Greetings from William H. Riffee, Ph.D. Dean, College of Pharmacy University of Florida

Welcome to the University of Florida College of Pharmacy! The faculty and staff of the College of Pharmacy truly believe that we are one of the top Colleges of Pharmacy in the Nation. More importantly, we are not the only ones who think so! The U.S. News and World Report recently ranked the University of Florida College of Pharmacy as one of the Top Ten Colleges in the United States. The College provides students with an exceptional education because of the quality of its faculty, staff, student services, curriculum, experiential programs, and the quality of the students themselves. Graduates of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy are highly skilled pharmacy practitioners and exceptional citizens of the state and country. We have made great strides in improving the quality of students' education in the past five years. We have implemented a new curriculum for the Pharm.D. degree and an internationally recognized non-traditional distance learning post-baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy degree. We have made significant progress in meeting the goals and objectives of the College's mission to promote the health and welfare of the citizens of Florida and the Nation.

However, even though you are among the best, there is always room for improvement where the health and welfare of people are concerned. The process of improvement never ends. As the American philosopher Will Rogers said, "Even if you are on the right track, if you don't move you will get run over." Well, the College continues to be on the move!

We are especially looking forward to the future with great anticipation and excitement. The College will be beginning its Off-Campus initiative in Fall 2002. Students will be able to join the College at sites located in Orlando, Jacksonville, and St. Petersburg. Each of these campuses will accommodate up to 50 students for each professional year. Students will receive instruction in the pharmacy by distance education technology and live course facilitation at the off-campus sites.

Look us over. We are sure that you will agree that it is an exciting time to be a Florida Gator!