Which Help Desk Software Should Your Company Outsource

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Outsourcing IT solutions have helped many companies upgrade their automation efforts. It is not only a financially sound decision, but there are also many benefits to trusting a third-party provider in implementing IT-related services. A growing company, for instance, should consider outsourcing a helpdesk provider, especially if the following needs are present:

  • Lacks technical aptitude
  • No internal customer support dedicated to IT concerns
  • Pain points in IT management
  • Impractical cost of setting up an in-house service desk
  • Lacks diversity

These needs, along with the desire to guarantee high-quality output, are excellent reasons to look for a provider that offers the best IT solution.

Different features of a help desk software Service desk solutions are the umbrella category that includes all kinds of help desk software. Although it is common to use these terms interchangeably, help desk software pertains to the system that primarily resolves customer concerns. At the very least, the primary task of a help desk software provides a point of contact for users. When you are outsourcing a help desk solution, you need to ensure that the following basic features are present.

  1. Ticketing system. A core function of a help desk system is the ticketing software. It tracks, sort, manage, and search logged issues. The system often includes some type of tracker that assigns a unique code for each concern. The two objectives of a good ticketing system are – meeting service delivery timelines and making sure that all queries are addressed.
  2. Multiple contact points. Users should have various ways to contact the help desk team such as through phone, email, and chat. Multiple contact points provide the flexibility needed to increase productivity and efficiency within the team.
  3. Different levels for escalation. When escalating IT issues, there is usually a hierarchy followed. But, there are help desk software solutions that provide the capability to escalate directly to a manager when the need arises.
  4. User-friendly dashboard. The dashboard gives each IT agent seamless visibility into the entire system. User dashboards are typically equipped with quick-access tools and a summary of pending requests tabulated according to urgency.
  5. Built-in analytics. It is essential for a help desk software to have tools for analytics. These tickets provide excellent insight into how the company can improve external and internal processes. The feature should not only have convenient tools for visualization but be able to make a meaningful interpretation of large amounts of data.
  6. Automation. Repetitive issues and other simple tasks may be automated to increase resolution speed. Instead of having these simple tasks included in the general roster of tickets, the user can get assistance from an autoresponder. Similarly, administrative functions such as routing tickets from one agent to another may be done automatically to enhance efficiency.

In choosing a help desk software to outsource, it is possible that these features are already included. But there are also instances when individual features are added on depending on the client’s needs. So, which help desk software feature should your company outsource? The answer here depends on your organization’s current requirements. If possible, look for a scalable solution that allows for seamless integration of new features so that your company can scale up as the organization expands.

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100% Pass Rate For FAMU School Of Nursing

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Congratulations are in order for the Rattlers of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce: the graduate students in the School of Nursing have ALL passed their certification exams. Read the full announcement:

Last week, the School of Nursing at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) was notified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification Board that all of FAMU’s May 2019 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduates passed the certification exam.

FAMU Nursing, Class of 2019


This unprecedented pass rate further establishes FAMU’s School of Nursing as a top-tier provider of nursing practitioners. According to the School of Nursing’s Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Studies Uloma Onubogu, Ph.D., MSN, this illustrates “we have met and exceeded a crucial nursing program accreditation standard.”


Additionally, the 100 percent pass rate further demonstrates FAMU’s graduates are well prepared to deliver services in the primary care setting with expected competency, quality, safety and attitude.


Althoug there are multiple advantages for producing advanced nurse practitioners, Onubogu said FAMU is filling an immediate need by training and providing high-functioning practitioners during a time when the healthcare industry is experiencing a shortage of providers.

“Our graduates are able to fully credential with numerous agencies and enter the workforce at a very critical time,” she said. As detailed on its website, AANP Certification Board’s nurse practitioner certification provides a “valid and reliable program for nurse practitioners to recognize their education, knowledge and professional expertise.” It also provides a process for “validation of an advanced practice registered nurse’s qualifications and knowledge for practice as a nurse practitioner.

The FAMU School of Nursing was “established in 1904 as a hospital based program, it became the first baccalaureate program in Florida in 1936. The Florida Board of Nursing approved the program and its graduates were permitted to write the licensure examination in 1941” and “The forty-two credit hour full-time curriculum can be completed in two years or five semesters, while the part-time curriculum plan can be completed in seven semesters,” shares the university website.

