MISSION

Xavier University of Louisiana, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, is Catholic and historically Black. The ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society.  This preparation takes place in a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates all relevant educational means, including research and community service.

COURSES AND ACCREDITATION

Undergraduate students,  regardless of their major are required to complete sixty-six hours of liberal arts core curriculum courses in English, Literature, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, History, African American Studies,  Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Theology, and Social Sciences in addition to courses in their major fields.  Xavier offers preparation in 46 major areas on the undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree levels. Currently, we offer 38 undergraduate majors, 7 graduate-level degree programs, and one professional degree in the College of Pharmacy. The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education, the National Association of Schools of Music, the Louisiana Department of Education, the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Xavier University is also approved by the American Chemical Society.

ENROLLMENT

The total Fall 2009 enrollment is 3,338 with 910 constituting new students, 765 are freshman and 145 are new transfers. These numbers reveal that university-wide enrollment is up by 3.0% and freshman enrollment has increased by 17.2%.  The University’s major academic units are a College of Arts and Sciences (undergraduate enrollment – 2,487); College of Pharmacy (enrollment-678) which awards the Doctor of Pharmacy degree; and a Graduate program (enrollment-173) which awards the M.A.T., the M.A. in Education, and the M.Th. in Theology. 

STUDENTS

Approximately one-half of Xavier students are from Louisiana (56%), primarily from the New Orleans area.  Non-local enrollment continues to increase with students coming from 40 other states including Texas (8%), California (5%), and Georgia (4%). We also have a growing presence of foreign students on campus .

Xavier’s student body is predominantly African American (70.3%), but the university is open to all: 29.7% Asian/Asian American, European American (non-Hispanic), Hispanic or other.  Student life is enriched by the social and cultural setting of New Orleans, and by campus activities designed to enhance personal growth, interpersonal skills, and leadership in such areas as community service, the environment, cultural concerns, and social justice. Xavier also has a variety of academic, service, and professional organizations, special-interest clubs, and historically Black social Greek letter fraternities and sororities.        

ADMISSIONS AND RETENTION

The Office of Admissions serves a pivotal role in Xavier University’s recruitment process. The activities of the office are designed to convey the University’s various offerings and opportunities to prospective students as well as the general public. The Office seeks to enroll a student body that is diverse and in keeping with the offerings within the colleges of the University. The average ACT and SAT scores for entering freshmen in 2008 were 20.4 and 935 respectively. The average GPA of 3.14 is perhaps the highest ever. In maintaining its historic commitment to academic excellence, the University attracts many students who are high achievers, yet it remains committed to admitting a certain percentage of “at risk” students who exhibit the will to succeed. The Office of Academic Enhancement continues to provide the resources and support systems to assist these students to be successful.

FACULTY

Of the 229 full-time faculty, 87% have earned doctorates or equivalent terminal degrees. Thirty-nine Xavier faculty have endowed professorships, which provide support for their research and teaching.

In addition, there are four endowed chairs, including Dr. Michael White, an eminent jazz historian and performer, who holds the Rosa and Charles Keller, Jr. Endowed Chair in the Arts and Humanities and Dr. J.W. Carmichael, renowned director of Xavier’s  prestigious premed program, who holds the Xavier University Professorship. In 2008, Dr. White was awarded an NEA National Heritage Award given for artistic excellence and continuing contributions to our traditional arts heritage. Dr. J.W. Carmichael received an honorary degree from Meharry Medical College for “his success in making Xavier the undisputed leader in African American medical school acceptances”. Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, in the College of Pharmacy, was the recipient of the 2008 Meritorious Service Award by the Association of Black Health System Pharmacists for “her leadership, service, and voluntary contributions to the community and the pharmacy profession”.

Sr. Jean Marie Craig, S.B.S., in the Division of Education, received the Charles D. Henry National Ethnic Minority Award by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Dr. Nicole Greene, Chair of the English department, was a co-author of the book Writing in America: A History of Nine College Programs. Dr. Ronald Dorris, Professor in the African-American Studies program, was a winner of the Southern Conference on African-American Studies award for his editorial work on the journal The Griot: The Journal of African American Studies.

