SMU Admission Counselors Extend Search to Increase Student Diversity

Samuel Merritt University (SMU), as with most universities, is dedicated to teaching, learning, and community service - particularly for diverse communities.  All curricula emphasize skills and mastery, and educating students to be lifelong, independent learners.   One of the greatest challenges facing academia today, however, is the transformation of campus communities into ones that reflect the rich diversity of this country.

In June 2008, the SMU Board of Regents directed the school's executive team to "create a culturally diverse University."  To help achieve SMU's effort to increase student diversity population by 12 percent (currently enrollment stands at five percent) by the year 2012, Che Abram, Assistant Director of Admissions, and Lizzie Mayo, Admissions Coordinator, have extended their recruitment outreach to include additional colleges and university that represent predominantly African-American and Latino students. 

The two admission counselors have incorporated information from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Atlanta and schools such as Howard and Hampton, as well as many UC, CSU, and a number of California private institutions.  They will also attend conferences such as the National Association of Multicultural Media Executives and the National Association of Medical Minority Educators.  

"Many students, faculty, and health advisors from across the country use these conferences to learn about opportunities for them and their students," explains Mayo.  "Our attendance at these events will help SMU reach out to the leaders in minority medical education across the nation."

Abram says one of the keys to being a good admissions recruiter is knowing where to find qualified students.  "Spelman College is a historically black college for women and they have a huge science program.  I have learned many of the students who attend Spelman come from California.   I feel it's important to remind them what their options are back home [in California regarding graduate school].  Each year, one or two Spelman students ask me questions about enrollment at SMU."  

Regents and University leaders recognize that racial and ethnic diversity in the healthcare workforce has profound implications for the U.S. healthcare system.

"My brother recently graduated from Hampton University with a degree in molecular biology.  When I went to his graduation I was overwhelmed with the sheer number of students graduating with science majors, and the drive of many of Hampton's students to go into healthcare," says Mayo.

Both recruiters agree the path to increase the University's diversity population is not only a school priority, but also commitment to a more well represented community.

"Increasing the diversity will strengthen healthcare delivery systems at multiple levels for the long term.   Educational experiences will be enhanced for all health professions students.  Those experiences will promote needed research and changes in health policy.  The University believes all these efforts will prepare our nation for the emerging and culturally dynamic health care challenges of tomorrow," says Abram.    

"As a minority, I am very conscience [of the need for diversity] and proud of the support that the Office of Admission and the Enrollment and Student Services division has undertaken to increasing the diversity of our students as well as supporting them once they are here," says Mayo. 

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