About ribbon cutting photo: UF Pharmacy students assist administrators with ribbon cutting for their new study facilities. From left: David Cunningham, Julie A. Johnson, College of Pharmacy dean, Russ Armistead, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville, Carol Motycka, assistant dean for the college’s Jacksonville campus, Stephany Nunez-Cruz and Patrick Wieruszewski.
Collaborative Learning Environment
The University of Florida College of Pharmacy Jacksonville campus held a ribbon-cutting reception August 28 to celebrate completion of new enhanced student study and meeting areas for its 181 students at UF Health Jacksonville. The 3,267 sq. ft. renovation provides a 24-hour study space, including student mailboxes and a kitchen area.
Students have begun taking advantage of the dedicated quiet study space, said Assistant Dean Carol Motycka, Pharm.D., who directs the UF College of Pharmacy campus in Jacksonville. Students have been coming in to study even on days they don’t have to be on campus, because of the new facility, she said.
“This space has transformed our campus to allow for better studying overall,” Motycka said. “It’s also a place for students to collaborate in a comfortable and workable environment.”
The new construction allows allocation of other existing building space for other educational needs. Plans to create additional skills lab areas will begin next summer to support the college’s curriculum reform that will initiate in fall 2015.
The new study space includes two large group study rooms for students to view video lectures together as a group, or to plug in laptops for viewing notes individually. The renovation also added three new offices for faculty and a shared office for academic students and residents who come to the campus on rotation assignments.