After more than a year of disagreement and negotiation, the presidents of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama agreed Monday to launch a joint pharmacy program in Mobile.



The program is to be located on USA's main campus but will be an Auburn satellite program offering the doctor of pharmacy degree. USA had previously insisted that any pharmacy program on its campus be under its control.



"We all had to back up and say, 'Let's do what's in the best interests of our citizens,'" said USA President Gordon Moulton. "'Let's put aside institutional pride and priority and make sure that we're focused on what we should be doing.' "



USA has considered a pharmacy program to address a shortage of pharmacists in the Mobile area since 2004. Its efforts met stiff opposition from Auburn, which said a USA program could be detrimental to its own long-established curriculum.



The Alabama Commission on Higher Education, which must approve new academic programs at public universities, voted last year against allowing USA to start its own pharmacy program. This was despite a recommendation in favor of such a program from ACHE's own staff members, who found that there was a need for pharmacists in southwest Alabama.