Eye on Xavier Winter 2012

Xavier is first among the nation’s colleges and universities in the number of African American graduates who go on to complete medical school, according to data compiled by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Xavier had 60 African-American graduates earn medical degrees in 2011, the latest year for which complete data is available. Howard University was second with 43 graduates, followed by the University of Florida with 26. The remaining schools ranked in

descending order are Harvard University, Yale University, Duke University, Stanford University, Spelman College, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Exceptional high school seniors considering a career in pharmacy now have a unique opportunity to get a leg up on their professional education through a new program being offered by the University.

Under Xavier’s new Contingent Admit Program (CAP), students

can apply for admission into the College of Pharmacy as seniors in high school. Those who qualify and are accepted into the CAP will be guaranteed a seat in the professional pharmacy program if they satisfactorily complete all of their pre-requisite courses in two

years.

Previously, all applicants for the four-year professional program were required to complete the same requirements either at Xavier or another college before they would even be considered for admission into pharmacy school.

XU First in African American Med School Graduates

Pharmacy Introduces Contingent Admit Program continued on page 3

continued on page 3

Did you know?

continued on page 2

- One hundred and fifty XU student scholars will appear in the 2013 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, an annual chronicle of the nation’s outstanding campus leaders.

- Xavier was singled out as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education by The Princeton Review in the 2013 edition of its annual “The Best 377 Colleges” guide.

- The 2013 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges tabbed Xavier as among its “Best Buy Schools”

A publication for prospective students of Xavier University of Louisiana, their parents, and High School counselors

Volume 18Winter 2012

RUN FOR FUNDS: More than 400 Xavier students, faculty, staff, and alumni turned out in force for the 25th annual UNCF 5K Walk for Education, which was held at the Audubon Park and Zoo’s Riverview Area.

for academics and affordability. Only 41 such institutions (20 public and 21 private) received the distinction. XU was the only college in Louisiana and one of only three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to make the list.

- Sophomore Zahri Jackson of Kingwood TX (Kingwood Park High) and senior Matt Pieri of New Orleans LA (Bro. Martin High) took individual titles at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Cross (GCAC) Cross Country Championships, leading the both the XU men and women to team championships for the seventh consecutive year.

- Taylor Reuther, a sophomore pre-pharmacy major from Metairie LA (Dominican High), has earned both athletic and academic honors for the 2012 volleyball season. She was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year for leading the Gold Nuggets to their second straight GCAC conference championship and named to the Capital One Academic All-District 4 college division team.

- The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Xavier a new five-year, $1.2 million grant in support of its Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalureate Achievement Program, a federal TRIO program designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in undergraduate research and other scholarly activities. Xavier places 95 percent its McNair participants into graduate and professional school.

- The XU Department of Business was one of 66 U.S. colleges and universities recognized as a “Top University Sales Program for 2012” by the Sales Education Foundation (SEF). The selected schools were cited for demonstrating a strong sales curriculum, university recognition and support, and the opportunity for experiential learning such as internships.

- Xavier’s business team was named a regional champion and Rookie of the Year at the SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) USA Regional Competition held in Dallas, TX. Xavier is one of nearly 600 SIFE programs in the United States. Participating students use business concepts to develop community outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

- Lauren Day, a third-year (P3) pharmacy student from Missouri City TX (Hightower High School) has been selected as one of 10 New Orleans Schweitzer Fellows by The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF). She joins approximately 240 other new Schweitzer Fellows across the country.

- Devinn Rolland, a sophomore chemistry/pre-pharmacy major from Harvey LA, has already carved a unique niche in Xavier history. She is the first XU freshman to be named an athletic All-American (in track and field) as well as the first to record a 4.0 grade-point average for both semesters during that All-American year.

2

Did you know?continued from page 1

continued to page 4

WHITE COAT CEREMONY: First-year College of Pharmacy students – (from left) David Jones of LaPlace LA, Jaime Johnston of New Orleans, Katerra Williams of Hammond LA, Kelly Giardina of New Orleans and Brittany Porrier of Kenner LA – sign their professional oaths at the 11th annual White Coat Ceremony.

THE RIGHT FIT: Enthusiastic members of Xavier’s incoming Freshman class – (front, L-R) Taylor Brazley, Chelsey McDonald, Kennedy St. Charles and Kaylen Temple (back, L-R) Kadedra Murph, Thomas Nash III and Roland Daniels – proudly display their new Class of 2016 baseball caps for the first time following the annual “capping” ceremony, part of the University’s week-long New Student Orientation program.

CORONATION BALL: Nikki Odofin, a senior psychology/premed major from DeRidder LA, is officially crowned Miss Xavier 2012-13 by XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis before a packed University Center Ballroom audience during the Annual Ball and Coronation.

The statistics, which were published in the June 7 issue of Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine, are not altogether surprising, since for the past three decades Xavier has been one of nation’s leaders in preparing and sending graduates to medical and professional schools. In fact, Xavier was No. 1 in the nation in placing African Americans for 15 straight years before an enrollment drop due to the six-month closure of the school following Hurricane Katrina curtailed its numbers. Even still, in 2011 the University placed 68 students into medical school according to AAMC data, second only to much larger Howard University.

Nor is it surprising in light of some recent grants Xavier has received

designed to help the university continue, build upon, and share with other colleges and universities the programs and practices that have helped build it into a powerhouse of science education.

Earlier this year The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) announced that Xavier was one of 47 U.S. colleges and universities selected to participate in a $50 million initiative that will enable the school to create more engaging science classes, bring real-world research experiences to students, and increase the diversity of students who study science.

Identified as one of the best universities in the nation at producing graduates who go on to science careers, Xavier was given a Capstone Award of $1 million.