Congratulations to this talented group of future nurses!

Study: Graduating From An HBCU Might Result In Higher Fees, Interest Rates For Personal Loans

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A study determined graduates of historically Black colleges and universities pay more for personal loans compared to their counterparts from largely white educational institutions. 

Student Borrower Protection Center, a nonprofit watchdog group, published its findings on Wednesday. The organization posed as a 24-year-old man making $50,000 per year as a financial analyst in New York. The hypothetical applicant attempted to refinance a $30,000 loan from online lender Upstart. When he told the company he graduated from Howard University, he was quoted a rate of $3,500 more in interest than he would have been as an NYU alum. The hypothetical Howard graduate also saw quotes of $729 more in loan origination fees and his annual percentage rate (APR) was five percentage points higher than the NYU alum’s rate.

“The only difference was where he went to school,” Kat Welbeck, civil rights counsel to the Student Borrower Protection Center, told NPR. 

“There’s no other explanation that we can really come to terms with other than the fact that where this borrower went to school mattered in terms of how Upstart measured their creditworthiness.”

Wells Fargo was also found to have discriminatory practices. The bank charged an ostensible community college student $1,134 more for a private student loan than a hypothetical student attending a four-year school. The community college student got a shorter loan term, but the interest rate is almost three percent higher. Research conducted by The College Board shows a plurality of Black undergraduates attended two-year institutions in 2014. 

“Similar to banks’ history of redlining in the housing sector, the use of education criteria in credit underwriting could result in borrowers of color receiving more expensive loans simply because of lenders’ assumptions and prejudices regarding those who sit next to them in the classroom,” Welbeck said to The Washington Post. “What we found raises serious alarms and warrants immediate attention by lawmakers.”

Upstart chief executive and co-founder Dave Girouard said the data was “misguided.” 

“We’ve tested for bias over millions of applicants, not two or three, which can be very anecdotal,” Girouard said of the Student Borrower Protection Center report. “A system like ours uses 1,500 data points to assess creditworthiness. Education represents a few of them. [The report] was contrived and not statistically valid.”

Wells Fargo also disputed the report’s findings. 

“Wells Fargo has a long-standing commitment to providing access to financing for students attending community colleges,” said spokeswoman Vickee Adams. “We follow responsible lending practices that take into account expected performance outcomes and are confident that our loan programs conform with fair lending expectations and principles.”

Source: Atlanta Black Star

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Kandice Guice Says HBCU Experience Taught Her To Be Unapologetically Black

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“My summer at HU had already laid the foundation for more progressive thoughts,” wrote Kandice Guice in her piece called “How My HBCU Experience Taught Me To Be Unapologetically Black.” Guice said that she was impressed with some students who attended Howard University while interacting with them during a congressional internship in the nation’s capital. She was in her senior year of undergraduate at a PWI and ultimately decided to enroll at an HBCU for her masters following the encounter.

From XONecole.com:

As I headed into my senior year of college, I took a congressional internship in D.C.

It was the beginning of a shift in perspective about what it meant to be young, intelligent, and black.

My roommates were three beauties from Howard University. Two were finishing up in Finance and Accounting, while one was on the road to law school. They took me in, introducing me to the mecca of HBCU culture.

I sat in on deep analytical discussions regarding politics and social issues – falling in love with their confidence to speak their thoughts firmly from a black perspective. These women were not intimidated by the stark perceptions that might formulate from their confidence. Nor did they bother to worry about fitting into the small box I was squirming within. They stood tall in their glory and even seemed to flourish in it.

I watched as afros, melanin, and magic erupted into a special type of synergy I’d never knew I longed for. I saw much of the same as I hung out with other HU students who used their perspective to create the type of opportunities for themselves that we all dream of.

Mass communication majors discussed their ideas of unique niches geared toward people of color. Up and coming fashion designers hosted impeccable shows thoughtfully choreographed and marketed for Black audiences. Models planned New York Fashion Week takeovers that would dip the city in brown hues. Students from different regions and socioeconomic backgrounds formed connections with thought leaders who were on the cusp of greatness.

These students won a national network of folks who’d forever be connected to them through a shared HBCU experience. It was priceless.

I watched all of this, a little envious of their ability to walk upright in the coexistence of their ambitions and their culture. Although impressed, I still wasn’t fully confident in my ability to do the same.

