In light of America’s massive student loan debt crisis, which has ballooned to a whopping $1.5 trillion, Morehouse College announced a new program designed to help relieve the burden of debt for its graduates.
According to the United Negro College Fund, 80% of students at historically Black colleges and universities use federal loans to fund their education, compared to 55% of their peers at other private and state institutions. HBCU graduates also borrow nearly twice as much than non-HBCU students, while 1 in 4 HBCU students borrow at least $40,000 to attend college. At Morehouse, the average graduate owes between $35,000 and $40,000 in student loans.
To help offset the stress of student debt on alumni, Morehouse is launching a funding initiative that will solicit and accept donations made specifically to reduce or eliminate the student loan debt of Morehouse Men. The goal of the Morehouse College Student Success program is to give grads greater financial freedom and the opportunity to pursue advanced degrees, start careers, and build wealth. —(AP)
The program, which was established by the HBCU’s Board of Trustees, will also function as a fund-raising and research initiative that will study the impact of the cost of higher education on Morehouse Men compared to the freedom that alumni experience in their careers when their student loan balances are paid in full or reduced.
“The Morehouse College Student Success Program will provide students with a liberating gift that will wipe away or greatly reduce their student loans, allowing them to pursue their dreams and lead lives of leadership and service immediately after graduation,” said David A. Thomas, president of Morehouse College, in a statement.
UNCF officials applauded Morehouse’s Student Success Program as a potential model for other HBCUs and liberal arts institutions.
“Morehouse’s program to provide debt relief to new graduates is a fund-raising opportunity that should be studied and duplicated nationally,” said UNCF president and CEO Michael L. Lomax. “The impact of such a gift, particularly for minority or economically disadvantaged families, could accelerate the growth of a more diverse and robust middle class.”
The new program comes months after Black billionaire Robert F. Smith, the CEO of Vista Equity Partners, committed to donating $40 million to pay off the student debt of the entire Morehouse 2019 graduating class. “My family is going to create a grant to eliminate your student loans,” Smith said in May at Morehouse’s commencement ceremony. “You great Morehouse men are bound only by the limits of your own conviction and creativity.” — (Defender News Service via NNPA)
Following some design controversies in the past few years, Gucci has officially appointedRenée Tirado, a member of Delta Sigma Theta, as the new leader of the diversity, equity, and inclusion division.
For her first task, Tirado will create, develop, and implement a global strategy to not only help make Gucci’s workplace more inclusive (by helming the hiring process to develop a diverse DE&I team), but the brand’s business initiatives as well. Plus, Tirado will be in charge of Gucci’s Cultural Awareness Learning Program, Global Multicultural Design Fellowship Program, the Internal Global Exchange Program, and more.
“I am in the business of making human connections that start with the foundations of inclusivity, respect, and diversity to ensure Gucci remains culturally relevant and economically competitive,”
Tirado explained in a statement.
“I am honored to join a company that puts these non-negotiable values at the forefront of their business model, not as ‘a nice to have’ but as a key component of its business strategy.”
Tirado’s appointment is just one of the many ways Gucci is improving its brand. In March, Gucci announced the launch of its Global Changemakers Program, a long-term plan to encourage cultural diversity and unity with three different sectors dedicated to “support industry change and to foster unity through community action.”
“Diversity is on the agenda of many companies,” Tirado continued, “but Gucci has now assumed a leadership role in the industry through the breadth of initiatives it is undertaking and the prioritization it has placed on it as a part of the overall business.”
For more than a decade, HRC has held an annual summit for LGBTQ student leaders from many of the nation’s historically Black institutions. This year’s summit will take place in Washington, D.C., on November 7-12, 2019. To register, click here.
In 2018, 46 students representing 23 HBCUs from 10 states, Washington, D.C. and the Virgin Islands attended the summit. The five-day summit is the only leadership development and advocacy training program that empowers LGBTQ HBCU students to act as change-agents on their campuses and in their communities. Students leave with the skills and competence to lead resourcefully and effectively through the intersections of race, religion, gender identity and expression, class, and sexual orientation.
