New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) and Tuskegee University have entered into an historic agreement to conduct a combined B.A.-D.D.S. program. This marks the first time that Tuskegee University, a member of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), has collaborated on a B.A.-D.D.S. program, and the first time that NYUCD has done so with a Historically Black University.
The agreement gives strongly motivated Tuskegee students whose primary goal is dentistry a virtual guarantee that, if they maintain an honors grade point average at Tuskegee and fulfill NYUCD's admission requirements, they will be accepted. Tuskegee students will be eligible for the joint program as early as the second semester of freshman year.
Dr. Ralph V. Katz, professor and chair of NYUCD's Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion, and Ms. Novella Jones, NYUCD's assistant dean for student affairs and admissions, led the effort to secure this agreement.
"The dental profession is challenged to create opportunities for African Americans to learn about and join the profession," says Ms. Jones. "This agreement enables NYU and Tuskegee to make a profound contribution in that area. We look forward to a long and rewarding partnership with Tuskegee."
Discussions with Tuskegee officials are underway to set up a "grandfathering" mechanism that could result in the first combined degree-program student entering NYUCD as early as fall 2003.
Founded in 1881 by Dr. Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee University is the only university in the U.S. to be designated a National Historic Site. The NYUCD-Tuskegee agreement bolsters the two institutions' mutual commitment to increase the number of African-American dentists in the U.S. African Americans represent approximately 13 percent of the U.S. population today, but only about 3.5 percent of the dentists.
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