About the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
At the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, we’re committed to providing innovative and interprofessional educational experiences with a liberal arts perspective. Along with our renowned Pharmacy program, which originated in 1904, Butler also houses the longest-running Physician Assistant (PA) program in the state of Indiana. We have since evolved to include on-campus Nursing and Health Sciences programs, as well as an online Doctor of Medical Science, Bridge to Doctor of Medical Science, and a PharmD Online Pathway program. Within all our programs, students are prepared for meaningful healthcare careers through hands-on learning in the classroom, collaborative research opportunities alongside our dedicated and accomplished faculty, and outstanding clinical experiences.
Accreditation
Butler University and the programs within each college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC is a regional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities. HLC accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. Accreditation was granted to Butler University initially in January 1915. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was in 2022–2023. The next reaffirmation of accreditation is 2032–2033.
The Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. The pharmacy program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education through June 2028. By completion of the doctor of pharmacy curriculum, its graduates fulfill the educational requirements for examination and licensure as pharmacists in every state in the nation.
Butler’s PA Program is a member of the Physician Assistant Education Association and is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Graduates of the PA Program must sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), the successful completion of which provides one the criteria for licensure or certification.
The Butler Nursing Program is fully accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing as of May 17, 2024. Graduates of the Nursing Program must sit for the National Council Licensure Examination [for] Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), the successful completion of which provides one the criteria for licensure. Butler University is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence, and to further solidify our commitment to quality education in Nursing, we have set forth a timeline to seek accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). As per CCNE guidelines, a degree program must have students enrolled for one academic year (two semesters) prior to hosting the on-site visit. Therefore, the earliest opportunity for us to host an on-site visit is fall 2026, as these visits are scheduled a minimum of 12 months in advance. Given this, the earliest point at which we can apply for CCNE accreditation is fall 2024.
College Leadership and Guiding Principles
Robert Soltis ’87 joined Butler University in 2016. Prior to his appointment as Dean, he was a faculty member at Drake University serving as Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical, and Administrative Sciences, and held the title Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. His most recent work is in the scholarship of teaching and learning. He is the co-author of the textbook Introduction to the Pharmaceutical Sciences: An Integrated Approach and was elected to the Academy of Pharmacology Educators of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
Soltis earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (cum laude) from Butler, his doctorate in Pharmacology/Toxicology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1991 and was a Pharmacology Research Associate (PRAT Fellow) at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Our mission is to provide innovative and interprofessional educational experiences in the health sciences. Connecting with a liberal arts perspective, we develop life-long learners who serve society as dedicated health professionals, scholars, and community leaders.
Our vision is to develop today’s healthcare leaders to overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
Professionally focused
Inspired with excellence in teaching and model life learning. We have a passion for our life work and have dedicated our careers to training the next generation of health care providers and educators. We look for new ways to improve learning and we adapt to the need for new knowledge, skills and attitudes. We share our practical experiences with our students so that what they learn is directly connected to actual patient care or to our scholarship. We utilize real-life experiences whenever possible so that students develop an appreciation for the patient and the societal variables that add complexity to care of an individual or of a population. As faculty, we have developed a collaborative learning environment and are respectful and supportive of one another.
Student focused
Dedicated to our students. We are dedicated to our students and are committed to their development, both inside and outside the classroom, with teaching, advising, project oversight, and experiential learning.
Patient focused
Dedicated to our patients and our professions. We are experienced health care practitioners and investigators who exude a high regard for patient care that extends to our students. We teach others so our professions can excel and provide better patient care and research each day.
Educate and Practice
Advance the practice of our health care professions and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach by providing effective and innovative programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional level learners.
Research and Scholarly Activity
Conduct focused research and scholarly activity that is consistent with our expertise and tied to student experiences.
Public Health, Service, and Leadership
Foster leadership and service for students, faculty, and staff through public health-related community outreach, university and college service, and involvement in professional organizations.
Employer of Choice
Create an employment environment that provides leadership, personal growth, and resources to be a desired place of employment for the ongoing vitality of our programs.
Collaboration
Develop collaborations to increase the reach and effectiveness of our programs and public health initiatives.
Advocacy Statements
Butler University supports legislation and other policies that achieve any or all of the following goals:
- Permit PAs to practice at the top of their education and training
- Promote sustainability in PA education
- Support a regulatory environment which empowers the profession to self-govern
- Support parity in the marketplace with other advanced level providers
- Promote diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility in health care
- Expand access to the delivery of PA-provided care
- Promote the role of the PA on the health care team
- Support PAs and PA students in delivering high quality patient care
- Expand financially sustainable payment models for healthcare provided by a PA.
Butler University supports legislation and other policies that achieve any or all of the following goals:
- Permit pharmacists to practice at the top of their education and training,
- Advance the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process,
- Promote diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility in health care,
- Create and expand financially sustainable payment models for pharmacists’ care,
- Expand access to the delivery of pharmacist-provided care,
- Promote the role of the pharmacist on the health care team,
- Enhance the delivery of patient care through the use of technology, such as telehealth
- Support pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in delivering high quality patient care.