The HRC Foundation’s HBCU Program mobilizes andsupports HBCUs in enhancing policies and services that promote excellence in LGBTQ inclusion, equity, and engagement. We focus on promoting individual competencies and collective action, empowering leaders and stakeholders, and building a network of committed leaders in pursuit of eliminating stigma and enriching the college experience for LGBTQ students and the entire student body.
At last year’s summit, participants developed leadership skills in the key areas of self-awareness, awareness of others, courageous actions and collaboration to advocate for LGBTQ equality and other social justice issues. Topics covered included the intersection of race and sexual orientation, mental health and wellness, policing and the Black community, inclusive leadership and harnessing political power.
HRC’s HBCU Project was founded to support LGBTQ students at HBCUs by providing resources and trainings to advance affirming and supportive college campuses. The program is supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation. For more information about HRC’s HBCU Project, visit http://www.hrc.org//hbcu.
Advocates for four HBCUs have waged a court battle against the state of Maryland for the last 13 years. After the most recent court action, it looks as though the fight will continue.
According to The Baltimore Sun, HBCU advocacy group, the Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education, accused the state of “allowing well-funded academic programs at traditionally white universities to undermine similar ones at their schools,” writes Baltimore Sun reporter Talia Richman.
A more in-depth explanation of what is at the center of this fight is stated on the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s website:
The suit seeks equality between the state’s HBCUs and its traditionally white schools to ensure that all students attending Maryland’s public colleges and universities receive a quality education. Specifically, plaintiffs want the state to stop allowing traditionally white schools to duplicate programs at the HBCUs, the development of unique programs at the HBCUs, and funds for needed capital improvements.
The HBCUs involved in the lawsuit are: Morgan State University and Coppin State University in Baltimore; Bowie State University; and the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.
The problem in a nutshell, as explained by Education Dive, is that the plaintiffs claim that Maryland is allowing “traditionally white colleges to duplicate unique programs offered at its HBCUs, undercutting the latter’s ability to draw a diverse pool of students. As a result of this duplication, they argue, the HBCUs had only 11 unique programs in high-demand as of the lawsuit’s filing, compared to 122 at the state’s traditionally white institutions.”
The most recent court action was a court-appointed mediation which yielded no resolution. The case will go back to the 4th circuit court.
“We’re disappointed that this mediation failed,” Michael Jones, one of the lawyers for the HBCU advocates, told The Baltimore Sun. “The plaintiffs are hopeful this case can be resolved as soon as possible, since justice delayed is justice denied.”
HBCUs have been beleaguered by lack of funding and insufficient resources. Earlier this year, Bennett College lost its accreditation due to a lack of “sound financial resources” as per the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College (SACSCOC). A court ruling has since–temporarily–restored the school’s accreditation.
Concordia College, an HBCU in Selma, Alabama, that educated black students for nearly a century, shut down last year.
Recently, senator and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, proposed a plan that would provide billions of dollars in funding for HBCUs, with a focus on programs for entrepreneurship, science, and technology. Harris is a graduate from HBCU Howard University.
This post was written by Samara Lynn, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
Savannah State University (SSU) alumnus Will Simmons, Ph.D.,’98 has been named president of National Association for Court Administrators (NACM). Simmons is the District Court Administrator for the Sixth Judicial Administrative District, Superior Courts of Georgia. The district is comprised of 21 superior court judges, 14 counties and 5 judicial circuits.
Simmons is the current chairman of the board for the Savannah State University Foundation, Inc., and as a student he was chief justice and SGA president.
NACM is a member organization dedicated to educating court professionals, providing community, sharing information, and advocating on important court and justice system topics.
Established in 1890, Savannah State University is the oldest public historically black college or university in Georgia and the oldest institution of higher learning in the city of Savannah. The university’s students select majors from 30 undergraduate and 6graduate programs in 4 colleges.
Cengage and UNCF (United Negro College Fund) today announced a program to provide 1,000 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with free, semester-long subscriptions to Cengage Unlimited. UNCF, the largest educational organization supporting and advocating for minorities for nearly 75 years, will administer the program and select the recipients on behalf of Cengage.