“This is a significant step that takes some of the anxiety out of the admissions process,” said Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, dean of the XU College of Pharmacy. “Students in the Contingent Admit Program will know exactly what is expected of them, allowing them to focus on what is really important – their academic work – with the assurance of enrollment in the pharmacy program.”

Xavier is the only college in the state, and one of a handful nationwide that offers this option. To be considered for contingent admission, high school students must have a minimum composite ACT score of 23 (or equivalent SAT score) and a minimum cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale) in a college preparatory curriculum. They will also need to submit an online application, a personal statement, and two letters of reference from their high school math or science teachers. An on-campus personal interview is also required.

Once admitted into the program, students must take 66 hours of

prescribed courses and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in the pre-pharmacy curriculum. They will also be required to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) in the fall semester of the second year. Students admitted to the program who do not maintain the requisite GPA will be withdrawn from the program, but may still apply for admission into the college along with the remainder of the class.

Pharmacy graduates receive a Pharm.D. degree, providing access to an exciting and dynamic role in the healthcare industry. Pharmacy practice settings include retail pharmacies, hospital and clinics, and long-term care facilities. Pharmacists also work in the pharmaceutical industry, state and federal government, academia, research organizations, and a variety of other professional settings.

For more information on the program, including application deadlines, visit the Xavier website at http://www.xula.edu/cop/contingent.php or call 520-5397.

3

XU First...

Pharmacy Program...

continued from page 1

continued from page 1

For more information or to submit an online application for admission, please visit the Xavier website at www.xula.edu.

Office of Admissions Phone: (504) 520-7388 | Toll Free: 1 (877)-XAVIERU

Fax: (504) 520-7941 | Email: [email protected]

COMMUNITY OUTREACH: (L-R) P3 Mona Khashan of Flowery Branch GA and pharmacy professor Dr. Kendrea Bryant provide a Lakeside Shopping Mall visitor a free blood pressure test and diabetes consultation during the College of Pharmacy’s annual “Operation Diabetes” community outreach event. Scores of pharmacy students and faculty participated.

SHOWTIME: The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha show off their steps before a packed house in The Barn at the recent Greek Neophyte Show.

NEW DIGS: Senior guard Wanto Joseph of New Orleans goes in for a layup vs. Morehouse College during the Gold Rush’s 80-66 win in the first game played in the University’s new state-of-the-art Convocation Center, new home of the men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE

P A I DNew Orleans, La.

Permit No. 387

Xavier University of Louisiana1 Drexel DriveNew Orleans LA 70125www.xula.edu

- Two P4 pharmacy students – Breannie Charles of Lafayette LA (Northside High) and Jonn Bailey of New Orleans (Bonnabel High) – were awarded scholarships from the Louisiana Pharmacists Association at the annual LPA convention in Lafayette LA.

- Five XU student-athletes, led by three-time recipient and Gold Rush basketball standout Jamaan Kenner of LaPlace LA (Jesuit High), were recognized as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars for 2011-12.

- Thirty-three Xavier students studied abroad during the 2011-2012 academic year, completing full-time coursework and conducting research in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, England, Ghana, Honduras, Peru, South Africa and Spain.

- Kearston Barnes, a P2 student from Fort Valley GA (Peach County High), served as a summer trainee in the James A. Ferguson Infectious Diseases Fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta GA.

- Mylinh Hoang, a senior mass communications major from New Orleans (Edna Karr High), was selected as one of 12 summer 2012 Diversity Institute Multimedia Scholars. She completed an 11-day immersion multimedia course, followed by a paid, 8-week internship.

- Maya Jones, a 2012 mass communications graduate from Plano TX (Plano West High), was been selected as a 2012 Chips Quinn scholar and to the national Sports Journalism Institute. As a Chips scholar, she

attended training at the Freedom Forum’s Diversity Institute in Nashville TN before heading to the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism to participate in a sports journalism “boot camp” and a paid internship at the Detroit News.

- Two freshmen – political science major Devon Pruitt of Meridian MS (Meridian High) and English major Mia Ruffin of Baton Rouge LA (Baton Rouge Magnet) – were named to the Kemper Scholars Program’s Class of 2013. Designed to prepare students for leadership and service, the prestigious program promotes education in the liberal arts while providing opportunities for career exploration and practical experience through internships.

- Joseph McDonald, a third-year (P3) pharmacy student from New Orleans (St. Augustine

High) has been awarded a $10,000 Future Leaders in Pharmacy Scholarship from WalMart/Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) in recognition of his academic record and winning the Region 4 SNPhA competition.

- Tracey Thomas, a P1 pharmacy student from Baker LA (Baton Rouge High) has been awarded an academic scholarship from United Health Foundation’s Diverse Scholars Initiative to pursue a career in health care.

- Loic Didavi, a junior business major from Cotonou, Benin, was named to the 2012 NAIA Men’s Tennis All-American first-team as well as the Louisiana Tennis Player of the Year by the Louisiana Sportswriters Association.

- Quinton Guillory, a sophomore biology/pre-med major from Lake

Charles LA (Washington-Marion High), was chosen to attend a six-week summer program at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He worked ith top students from other universities as they engage in intense coursework, labs learning-skills, and career development courses for six weeks at the medical school.

- Michael Seaberry, a junior biology/pre-med major from Lake Charles (Alfred Barbe High), was one of six students chosen by the American Heart Association Founders’ Affiliates for a ten-week independent research with Dr. Craig Morrell at the University of Rochester Medical School.

- Lester Bell Jr., a senior psychology major from Axis AL (Satsuma High), has authored a book, Command Your Destiny: The Key to Living the Life You Want.

Did you know?continued from page 2