Historically Black Xavier University of Louisiana has entered into an agreement with the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University that will provide an enhanced opportunity for Xavier premedical students to attend medical school at Michigan State.
The Mission SMART (SpartanMD Acceptance Realization Track) will provide academic advising for Xavier University students directed at admission to Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine. Candidates accepted into the program also will be enrolled in a program of enriching clinical and service experiences in preparation for admission.
Preference for Mission SMART will be given to students who meet one or more of the following criteria:
● They are a first-generation college student.
● They graduated from a low-income high school as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
● They are eligible for or a recipient of an undergraduate Pell Grant or institutional need-based grant.
● They graduate from an underserved (health professional shortage) urban or rural area.
● They demonstrate interest in a high-need medical specialty area.
Reynold Verret, president of Xavier University of Louisiana, stated that “we are delighted to team up with Michigan State University to provide yet another direct avenue for our students to continue Xavier’s prominent role in the education of young African American doctors. It is the ongoing purpose for which Xavier was founded, to find and cultivate talent, especially from African-American communities, and send it forth to serve and build the nation, whether through medicine, law, whatever the need.”
Congrats and thank you to Xavier & Michigan State for affording our students this wonderful opportunity. Without a satifsfactory number of competent culturally & racially diverse healthcare providers we are doing a disservice to our US population!