Information for Representatives from Health Professions Schools
About Xavier and the Premedical Office: Xavier University of Louisiana is America's only historically black, Roman Catholic institution of higher education. The University is composed of a College of Arts and Sciences, a College of Pharmacy, and a Graduate School. Although Xavier is a small liberal arts institution in philosophy, the University has one of the nation's largest enrollment of African Americans in science-related fields. Visit https://www.xula.edu/irds-institutional-research to view the University Profile. The Premedical Office at Xavier University of Louisiana provides systematic and comprehensive application advice and support to students who are interested in applying to professional degree programs in medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry, and related health fields. A support office within the College of Arts and Sciences, the Premedical Office complements the academic advising that is offered to students through their major academic departments. Although the majority of students who are engaged in Premedical Office advising activities are enrolled in Biology-Premed, Chemistry-Premed, and Psychology-Premed, the Premedical Office advises any Xavier student, regardless of major, who is interested in applying to medical, dental, or another type of health professions school.
Specific information for individuals wishing to arrange campus visits through the Premedical Office: Xavier's Premedical Office does not sponsor a health professions recruitment fair. Instead, representatives from health professions schools are invited to request recruitment visits on an individual basis, during the fall and spring semesters. Representatives from approximately 50 health professions schools from across the nation arrange visits through the Premedical Office each academic year. FYI, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (CURGO) at Xavier organizes a GradFair for graduate and professional school programs. If you are interested in participating in Xavier’s GradFair, please go to https://www.xula.edu/studentresearch or call (504) 520-7633 for more information.
Suggested dates for recruitment visits scheduled through the Premedical Office (subject to staff and space availability):
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- Fall: M-F between the third week in September and November 15th.
- Spring: M-F between the fourth week in January and April 15th except the Mardi Gras and Easter breaks.
- Summer: None.
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Please review the University’s academic calendar in advance of requesting a recruitment visit through the Premedical Office. Visit requests are considered based on the Premedical Office’s advising calendar and staff and space availability; as such, scheduling cannot be guaranteed.
Suggested time of day for recruitment visits: Xavier students who may be interested in learning more about programs at health professions schools have different class schedules throughout the day, and many students have jobs, study sessions, and other obligations to tend to during the day and/or once classes are over. As a result, there is no single time of day when all or even a majority of XU’s premedical students are available to recruitment representatives. Past experience has shown that a two to three-hour period between 10 am and 4 pm usually attracts the most students. On Tuesdays and
Thursdays, when most classes are in session for 75 minutes, we recommend that recruitment representatives be available to interested students for at least three hours.
In order to maximize the number of student contacts made during a recruitment visit, representatives from health professions schools conduct tabling on the 1st floor of the NCF Science Addition, an area that is frequented by premeds as they exchange classes. This format allows students to stop by and speak with professional school representatives, at the students’ leisure, during specified time periods.
Due to space limitations and the abundance of academic, enrichment, and extra-curricular programming made available to Xavier students during the day and after-hours, options are very limited for scheduling recruitment presentations through the Premedical Office. Further, attendance at scheduled presentations cannot be guaranteed. If you would like to be considered for a recruitment presentation, we may be able to accommodate your request. Pending room and staff availability, presentations are typically conducted on Thursdays, with a start time at 12:15pm or between 4:30pm and 5pm, and should last no longer than 45 minutes to an hour. NOTE: Our experience has shown that tabling is the most effective method to connect with our students during on-campus recruitment visits. Due to the variety of obligations our students have during the day and after-hours, attendance at recruitment presentations cannot be guaranteed. For perspective, even when incentives (e.g. food, prizes) are offered or when RSVPs suggest significant interest, we find that attendance is, more often than not, relatively low.
How to make arrangements for a visit: Contact Xavier's Premedical Office via email at xupremed@yahoo.com to see if the days/times you wish to visit are available (you should make your request at least a month before you hope to visit). When contacting the Premedical Office, please be sure to include your name, contact information (including the number you can be reached at while traveling), the professional school you are representing, and your position at the school. Once your visit is scheduled, you will be sent a confirmation email from our office that includes visit details and a link to our campus map. The Premedical Office will publicize your visit via email and signs posted around the Science Building approximately a week in advance. On the day of your visit, the Premedical Office will set up a recruitment table in the atrium of the NCF Science Addition (an area frequently traveled by premed students) where you can meet with interested students at their leisure. If you made a request to give a recruitment presentation and that request is granted, the Premedical Office will reserve a room on your behalf and advertise your visit accordingly. The Premedical Office welcomes visits to Xavier by individuals who are recruiting for medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, podiatry, and other types of health professions schools (and related graduate programs). Representatives will not be permitted to promote any bachelor’s-level programs or graduate-level programs that are offered at Xavier. Individuals wishing to recruit for other types of professional or graduate schools should contact the Center for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity or individual academic departments for more information.
Getting to Xavier: The University's main address is 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans, LA 70125. The Premedical Office is located in room 108 of the NCF Science Building (#36 on the campus map). Please do not secure your travel and lodging accommodations until you have received recruitment visit confirmation details from the Premedical Office.
Lodging While in New Orleans: Xavier is located in the approximately geographic center of New Orleans about a ten-minute drive from the Central Business District-Superdome-French Quarter area where every national chain has at least one major hotel (There are 25,000+ hotel rooms in that area of the city).
Partnership Opportunities: If you are interested in exploring partnership opportunities between your institution and Xavier University of Louisiana (e.g. early/preferential admission programs, research programs, enrichment programs, scholarships, etc.), please contact Xavier’s Office of the Provost. Information regarding Xavier’s current partnerships with health professions schools is available here.