“Every student should have an equal opportunity to succeed, and having the right learning materials can have a critical impact on performance,” said Michael Hansen, CEO, Cengage. “The high cost of textbooks have prohibited this for many students. This is why we launched Cengage Unlimited – to make quality learning more affordable. UNCF has helped thousands of learners, enabling opportunity for minority students through its financial support and public advocacy. We are proud to partner with UNCF to ease some of the financial burden these students face and ensure they are equipped with the tools they need to reach their full potential.”
Cengage Unlimited is the industry’s first all-access digital subscription for college textbooks and course materials. A subscription offers access to more than 22,000 Cengage eBooks, online homework access codes and study guides for $119.99 a semester, no matter how many products they use. A subscription also includes free access to resources from Evernote, Kaplan, Quizlet, Chegg and Dashlane.
In the 2018-2019 academic year, Cengage Unlimited saved students more than $60 million.
“For 75 years, our motto ‘A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in,’ ® has remained at the forefront of everything we do,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF. “We must continue to invest our time and money in better futures for young people around the country. Partners like Cengage are vitally important to this work and we are pleased to have them as an ally in helping to educate the next generation of leaders.”
Program eligibility is based on several factors, including financial need, a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, an essay and letter of recommendation. Five hundred subscriptions each will be awarded for the Fall 2019 semester and the Spring 2020 semester. Applications are being accepted through August 29, 2019 for the fall semester. Applications for the Spring 2020 semester will open on November 4, 2019.
According to a recent study by Morning Consult on behalf of Cengage, textbook costs are the second largest stressor facing college students today after paying for tuition. In the same study, 60 percent of African American students noted they have opted not to buy required textbooks and course materials, and 52 percent said buying course materials has a big impact on their finances while in school.
About Cengage
Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. As the largest US-based provider of teaching and learning materials for higher education, we offer valuable options at affordable price points. Our industry-leading initiatives include Cengage Unlimited, the first-of-its-kind all-access digital subscription service. We embrace innovation to create learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. Headquartered in Boston, Cengage also serves K-12, library and workforce training markets around the world. Visit us at www.cengage.comor find us on Facebook or Twitter.
About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org, or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.
(HBCU Buzz) — South Carolina State will face-off against Grambling in the 2020 MEAC-SWAC Challenge, reports the Associated Press. The event will be held on Sept. 6 at Georgia Stadium in Atlanta. From AP: ”Grambling holds a 10-5 all-time series lead. It will be the first meeting between the teams since South Carolina State won 34-31 in the 2009 MEAC-SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Florida. South Carolina State has a 3-1 record and Grambling 0-2 in the Challenge. Bethune-Cookman and Jackson State will meet in this year’s 15th annual Challenge on Sept. 1 at Georgia State Stadium.” South Carolina State and Grambling play in the FCS conferences of historically black colleges and universities.
There are so many things that school didn’t teach us, credit being one of them. Ironically, it is one of the single most important lessons that you’ll need in order to survive in the world today.
In an interview with Black Enterprise, credit and financial counselor, Will Roundtree, shares why credit is so important; the difference between business and personal credit; and what you need to do in order to get your credit in order.
Black Enterprise: Why is credit so important?
Will Roundtree: Understanding the meaning of credit is the first hurdle to get over. Credit is simply a tool, in layman’s terms. Once that has been established, the principles on why it is so important can, then, be discussed. Credit is essential to our lives. We need it to purchase homes, automobiles, apply for apartments and many more day-to-day requirements that allow us to move around in every aspect of our lives. Credit is vital to the lifeline of our personal lives and our business lives.
Will Roundtree
What is the difference between personal credit and business credit?
The difference between personal and business credit is not far removed from each other. The major difference is that your personal credit is based on your Social Security number and your business credit is based on your EIN, which is your Employee Identification Number. Your personal credit is generated and curated by three major credit bureaus. They are Experian, Transunion, and Equifax. Each bureau has its own way of reporting information.
