5 Things You Need to Know Wednesday in the HBCU Community

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1. Top HBCU Homecomings announced

It is that time of the year again. The Buzz is asking students, faculty, alumni and supporters to vote your choice HBCU as the 2014 “Top 5 HBCU Homecomings.” For more information and to vote, click here.

Right now, PVAMU, TSU and Southern leads the top 3 spots on the poll.

2. Ebola “ruled out” for patient being monitored at Howard U. Hospital

The patient being treated for “Ebola-like” symptoms at the Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. does not have the deadly virus. According to reports, the patient is still being treated for other illnesses after Ebola was “ruled out” by health officials.

In a statement, Howard spokeswoman Kerry-Ann Hamilton said “…we have activated the appropriate infection control protocols, including isolating the patient.” The patient was admitted to the hospital to the dismay of many University students, who says they discovered the news via social media.

3. HBCU supporters displeased with Obama Administration’s latest course of action

Hampton University President Dr. William Harvey recently blasted the federal government for the lack of support of the nation’s 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). POTUS Barack Obama and his Department of Education has appropriated more than $171 million in federal funding to increase S.T.E.M. professional development at colleges and universities nationwide. But just $3 million of this grant was given to HBCUs.

4. N.C. A&T now largest HBCU in the nation

North Carolina A&T now holds the lead over FAMU in student enrollment, boasting 10,734 students enrolled this year at the historically black college. Florida A&M now ranks third behind Howard University, the largest private HBCU in the nation.

5. ASU receives grant for cancer research

Scientists at Alabama State University just received a half-million dollar grant to combat health disparities among African-Americans battling cancer. African-Americans die from prostate and colorectal cancer at higher rates than other populations, according to research.

West Virginia State Prez, Brian O. Hemphill, Announces Major Fundraising for the University

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West Virginia State University President Brian O. Hemphill poses in from of the University’s welcome sign.

After raising $10 million as part of its ongoing, and first-ever capital campaign, West Virginia State University President Brian O. Hemphill just announced a major increased fundraising goal to $18 million by 2017.

According to the Charleston Gazette, campaign funds will go toward scholarships, academic programs, campus improvements and other initiatives.

“This outstanding achievement tells us all that we can do more thanks to the abundance of support from you, our community, alumni and friends. Together, we are achieving our goals that benefit the Yellow Jackets of today and those of tomorrow,” Hemphill said. “Our continued collaboration is vital to our university and the people of West Virginia and the region.”

The announcement was made Saturday during homecoming activities, a WVSU rep tells HBCU Buzz.

Norfolk State Freshman Hospitalized Suffering Gunshot Wound

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untitled-sequence-01-2  Norfolk, Va. – A Norfolk State University student was shot early this morning near the school’s campus, police tell NewsChannel 3.

Police were called to the 7-Eleven parking lot at around 3:15 a.m. Monday morning, October 13. That’s located at Park Avenue and Brambleton Avenue.

Crews arrived on scene and found the victim, a Norfolk State University student, suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with what appears to be a non life-threatening injury.

Police were told that the victim and another NSU student were sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot of 7-Eleven, when two black male suspects approached their car and displayed a gun. The suspects took personal property and money from the victims, police say. The suspects then shot the first victim and assaulted the second man before fleeing from the area.

The second victim sustained non-life threatening injuries and was treated on scene by paramedics.

The victims are both freshmen, according to Norfolk State University officials.

A campus announcement was sent to faculty, staff, and students to inform them about the incident. “The campus is safe and is operating as normal,” officials told NewsChannel 3 in a news release. Norfolk State University Police are assisting the Norfolk Police Department in the investigation.

NSU students do not have classes on Monday; they are on fall break.

Norfolk Detectives are currently investigating this robbery and shooting, and anyone who may have information about this incident is encouraged to call the Norfolk Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887). Any information that leads to an arrest can earn a reward of up to $1,000.

