West Virginia school to get Wal-Mart pharmacy

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The University of Charleston's three-year-old pharmacy school is believed to be the first in the nation to house a chain drug store.

UC President Ed Welch says the arrangement with Wal-Mart is the first of its kind, with students in the pharmacy program slated to work at the company's drug store.

Wal-Mart embraced the idea partly because UC's program focuses on placing graduates in rural pharmacies, the same kinds of places where Wal-Mart often opens stores.

The pharmacy is expected to open later this year. A full-time Wal-Mart pharmacist will also serve on the school's adjunct faculty.

The University of Charleston's pharmacy school has about 240 students, with 80 more expected next year.