Your personal credit is used for personal expenditures and has a direct impact on your daily life. If you pay your bills on time and apply a healthy knowledge to your credit responsibilities, you have an unhindered buying power. However, on the flip side of that, if you do not pay your bills on time, you will adversely affect your ability to purchase life’s necessities and therefore, have obstacles in your way when deciding to make major decisions for your life.
For business credit, there is a completely different scoring model and a completely different credit reporting agency. Business credit is used, solely, for the purpose of business creditworthiness. The bureaus for business credit are Experian Credit, Equifax Credit, Dun and Bradstreet, and SBFE, which stands for Small Business Financial Exchange. These agencies monitor the financial responsibilities you adhere to when doing business while using credit.
How do you help people with credit?
I assist my clients in various ways. My No. 1 way is through credit education. My main focus is to generate knowledge on the subject of credit, especially in the black and minority communities. One of the things I have learned over the course of my journey is that we are economically undereducated in relation to credit, and I teach that if you truly understand the power of credit, you can always leverage it to create wealth. Additionally, I teach the understanding of credit strategies. This aspect is useful when I let people know that credit can always be rebuilt, restored, and repaired. Because believe it or not, the biggest misconception about credit is that it cannot be fixed or that people have to live with the bruises that can happen sometimes when dealing with credit. I simply try to make sure that I cover all aspects of credit when I am out in the community and educate them on their options.
What are three things that people should focus on to build up their credit?
Make your payments on time. Payment history makes up 35%of your credit score, and even one late payment can drop your score significantly. To ensure a strong score, make all payments on time.
Make sure your credit usage is below 30%. This strategy is at the top of my list. Credit usage makes up 30% of our score. Credit usage is the amount of credit you have used based on the amount of credit you have available. Anytime you have over 30% credit usage, your score will drop. I like to tell people that having high credit usage is not the end of the day. They just have to lower that particular factor. Lowering it below 30% is ideal in most situations.
If there is anything negative showing on your report, it can be disputed. One of the things people may not be aware of, per the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) is that they have the right to dispute anything that reports as negative, inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable. For example, you have a debt for $513.23. When disputing that debt ethically and legally and the price cannot be proven down to the penny, that company reporting that account has to legally remove or delete it from your credit report.
This post was written by Sequoia Blodgett, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
WASHINGTON, DC – Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and Hennessy announced today, the selection of the inaugural cohort of the Hennessy Fellows. Three of the 10 hand- selected Hennessy Fellows are MBA graduate students from Morgan State University. The Fellows will spend a week in New York City for an intense professional and leadership development experience that will focus on specific competency areas such as leadership, communication, executive presence, accountability and influence, and business acumen. Hennessy executives, and industry leaders will provide interactive lectures, simulations, and executive coaching to the Fellows.
Hennessy Fellows is made possible by a $10-million-dollar commitment from Hennessy into TMCF over 10 years. This groundbreaking graduate scholarship initiative designed to equip the next generation of African American leaders through financial assistance, access to training and professional development experiences, and real-world skill application. Hennessy Fellows plays a critical role in building the pipeline of diverse, executive talent as failure to develop essential levels of competence, credibility, and confidence early on can jeopardize future advancement of minorities, according to Breaking Through: The Making of Minority Executives in Corporate America.
The Hennessy Fellows from Morgan State University are:
Trevor Alexander
Troy Jefferson
Tamika Mason
“This impressive group of future C-Suite executives from Morgan State University will have the opportunity to learn and be mentored by some of the best in the business in Corporate America,” said Harry L. Williams, president & CEO, TMCF. “Our partnership with Hennessy is singularly devoted to our graduate HBCU students making our Hennessy Fellows the new symbol of success.”
The Hennessy Fellows were selected after an exhaustive application process. In addition to the all-expenses paid trip to New York City for the boot camp, each fellow will receive executive coaching, up to $20,000 per academic year, $10,000 annual stipend for other educational expenses, an opportunity to compete for a community-related project grant up to $10,000, and access to online training forums, boot camps, networking events and professional development experiences.
