Academic Programs

The Community Pharmacy Service (CPS) at the School of Pharmacy, UMT is based on the idea of volunteering time and expertise to the charitable organizations (not for profit) that truly deserve help. This will impose a sense of responsibility towards society in our students.

1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of the community pharmacy service program is to encourage students

• To develop an understanding of the various roles they can play in society and to help them develop a greater sense of belonging to society.
• To develop strong ties between the students and their community by promoting valuable and long-term associations.
• To focus on the character building of the students and enable them to gain a competitive edge in the job market by having a unique selling point.

2 DURATION OF CPS

The School of Pharmacy recognizes student’s commitment to their university and to their community. All students are required to complete 80 earned hours of community service over 5 years Pharm-D program.

3 PROCEDURE FOR THE Community services

• Students will be required to fill the Service as a Civic and Community Engagement Registration form in the 1^st two weeks of every semester and submit it for approval by in charge CPS (Dr. Amber Sharif). This form should clearly indicate the total number of community service hours and the nature of activity that a student/group of students plans to complete in the semester. More than one volunteering form may be submitted when additional activities are planned that were not included on a previously submitted form. The form must be signed by the student and by the in-charge CPS before submission.
• Final approval of the community service activity will be given by the Dean SPH (Dr. Ejaz Ullah Cheema). Students are instructed to verify the status of their submitted form (approved or rejected) in the 3rd week of the semester.
• Upon completion of each activity, students must update their status on the Service as a Civic and Community Engagement completion form and on the form that was submitted previously (Community Services Registration form).
• Community service hours that have been completed will be officially recorded after verification is received from the host organization (Hours that were approved previously will be counted only irrespective of the contact hours). An official letter from the host organization verifying the number of volunteering hours and the nature of the activity must be submitted to in-charge CPS.
• At the end of each semester, the total number of community service hours completed will be transferred to the students OBE transcript for official records.
• Students must keep a track of the hours completed and plan their activities to ensure that the 80 hours are completed in the given time frame.

4 RULES AND REGULATIONS

• The community services are non-credit assignments, with no credit hours given to the students in the final transcript however, it will be acknowledged in OBE transcript.
• Students will not be paid for performing any community related services. Any activity that is paid will not be approved by the community service program.
• SPH will provide a list of nature of community activities with registered NGOs and social organizations within the city. If students wish to provide community services to any other organization either within or outside the city, he/she will have to seek prior permission from in-charge CPS.
• Hours completed must be verified by the in-charge CPS and by the host organization once the activity has been completed.
• Before a student enrolls or opts for a particular activity, he/she must verify their eligibility and the availability of resources for that activity. Students that are unsure if a particular activity meets the criteria must schedule a meeting with the in-charge CPS to obtain the approvals. Students are advised to only engage in those activities that have been approved.

The in charge will not be held responsible if a student does not show up or complete the community service activity that was pre-approved by relevant authorities.

• Students may select one or more community service activity that is relevant to their area of interest and/or expertise in order to complete 80 hours. It is recommended that students engage in activities that will result in the maximum benefit to society.
• All students registered for the community services will be required to complete their pre-approved activities. Community service hours that have not been completed by the end of semester will be transferred to the next semester once only and then it will be treated as backlog hours. It will be the responsibility of such students to immediately schedule a meeting with the focal person so that the backed hours can be handled on a priority basis.
• Students that have not completed 80 hours of approved community service and have not received clearance from the Dean SPH will not be eligible for issuance of the final OBE transcript with CPS.

 5 Activities

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL BE ACCEPTED BY THE CPS:

• Volunteering at any official organization extending community service or NGO approved by SPH, UMT
• Literacy elevation programs.
• Volunteering/ participating at any community service events organized by the Community Pharmacy Service, SPH – Events may include blood drives, health camps, medical awareness camps, donation drives, services at old homes, rehabilitation center (for drug addiction) and mental asylum and proper disposal of unwanted or expired medicines etc.
• Fundraising activities and charity distribution– Examples include earthquake relief, toy drive for orphans, Ramadan ration drive etc.
• Participation in campaigns such as peace walk, recycling campaign, anti-corruption walk, paper disposal campaign, ban on plastic bags campaign etc.

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL BE CONSIDERED AS NON-QUALIFYING ACTIVITIES FOR THE CPS:

• Any activity that is hazardous and contains substances or situations that could damage or harm human health, safety or the environment.
• Any activity that consists of normally performed duties at home or personal recreational activities such as cleaning your colony, making a sewerage system for your own house or colony, etc
• Any activity that involves a court ordered program such as community service program for young offenders, probationary programs or any unlawful activity.