February 03, 2023
ASU's Pettis (R) and South University's Singletary shake hands after signing the MOU (Photo credit: David Campbell/ASU).
ASU & Georgia's 'South University' Signs Historic MOU; Allows ASU Students Seamless Path to Obtain Pharmacy Doctorate
By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
The leading academic officers of both Alabama State University and South University
of Savannah, Ga. held an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony
on Feb. 1, in the ASU President's conference room that offers a seamless avenue for
ASU students to study and receive a doctoral degree in Pharmacy from South University.
Representing the two schools and signing the MOU document were ASU's Dr. Carl S. Pettis,
provost and vice president of Academic Affairs and South University's, Dr. Gilbert
Singletary, provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs.
"Helping bridge the gap for our students to have enhanced professional careers by
receiving, in this case, a doctorate in pharmacy, is the purpose of this academic
agreement between our two universities," said Provost Pettis. "One of our main goals
at ASU is to enrich the academic lives of our students and for ASU to expand educational
opportunities by better defining pathways for their success in life."
SOUTH UNIVERSITY'S GOAL IS DIVERSITY
South University's Provost agreed that helping our students achieve career success
is important, as is its goal of increasing diversity nationwide within the pharmacy
profession.
"It is an important issue for South University to increase the number of minority
students in our pharmacy program and thus, increase the number of African-American
pharmacists in the nation. At present, America is not very inclusive when it comes
to African-Americans or other minorities being within this profession," Singletary
said from the podium.
Data shows that at present, only 7.6 percent of the registered pharmacist in the nation
are members of a minority community; and in 2023, only 143 pharmacy students in the
U.S. are African-American.
"Alabama State has a great history of being at the forefront of educating and uplifting
members of our community, and in being a leader in advocating social change; so we
applaud its signing this MOU and through its students, helping us diversity the pharmacy
profession in the nation," Singletary stated.
ASU PROVOST - OPPORTUNITY & INCLUSIVENESS
From his remarks during the news conference, Provost Pettis explained this MOU is
an important opportunity for ASU's students, South University's doctoral program and
for inclusiveness in the U.S.A.
"I wish to thank ASU's President Quinton Ross who inspires us to constantly look for
and put together programs that lift up our student body. We do so that ASU's students
will have a larger number of good career opportunities to choose from after receiving
a fine education from the University," Pettis said. "This MOU forges a great opportunity
for our campus, its students, our community and ultimately, our nation."
News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.
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