For more information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply for the second cohort, please visit tmcf.org/HFP.
ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND (TMCF)
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.
Howard University graduate Toni Morrison died Monday night, her publisher confirms to Associated Press. She was 88 years old. Vulture shares these words in its obituary from Morrison’s Nobel Prize address:
”We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.”
Morrison’s critically acclaimed novel Beloved won her the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. She graduated from Howard University in the nation’s capital in 1953 with a B.A. in English and went on to earn a Master of Arts from Cornell University.
Have you ever pondered to yourself and thought: ”Which fraternity or sorority should I join”? Or have you ever compared yourself to someone else who recently pledged? I have. That was me during my matriculation at a historically black college and university, or HBCU and before I pledged the greatest fraternity ever: Iota Phi Theta. Even when my friends in a fraternity and sorority would tell me that I was a great candidate, I always thought, ”I’m not worthy,” then I would downplay my accomplishments on the yard. No but really, would those ”if only” questions make us feel any better? In my case, I knew that joining a fraternity was only the beginning, and then I would have a lifetime of service in the community to look forward to.
When I was a sophomore at Central State University in Wilberforce, I loved researching on ”The Divine Nine”! That was when I realized that Iota Phi Theta, founded in the turbulent sixties during an era of radical change, was the perfect fit, for me! I later joined the youngest Black Greek Lettered Organization, and is their anything better than that? Let me tell you, there is! And that’s a brotherhood based upon a bond of love between men.
Iota Phi Theta’s motto is ”Building a tradition, not resting upon one.” I always took that quite literally, and I try to wear my letters with pride and confidence. That is to say, members of this fraternity don’t have big shoes to fill. Rather, we are trailblazers paving the streets in brown and gold for those up next.
After I pledged, it didn’t take long for me to become involved. I served as Secretary in my fraternity, in addition to other campus leadership roles and my desk here at HBCU Buzz, leading the online media platform as Editor-in-Chief. Then one day it just hit me — this is one of the best decisions that I ever made. And I’m grateful for that.
I’ve come to love my fraternity, because every time I’m low and need someone to talk to, I can count on one of my fraternity members to be there with a shoulder to lean on, or an inspirational quote via text. This fraternity made me a better me. My fraternity also reminds me of how I can build a tradition, not rest upon one. What’s more, it is awesome to have founders that are still alive today.
For many interested students out there, think about it: you have the opportunity to join a fraternity that appreciates you for being you. What an incredible feeling it is to be able to wear those letters proudly, knowing that you pledged for the right reasons.
If you’re having trouble choosing which fraternity to join, make sure that you give Iota Phi Theta a serious consideration. Brothers of the fraternity are more than willing to help you out on your journey. If you ask one of the brothers to help you, they will show you.
Former President Barack Obama’s silence during the turbulence of Donald Trump’s presidency has been almost deafening. “Obama has largely stayed silent since leaving office in 2017, opting not to endorse anyone in the Democratic primary and only occasionally weighing in to criticize Trump,” reported Reuters. Now, he has taken to social media to issue a statement on the two most recent American mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio:
From Barack Obama’s official Facebook page:
Michelle and I grieve with all the families in El Paso and Dayton who endured these latest mass shootings. Even if details are still emerging, there are a few things we already know to be true.
First, no other nation on Earth comes close to experiencing the frequency of mass shootings that we see in the United States. No other developed nation tolerates the levels of gun violence that we do. Every time this happens, we’re told that tougher gun laws won’t stop all murders; that they won’t stop every deranged individual from getting a weapon and shooting innocent people in public places. But the evidence shows that they can stop some killings. They can save some families from heartbreak. We are not helpless here. And until all of us stand up and insist on holding public officials accountable for changing our gun laws, these tragedies will keep happening.
Second, while the motivations behind these shootings may not yet be fully known, there are indications that the El Paso shooting follows a dangerous trend: troubled individuals who embrace racist ideologies and see themselves obligated to act violently to preserve white supremacy. Like the followers of ISIS and other foreign terrorist organizations, these individuals may act alone, but they’ve been radicalized by white nationalist websites that proliferate on the internet. That means that both law enforcement agencies and internet platforms need to come up with better strategies to reduce the influence of these hate groups.
