The seven University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) students who toured the
University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) campus Sept. 25 represent
the first dividends of the new NU PATHS program. The all-day visit gave
each student a chance to understand the UNMC environment, meet faculty
and clinicians, tour campus facilities and receive a stream of warm welcomes,
encouragements and expectations of seeing them back at UNMC in a few years
for their health professions education.
This NU PATHS Program, a cooperative program between UNL and UNMC, is
designed to recruit academically talented, underrepresented, ethnic minority
students to UNL for enrollment in programs that will prepare them for entry
into, and completion of, health care professional programs at UNMC. Eventually,
all three University of Nebraska undergraduate campuses will have a version
of the program.
For the first year, 10 scholars — as many as 12 may be chosen — have
received guaranteed admission to their chosen UNMC health profession program
upon completion of all specified academic requirements including having
scored adequately on the standardized exam (MCAT, DAT, etc.). They will
receive scholarship support from UNL and/or the University of Nebraska
Foundation at a level equal to or greater than full tuition until they
matriculate to UNMC. Prior to their first semester at UNL, they developed
a four-year academic plan that has been approved by the NU PATHS administration,
which consists of UNL and UNMC faculty and staff members.
The support we are getting through NU PATHS is unbelievable, said
NU PATHS student Katherine Reyes. The sincerity of the faculty and their
clear desire to see us succeed really offers us an amazing opportunity.
Student Natalia Torres agreed. We know we are leading the way for future
minorities to come to UNMC, she said. It is important for each of us
to succeed, so that others coming after us will see this and be encouraged.
Our visit to the campus is the best introduction we could have to seeing
that we are wanted
here. The faculty, the staff – everybody – is ready and waiting to
back us up.
The scholars will spend time on campus with a faculty member in their
chosen specialty, attending class sessions and shadowing in clinical environments,
said Mary McNamee, Ph.D., director of UNMCs Office of Student Equity and
Multicultural Affairs. These visits help the students get comfortable
with the professional environment at UNMC and understand the expectations
we will have of them as pre-professional students.
These students will have to pass through the same rigorous entrance
doors as every other student accepted into our colleges and specialized
schools. This NU PATHS program enables UNL and UNMC to work together to
identify outstanding minority candidates for the health professions and
give them sustained support and guidance all the way to UNMC.
The 10 students selected for the inaugural NU PATHS class and their
future specialty are Brett Carranza and Travis Haynes (College of Dentistry);
Royonna Bristol, Tiffiney Buggs, Andrea Gomes and Nandi Mutfwang (College
of Medicine); Kessondra Mays (College of Nursing); Natalia Torres (College
of Pharmacy); Katherine Reyes (Physical Therapy); and Mariah Carroll (Dental
Hygiene).
The students were escorted around campus by Sharon Palmer, OSEMA recruiter
and UNMC NU PATHS coordinator, and Chuck Van Rossum, UNL special assistant
to the chancellor of student affairs and UNL NU PATHS coordinator.
The NU PATHS participants were selected from applications by underrepresented
minorities who were in their senior year of high school, and freshman or
first-semester sophomores at UNL. Selection was based upon high school
and college transcripts, written essays, letters of recommendation and
ACT scores. The seven University of Nebraska-Lincoln students who toured
the UNMC campus Sept. 25 represent the first fruits of the NU PATHS program.
The all-day visit gave each student a chance to understand the UNMC environment,
meet faculty and clinicians, tour campus facilities and receive a stream
of warm welcomes, encouragements and expectations of seeing them back at
UNMC in a few years for their health professions education.