I went back to my own school, wanting to disappear as everyone waited on my response to cultural conversations or politically charged issues affecting minorities. There was still this thought that I’d be miscategorized based on some action that was foreign to those in my work and social circles – thus I was silent in instances when I had something of value to say.

I was still struggling through how to lean into my confidence as an intelligent black woman. In my mind, one wrong move would label me a stupid misfit and set the entire culture back five decades.

Somehow, I held on to this eerie feeling that the work I did in this world would never amount to anything if I couldn’t get people who didn’t look like me to feel comfortable with my blackness. And so I shrunk myself – until I enrolled at Southern University for my Masters and Law Degree.

Head over to XONecole.com to read.

Jackson State University President Resigns, Following Prostitution Sting Arrest

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Jackson State University president William Bynum Jr. resigned from his role leading the 142-year-old institution yesterday, Monday, February 10th, following his arrest in a prostitution sting.

Bynum was apprehended by Clinton Police Department at a Mississippi hotel and is accused procuring services of a prostitute, false statement of identity and simple possession of marijuana.

The City of Clinton also shares, “The two day operation resulted in seventeen (17) arrests with eight felony charges. The arrests spanned multiple charges including prostitution, procuring the services of a prostitute, promoting prostitution, conspiracy to promote prostitution, and various controlled substance violations.”

Image result for william bynum jackson state

The former president posted a $3,000 bond and his scheduled court appearance date is to be determined. By a unanimous vote, Bynum became the 11th JSU president and would’ve celebrated his third year in office in May. The Jackson State University website shares that “Bynum’s personal and professional motto is: “Look back and thank God. Look forward and trust God. Look around and serve God. Look within and find God.”

Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning reports, “Dr. William B. Bynum has tendered his resignation as President of Jackson State University to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, effective immediately.” The Board will convene to decide how the university will move forward.

Throughout his career, Bynum also had roles at Mississippi Valley State University, Winston-Salem State University, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.

4 Minority-Owned Cannabis Businesses That Are Leading The Way

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The last few years have seen the sorts of changes to cannabis legislation across America that would have been simply unimaginable in previous decades. Whether for personal or medicinal use, in its pure or refined form, it’s a booming industry which generated over $50 billion in sales in 2018.

It’s also proving to be a very fruitful industry for businesses set up and run by people of color, although this is a group that still remains under-represented at only 9% of the total number of owners and founders. But there are signs that minority-owned businesses across the United States are starting to thrive which can only help to overcome at least some of the effects of this disparity. Here are just four of them.

Panacea Valley Gardens

Based in Oregon, the business is owned and run by Jesce Horton, the chairman of the Minority Cannabis Business Association. The business specializes in medical cannabis cultivation in its 20,000 sq. foot growing area and also includes an adult-use dispensary. With extensive water recycling, solar paneling and a heat exchange system, it’s also a very ecologically sound enterprise.

Supernova Woman

Formed in 2015 by the group Women of Color in Cannabis, the aim of Supernova Woman has always been educational rather than being a producer and retailer. They run regular courses on everything from influencing legislation to building up cannabis businesses and how to stay in compliance, for example, if you are producing your own oil, such as Rick Simpson oil (or RSO), which you can read more about here.

Simply Pure

Founders Wanda James and her husband Scott Durrah ran a number of businesses including Caribbean restaurants and consultancy companies before alighting on cannabis production due to personal circumstances that brought the issue home. It is their hope that Simply Pure will help to change the public’s view of the relationship between people of color and the drug.

Apothecarry

When Whitney Barry, a Michigan State University graduate, set up Apothecarry, her aim was to take marijuana smoking away from the traditional “stoner” image and to make it a more aspirational and respectable activity. This led to the design of the “Apothecarry Case” – a stylish and discreet hardwood case designed to hold a user’s paraphernalia. The business is all the more remarkable for not just being founded by a woman of color, but also being fully funded by minority investors.Over the coming years, we can expect to see many more minority-owned cannabis businesses emerging which, hopefully, will have a role to play in the overall war on irresponsible drug use. And for any young entrepreneurs wondering what field to enter after graduation, this could well be a great choice offering almost limitless potential. Though there may be some way to go, this industry certainly has the potential to prosper, and with changing attitudes being cultivated alongside the business itself, it’s 

First Ever HBCU Polo Team Is At Morehouse College

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Atlanta, GA – February 5, 2020 – The Morehouse College Polo Club has received official notice from the United States Polo Association of their membership into the organization, making it the first Historically Black College & University (HBCU) to have a polo team.

