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Xavier University of Louisiana Profile

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Xavier University of Louisiana students stand in front of school signage.
Xavier University of Louisiana Seal

Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) was founded by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1925 and is the only historically black, Catholic university in the United States. Xavier’s mission has always been to be a prime institute of learning for the African American Catholic community. In more recent years, however, it has welcomed students regardless of race and creed.

Xavier University has consistently helped African American students enter medical school through its outstanding programs in the physical and biological/life sciences. It ranks among the top three universities in the country in granting African Americans with Pharm.D. degrees.

Xavier University of Louisiana Profile

General Information

  • Location: 1 Drexel Dr., New Orleans, LA 70125
  • Phone: (504) 486-7411
  • Website: http://www.xula.edu/
  • Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn
  • Type: 4-year, Private
  • Awards Offered: Baccalaureate Degrees, Masters Degrees and Doctorate Degrees
  • Campus Setting: Urban
  • Campus Housing: Yes
  • Student Population: 3,121 (72.8% of student population is African-American and 27.1% are Catholics)
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
  • Accreditation: Xavier University of Louisiana is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees.

Watch the XULA Video: Interview with a Living Legend

Xavier University Campus Setting

The Xavier University sits in a 27-acre property. The campus has 24-hour vehicle patrols, well-lit pathways and strict security inside its perimeters.

The university is aggressive in its campaign to welcome more deserving foreign students to encourage diversity inside the campus. It has become a 100% tobacco-free campus on January 1, 2014.

Academics

The College of Arts and Sciences offers baccalaureate studies under the Division of Biological and Public Health Sciences, Math and Physical Sciences, Business and Education and Counseling. The programs include Biology, Public Health Sciences, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, History, Art, Languages, Music, Philosophy, Theology as well as Behavioral and Social Sciences such as Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Communication Studies, Speech Pathology and Mass Communications. Xavier University also has graduate programs that focus on education, theology and counseling.

DEGREE PROGRAMS

  • Accounting (B.S.)
  • Art (B.A.)
  • Art Education (B.A.)
  • Biochemistry (B.S.)
  • Biology (B.A. or B.S.)
  • Biology Education (B.S.)
  • Biology Premed (B.S.)
  • Business (B.S.)
  • Chemistry (B.S.)
  • Chemistry Education (B.S.)
  • Chemistry, Prepharmacy (B.S.)
  • Chemistry, Preprofessional (B.S.)
  • Communication Studies (B.A.)
  • Computer Information Systems (B.S.)
  • Computer Science (B.S.)
  • Elementary Education (B.A.)
  • Engineering, Dual Degree (B.S.)
  • English (B.A.)
  • English/English Education(B.A.)
  • Foreign Language Education (B.A.)
  • French (B.A.)
  • History (B.A.)
  • Mass Communication (B.A.)
  • Mathematics (B.S.)
  • Mathematics Education (B.S.)
  • Middle School Education Music (B.A.)
  • Music Education (B.A.)
  • Music Performance Philosophy (B.A.)
  • Physics (B.S.)
  • Political Science Psychology (B.A.)
  • Psychology Premed Public Health Sciences Social Studies (B.S.)
  • Education Sociology (B.A.)
  • Spanish (B.A.)
  • Speech Pathology (B.S.)
  • Statistics (B.S.)
  • Theology (B.A.)
  • Pharmacy (Pharm. D.)

Graduate Programs

  • Educational Leadership (M.A.)
  • Curriculum and Instruction (M.A.)
  • Counseling (M.A.)
  • Elementary Education (M.A.T.)
  • Secondary Education (M.A.T.)
  • K-12 Education (M.A.T.)
  • Elementary/Special Education (M.A.T.)
  • Middle School/Special Education (M.A.T.)
  • Secondary/Special Education (M.A.T.)
  • Theology (Th.M.)

Faculty

  • Full-time Faculty in the Arts and Sciences  – 187
  • Full-time Faculty in the College of Pharmacy  – 49

Facilities

  • The Norman C. Francis Academic/Science Complex houses the Departments of Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science. Due to the growing student population enrolled in the science programs, an NCF-Addition was opened in 1999.  There are research facilities in the building that can be used for molecular biological and cell culture techniques.
  • The Art Village at Xavier University is a complex composed of five industrial buildings in New Orleans’ Gert Town.  The buildings are being used as educational laboratories for casting, ceramics, drawing, printmaking, painting and graphic design.
  •  Many of the buildings on campus have green roofs, which is why the university is often referred to as  “Emerald City”. These include the St. Katherine Drexel hall,  the University Center, the Library/Resource center, the Saint Martin Deporres Hall, the Living Learning Center, and the Norman C. Francis science addition.

Alumni

There is an active alumni community composed of various chapters that organize yearly homecomings and service projects. Notable alumni include Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA the 18th U.S. Surgeon General, the first African-American mayor of new Orleans, Ernest Nathan Morial and the first African-American Miss Louisiana USA, Candice Stewart.

Xavier University of Louisiana University Clubs and Organizations

Greek Life

Social Greek Organizations available XULA include:

  • Alpha Kappa Alpha
  • Alpha Phi Alpha
  • Delta Sigma Theta
  • Kappa Alpha Psi
  • Phi Beta Sigma
  • Omega Psi Phi
  • Sigma Gamma Rho
  • Zeta Phi Beta

Student Organizations

Below is a list of some of the active student organizations at Xavier University.

  • A.W.A.R.E.
  • African Student Union
  • Black Magic Volley Ball Team
  • California Club
  • Caribbean Student Association
  • Chicago Club
  • Club Sports Program
  • Cultural Unity Club
  • DC Metro Club
  • Georgia Connection
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • International Students Organization
  • M.A.X.
  • Memphis Club
  • Michigan Club
  • NAACP
  • Louisiana Association of Educators Student Program
  • Louisiana Association of Hospital Pharmacists
  • National Association of Black Accountants
  • National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
  • National Society of Black Engineers
  • National Association of Black Journalists
  • National Student Speech, Language, Hearing Association
  • Panhellenic Council

Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics

  • Men’s Basketball
  • Women’s Basketball
  • Men’s Tennis team
  • Women’s Tennis Team
  • Cross Country

History

  • Xavier University of Louisiana has its roots from the coeducational secondary school founded by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1915. Two years later,  a Normal school offering a few programs exclusively for African-Americans opened.
  • In 1925, the Xavier University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was established.  Three years later, the first degrees were awarded.
  • In 1927, the College of Pharmacy was opened. As the number of students grew, the school bought an undeveloped land property for a new campus, which was completed in 1933.
  • The 1900s saw the growth of the institution as other facilities opened such as a library, residence halls, the College of Pharmacy, Science Complex, Living Learning Center and the Xavier South, a multi-story office building.
  • There were several expansions done in 2003 when the University Center and the Martin DePorres residence halls were completed.  The St. Katharine Drexel Chapel and the Convocation Center were opened in 2012.
  •  The Sisters continued to be a part of the school administration, although today, Xavier’s Board of Trustees is composed of bi-racial members with outstanding achievements in their fields.

Source:  http://www.xula.edu/