CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Wal-Mart plans to open a pharmacy within the University of Charleston's pharmacy school later this fall, UC officials were expected to announce today.

UC will become the first college in the nation to house a pharmacy owned by a chain store in a pharmacy school, said UC President Ed Welch. The campus drugstore is expected to open in about 60 days.

"This will be a fully functional licensed pharmacy," Welch said. "Our students will learn in a real pharmacy how to be a pharmacist." 

The Wal-Mart pharmacy will serve anyone with a prescription, though most customers will be UC students and faculty, as well as Kanawha City residents who live near campus, Welch said. Over-the-counter medications also will be available.

"It's only for medicine, only for drugs," Welch said. "It's not a gigantic operation. It's very focused."

In recent months, UC officials have spoken with independent pharmacies and chain drugstores about opening a pharmacy on campus, Welch said.

Most small businesses balked at the proposal because it would be difficult to turn a profit at such a small facility while employing a full-time pharmacist, which state law requires.

Even Wal-Mart was skeptical at first, Welch said.

But company managers embraced the proposal after they learned UC's pharmacy school focuses on placing graduates at pharmacies in rural communities - the same types of places where Wal-Mart often opens its discount department stores.

"Once they realized it was a natural for them, they really wanted it," Welch said.

UC's pharmacy school, which opened three years ago, has about 240 students, with 80 more expected next year. Students already receive training at pharmacies - housed in drugstores, hospitals and nursing homes - each year of the four-year program.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Wal-Mart plans to open a pharmacy within the University of Charleston's pharmacy school later this fall, UC officials were expected to announce today.

UC will become the first college in the nation to house a pharmacy owned by a chain store in a pharmacy school, said UC President Ed Welch. The campus drugstore is expected to open in about 60 days.

"This will be a fully functional licensed pharmacy," Welch said. "Our students will learn in a real pharmacy how to be a pharmacist." 

The Wal-Mart pharmacy will serve anyone with a prescription, though most customers will be UC students and faculty, as well as Kanawha City residents who live near campus, Welch said. Over-the-counter medications also will be available.

"It's only for medicine, only for drugs," Welch said. "It's not a gigantic operation. It's very focused."

In recent months, UC officials have spoken with independent pharmacies and chain drugstores about opening a pharmacy on campus, Welch said.

Most small businesses balked at the proposal because it would be difficult to turn a profit at such a small facility while employing a full-time pharmacist, which state law requires.

Even Wal-Mart was skeptical at first, Welch said.

But company managers embraced the proposal after they learned UC's pharmacy school focuses on placing graduates at pharmacies in rural communities - the same types of places where Wal-Mart often opens its discount department stores.

"Once they realized it was a natural for them, they really wanted it," Welch said.

UC's pharmacy school, which opened three years ago, has about 240 students, with 80 more expected next year. Students already receive training at pharmacies - housed in drugstores, hospitals and nursing homes - each year of the four-year program.

Their work at the on-campus Wal-Mart pharmacy will supplement the required clinical practice.

"The students will benefit tremendously," said Michelle Easton, the pharmacy school's interim dean. "Our students will have a fully functional pharmacy just steps away from their labs and classrooms."

The campus pharmacy also will serve to remind students there's more to being a pharmacist than just mixing drugs.

Students will be expected to answer customers' questions and talk to them about their prescriptions. The pharmacy includes a handful of "counseling rooms" where students can speak to patients in private.

"It's not just what they read in a textbook," Welch said. "They'll be able to participate in the process."

UC built space for a pharmacy on the first floor of the pharmacy school. Wal-Mart will only have to make minor renovations before the pharmacy opens.

"It was an empty space waiting for someone to fill it," Welch said. "We wanted our students to have some education and training before we opened. It's real learning, real performance."

Wal-Mart plans to hire a pharmacist, who also will serve on UC's adjunct faculty.

The pharmacy will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It will be closed on Sundays.

Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or 348-4869.