The following message was sent to faculty, staff, and students of Norfolk State University:

Off-Campus Incident

An NSU student was wounded in an off-campus incident. The student’s wounds are not life threatening. The incident occurred off campus and the campus is safe. The Norfolk Police Department is investigating the incident and the Norfolk State University Police Department is assisting.

How the Obama Administration Failed to Support HBCUs

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The Obama Administration and his Department of Education just appropriated more than $171 million in federal funding to increase S.T.E.M. professional development at colleges and universities nationwide for the sake of equity for low-income and minority students. But just three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were given this same grant.

Fayetteville State University, Hampton University and Prairie View A&M University, respectfully, received over $3 million total in federal support–Hampton’s grant accounted for $3.5 million, while FSU and PVAMU received less than $250,000 each.

The appropriation calls for some major questions: Why were the grants, intended to support students of minorities, only given to 3 HBCUs? Were the rest of the 103 HBCUs not qualified for this funding? What was the intention of giving this federal funding to white institutions who serve minorities in a far lesser capacity than HBCUs?

 “HBCUs were serving first generation, minority and low-income students when some of these institutions [PWIs] were denying their entry or were not in existence,” said Hampton University President Dr. William Harvey, blasting the federal government for the lack of support of Black colleges.

PWIs are in the business of reproducing privilege for the elite while HBCUs are in the business of educating the majority of poor and underserved minorities. If governmental funding for minorities was really important, the government would have given far more to historically black colleges.

The Obama Administration has failed to financially support HBCUs with government funding like it does to PWIs–PWI’s never have to worry about the lack of governmental funding.

However, the more perplexing issue is that the White House Initiative on HBCUs task is to primarily  “…overcome the effects of discriminatory treatment and to strengthen and expand the capacity of historically black colleges and universities to provide quality education.”

Marybeth Gasman, an Associate Professor at University of Pennsylvania, wrote in, “Comprehensive Funding Approaches Historically Black Colleges and Universities” that Black colleges have a “proven track record of successfully educating African American students, especially those from low-income and underprepared backgrounds.”

“Given President Barack Obama’s push to increase the percentage of citizens with higher education—and given the country’s changing demographics (we will soon be a country with a majority of minorities)—it is essential that HBCUs thrive. They must be out in front demonstrating for the rest of higher education how to provide a sound education to African Americans and other students of color. Equal and consistent federal, state, and private funding will make HBCUs stronger and more viable institutions.”

It is evident that HBCUs are not treated fairly, and one of the potent variables of HBCUs success, especially today, is receiving government funding fairly.

Furthermore, President Obama and the entire White House Initiative on HBCUs should both think about how to solve this issue. And fast.

No. 15 Rank WSSU Rams Blank the JCSU Golden Bulls, 37-0

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CHARLOTTE, NC – #15 Winston-Salem State University ran up 473 yards of total offense, and Eric Williams caught two touchdown passes as the Rams rolled to a 37-0 shutout win over Johnson C. Smith at Memorial Stadium in Charlotte.

It was the sixth consecutive game the Rams have gone for 400+ yards of total offense, as they moved their 2014 record to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the CIAA. Johnson C. Smith falls to 1-5 overall, 0-3 in the CIAA.

Winston-Salem State would open the scoring on their second series, as Phil Sims would lead the Rams on a 90 yard, eight play drive, that would end with Maurice Lewis scoring from 24 yards out to give the Rams the early 7-0 lead.

But it would be the second quarter where the WSSU Rams would put some distance between themselves and the Golden Bulls to pull away.

WSSU’s Brenden Felder would cap off a 70 yard, 10 play drive, when he would haul in a 23 yard strike from Rudy Johnson to give the Rams a 14-0 advantage.

With a little over  5:00 left before halftime, William Johnson would connect on a career long 48 yard field goal to push WSSU out in front 17-0.

The Winston-Salem State defense was relentless all afternoon, and after another short series for JCSU, the WSSU offense would get back to business.

This time Mustafa Greene would give the Rams a bigger lead, when he would score from seven yards out, and a rare missed PAT would push their lead to 23-0, after covering 60 yards in eight plays.