Xavier faculty members enjoy the support of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching which provides workshops and pedagogical research opportunities aimed at enhancing faculty teaching.

ADVANCED DEGREES

The number of Xavier graduates going from the College of Arts and Sciences to professional and graduate schools has more than doubled in six years to nearly 45.2% per class. The percentage had dropped post Katrina to around 38%, but it has grown steadily. Xavier continues to address the national under-representation of Blacks with Ph.Ds. and other graduate and professional degrees as a strategic goal. The Pre-Medical program, for example, is a national model of quality. Xavier’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Placement continue to prepare students for graduate school.

ACADEMIC TRENDS

In 2009, 535 degrees were awarded; 353 at the undergraduate level, 35 at the Masters level and 147 for the Doctor of Pharmacy program.  Science majors continue to be the most popular as many students prepare for careers in health and other scientific professions, particularly medicine. Business and psychology continue to be popular majors as well. In 2008-2009 academic year, new learning outcomes for the core curriculum were developed and approved by the College of Arts and Sciences faculty. The Arts and Sciences Faculty Council has now established a process by which the new core will be developed based on these outcomes. This Council will continue its work throughout the 2008-2009 academic year. Almost all disciplines emphasize faculty-student research and teach students to report their research results or interpretations in articles and scholarly presentations. The annual Festival of Scholars, for example, provides students a unique opportunity to present their work. The 2008 Festival of scholars saw 145 students participate, an increase of 31% over the previous year. Students’ research endeavors receive full support from the Center for Undergraduate Research.

RANKINGS

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Xavier continues to rank first nationally in the number of African American students earning undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry and physics. Xavier has been especially successful in educating health professionals. The College of Pharmacy is among the top producers of African American Doctor of Pharmacy degree recipients since opening its doors some eighty years ago.  It is one of only two pharmacy schools in Louisiana. Xavier also ranks first nationally in placing African American students into medical schools, and is on track to be ranked first again this year, with over seventy students admitted so far.

DISTINCTIONS

Xavier ranks 1st in the nation in placing African-Americans students into medical school.

Xavier is among the nation’s top three producers of African American Doctor of Pharmacy degree recipients.

Xavier is ranked 1st in the nation in the number of undergraduate degrees earned annually by African Americans in the biological, life and physical sciences. [Source: U.S. Department of Education]

In 2009, The Princeton Review named Xavier as one of the nation’s “Best 371 Colleges.”

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Xavier is not a wealthy institution, but it has learned to do much with limited means.  Its historic mission to serve capable minority students strains all resources, especially because Xavier seeks to include those whose potential achievements have been hindered by financial problems or poor K-12 schools.

But in Xavier’s supportive environment, students can and do excel. Their accomplishments have been featured in various national media, including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, Money Magazine, Changing Times, The Chronicles of Higher Education, USA  Today, Cable News Network, Newsweek and Diverse Issues in Higher Education.                

Recognizing the school’s many strengths, national media have echoed the same sentiments. As one Newsweek magazine article noted, “Without question, the little know Roman Catholic college is doing something special.” Meanwhile, The New York Times Selective Guide to Colleges observed that “Xavier is a school where achievement has been the rule, and beating the odds against success a routine occurrence.” 

LEADERSHIP

Xavier’s progress has been directed by its President, Norman C. Francis, a Xavier graduate and the University’s chief executive since 1968. A nationally recognized leader in higher education and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in December 2006, President Francis has developed an outstanding team of faculty and administrative officers. He has been cited as one of the nation’s most effective college presidents in a survey of his peers.

