Five Strategies for Increasing Enrollment at HBCUs

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As we commence 2014, college admissions and FAFSA application deadlines are rapidly approaching. Of course, we know that many open-admissions, online and non-selective institutions often accept applications and admit students up until the day before classes start. In fact, some even take students well into the semester. Research suggests, however, that late enrollees have much lower persistence rates than those who apply in a timely manner and have the opportunity to participate in orientation programs for new or transfer students.

In recognition of this reality, many school districts, colleges and universities, foundations and community based organizations have teamed up in recent years to support first generation students with completing admission applications and financial aid forms. These “help sessions” have aided tremendously in increasing college enrollment among students from less wealthy backgrounds.

At the three institutions that I had the privilege of leading, enrollment was always at the top of the priority list for me and my administrative colleagues. In addition to missing the opportunity to provide an optimal number of students with a high quality college education, we knew all too well that not meeting our enrollment targets had significant consequences that reverberated throughout the institution. Some of those included laying off faculty and staff, curtailing the procurement of essential products and services needed to support instruction, reducing student financial aid awards and deferring maintenance, among other consequences. The financial situation was destined to become even more volatile when combined with reductions in state appropriations and a decline in private gifts.

During my last chancellorship, which was at an HBCU, everything I thought I knew about university leadership was tested, especially with respect to enrollment management, quality improvement and financial affairs. Shortly after my arrival, the General Administration of the University North Carolina, with support from the Board of Governors, made the decision to shift from funding constituent universities based on quantitative growth to one based on a set of qualitative metrics, with which I agreed in principle. Just as the new metrics were introduced, the NC economy hit the skids and required budget cuts the likes of which most university leaders had never experienced. As the leader of a low-wealth university serving large numbers of first generation students, enrollment management took on new meaning for me.

I concluded that the following five strategies were key to the university’s long term enrollment stability and growth:

1. Increase the academic stature and status of the university by enforcing admissions standards. Too often HBCU are viewed as last resort institutions that admit students other universities will not. As a result, many better prepared students choose institutions they perceive as better, PWIs;

2. Increase the success and retention of currently enrolled students by enveloping them in a network of comprehensive academic and personal support services;

3.Collaborate with community colleges to increase the number of reverse transfers and dual enrollees;

4. Increase the number of Hispanic, Caucasian and other non-white students;

5. Increase the enrollment of academically eligible students who dropped out of college before completing their degree.

Given the aggressive recruitment tactics of PWIs seeking to meet their diversity objectives, and the growing attractiveness of proprietary online institutions, HBCUs must intensify their efforts to convey their value proposition not only to black students but to other ethic groups as well. Experience has shown that HBCUs can no longer assume that black students will automatically enroll just because it’s an HBCU. Today’s students have choices and they are exercising those choices based on what they perceive as being in their best interests.

In the years ahead, enrollment stability is the factor that will determine whether HBCUs will thrive or simply survive. How HBCUs respond to the enrollment challenge is up to them, not a third party!

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HBCUs Need to Seek Leaders from Nontraditional Sources

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by Caleph B. Wilson

In this environment of limited educational funds, stable leadership is the key to ensuring the health of any university. However, unsteady leadership acutely impacts historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). With the recent departure of Alcorn State University’s former president, M. Christopher Brown, another HBCU has seen a change in leadership. Unfortunately, some of these leadership changes have been marred in scandal.

As an Alcorn alumnus, I am very concerned with Brown’s unexpected departure. The Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), Mississippi’s public college and university governing body, is investigating Brown’s purchasing practices. In addition, the IHL is planning a search for Alcorn’s next president. During the search process, my No. 1 question is: How can alumni work with IHL to assist in finding the best candidates?

Traditionally, HBCU presidential candidates have moved from leadership positions at other HBCUs. Also, they have traditionally been alumni of HBCUs or minority serving institutions (MSI). In the past, that was a good formula for the HBCU seeking a new president. However, it leaves one HBCU without leadership while another one gains from their loss. This situation presents an opportunity to expand the leadership search outside the ranks of the traditional HBCU community.

Within the last few years there are some HBCU presidents that have switched institutions and left their previous schools in better shape than they left them. Presidents like Walter Kimbrough at Dillard and Ronald Mason Jr. of the Southern University System improved Philander Smith and Jackson State University, respectively. They represent the type of leadership that Alcorn should be looking for.