But just as important, all of us have to send a clarion call and behave with the values of tolerance and diversity that should be the hallmark of our democracy. We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalizes racist sentiments; leaders who demonize those who don’t look like us, or suggest that other people, including immigrants, threaten our way of life, or refer to other people as sub-human, or imply that America belongs to just one certain type of people. Such language isn’t new – it’s been at the root of most human tragedy throughout history, here in America and around the world. It is at the root of slavery and Jim Crow, the Holocaust, the genocide in Rwanda and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. It has no place in our politics and our public life. And it’s time for the overwhelming majority of Americans of goodwill, of every race and faith and political party, to say as much – clearly and unequivocally.
On Saturday, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius fatally shot 20 people and injured 26 at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. Crusius has since been identified as an extreme right-wing white nationalist with a vendetta against immigrants.
Approximately 13 hours after that mass shooting, Dayton, Ohio, suffered its own active shooting incident. Connor Betts, a 24-year-old white male, killed nine people and injured 27 outside of a popular bar in Dayton.
This post was written by Samara Lynn, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
(Lane College President Logan Hampton detailed the State of the College while addressing the Lane College National Alumni Association Annual Meeting in Memphis on July 19. Here are excerpts from his talk.)
…Today, I am delighted to update you on the happenings of Lane College. …Time does not permit a full accounting of blessings this afternoon.
I count it all joy to have received the official letter from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) dated, July 2, 2019.… Lane College is accredited with all the rights and privileges afforded to a SACSCOC regionally accredited institution.
I count it all joy when I think of our women’s basketball team. … During my tenure, these women had never won one tournament game. We never had to think about budget because they would go to the SIAC Basketball Tournament, play a game and return home. This year, they won their first game, then beat the undefeated regular season champions, and went on to win their first SIAC Conference Championship in the history of the College. We have been celebrating since March.
It has just been fun to see our students enjoy success. One graduate started his future at BET – Hollywood. Another will begin the PhD program in neuroscience this fall at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Yes, another is moving on to Syracuse. Our volleyball team was recognized for the highest GPA among other SIAC member institutions. They will spike the ball in your face and look better than you.
Our 2019 Miss Lane, Shannel DeFoe, is a member of the volleyball team, competed in the state Miss Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship Pageant, won talent and made the top 15, the first in the history of Lane College since 1985. The baseball and softball teams each won 20 plus games and competed well in their tournaments. Additionally, the baseball team had four players to make SIAC All-Conference, yes, from Lane, SIAC All-Conference in baseball.
I count it all joy when I consider that the College finally completed and submitted its proposal to establish a teacher preparation program to the State of Tennessee. My colleagues have done the work, so we pray now that the proposal finds favor with the Tennessee Department of Education and is approved.
Frankie Grice (right) had plenty of support as she received an award for “your tireless hard work and dedication to The Lane College Memphis Alumni Chapter.” Photo: Tyrone P. Easley)
I count it all joy when I think of the $649,801 S-STEM National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded to our science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty this year. The grant provides scholarships to science, STEM majors. We want to scholarship the next generation of high achieving STEM scholars to earn their degree. Tell your seniors, apply now, it’s not too late.
A couple of weeks back, the College received notification that the Lane College Chemistry Department has been awarded a grant in the amount of $398,786 by NSF Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP).
I count it all joy when I think of the community garden or urban farm that we are currently developing on our 2.5 acres lot on Lane Avenue. We will soon have sweet potatoes, herbs, flowers growing in East Jackson as we grow scholars, grow our community and grow hope.
This year, we piloted several institutional innovations. We created the Student Textbook Exchange Program (STEP), a collaboration of academic affairs, student affairs and auxiliary services that provided each student their course materials. We reasoned that we could provide the materials at a more affordable price than our students could purchase on the Internet. We observed that students who participated in STEP had a higher average GPA compared to those who did not.