WSSU would get one more crack at the endzone before that half, and the Rams would make the Golden Bulls pay for giving them some time left on the clock.

Rudy Johnson would connect on a 13 yard deflected pass, for another touchdown, sending the Rams into the half up 30-0.

Neither team would put any points on the scoreboard in the third, although the Rams threatened but on a field goal attempt, the holder would misplay the ball in the pouring rain and would get tackled before picking up a first down.

With storms clouds brewing overhead and the rain beginning to come down in sheets, the game would go into a lightning delay as the teams headed into the locker room to avoid the elements.  The delay would last an hour, before the team would be allowed to come back to the field for a brief warmup period before resuming play to begin the fourth quarter.

When played resumed, Winston-Salem State would score one last time, as Phillip sims would find an open Eric Williams for a seven yard touchdown, that would close out the scoring, and give the Rams a 37-0 victory.

With win, the WSSU Rams have now rolled off 32 consecutive wins against HBCU opponents, and 27 straight against CIAA teams.

Offensively for Winston-Salem State, Maurice Lewis led the rushing attack with a season high 98 yards on 14 carries and one score, while Mustafa Greene rushed 16 times for 91 yards and a score. The Rams rushed for a season high 226 yards on the afternoon.

Phillip Sims threw the ball 21 times with 15 completions, one interception and one touchdown and 164 yards. Rudy Johnson was six for 13 for 56 yards and a score. And Justin Johnson was a perfect three of three for 27 yards.

Eric Williams led the Rams with six catches for 49 yards and two touchdowns, while Brenden Felder had four catches for 37 yards and a score. Kenneth Patter had three catches for 74 yards and Eric Wolff, Jamal Haizlip, Mustafa Greene and Donovan Rasberry each had two catches.

Defensively, Aliquan Bullock finished with seven tackles, along with Terry Ross who had seven tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Xavier Gregory had five tackle s0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Michael Bloomfield finished with four tackles, a tackle for a loss and a sack. Casey Davenport, Conor O’Nealand Michael Douglas each finished with a sack as well. Davenport also had a forced fumble and O’Neal a fumble recovery.

Winston-Salem State will host the St. Augustine’s University Falcons next Saturday, as the University celebrates 2014 Throwback Homecoming Weekend, presented by Modern Automotive. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm.

This article originally appeared on WSSURams.com.

N.C. A&T Overwhelms Hampton 31-14 on ESPNU

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A week after rolling a doughnut in the Atlanta Football Classic, North Carolina A&T found its stride on Thursday night thanks to big plays. A&T beat Hampton 31-14 on Thursday night thanks largely to several big plays by running back Tarik Cohen and Desmond Lawrence.

Read more at HBCUGameday.com.

Florida A&M Picks Up First Win Of Season

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida A&M Rattler Football team staged a rousing 21-point second quarter surge Saturday evening to power their way to their first victory of 2014, a 24-14 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over visiting Savannah (Ga.) State at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

FAMU (1-5, 1-1 in MEAC) spotted the visiting Tigers (0-6, 0-3 in MEAC) a 7-0 first quarter lead on Richard Williams’ nine-yard run with 3:21 left in the opening quarter.

But the Rattlers, which worked all week on bringing life to their offense, tied the score with a double reverse which resulted in senior quarterback Damien Fleming snaring a 30-yard touchdown pass from Boston College transfer receiver Spiffy Evans with 5:47 left in the first half.

Just three minutes later, Fleming was back behind center, throwing a 19-yard scoring strike to tight end Zachary Webster for a 14-7 lead with 2:09 in the half, then going into air raid mode with just six seconds helf before the break, lofting a beautiful throw to a wide open Casey Glines, who raced 56 yasrds to paydirt for a 21-7 halftime lead.

Read more at HBCUSports.com.

Jackson State Fans Wants Football Head Coach, AD Out

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After the 27-23 Homecoming loss to Mississippi Valley State, a petition surfaced on the web to fire Jackson State Head Coach Herald Jackson and AD Vivian Fuller.

