Academic entitlement and academic performance in graduating pharmacy students

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• Academic entitlement is a growing concern in higher education.
• A measurable definition and assessment of academic entitlement in pharmacy students are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• Define and measure academic entitlement in graduating doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students.
• Compare academic performance between students with high and low academic entitlement.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to graduating PharmD students at a private health sciences institution.
• The survey included demographic data, academic performance metrics, and two validated academic entitlement instruments.

Main Results:

• 141 of 243 students completed the survey; 10% were categorized as more academically entitled.
• Students with lower academic entitlement required fewer reassessments and less remediation.
• Key entitlement indicators involved student expectations of faculty support.

Conclusions:

• Lower academic entitlement correlates with higher academic success in graduating pharmacy students.
• Evidence-based strategies are needed to decrease academic entitlement and enhance academic outcomes in pharmacy education.