====================== JeffNEWS, July 1, 1995 ====================== CGS Hosts Visit by Xavier U. Graduate Placement Director -------------------------------------------------------- Dereck J. Rovaris Sr., PhD, director of graduate placement for Xavier University of Louisiana, in New Orleans, spent a day at Jefferson. Dr. Rovaris's visit was in keeping with University initiatives to enhance the minority presence on campus through linkages with historically Black colleges and universities. Xavier is both the only historically Black and Catholic affiliated university in the Western Hemisphere. Following a welcome hosted by Jussi J. Saukkonen, MD, dean of the College of Graduate Studies (CGS) and vice president for science policy, technology development and international affairs, Dr. Rovaris spoke about "The GRE Dilemma" to CGS deans, graduate program directors, faculty and other Jeffersonians involved in the admissions process. Addressing the issue that African-Americans traditionally have lower Graduate Record Examination scores, he noted, "It's difficult to remove all bias from a test, so you have to look deeply beneath the surface of the test results." To accomplish this, Dr. Rovaris recommended that faculty involved in the admissions process contact students' references for additional information. These references can provide relevant information on the students' academic capabilities, which will enable an admissions committee to assess more accurately the applicants' potential for success in their chosen graduate fields. These measures are crucial in evaluating minority applications fairly. In addition, he urged graduate school faculty to develop relationships with faculty at undergraduate colleges and universities so they become familiar with our graduate program offerings and recommend them to students considering graduate education. Dr. Rovaris also suggested that a better understanding of the significance of grade point averages at individual undergraduate institutions would help in evaluating applicants' credentials. The importance of a "good match" should not be overlooked, Dr. Rovaris noted. Suggested ways to ensure a good match include admitting a nucleus of students from the same or similar undergraduate institutions, taking measures to ensure that the students are included in activities outside the classroom. Dr. Rovaris then met separately with University president Paul C. Brucker, MD; Dr. Saukkonen; Georganne K. Buescher, EdD, associate dean, CGS, and Edward B. Christian, PhD, assistant dean for student affairs, Jefferson Medical College (JMC). James Keen, PhD, professor of pharmacology, JMC/CGS, and Robert G. Knowlton, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, JMC/CGS, hosted Dr. Rovaris in their laboratories. Later, Leonard M. Rosenfeld, PhD, assistant dean, CGS, and Jessie F. Pervall, CGS director of admissions and coordinator of the visit, accompanied Dr. Rovaris on a campus tour. Xavier's GradStar Program ------------------------- Of all the historically Black colleges, Xavier University of Louisiana enjoys the distinction of having the largest percentage of graduates pursuing graduate education. This is due in large measure to the GradStar Program, headed by Dereck J. Rovaris, PhD, Xavier's director of graduate placement. GradStar is part of a systematic, coordinated effort to place more African-American students into graduate and professional schools. The program ensures that students are advised of graduate and professional school opportunities, receive sufficient encouragement and training, are guided through the application process and prepared thoroughly for the Graduate Record Examination. Xavier leads other North American institutions in the medical school admissions of African-American students and in the completion rates of its students. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Information provided by: Editor, JeffNEWS (215) 955-6204 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------