“We would like to officially welcome Morehouse College to the I/I Family! Morehouse is in Atlanta, and will be playing out of The Atlanta Regional Polo Center with Jolie Listonand Frankie Questel,”

Morehouse Polo Club members with rapper Waka Flocka at the 2nd Annual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic // Photo credit: ETV Media Solutions

said Amy Fraser, Director Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo, in a letter addressed to the Morehouse Polo Club.

Co-founded by Atlanta entrepreneur Miguel Wilson and Morehouse students Rian Toussaint, Justin Wynn, and Caleb Cherry, the Morehouse Polo Club was started in 2019 due to the help of Wilson’s Ride the Olympics Foundation.

The idea originally came from Cherry’s polo coach, who suggested that he start a team at Morehouse. A veteran equestrian, Cherry competed in dressage for ten years before and started playing polo five years ago. He’s the only player on the team with prior experience with horses. 

Through Ride to the Olympics, the students received scholarships that support their membership of the Morehouse Polo Club, giving them access to horses, riding lessons and appropriate gear; allowing them to compete against other polo teams, both domestic and international.

“Just so there is no confusion this is the first HBCU team in history,” Wilson said.

Last September, Wilson’s foundation raised additional funds for the team through its annual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic event, where high-profile Atlantans and celebrities attended to support the Morehouse Polo Club. 

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About Morehouse Polo Club

Founded in 2019, The Morehouse Polo Club was co-founded by Miguel Wilson, founder of Ride to the Olympics Foundation with Morehouse students Rian Toussaint, Justin Wynn, and Caleb Cherry serving as its first members.

Certified by the United States Polo Association, the Morehouse Polo Club is officially the first polo team at a Historically Black College & University (HBCU).

About Ride to the Olympics

Established in 2017, Ride to the Olympics’ (RTO) primary mission is to empower youth who aren’t exactly born into great means with the opportunity to learn the art of equestrian sports, fashion and leadership development. RTO is also committed to increasing awareness and exposure to horse-related sports such as polo, showjumping and dressage throughout the country; eliminating barriers and strengthening community engagement.

Morgan State University To Offer Three Degree Programs In Ghana Following Board Approval

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BALTIMORE — Morgan State University (MSU) is slated to establish an international presence on the African continent by way of a new pilot program. During the recent public session of the MSU Board of Regents’ winter quarterly meeting, the Board unanimously approved a proposal for the university to begin offering three degree programs — a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Global Multimedia Journalism and Communications, and a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship — in partnership with the African University College of Communications (AUCC) in Adabraka, Accra, Ghana. The pilot program is scheduled to begin in fall 2020, creating opportunities for western African students to pursue degrees from Morgan. The collaboration marks a first of its kind for an HBCU in Ghana, with Morgan poised to join only a select few American universities offering degree programs in Africa.

Board of Regents meeting

“Over the past five years, we have been very interested in Africa and have been eyeing expansion into new markets. We look forward to piloting these three academic degree programs in Ghana, and if this initiative is successful in attracting top-notch students and awarding them highly valued Morgan degrees, we will consider establishing a more physical presence in Africa,” said Morgan President David Wilson. “So long as I am the president of this institution, Morgan will never be in stasis. We cannot afford to stand still. It is incumbent upon the university to always lean forward and continuously explore all viable opportunities in this rapidly transforming higher education environment.”

Coinciding with the expansion abroad, domestically the Board also authorized the University to pursue the addition of a new Master of Science in Advanced Computing degree program. Pending Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) approval, the M.S. in Advanced Computing would be the only degree of its kind offered at a Maryland university, and Morgan would be the sole HBCU in the nation to offer it. The availability of the program at Morgan would offer students a solid foundation in emerging areas of computer sciences such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, machine learning and cloud computing.

In addition, during its fall meeting this past November, MSU’s Board of Regents supported the addition of a new degree program in cloud computing. MHEC recently approved Morgan’s request to offer a new Bachelor of Science in Cloud Computing beginning in fall 2020.

