State budget concerns stall USF pharmacy program - South Florida Business Journal:

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A bill pending in the establishingfa four-year doctor of pharmacyt degree program at USF is stallec as lawmakers grapple with a budget crisis. Withouty legislative approval, the program could be exacerbating a shortage of pharmacists inthe state. The university isn’tt asking for any money for the programrightt now, although it planzs to seek state support beginning in fiscal year But, with the state facing a budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal Senate staffers are blocking progress of any spendinf bills, USF President Judy Genshaft told a board of trustee workgroup on April 16.
Genshaft askedr trustees and others at the meeting tosend e-mailds to Senate leaders urging passage of the “The pharmacy program is about providinfg for the needs of the said Rhea Law, president of the boarfd of trustees, adding that retailerss such as (NYSE: WAG) and insurers such as are in need of more pharmacistx in Florida. “The state wouldd put money into incentives to bring thesejobs here,” Law said. voted in January to approvw the USF pharmacy but the Legislature also needs to give its OK becausee pharmacists are licensed bythe state.
Identicalp measures pending in the House and Senate authorize the The House bill isprogressin smoothly, but the Senatre measure, sponsored by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port is being held up, Genshaft Fasano did not return a callfor comment. The universitg is using funds from corporate andprivate donors, including a $1 millio n anonymous gift, for the initial planning. For fiscalo year 2011-12, when the first class of 50 studentszwould enroll, USF is asking for $1.4 millionj from the state, followed by $2.7 milliohn in FY 2012-13. The program is expected to reach full capacityy at 400 studentsin 2016. Tuitiob would cover about 70 percent ofthe costs.
If the Legislature doesn’ft approve the program, USF coulcd delay it for one year and ask for statee funds beginning in FY Genshaft said. She’s also looking at alternative funding such asincreasing tuition, more fundraising to increases private investment and reallocatinhg other university resources. Five other Florida institutions offer doctor ofpharmacyt degrees. Genshaft said none have objected to theUSF program.