Also, we adjusted our fall calendar to end the semester prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. Since I arrived, I observed how difficult it is for our students to go home for a week at Thanksgiving and then return to campus for a week of finals. So, we ended the semester early and then hosted a Decembermester.
I count it all joy that Dr. Willie Mae Willett brought CVS to the College to explore a partnership to establish internship and CVS training center on campus.
Lane’s slogan, The Power of Potential®, not only describes our students; it also describes how we view current and future students. While it may be all that some see, an underfunded and underprepared student who hails from underserved and under-resourced schools and communities, at Lane College, we see grit, resiliency, hopefulness, gifts, talent and the power of potential. We employ intrusive, high-touch policies, practices, and processes to cultivate and develop each student’s potential. We do it more affordably than our sister institutions. …
Dr. Anna Cooke described our founder, Bishop Lane, with these words, “Regarded by some as a crank on the subject of education, by others as a beggar, he was often rejected but continued to pray and work for the educational uplift of the young people of his race” (Lane College: It’s Heritage and Outreach 1882-1982, p. 18).
Some might consider it an insult to be called cranky and a beggar. But after, these five years as president, I have confirmed the Ecclesiastical writing, to everything there is a season, a time to be cranky and a time to beg.
When it comes to defending the educational mission of Lane College, I find it necessary sometimes to be cranky. One day, a fella stopped by my office and asked me, more or less, if we had too many black boys with all their testosterone. I got a little cranky.
I told him, “Pick up your newspaper and read it some time. Turn the nightly news on and watch it some time. You will find sufficient evidence that we need to provide all of the educational opportunities for African-American males that we possibly can.”
That’s why I’m happy to be here today representing the Lord and Lane College. At Lane, 52 percent of the student body is male with 48 percent female. I celebrate the number of African American males that we enroll.
For too long, our black boys have been marginalized and stigmatized and demonized and ostracized and denigrated. The media goes out of its way to portray them as scary thugs.
So I say bring us your black boys with all their testosterone because we ain’t scared. We are set to make leaders who know the Lord, their lesson, and life purpose. Bring us your testosterone because we are set to help them be good daddies and strong daddies, active and engaged in the lives of their children. Bring us your testosterone because we are set to make them scholars and intellectuals and preachers and doctors and lawyers. Bring us your testosterone. We are ready make men out of boys….
In equipping, educating and empowering our graduates, we make them ready to be lifelong learners, leaders and servants. The graduate leaves ready to compete in the marketplace, compete in the workforce and make their companies, communities and our country stronger.
Again, Lane College National Alumni, I ask you for the following: Pray for Fair Lane. Call us by name. Pray for me, a broken, frail leader…
Say good things about us… In particular, please write your United States congressional representatives and advocate for Lane by asking your senator and representatives to vote for legislation that supports the HBCU historic preservation, full funding of Title III programs, increase in Pell grants…
Send us your students. While our national recruiting is strong, we always have room for one more exceptional scholar.
Send us your gifts. Financial gifts sustain the College. We need you to make your best gift to the College today. The College has great deferred maintenance needs to sustain the historic buildings and unfortunately the new buildings as well. … Also, I remind you that 90 percent of our students are Pell eligible and need your help to make the institution affordable. … Put the College in your will.
Here is my shout today: We, Lane College, that is, sit on the highest point, the highest elevation, in Jackson-Madison County. Jesus spoke about us in the Bible. Read the Lane College translation of the Bible. Jesus said, ““You are the light of the world (Jackson-Madison County). A city (college) that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men (Jackson-Madison County, State of Tennessee), that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14,16)
We all know the financial hurdles that exist for Historically Black Colleges and Universities across our nation, which is why a group of AKAs took matters into their own hands and came up with a creative way to give back to their alma mater and live up to the principles of their sorority.