Last week the JSU Tigers decided not to show up in the second half against the Prairie View Panthers, losing 48-30 at home–the first time since 1970 has PVAMU defeated Jackson State at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

HBCU Gameday:

Hours after losing its homecoming game to its old coach, at least one Jackson State supporter wants the new one gone too. A petition to fire head coach Harold Jackson and athletic director Vivian Fuller has surfaced on Change.org. The petition was posted by Tim Jones and just hit the 50 signature mark. The post was apparently written after Saturday’s 27-23 homecoming loss to Mississippi Valley State. JSU, the defending SWAC East champ, is now 3-4 (1-3 in the SWAC).

Update: The petition has now reached 250 signatures by a host of angry JSU football fans.

Read more at HBCUGameday.com.

Dr. Harvey, Hampton President Blasts Government for HBCU Support

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William-HarveyThe President of Hampton University detailed the strained relationship between Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the federal government at this year’s HBCU Conference.

Dr. William R. Harvey, who has served as Hampton University’s chief since 1978 — one of the longest tenures of any sitting president of a college or university in the country — called out the government for continuously failing to realize the importance of investing in the leading institutions that educate minority students. Harvey cited decreased federal funding for research and development opportunities at HBCUs. He also blasted the government for its recent partnership between universities and philanthropic organizations to support low-income students that doesn’t include one HBCU institution.

In September, it was announced that eleven public universities, including Arizona State University, Georgia State University, Iowa State University, Purdue University, The Ohio State University, University of Central Florida, and six national foundations including the Ford Foundation and Markle Foundation had formed an alliance to help low-income, minority and first-generation students attain a college degree. No HBCUs were included in the deal. Read Full at Uptown

Bowie State Student Entrepreneurs have New Home – Entrepreneurship Academy

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center-for-business-and-graduate-studiesBowie State University students looking to start their own businesses have a new campus resource to provide them the support to grow their companies and connect with expert coaches.

The Entrepreneurship Academy (EA) is an initiative started by the College of Business in fall 2013 to provide a pathway of practical learning opportunities to help college and high school students, especially those from at-risk communities, establish and develop their own businesses. On Tuesday at 10 a.m., a ribbon-cutting ceremony will celebrate the grand opening of its Student Business Hatchery in the Center for Business and Graduate Studies, Room 1330.

The Student Business Hatchery will provide workspace for the top three winners of the first annual BSU Business Idea Competition, held in spring 2014. There, those students – Kevin Mack (‘14), Kristy Williams (Master of Public Administration) and senior Stanley Morgan (business administration) – will continue developing the concepts for their ventures and receive coaching and advice from members of the program’s advisory council, composed of local entrepreneurs, BSU faculty, company presidents, and other business professionals. Read Full 

Prairie View Panthers Gets Big Win Over Jackson State

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The Prairie View A&M Panthers first win of the football season against the Jackson State Tigers was awesome for two reasons:

1. Not since 1970 has the PVAMU Panthers been able to defeat its arch foe in enemy territory. The Panthers, after the Tigers jumped ahead to a quick 14-0 lead, was able to overcome the early deficit to win 48-30 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in a strong second half finish.

2. The Panthers are now 1-5, 0-4 SWAC, thanks to the team’s first win in Jackson, Miss.

“We just got to go back to the drawing board, and we just got to — I don’t know if we have too much on their plate,” said first-year JSU coach Harold Jackson.

“Homecoming 2014 is on the horizon as Alabama State comes to Blackshear Field next weekend,” according the PVAMU’s athletic website.

Read more at PVPanthers.com.

UPDATE: Patient at Howard U. Hospital Does Not Have Ebola

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Ebola2

A patient who has been admitted to the Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. for “Ebola-like” symptoms does not have the disease. Reports say the Ebola virus was “ruled out” by health officials.

The patient was admitted to the hospital in stable condition and was immediately isolated. The hospital is still treating the patient for other illnesses, according to reports.

“What you see are people taking precautions,” said Sylvia Burwell, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, on the Howard case.