A pillar of civic progress, President Francis has made Xavier a force to improve New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana.  In the neighborhood surrounding Xavier, the President has championed a partnership among community residents, businesses and the University through a community development corporation to revitalize living conditions, housing, and economic opportunity. Dr. Francis also served for nearly three years as Chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, appointed by Governor Blanco to lead the state’s rebuilding efforts, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

BUDGET AND ENDOWMENT

In 2007-08, the unrestricted operating revenue was more than $100 million, and the endowment market value was $90 million.  About 86% of Xavier’s undergraduates qualify for need based as well as other forms of financial aid. Because many students have limited financial resources, the University maintains a policy of low tuition ($13,700 per year in 2007-2008). Unlike some denominations, the Catholic Church does not provide funds for Xavier or other Catholic colleges and universities in the United States (Catholic University in Washington, DC is the one exception). While Xavier’s endowment is small, it has more than tripled in the past 10 years. This recent growth reflects the University’s decision to give high priority to building the endowment, especially for faculty chairs and scholarships.

RESEARCH AND SPONSORED PROGRAMS

Xavier has significantly increased its national prominence in research over the last decade. In the last 5 years, research funding has increased by over 400%. Among 102 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Xavier currently ranks 5th in NIH funding. Among all universities in the nation, Xavier is among the top 4% in NSF funding and among the top 5% in NIH funding. In Louisiana, Xavier ranks 3rd in NIH funding, behind only Tulane and the LSU System.

Awards from NIH, the Louisiana Board of Regents and foundations like Keck and Sherman Fairchild, have enormously expanded Xavier’s core instrumentation facilities; membership in the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium is making it possible to aggressively move forward Xavier’s Cancer research programs; and, the construction of a new Pharmacy addition, funded by a 12.5M grant from the Government of Qatar, will greatly expand available research facilities on campus. All of this is making it possible to involve more undergraduate students in research and thereby increase both the number of science graduates and the percent that go on to graduate and professional school.

FACILITIES

The Office of Facility Planning & Management entered the summer with major construction activity. Soon after preparing for and hosting the Pharmacy Qatar Pavilion groundbreaking ceremony, we received bids and awarded the project. To date, we have driven over 70% of the piles and are in the process of redirecting utilities scheduled to be connected in November of this year.     

The demolition of the Old Student Center has been completed to allow utility relocation as well as to clear an area for construction of the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel. In addition to the visible changes that are taking place on campus we are making great strides in planning of future construction projects. At this time, major programming is underway for the Convocation Academic Center, St. Katharine Drexel Chapel, Washington Avenue Covered Walkway, and the Strategic Master Plan.
In addition to new construction, major renovations are underway which will produce immediate in overall functionality and aesthetic value. Areas receiving improvements include the fifth floor of Xavier South for the Division of Communications; the second and third floor of Xavier South for the Department of Business; and the first floor of NCF Annex, previous site of the Vivarium, for general classrooms usage by the sciences.  The NCF-HVAC project at the old science building is 90% complete and should conclude within the next month.

Xavier University of Louisiana is leading the redevelopment of New Orleans especially the Gert Town/Carrollton area by example with our rebuilding efforts following hurricane Katrina. We are now blazing the path for optimism at the city’s entrance as we continue our commitment to the sound planning and effective implementation needed as our capital facilities advance to new heights.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Xavier’s strategic priorities for maintaining its unique place in the world of higher education and reaching even higher levels of academic excellence and service to the community are to: increase scholarships for deserving students with a focus on attracting and retaining larger numbers of African Americans; promote excellence in teaching and research and increase the number of Xavier students entering graduate and professional schools; expand Xavier’s leadership in pharmaceutical education and minority healthcare issues; and enhance programs that promote core values, leadership and a commitment to spirituality.

The Xavier’s Strategic Plan 2009-2014 sets some institutional priorities for the University. The plan identifies four areas for strategic focus: Student recruitment and retention; faculty and staff recruitment and retention; leadership and service to the city and beyond; institutional effectiveness. The University has identified twelve goals and fifty-one objectives to track its success in realizing its strategic direction.  Examples of some of the key objectives include: improve the yield on admitted students, increase the pool of African American males in the applicant pool, improve our five year graduation rate to 60%; move faculty compensation to the 60th percentile by rank using key peer groups for the Colleges of Pharmacy and Arts and Sciences; deepen our awareness of the implications of being a Catholic institution, improve our effectiveness in budget, retention and graduation, and programs.   

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Last updated 10/13/09