Earlier this year, 58 Nandi Inspired AKAtects Reclaiming Ascendancy, a group of women also known as N.I.A.R.A., partnered with Lovengood Lips, a vegan, cruelty-free lipstick brand for a good cause. April 19 marked the 10-year anniversary of the women joining the Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, inc. on the campus of Florida A&M University (FAMU). So to commemorate that day, the ladies released their first lipstick from Lovengood Lips and it immediately sold out — twice. TOP ARTICLES1/531 DAYS OF SENSUALITY DAY 4: THE ART OF RECEIVING
Source: Justin Robinson / N.I.A.R.A. x Lovengood Lips
Lovengood Lips isn’t just a creative entrepreneurial venture, in fact it’s a solely philanthropic effort. All profits from the sales of its $12 hot pink ultra-matte lipstick will be donated to FAMU to “fuel campus beautification, scholarship and FAMU women.” The alumni are even extending their efforts beyond their college campus to demonstrate “The Beauty of Sisterhood,” organizing service projects funded by Lovengood Lips into three pillars. In addition to giving back to FAMU, the ladies volunteered overseas with a local orphanage that provides services to youth who have been separated from their biological families. N.I.A.R.A is also reviving The Sister Soldier Project, a community service effort they began in the Spring of 2009, which provides feminine products, non-perishable goods, and other essentials to active duty women in the military.
Source: Justin Robinson / N.I.A.R.A. x Lovengood Lips
“’The Beauty of Sisterhood’ is our unity, love, resilience, perseverance and strength,” the group’s website states. “It’s a symbol of a powerful and unbreakable bond that promotes excellence and togetherness. We are a true mirror reflection of one another with ten years of sisterliness down and a lifetime to go. N.I.A.R.A. is for us and by us.”
Check out the campaign video below and click hereto give back and purchase your own lippie on National Lipstick Day. Spread the word on social media using the hashtag #NIARAXLOVENGOODLIPS.
Former President Barack Obama did much for the nation during his back-to-back terms as President of the United States. One of our favorite things from the now 58-year-old visionary, was his love for historically Black colleges and universities.
From speaking at commencements, to showing up randomly for basketball games, Obama and his phenomenal women of a wife, the revolutionary Michelle Obama, were no stranger to the campuses of HBCU around the country.
Take a look at our favorite HBCU appearances:
Howard University
President Obama delivers the Commencement Address at Howard University in 2016. View.
Xavier University of Louisiana
President Obama walks alongside Xavier University of Louisiana President Francis in 2006. View.
North Carolina A&T State University
President Obama sits down in front of a crowd of 200 at North Carolina A&T State University for a conversation on race, sports, and achievement. View.
Hampton University
President Obama serves as orator for the Hampton University’s 140th Commencement in 2010. View.
Morehouse College
President Barack Obama delivers the Commencement Address to an all-male class of Morehouse graduates in 2013. View.
Tennessee State University
That time Tennessee State University’s marching band, Aristocrat of Bands, performed for President Barack Obama at The White House. View.
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University
Obama speaks to over 2,000 FAMU Rattlers on the campaign trail in 2008 after a performance from FAMU’s marching band, The Marching 100. View.
Whats a king without his queen? The lovely Mrs. Obama on campus at FAMU, showing off her Rattler “strike.”
A North Carolina Central University assistant football coach was arrested Sunday in Florida.
Brian Jenkins, 48, was arrested in Volusia County, Fla., after an altercation with an ex-girlfriend and booked on three separate charges, according to an arrest affidavit. Documents show Jenkins was charged with depriving use of 911, battery and criminal mischief. The battery charge was listed as domestic because the two had been in a relationship. As of Monday evening, Jenkins’ status on the Volusia County Corrections website was listed as not in custody.
According to the affidavit, Jenkins went to the home of his ex-girlfriend Sunday evening to talk about their breakup. She asked him to leave and when he did not, she attempted to call 911, the affidavit states. Jenkins then allegedly grabbed the phone from her hand and threw it across the room, cracking the screen. The damage to the phone and physically taking the phone from her hand led to the criminal mischief and domestic battery charges, respectively.
In a text message statement on Tuesday afternoon, North Carolina Central said Jenkins was “no longer an employee of the university, effective today, July 30.” It’s unclear whether he was fired or quit. The school declined to comment further, according to the statement.