On Oct. 4, the article “Most suspected Ebola cases in the US have been false alarms” appeared on Vox.com by Susannah Locke on how people believed to have Ebola didn’t.

“So far, there have been dozens of suspected Ebola cases around the United States,” writes Locke, “and the vast majority have turned out to be false alarms.”

More at this story continues to evolve.

Top 5 HBCU Homecomings 2014

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TOP 5 HBCU HOMECOMINGS

Homecoming at a historically black college or university (HBCU) is the time of the year when thousands of Black people unite back to what some call a “home away from home,” where students, alumni, family and friends join together in fellowship and harmony—showcasing money spent on new outfits for the entire festive week.

A HBCU Buzz poll on the Top 5 HBCU Homecomings counted nearly 45,000 votes by several supporters of Black colleges on their choice 2014 Homecoming. Here are the results:

North Carolina A&T State University

tumblr_ltf5myJ7N11r19k76o1_500There is no doubt who the real MVP is. With 25 percent of the vote “GHOE,” a pseudonym for the Greatest Homecoming on Earth, had 11,407 votes accounted for on the Top 5 HBCU Homecomings poll.

Southern University

WYOWXBFSNSRLENO.20120730203225The homecoming at Southern University is rank No. 2 with 9,506 votes (20 percent).Southern actually co-lead the Top 5 HBCU Homecomings poll with another HBCU for several weeks before N.C. A&T made a system crash with their popular homecoming a few weeks later.

Prairie View A&M University

PantherDedication

Originally at the No. 1 spot, Prairie View ended up rank No. 3 on the poll but still gave the entire list of HBCU homecoming dates to remember a run for their money. PVAMU took a bow with 6,244 votes accounted for (13.79 percent).

Tennessee State University

parade_cheerleadersSinging, “I’m so glad, I go to TSU!” TSU is rank No. 4 on the Top 5 HBCU Homecomings poll with 4,910 votes (10.8 percent) and did not fail to entertain as one of the nation’s best HBCU Homecomings to attend each year.

Florida A&M University

band-FAMU

It was nothing but blue skies during FAMU’s weeklong homecoming events with temperatures averaging over 75 degrees on the campus of FAMU in Tallahassee, Florida. Nuff said. The homecoming at Florida A&M U. came up with the No. 5 spot on the poll with 2,196 votes (4.83 percent)

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*Notable Mentions

The renowned homecoming at Howard just missed the Top 5 2014 Homecomings list coming in at No. 6 with 1,856 votes (4 percent). SpelHouse combined for 1,292 votes (2.84 percent) at the No. 8 spot, and Tuskegee University’s homecoming is rank No. 12 with 852 votes (1.87 percent).

The homecoming at Xavier University of Louisiana finished last with 0 votes.

[polldaddy poll=8347684]

Hampton Award 3.5 Million in First in the World Partnership from US Department of Education

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Hampton-University-Banner3Hampton, Va. – The Hampton University First in the World Partnership (HU-FITWP) has been awarded a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The project goal is to increase the access to and affordability of a university education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines (STEM) for underrepresented, and or low-income students.

“After receiving nearly 500 applications from around the country, we’re excited to announce Hampton University will receive a First in the World grant, funded for the first time this year,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Each grantee demonstrated a high-quality, creative and sound approach to expand college access and improve student outcomes. We are confident these projects will have a positive impact on increasing access and completion and help us reach President Obama’s 2020 goal, to once again have the highest share of college graduates in the world.”

“While the number of STEM jobs continues to increase, the number of underrepresented minorities graduating with degrees in these fields remains low,” said Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey. “We believe the Hampton University First in the World Partnership will provide minority students with access to a university STEM education and the tools necessary to be successful and graduate.”
To help facilitate the goals of the HU-FITWP, partnerships will be established with several entities from academia and the private sector. These partners include Northwestern University; the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering; Accenture; Achievable Dream Academies, Newport News, Va. and the From One Hand to Another Foundation, Virginia Beach, Va. These establishments will provide such support as offering internships, employment opportunities, hosting enriching lecture series and exposing the participating students to educational experiences that promote interest in the STEM disciplines.