In addition to identifying candidates with the qualities of Kimbrough and Mason, the IHL and alumni should also seek candidates like Michael Sorrell of Paul Quinn College. Sorrell has been the leader of Paul Quinn College since 2007 and has moved the college from an unstable situation to solid financial and academic footing. Both Sorrell and Kimbrough represent new HBCU leaders who are not HBCU alums, which points to the fact that governing bodies and alumni should seek to find the best candidates for leadership positions wherever they are.

In addition to the examples above, HBCUs should also actively look for women to fill their top administrative positions. Recently, Gwendolyn Boyd was selected as president of Alabama State University, and Elmira Mangum was chosen at Florida A&M. Boyd has had a long career as an engineer and administrator at Johns Hopkins University. There are many other women who have successfully navigated the academy, business and government. By not effectively tapping into the many women who are leading our country, HBCUs are missing powerful and innovative leaders. The lack of women leadership is especially troubling given thatwomen make up the majority of the collective HBCU student body.

As for Alcorn, I would like to see a slate of candidates that come from diverse leadership backgrounds. Some universities have pulled leaders from cabinet members of the White House, federal or state government agencies or national organizations. Like all institutions, HBCUs deserve to be able to identify and consider the best pool of presidential and administrative leadership available.

If HBCUs are going to maintain their legacies, grow their roles in educating young people and provide a talented workforce for the world, HBCUs have to acquire solid, ethical leadership. The type of leadership that leaves Alcorn in a better state than he or she found it.

Caleph B. Wilson, PhD is a biomedical sciences postdoctoral fellow at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and co-founder of the National Science and Technology News Service.  Follow him on Twitter: @HeyDrWilson

Comegy Set to Rebuild at Mississippi Valley State

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Rick-Comegy(SportsNetwork.com) – Rick Comegy already has current scouting reports on his opponents.

He’s simply switched schools in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

On Tuesday, Mississippi Valley State University named the former Jackson State football coach as its new head coach.

“I don’t want to have a team that wins one year then goes away,” Comegy, 60, said. “I want to build a program here where the team is consistently winning every year. And it takes a little while to build a program, but if we get some guys that are committed, a staff that is committed and I can tell that we have a city that’s committed here …”

Comegy led Jackson State to the 2007 SWAC championships and appearances in the last two title games while compiling a 55-35 record in eight seasons.

His tenure with the Tigers was troubled at times, including the team’s 2011 ban from the postseason due to its poor NCAA Academic Progress Rate scores.

Unlike his ability to reload at Jackson State, Comegy has to rebuild with Mississippi Valley State. He is replacing Karl Morgan, whose contract was not renewed at Mississippi Valley State after he compiled an 8-35 record in four seasons, including 2-9 this past year.

Comegy has a 164-86 career record over 22 seasons at Tuskegee, Cheyney, Central State and Jackson State. Read Full.

D.C. Police Investigating Double Homicide Near Howard University Campus

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WASHINGTON (WJLA) – Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police are investigating a double homicide after two bodies were discovered in a rowhouse in Northwest late Monday night.

When a relative went to the basement apartment on Girard Street and made the horrifying discovery around 11 p.m., D.C. Police raced to the scene.

ABC7 has learned from sources that a man and woman inside the basement were found face down, both shot in the head and executed, leaving a neighborhood in shock.

The male victim has since been identified as 36-year-old Oluremi Thomas of Northwest, D.C. The female victim has been identified as 24-year-old Keyonna Proctor of Southeast, D.C.

“The door was knocked down — I wasn’t sure if it was the police but I saw one of the bodies. I really just went home and grieved,” described one man who arrived at the murder scene Tuesday morning. He told us he was grieving for his niece, but wouldn’t speak on camera.

Despite the fact both victims were shot, the Howard University students who live next door said they didn’t hear anything at all.

“It’s even scarier that we didn’t hear nothing,” said finance student Marc Johnson. “That is kind of shaking me up a little bit.” The shocking crime happened just across the street from campus.

Sources say the victims were not students, and the home was reportedly just one block away from the scene of Omar Sykes’ murder.

Read more here

HBCU Hoops D1 Power Rankings

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1. North Carolina Central (9-5, 1-1): The Eagles remain atop the Power Rankings, but their lost to Florida A&M definitely diminished the margin between them and the rest of the field.

2. Norfolk State (10-7, 4-0): After a solid performance in a tough non-conference schedule, Norfolk State is back to doing what it does best–beat up on the MEAC. The Spartans haven’t lost to a conference opponent since the 2012 season.

3. Southern (8-9, 4-0): Starting with the infamous Champion Baptist win, Southern has won five in a row, including its first four SWAC games. The young Jaguars seem to have grown up quick from their tough non-conference schedule and look more than capable of defending their league conference tournament championship crown.