AUCC Site Visit

In January, an administrative team, led by Morgan’s provost, traveled to Ghana for a site visit at AUCC, a University of Ghana affiliate institution, and to finalize the remaining details of the proposed collaboration. The arrangement calls for Morgan professors from the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management and the School of Global Journalism and Communication to travel to Ghana to teach courses throughout the year to incoming cohorts. Each of the three degree programs would be offered in a hybrid delivery consisting of face-to-face and online instruction. Morgan is seeking at least 20 students to begin the pilot. An evaluation of the programs is slated for the end of the inaugural year.

Recent economic trends indicate that Africa will be the top emerging market of the 21st century. With 1.2 billion inhabitants (up from 447 million in 1980), more than 50 percent of them under the age of 30, Africa is projected by the United Nations Population Division to witness an accelerated population growth in the immediate future. Most African governments are allocating a significant amount of their annual revenue to increase access to primary and secondary schools for their young and rapidly growing populations. One area that the majority of African governments have not been able to expand rapidly is access to “tertiary education,” or colleges and universities. At present, public higher education institutions in Africa can accommodate less than 5 percent of the overall demand.

“Morgan State University will deliver highly innovative M.S. and B.S. programs that fully prepare individuals to be global leaders,” said Lesia Crumpton-Young, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Morgan State University. “These program graduates will serve as catalysts for economic growth and development throughout the African continent and beyond.”

Board of Regents meeting

In response to a national need for a workforce skilled in computing, Morgan proposes to offer a Master of Science in Advanced Computing degree program, available both online and in a traditional classroom setting. Based on an innovative curriculum, the new program would be designed for students who have recently completed a bachelor’s degree program in computer science and/or related fields and who wish to enhance their careers, explore research opportunities in computer science or apply their acquired skills in transdisciplinary teams or for a specific focus. With a one-year completion option, the M.S. in Advanced Computing would serve as a complement to the new B.S. in Cloud Computing.

“Morgan understands what employers, particularly those in the technology sector, are looking for from our graduates,” added Dr. Wilson. “They need talent with particular skill sets, and we are bringing forth degree programs to provide those skills. Our students who are matriculating in these programs are going to be highly sought after, the world over.”

Both the proposed transdisciplinary M.S. program and the B.S. in Cloud Computing will be managed by the Department of Computer Science in Morgan’s School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences.

With the terms of a strategic collaboration agreed to in principle, the final affiliation agreement will require approval from the MSU Board of Regents. The Board’s next quarterly meeting is scheduled for May 5, 2020.

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

HBCU Grad Ruth Carter’s New Clothing Line At H&M Inspired By 80s And 90s Fashion

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Ruth Carter, the Oscar-winning costume designer for Black Panther, is now partnering with H&M to roll out her first fashion collection.

The fun, 11-piece Ruth Carter x H&M collectionharkens back to the late 1980s and early 1990s era and seems to draw inspiration from Do the Right Thing, Carter’s 1989 film with Spike Lee. The Ruthless collection, brimming with the red, black and green colors of the African liberation flag, will be available at hm.com and in select stores on Feb. 13.

Carter said she named her line Ruthless because that’s her on-set nickname, which she calls a “double entendre.”

“I’ve always wanted to turn that around and say, ‘Yeah, that’s right!’ It’s kind of giving you a charge to be ruthless and just go for it!” Carter told The Hollywood Reporter.

Carter noted some color similarities in the outfits that Black Panther’s T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Okoye (Danai Gurira) wore in the movie’s casino scene to the symbolism she is hoping to achieve with the H&M collection. Still, Carter said she had to seriously consider whether she wanted to move in this direction because “fashion was not on my radar.”

“People think that I got into costume design because of fashion, but it was really the vivid stories that I was reading by poets and playwrights that made me want to get into storytelling through costume design,” Carter told The Hollywood Reporter. “Fashion was not on my radar. I was, rather, introduced to fashion through costume design. I started to understand how to use color and fashion and direct it to character.” 

Carter said developing the H&M fashion line made her worry that “all of a sudden” she might be considered a fashion designer. “I still wanted to be a costume designer, inserting myself into the fashion world, so I really had to think about how I wanted to communicate that.”

What evolved was an ode to African culture.

