By Bennett Leckrone
Students at a historically Black university in Louisiana now have a pathway to pursue graduate business degrees at one of the nation’s top business schools.
The University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and Xavier University of Louisiana announced a new partnership to provide new career pathways for Xavier students, according to a press release from the schools.
We’re pleased to partner with Xavier to prepare talented students for the next step in their careers,
Mendoza Dean Martijn Cremers said in the release. As Catholic universities, we share a common goal to develop leaders who contribute to the human community.
Of the country’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Xavier is the sole Catholic school. It enrolls roughly 3,200 students. The university’s main divisions are its College of Pharmacy and College of Arts and Sciences.
At the Division of Business, our mission is singular: to prepare tomorrow’s socially responsible leaders,
Xavier Division of Business Chair Cary Caro said in the release. We achieve this by fostering relationships with the global business community to offer our students opportunities for career advancement. This partnership exemplifies that mission.
The partnership guarantees admission for four Xavier students — 20 in total — into each of the following Mendoza specialized master’s programs:
- Master of science in accountancy
- Master of science in business analytics
- Master of science in finance
- Master of science in management
- Master of nonprofit administration
These specialized master’s programs include instruction in a number of high-demand areas, as well as STEM-designated concentrations in areas like data analytics. They are also highly flexible and customizable, featuring numerous elective courses.
We are committed to attracting a diverse pool of talented candidates to our programs, and this collaboration with Xavier University of Louisiana is a significant step toward reinforcing that commitment,
Tahra Taylor, a Xavier alum who is now the associate director of graduate business career development at Notre Dame, said in the release.
A number of HBCU partnerships with graduate schools have been launched in recent years.
Pepperdine and Tuskegee universities have teamed up for a 3+3
dual bachelor’s and law degree program.
The partnership allows qualifying Tuskegee students to attend the first year of law school at the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law after they finish their junior year. These students can earn both a bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor in six years instead of seven.
The University of California (UC) system teamed up with HBCUs to form a faculty-grant program to boost collaboration between UC faculty and historically Black colleges and universities.
Additionally, the California Community Colleges system offers a guaranteed transfer pathway to numerous participating HBCUs, allowing community college students to finish their education at a historically Black college or university.