I think every program has organization issues to one degree or another. Issues that students become frustrated with at Barry are probably similar to any other large or medium-sized university: financial aid, admissions, etc. Part of the problem is that students get impatient, but part is that those departments and their staff could alway improve. There are two sides to every story. I got my orientation dates/times and scholarship info in by mail months before school started and my refund check was ready when I moved to Miami, but keep in mind I started 4yrs ago now, applied early, was accepted early, etc. I'm sure that for some people, especially those who apply/interview closer to the deadline (ie past May or June), will tend to have more trouble than I did.
Personally, I can say that in over 3yrs (8 semesters) here, the Barry "customer service" and "organization" type problems I've had are pretty minor (one refund check was a week late, one semester the system failed to auto-register me for health insurance, etc). Half the time when I had issues, I found out that it was actually due to paperwork that I had forgotten to turn in (health insurance verification, GradFinAid documentation, transcript request, etc). If you stop by the appropriate offices during their published business hours, they will usually be very helpful. Either I'm "lucky," or I just go about the appropriate avenues to get any issues resolved... I don't know lol.
As for adjunct (aka part time) professors, they are a cost saver for any university. Some pod schools use a TON of them, but Barry actually uses very few adjuncts (most from Nova Southeastern Univ, a nearby DO etc school). Also, the adjuncts used are largely only for 1 and 2cr classes where it would be illogical and a waste of tuition dollars to hire a full time PhD/MD/etc. Just like any university, some adjunct faculty will do great work, and some put in less effort.
Overall, I think that having many full-time, accessible faculty and small class sizes is one of the biggest assets of Barry's pod program. Excellent 3rd year clinic podiatry and medical rotations as well as nice weather/culture are other main advantages. But back to the subject... it's a reasonably small private college, and you get your money's worth many times over if you utilize the office hours, chat with faculty to understand the subjects, and find faculty mentors. Most faculty for both basic and clinical sciences are experienced (many tenured by now) and VERY accessible. That is not a benefit that you will find at every pod program.
Here is a complete list of Barry's current faculty to the best of my knowledge... I would honestly challenge any other pod school to provide you with this list, and if they do provide an honest list, you will probably find more adjunct profs, larger average class sizes, etc. I put classes with adjunct profs in
bold and listed the # of credits:
First Year Basic sciences
Gross anat - full time PhD, a bit busy but quite accessible (chair of basic sciences)
Histo - full time PhD, extremely accessible
BioChem 1&2 - full time PhD, teaches undergrads also but makes himself very available
Intro to Pod Med - full time DPM (dean of pod)
Research -full time DPM, very acessible
Neuroanat (3cr) - PhD... I
think he's FT at Barry but he does teach
adjunct at Nova also, fairly accessible
Physio - full time PhD, very acessible
Psych and Ethics (each are a 1cr class) -
adjunct MD psychiatrist, fairly helpful if you need him
Applied LEA -full time PhD (again, the chair of basic sciences)
Second Year Clinical Sciences
Conceptual LEA - full time DPM, pretty accessible
Physio Lab - full time PhD, very acessible
Med Micro and Immuno - full time PhD (associate dean)
Clinical Neuro (2cr) -
adjunct practicing MD neurosurgeon, reasonably accessible
Radiology + Lab - full time DPM, very accessible
Path 1&2 (4cr, 2cr) -
adjunct MD pathologist, could've been a lot better IMHO... but I head it was much improved this past year
Derm - adjunct DPM/DO, very busy guy but still helpful
Biomechanics + Lab - full time DPM, pretty accessible
Medical Pharm (3cr) -
adjunct PhD, fairly accessible
Clinical Pharm - full time DPM (clinical dean)
Pod Med 1 + Lab - full/part time DPMs, fairly accessible
Pod Med 2 - full time DPM, very accessible
Surg Principles (2cr) - I don't really know, I had a prof who since retired
PVD - full time DPM, very accessible
Internal Med (2, 2cr) 1&2-
adjunct MD, busy guy but still helpful
ER, ACLS, PALS (2cr, certifications) -
hired company, adequate but could improve
Third Year Pod Courses (classes T,Th and clinic MWF third year... full time clinical DPM faculty listed here
http://www.barry.edu/podiatryclinics/physicians/default.htm )
Anesthesia - full time DPMs, accessible
OR Protocol -
adjunct RN, very accessible and helpful
Pod Med 3&4 - full time DPM, accessible
Pod Surg 1&2 - full time DPMs, accessible
Pod Trauma - full time DPM, accessible
PodoPediatrics - full time DPM, accessible
4th year
May-Dec of 4th year is all hospital pod surg clerkships (5-6mo) and two Barry clinic months before January CRIPS. After interviews, students have a couple private rotations and classes (sports med, practice management, etc) before graduation. I haven't got that far yet, so I can't really tell you a whole lot more.
...you can PM me or just ask here if you think of any more Qs about Barry's pod program. Hope this helps...
