Xavier University Joins SDM's Accelerated Admissions Program

Date: January 3, 2001
Contact: Office of Communications
215-573-8224

The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine recently signed an agreement with Xavier University of Louisiana to become part of SDM's accelerated admissions program.
Through the Biodental Program, participating students can earn their undergraduate and DMD degrees in seven years, matriculating to the SDM after the third year of their undergraduate education.

"We are pleased to establish this formal affiliation with Xavier," notes SDM Dean Raymond Fonseca. "As a national leader in the field of pre-health education, it is a strong addition to our Biodental Program. Xavier's participation also advances our commitment to recruit a greater number of minority students."

Founded in 1915, Xavier is a historically black, Catholic university located in New Orleans. This is the second historically black school to join the Biodental Program. The first, Hampton University, became part of this initiative in 1998.

With the addition of Xavier, there are now seven undergraduate institutions involved in the Biodental Program. The other schools include Hampton University, Hampton, Va.; Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.; Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa.; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.; University of Pennsylvania; and Villanova University, Villanova, Pa.
Students apply to the program through the participating undergraduate schools, but must meet SDM admissions and pre-matriculation requirements in order to enter the DMD program. Students receive their baccalaureate degrees from their undergraduate institutions after successfully completing the first year of the dental curriculum.