4. Hampton (8-8, 3-0): The Pirates have gone 5-3 since November, including wins over Winthrop and James Madison.

5. Texas Southern (6-9, 2-1): Taking the three overtimes to beat Prairie View was probably more concerning than losing to Southern. Still, with Mike Davis on the bench and Aaric Murray on the court, this team is not to be overlooked.

Read more at HBCU Gameday

Spring Semester Classes to Begin at WVSU After Chemical Spill Fouled Water Supplies

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For the first time in four days, West Virginia residents can now safely use the water by any means after a chemical spill contaminated water supplies for hundreds of thousands of people.

Waterlines on the West Virginia State University campus were flushed throughout the day on Wednesday, Jan. 15, and university offices were open the same day for students to make payments, visit the bookstore or make any other necessary arrangements, according to a school report.

The school also reports that “tap water is now available for regular use”, including drinking, cooking and bathing.

Last Thursday officials urged West Virginia people not to do anything with the water when thousands of gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol leaked out of from a storage tank on the nearby Elk River: “We don’t know that the water is not safe, but I can’t say it is safe,” said Jeff McIntyre, president of West Virginia American Water.

Recently the West Virginia American Water Co. said it had lifted the ban for 26,000 customers.

Spring semester classes at WVSU begin Tuesday, Jan. 21.

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Tommy Meade Jr. is HBCU Buzz‘s Editor in chief. Follow him on Twitter.

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Ideal Capital Awards Grant to Spelman College Professor for Choreography

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A professor from historically black Spelman College recently won an Idea Capital Grant that supports a diverse group of Atlanta area artists. Recipients of the grant are to receive a total of almost $10,000.

Using technology to make dance more entertaining, Spelman professor and choreographer T. Lang will create Post Up, a “meditation on love and loss using sensors and software to add a new technological dimension to the expressive language of dance.”

Ideal Capital selected eight other projects after “careful consideration” of 106 entries from Atlanta artists and collaborative teams:

“All of the artists who will receive grants from $500 to $1,500 have demonstrated commitment to Ideal Capital’s mission of recognizing the kind of innovative, risk-taking works unlikely to be funded by more traditional revenue streams,” according to a release statement.

“Within an Atlanta landscape defined by continuing art gallery closings and cutbacks in arts funding, Idea Capital remains committed to ensuring that the city’s creative class finds opportunities to produce and exhibit their work.”

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About T. Lang Dance:

T. Lang Dance creates a poetic expression of dance, which illustrates deep, arousing investigations relevant to issues of identity, history and community. Through the vehicle of modern dance, Lang’s work communicates perspectives with a dance of humor, depth, and movement style that captures the attention of the viewer with its evocative physicality, technical range and emotional viability.

About IDEA CAPITAL:

IDEA CAPITAL is a grassroots initiative founded in 2008 to help jump start Atlanta-based artist-initiated projects that might not otherwise be supported through mainstream arts institutions. The organization and its grants are entirely funded through donations from artists and other arts supporters in the Atlanta community.

MLK Was a Revolutionary, Not Just a Dreamer

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182597652-the-martin-luther-king-monument-is-seen-in-washington

Today, on what should have been Martin Luther King Jr.’s 85th birthday, it’s time to reflect on his legacy and reimagine the significance of commemorations attached to his name.

King’s outsized iconography towers over contemporary American race relations. Through a hard-won national holiday, hundreds of books, an endowed lecture series and, most recently, a memorial dedicated in 2012 in the nation’s capitol, King’s image has become a permanent fixture in public memory.

King’s prophetic vision of American democracy, heroic efforts to mobilize black Americans for justice and brief, sacrificial time on the public stage have become part of a national mythology of the civil rights era. In this telling, King emerges as a talented individual whose rhetorical genius at the March on Washington helped elevate an entire nation through his moral power and sheer force of will. Like the Old Testament prophet Moses, King was allowed to see but not cross over into the Promised Land.

President Barack Obama hailed King’s legacy as offering inspiration for his own presidential run in 2008, and he characterized himself as part of a “Joshua Generation,” whose ability to achieve professional and political success derived from the sacrifices made by King and earlier generations.

Yet missing from many of the annual King celebrations is the portrait of a political revolutionary who, over time, evolved into a radical warrior for peace, justice and the eradication of poverty. During his last three years, King the “Dreamer” turned into one of the most eloquent, powerful and scathing critics of American society. King lent his moral force and power to antipoverty crusades that questioned the economic system of capitalism and called for an end to the Vietnam War.

