Streamlining Cocurricular Programming through Strategic Student Organization Collaboration

The objective of this study was to streamline cocurricular activities by identifying and addressing redundancies, ensuring that each student organization contributes meaningfully to the overall educational experience of PharmD students at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

To evaluate the evolving structure of student-led events, the Eshelman School of Pharmacy Student Senate analyzed event data from Qualtrics submissions from Fall 2023 to Spring 2025. A quantitative analysis assessed overall engagement and trends in event collaboration, with a proportional analysis to adjust for the decrease in total events, providing insights into shifts in student involvement and Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) construct coverage. Student leaders were surveyed to gather qualitative insights into methods utilized and associated challenges.

The study revealed a 60% increase in collaboration among student organizations from the 2023-2024 to 2024-2025 academic year, indicating a shift toward more intentional event planning. There was a 32% decrease in student-led events and ACPE construct coverage from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024, followed by stabilization in Spring 2025. A decrease in construct coverage represented a reduction in student opportunities to engage with competencies rather than the removal of constructs from programming, fulfilling ACPE requirements without an additional meeting burden. Collaboration was pivotal in this change, as organizations intentionally consolidated efforts to improve efficiency and reduce redundancy.

Promoting collaboration and intentional programming effectively optimizes the cocurricular space in schools with numerous student organizations, though scheduling remains challenging. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impacts and potential benefits of reducing burnout within professional school settings.