“I’ve always been drawn to the Afro future,” Carter said to THR. “It’s been called different things throughout the years; back in the ’90s it was ‘neo-soul’ and there was a lot of interest in colors of the liberation flag (red, black and green) and color-blocking. It’s made a comeback today, which is exciting, because I was always inspired by the messaging that the liberation colors represented — being independent and strong, knowing about the authenticity of your culture.”

“I am reintroducing the big, strong, saturated liberation colors and the idea of learning to trust my voice as an African American woman who went the distance creatively,” Carter added in the interview. “I feel very strongly that trusting my voice is what got me to the Dolby stage to win the Oscar.”

Carter is a 35-year costume design veteran who was also nominated for a costume design

Oscar for Spike Lee’s Malcom X and Stephen Spielberg’s Amistad (1997). Her most recent film work, Coming 2 America, can be seen in December.

Get a sneak peek of the collection below with a little help from social media personality Jay Versace: 

https://twitter.com/jayversace/status/1224800177636032514?s=21

The post Ruth Carter’s new clothing line at H&M inspired by 80s and 90s fashion appeared first on TheGrio.

Grambling State Alum Erykah Badu To Sell Incense That Has Her Essence

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It’s been noted in the past that Erykah Badu seems to have a significant influence on the men she has dated, with rappers Common, Andre 3000, Jay Electronica, and The D.O.C., having switched up their styles, creative flow, and lives while engaging with Badu. Now, the rest of the world can experience part of, let’s say, Badu’s essence.

In an interview with 10 Magazine, Badu announces that she will be selling incense that has the fragrance of her vagina. Badu states that she recognizes the power that’s been attached to her for so many years, “There’s an urban legend that my p***y changes men,” she says about the rumors that’s been going around for years. “The men that I fall in love with, and fall in love with me, change jobs and lives.”

Later this month, the eclectic artist has plans to launch Badu World Market. Items that will be available for purchase will include bespoke clothing and accessories, as well as apothecary goods and traditional music merch. And, of course, what Badu calls her “superpower”—that incense that smells like her vagina.

“I took lots of pairs of my panties, cut them up into little pieces and burned them,” as she describes the method for her new product. “Even the ash is part of it.” She insists that the finished product, Badu’s P***y, will smell as advertised. “The people deserve it!”

Badu tells InStyle that the goal of the online store is to “encourage networking among smaller brands and prestigious art houses. It’s a hub to share space with all people.” She also tells the magazine that Badu World Market is inspired in part by the New York City bootleg parody art store and streetwear label Chinatown Market.

OSLO, NORWAY – AUGUST 8: Erykah Badu performs on stage at The Oyafestivalen on August 8, 2019 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Per Ole Hagen/Redferns)


“I think I’m a nonconformist,” she says. “If [there’s] something that I’m told I’m supposed to do, I am very much inspired to go the other direction.” Check out Badu World Market to sign up for information leading up to the Feb. 20 launch of the online store.

This post was written by Cedric ‘Big Ced’ Thronton, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.

Howard University Introduces New Head Football Coach

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WASHINGTON — Larry Scott is the new head football coach at Howard University.

Scott comes to Howard after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach in the SEC with stints at Tennessee and most recently Florida.

Before coaching at Tennessee, Larry Scott was an assistant at Miami for three seasons which included a six-game stint as the Hurricanes’ interim head coach in 2015.

Coach Scott’s landing with the Bison comes as somewhat of a surprise. Florida head coach Dan Mullen told reporters that Larry Scott had been in the mix for other jobs before.

But for Scott, Howard is the perfect school to be at.

“Why not Howard,” said the new head coach of the Bison. “The great tradition academically. The opportunity to take this football program, be a part of the athletic community as a whole, and push that brand up to the top where we match the academics. We talked about wanting to make Howard one of those universities that are synonymous with the universities that have high academic standards, but also play and raise the level of athletics to a level too. We want to have great balance, and when people say the word Howard they’ll be like ‘Wow they’re excellent in everything.’”

Howard will be Larry Scott’s first opportunity to be a full-time head coach at any level, and the new leader of the Bison got emotional when talking about what it means to be a coach.

“It’s one of the most awesome things that a young man can experience in his life,” said Scott during his introductory press conference. “To have another man wrap his arms around you and tell you he loves you. Having the opportunity to be called coach, and to call yourself a coach, I think is one of biggest responsibilities that a man can have. When a young man acknowledges you as coach he’s not just giving you a name, he’s allowing you in to impact his life. What a great responsibility that is.”

