WashU to Acquire Nearby University

Washington University in St. Louis plans to expand its health-care offerings through the acquisition of nearby University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, officials announced.

WashU will absorb the UHSP doctor of pharmacy program. Pending regulatory approvals, officials plan to launch the WashU St. Louis College of Pharmacy. WashU may absorb other academic programs as well, according to the news release, but did not specify which ones. Some faculty and staff members will also transition to WashU.

WashU chancellor Andrew D. Martin cast the move as future-focused.

“This moment reflects the best of who we are as an institution—thoughtful, mission-driven and committed to strengthening health sciences education for the long term,” Martin said in the news release. “By integrating UHSP’s pharmacy program, we are building on a legacy of partnership and taking a forward-looking step to ensure that pharmacy education in St. Louis continues to thrive.”

Although the deep-pocketed private university laid off hundreds of employees last year, citing federal research funding concerns and other reasons, officials wrote in the announcement that the integration with UHSP “reflects a long-term academic investment aligned with WashU’s mission and strategic priorities, not a response to short-term financial actions. It builds on the university’s financial strength and supports growth in a critical area of health sciences education.”

With roughly 16,000 students and an endowment valued at more than $13 billion, WashU is the larger and wealthier of the two institutions. Comparatively, UHSP had a head count of about 650 students, according to the latest federal enrollment data, and an endowment of $109 million.