Strategies for Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Minority Students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

Abstract

In 1989, the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (UPSDM) found there was an urgent need for new programs that would be effective in recruiting highly qualified and talented underrepresented minority students and ensuring their retention. Major efforts focused on leadership, financial support, institutional commitment, and the creation of an inclusive environment. UPSDM also offers an accelerated program leading to combined bachelor's and dental degrees and has agreements with several undergraduate institutions, including Xavier University in Louisiana and Hampton University, to enroll students in this program. UPSDM encourages minority retention through a Peer Mentorship Program, a Minority Mentorship Program, and course offerings that focus on diversity. Over the past thirteen years, these efforts have successfully garnered a fivefold increase in the number of underrepresented minority students at UPSDM.