HU-FITWP will implement innovative strategies and practices that can be effective in improving student enrollment and graduation rates. The target population includes students who have been accepted to HU for the fall 2014 semester and subsequent years and have declared a STEM major. Project activities will include redesign of math courses, student-centric and project-based learning, the creation of a math emporium, a summer bridge program and faculty development.

 

The project goal is to serve 1,056 students over four years. The anticipated results include an increase in college success/persistence for underrepresented, underprepared and/or low-income STEM students, increased earning potential for students, decreased societal costs and more STEM-qualified underrepresented graduates.

#HU#

Media Contact: Yuri R. Milligan, University Relations, 757.727.5253, yuri.milligan@hamptonu.edu

Howard University Strikes Deal with Hospital Turnaround Partner

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howarduhospital03-cx*304xx2832-4248-0-4 A hospital turnaround specialist will take over day-to-day operations of Howard University Hospital as part of an agreement with the D.C. university designed to revive the financially ailing hospital.
El Segundo, California-based Paladin Healthcare Capital will begin overseeing operations by Oct. 6, officials said Thursday.
The agreement requires the oversight of a joint Howard University and Paladin Healthcare management committee. Howard will continue to be the licensed operator and retain ultimate control over the 266-bed hospital’s financial decisions. Financial terms were not disclosed, and it’s not clear if Paladin will have an ownership stake.
The deal represents a ray of hope for a key District hospital that was thrust into the spotlight last year when some Howard University leaders acknowledged the facility was dragging down the financial health of the historically black university and had even called for an outright sale. It also represents the growing trend of private partnerships to help manage hospitals. Read Full

Alabama State Receive Half-Million Dollar Grant for Cancer Research

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ASUScientists in Alabama State University’s College of Science, Mathematics and Technology have been awarded a major grant that will be used to combat health disparities among African-Americans battling cancer.
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Alabama State University scientists have received a $578,224 grant from The National Institutes of Health to conduct groundbreaking research in the areas of prostate and colorectal cancer.

“This grant that will allow us to jump start our first cancer research and education program for our faculty and students here at ASU,” said Dr. Manoj Mishra, associate professor of biology and  principal investigator.

The major goal of the four-year grant, Mishra said, is to find ways to eliminate health disparities of prostate and colorectal cancer in minorities, especially among African-Americans, who die from the disease at higher rates than other populations.

“Overcoming cancer health disparities is one of the best opportunities we have for lessening the burden of cancer,“ Mishra said.

In the Southeast, disparities can be attributed to multiple factors, including lifestyle, culture, environment, health care access, socioeconomics and population-specific genetic differences, Mishra said. He added that the grant will address these issues with a persistent, multi-faceted strategy by combining multidisciplinary cancer research projects to unravel the basis for cancer disparities.

The research grant also will allow ASU to start collaborative partnerships with other Alabama scientists.

“The partnership between ASU and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center (UAB CCC) presents a unique opportunity for training and educating the pipeline of future cancer research scientists, with emphasis on minority investigators and cancer health disparities research,” said Dr. Karyn Scissum Gunn, co-principal investigator and co-leader.

“The Cancer Education Program (CEP), an integral part of the Cancer Training and Education Program (CTEP), will introduce curricular reform at ASU to educate, engage and motivate underrepresented students in cancer research and education.”

Mishra agrees that ASU is now building the infrastructure and has the capacity to make significant contributions to the fight against cancer.

“This award is going to put ASU on the map of cancer research and is another step forward toward establishing a vibrant cancer research program at ASU that will attract students and faculty from around the world,” Mishra said. “This new initiative will also put ASU on the global map and recognize the potential of ASU faculty in eliminating health disparity in cancer.”

Members of the project team also include Dr. Shivani Soni, co-leader-research Project 1; Dr. Sabita Saldanha, senior personnel, training and education core; and Dr. Kenley Obas, Information Technology specialist.