Source: WSUA9.com

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With PrEP, Historically Black Colleges Miss The Mark

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Recently, I read an article that stated only one out of 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Morehouse College, is known to provide pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that helps prevent the transmission of HIV, to its students. As a Black Gay HBCU scholar, I applaud the fact that Morehouse is making advances in providing HIV prevention but I am also saddened by this fact because PrEP is one of the most important medications of our time and only 1 out of 107 HBCUs offer it. 

In a country where Black Americans account for nearly half of all new HIV infections each year despite representing only 13 percent of the U.S. population with estimations that half of all Black Gaymen will contract HIV in their lifetime, the need for PrEP on is at an all time high. According to the CDC, when taken daily, PrEP can reduce an individual’s risk of contracting HIV by 99%. Although the HIV prevention pill has been approved for use for nearly seven years, it’s disappointing that only Morehouse is offering PrEP to HBCU college students despite the fact that Black college students are at a greater risk of acquiring HIV.

 

On February 7th, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we need to remember that there are still barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, and care for Black youth on college campuses — and work to be done to break these barriers down.  

Introduced in 2012, PrEP, under the brand name Truvada, has cemented itself as one of the most effective tools to combat the spread of HIV. Despite its effectiveness, PrEP is still unknown to many and consequently underprescribed to the people who need it the most. Although black men and women accounted for approximately 40% of persons with PrEP eligibility, a recent study found that nearly six times as many white men and women were prescribed PrEP as were black men and women. Furthermore, nearly 700,000 young people in the USA could benefit from PrEP. Unfortunately, there have only been 27,330 prescriptions issued to this group since 2012.This disparity should motivate us all to increase our efforts to ensure Black youth have access to PrEP. 

Even when PrEP is known about and available, other factors such as cost, transportation, and the persistent stigma surrounding HIV prevent people from actually using it. In addition, young people aged 18-29 years have lower rates of health insurance than older individuals.

HBCUs can eliminate these barriers for students by providing PrEP at student health centers. By providing PrEP, HBCUs will not only empower students to take charge of their sexual health but will also show that as Black people we will not allow this epidemic to continue its reign of terror as we embark into a new year and decade. Naysayers of providing PrEP on HBCU campuses might argue that providing PrEP will create a false sense of security among students that would allow them to think that they are immune to other infections that come from sexual activities by taking PrEP. This problem will be alleviated through properly educating students about the uses of PrEP and providing other tools and resources that will help students make informed decisions about their sexual health. Another concern is that providing PrEP may encourage students to engage in more sexual activities in general. This may be hard for some people to accept but the odds of college students experimenting with their sexuality is high, regardless of whether PrEP or even condoms are easily accessible. It is the safest option to give students everything they could need to haveconsensual, hopefully fun, and affirming sex where vital resources like PrEP are an option. 

As a Black Gay man, hearing that half of all Black Gay men may contract HIV in their lifetime is very alarming. But instead of just worrying, I am choosing to act by advocating for policies that are inclusive of LGBTQ+ health, including making PrEP available at my illustrious HBCU, Dillard University. By providing PrEP, HBCUs will not only help me but they will also help every single Black student that is at a higher risk of contracting this infection. So on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I ask you to urge HBCUs, near and far, to put the health of students first and provide PrEP on their campuses.  

Jermany Gray, 20, is a YouthResource activist with Advocates for Youth, an organization that works alongside thousands of young people in the U.S. and around the globe as they fight for sexual health, rights and justice.

Source: Essence

Central State University Names Jack Thomas As Next President

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Central State University has named its next president, this time deciding to be led by a male leader.

The black college’s new man Jack Thomas is the biggest announcement that CSU has made since it spoke on the stepping down of the current president Cynthia Jackson-Hammond late last year.

Thomas will take office on July 1.

According to WHIO.com, Jackson-Hammond spoke to attendees, and to Thomas directly, on the occasion about the role he is stepping into, saying, “Will there be challenges? Heck yes,” And, “But guess what? Central State University eats challenges for breakfast. In the coming months, you will learn many things about this great institution. … Today marks the recognition of ‘Go Red Day’. On this day, we pay attention to our health and our heart. How fitting it is that you are being introduced today because you are being charged with taking care of our heart. We are all in great care because the good doctor is here.”

