After reading these posts, I thought it may be helpful to provide some information related to the AACP PCAT Advisory Committee's work related to SJTs.
Several years ago, the PCAT Advisory Committee investigated the issue of SJTs and made a recommendation to AACP's Board of Directors that an SJT be developed either for pharmacy or in conjunction with other health professions. The BOD approved this request in 2015 and then approached AAMC, who was not interested in a joint venture. Since that time, interest in development of such a test has diminished due to the ongoing annual decline in pharmacy school applicants along with the increasing number of pharmacy colleges and schools. There does not seem to be a need to add an additional admission hurdle, though it is recognized that SJT results could be used to identify students who may need specific targeted development after entering pharmacy school.
For those colleges/schools using SJTs (or those who have an interest) it is important to consider what purpose is being served. Specifically, how is an SJT being used in the admissions process to distinguish applicants that are suitable for admission versus those that are not? Or, alternatively, are STJ results being used to identify admitted applicants that are targeted for specific areas of development (e.g., professionalism, critical thinking, problem solving, decision making) upon matriculation into pharmacy school?
I will appreciate hearing the thoughts of others.
Paul
Paul W. Jungnickel, Ph.D., R.Ph.
Professor and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs
Harrison School of Pharmacy
Auburn University
2316 Walker Building
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-8348 (office)
334-844-8353 (fax)
334-707-0184 (mobile)
jungnpw@auburn.edu
