The USC College of Pharmacy has launched an innovative mentorship initiative that pairs students with faculty mentors to foster professional development and meaningful relationships.
The Gamecock Connecting, Advocating and Relating in Education mentor program, implemented in Fall 2024, aims to provide personalized guidance and support to pharmacy students.
“The Gamecock CARE program really emerged from student feedback,” explains Jordan Ballou, interim associate dean of student affairs. “Our students were craving more mentorship opportunities and wanted to connect with faculty for professional guidance. While many students previously had informal mentors, we recognized the need for a structured program that ensures every student has access to faculty support.”
The pilot program assigned mentors to all first- through third-year pharmacy students, with 25 faculty members participating. First- and second-year students met with their mentors at least once during the semester, while third-year students were encouraged to participate voluntarily.
“By requiring these initial meetings, especially for our first-year students early in the semester, we helped break down barriers that often exist between students and faculty,” says Ballou. “Itʼs been particularly rewarding to see second-year students continuing to reach out to their mentors even when itʼs no longer required. That shows the real value theyʼre finding in these relationships.”
Itʼs been particularly rewarding to see second-year students continuing to reach out to their mentors even when itʼs no longer required. That shows the real value theyʼre finding in these relationships.
The program has shown promising results, with students reporting increased confidence in faculty interactions and valuable professional development support. Special consideration was given to students on the Greenville campus, where dedicated mentorship helped facilitate their transition to distance learning.
“Our goal is to make this a required activity for all pharmacy students in future years,” Ballou says. “Weʼre carefully balancing faculty workload while ensuring we maintain the quality of these mentoring relationships. The enthusiasm weʼre seeing from both students and faculty suggests weʼre on the right track.”
While fulfilling accreditation requirements, the program creates a supportive environment where students can seek guidance on their professional journey. Through this structured approach to mentorship, the College of Pharmacy continues to strengthen its commitment to student success and professional development.
Topics: Pharm.D. Program, Student Experience