Thomas resigned from his position as president of Western Illinois University after eight years at the school. While he faced unprecedented fiscal challenges during a certain period of time at the college he was able to manage a budget of $224 million.

“I’m honored to have been chosen as the next president of Central State University,” Thomas said. “This institution has such a rich tradition and noble legacy. … We have so many future goals to accomplish, and I know we will have the courage and audacity to do it with excellence.”

Head over to WHIO.com to read more.

How A JCSU Rapper Shaped Tom Steyer’s $125B HBCU Policy

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“I been on the move

I been on the grind

I been winnin’ big

Puttin’ in the time” 

Jeremiah Chapman, a graduate of JCSU, originally shared this story via Post and Courier. As an artist/activist, I’m forever indebted to the confidence instilled in me by my historically black university, Johnson C. Smith University. As a first-generation college graduate, it gave me a pathway to power by educating and providing me tools to understand who I truly was, am, and would be. The economic impact of my school was apparent, literally feeding and keeping a roof over my family.

It was at JSCU that I got my start as an activist and spoken word artist. I also used the university’s facilities to host community events/initiatives. My HBCU also exposed me to the vast network of camaraderie, like my friendship with the late artist/activist Tywanza Sanders (Allen University ’14), who died in the 2015 Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston. His abrupt death further inspired me to take my music and activism more seriously, and take on the stage moniker Prophet X.

My story is not unique as a young black man born to a single mother. What is unique is the impact HBCUs have on others like me. These institutions turn the most oppressed into the greatest leaders this country has ever seen and create the bulk of black professionals in the workforce. Much of the magic is in the unlearning that happens at HBCUs, where black students get a clearer sense of history that doesn’t glorify their oppressors, but rather honors the contributions of their ancestors.

As Tom Steyer’s social impact director, I look back to my roots and dream of a better future for all of us.

I worked with senior policy adviser Arnie Sowell to develop a policy that would allow HBCUs to have autonomy over their fate, increase funding to drive down tuition costs, support racial justice, and be centers where future leaders could be cultivated.

Steyer’s planned $125 billion investment would be a game changer for HBCUs and the communities they serve. Read the full story via Post and Courier.

Gaming Degree Coming To North Carolina Central University In 2021

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DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Someone you know enjoys playing video games. The numbers increase moment to moment, and so do the potential profits. Published reports place revenue from video games in 2018 somewhere north of $43 million.

“It’s a really good time to be into games or interactive media, augmented reality and those types of things. So we’re just trying to keep up with the demand that’s already there,” said Hilary Huskey, who teaches at North Carolina Central University.

She and Kwame Hawkins, an associate professor at NCCU, are hard at work developing the first gaming degree program offered by an HBCU in North Carolina.

“Our goal is to produce students who are ready to go work in any studio,” said Hawkins, “So that if they have the ability to work on a triple A title they have the skills to do so, and to apply for those jobs.” Read the full story via ABC 11.

Marsai Martin To Be Honored By Spelman College’s Alumnae Association

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(LOS ANGELES, CA) – 15-year old producer, entrepreneur, and award-winning actor Marsai Martin (Black-ish, Little) is among the honorees for the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College – Los Angeles Chapter’s Sisters’ Awards Brunch. In its 26th year, the brunch has raised more than $530,000 in scholarship funds for incoming Spelman freshman from the Los Angeles area. The full story is shared by LA Sentinel.

Karl Ferguson, Jr.

Martin, at just 15-years-old, is already on course to be a whirlwind sensation. At the age of five she landed her first national commercial and shortly after relocating to Los Angeles, she was cast as Diane Johnson on the ABC Emmy-nominated hit comedy “black-ish.” Alongside an all-star cast, the young starlet has stolen the hearts of viewers who tune in every week to see her hilarious and witty antics on the show. Her work on the show has earned her ten NAACP Image Awards as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award. At the age of 10 she conceptualized and pitched a movie idea to Will Packer and Universal which became the feature film, Little. As the star and Executive Producer on the film, she has become a part of Hollywood history as the youngest person to EP a major Hollywood film. With opportunities presenting themselves daily, Marsai is excited about uplifting diverse and young voices through her production company, Genius Productions, who signed an overall deal with Universal.  In addition to acting, she loves producing, singing, dancing and creating her own content for social media.

Read more via LA Sentinel.