenville. The winner will face the No. 1 Greenville-No. 4 Webster in Saturday’s title game with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament on the line. Spalding is participating in its first SLIAC Tournament in three years and will be vying for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2015.

“If I could have written a book about how my senior year would go, this would be it,” Martin said. “This has been amazing.”

Learn more about the Spalding women’s basketball program

Martin said helping Spalding get back to the conference tournament was her No. 1 goal this season and that it’s exciting to get there with so much momentum.

The Golden Eagles were only 7-6 after losing back-to-back games by a total of six points at Westminster and at Greenville on Jan. 3 and Jan 5. But they’ve hit their stride since and avenged both league losses when Westminster and Greenville visited Louisville. Spalding’s 75-65 win over Greenville on Feb. 6 was the Panthers’ only conference loss.

Martin missed the first five games of the season with a toe injury – one of multiple injuries the Golden Eagles have battled this season. At one point, Spalding had only eight players available and was forced to have people playing out of position to fill out the lineup. But Martin said those setbacks helped Spalding in the long run because the players matured and learned new roles and skills.

Martin, for instance, played power forward some out of necessity, and she said that helped improve her rebounding in the post.

“Our coaches say every day that we’re not quitters,” Martin said “We could be down 15, and wont quit. We just don’t give up. If somebody goes down, we say, ‘OK, let’s pick up the slack somewhere else.'”

Martin certainly hasn’t been slacking in the scoring department. She reached double figures in all but two regular-season games. She topped 20 points five times, including a career-high 35 points in the loss at Westminster. She was twice named the SLIAC Player of the Week.

Though she’s Spalding’s top scorer, Martin said passing is her favorite part of the game.

The Ballard High School alumna said she has always been a fan of NBA point guard and Louisville native Rajon Rondo and enjoyed watching him facilitate the offense and set teammates up for baskets.

“Seeing other people’s success and seeing other people score (is satisfying),” Martin said. “You can always hit a three, but having that pretty pass, you might only get to do it a couple times a game, so that’s the best part.”

Martin looks back on her Spalding career fondly. She said she was drawn to stay home and play for the Golden Eagles because of the reputation of coach Charlie Just and the opportunity for her family to attend all her games.

Martin is in Spalding’s natural science and pre-athletic training program. She’ll graduate in June, then be back next school year to complete her master’s of science in athletic training. Eventually, she hopes to become a trainer for a college basketball team.