King’s friendship with Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee activist Stokely Carmichael also impacted his political outlook. Although he disagreed with the term “black power,” he refused to criticize Carmichael or the movement he gave name to. Carmichael’s vociferous human rights declarations touched King and helped inspire his own more celebrated antiwar stance. On April 15, 1967, Carmichael served as a powerful warm-up act to King’s keynote at a massive peace demonstration that began in New York’s Central Park and ended at the United Nations.

Conservatives, liberals and moderate civil rights leaders claimed that King was in over his head, suggesting that he had been mesmerized by black power militants, and discrediting his foreign affairs expertise in a manner that sought to undermine his legitimacy as a Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist.

To King’s credit, though, the more denunciation he received, the further he pressed on. By 1968 he was in the middle of organizing the ambitious Poor People’s Campaign, designed to bring together a multicultural sampling of the nation’s poor to camp in a tent city on the Washington Mall until Congress passed significant antipoverty legislation. According to King, the war on poverty had been sacrificed by expenditures spent in Vietnam.

Read more at The Root

Morgan State Professor MK Asante Among Nominees for NAACP Image Awards

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Morgan State University professor MK Asante is among the nominees for Outstanding Literary Work in the category of Biography/Autobiography at the 45th NAACP Image Awards airing Saturday, Feb. 22 on TV One cable channel.

The author of four books, Asante’s most recent work Buck: a memoir of MK’s youth growing up in Philadelphia, continues to win over national praise and received starred reviews from both Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist.

Maya Angelou wrote:

“Buck is a story of surviving and thriving with passion, compassion, wit, and style… Yes, MK Asante, please continue to live, to accept your liberation, to accept how valuable you are to your country and admit that you are very necessary to us all.”

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About Buck:

A rebellious boy’s journey through the wilds of urban America and the shrapnel of a self-destructing family, Buck is the riveting story of a generation—told through Asante’s dazzlingly poetic voice. The Philadelphia Inquirer called Asante “a rare, remarkable talent that brings to mind the great artists of the Harlem Renaissance.

Howard University’s Ranking Drops 22 Spots in U.S. News Best Colleges

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Director of data research at U.S. News Robert “Bob” Morse recently gave details on why Howard University fell 22 spots in the most recent Best Colleges rankings report.

The man behind the U.S. College News Ranking said Howard’s decline during the 2014 data collection was “mainly due to its administrative inability or refusal to report its most recent data about itself to U.S. News.”

Howard fell 22 spots to No. 142, having previously been ranked No. 120 in the 2013 edition. The historically black university is now undergoing changes in administration after Sidney A. Ribeau announced his retirement from presidency the same year, puzzling many: “Howard University president, Sidney Ribeau, was a force for good!” tweeted John Silvanus Wilson, president of Morehouse College.

But Morse says there were many factors behind U.S. News‘s recent report on Howard, and that the school’s rankings fell “sharply” during the Ribeau era.

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Robert Morse, U.S. News: 

There were many factors behind Howard’s rankings decline during Ribeau’s time in office. The school dropped from being in the top 100 in the 2010 edition to today’s position because its ranking scores in academic peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, student selectivity, faculty resources, alumni giving and graduation rate performance all fell relative to other schools in the National Universities rankings.

The indicators where Howard’s performance deteriorated since 2010 account for a total of 82.5 percent of the U.S. News ranking model. In other words, Howard experienced declines in almost all of the key academic indicators used by U.S. News, which resulted in its drop in the rankings.

In the current rankings, Howard is listed as a “school that refused to fill out the U.S. News statistical survey” during our winter and spring 2013 data collection. In Howard’s case, we gave the school credit for all the ranking data that it did report to U.S. News during the previous data collection in 2012.

This meant that almost all the factors used in Howard’s latest ranking were based on its previous year’s data. However, Howard didn’t report data used to compute the alumni giving rate and financial resources per student ranking variables to U.S. News for two consecutive years. For schools that skip two years of reporting data in those two ranking factors, U.S. News estimates those data points.

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Morse says the controversy rankings, which were first published in 1983, are based on 15 indicators, including “a reputation survey, admissions data, faculty data, financial-resources data, alumni giving and graduation and retention rates” that determines America’s Best Colleges annually.

“We’re not comparing all 1,400 schools. We’re dividing them up into 10 categories, like national universities and liberal arts … we assign a weight to each of the variables,” Morse told Time magazine.

“The peer survey, or the academic reputation, is the highest-weighted variable — it’s 25 percent,” he said.

In other news, veteran Washington lawyer and Howard trustee Vernon E. Jordan Jr. will lead a presidential search committee charged with replacing Ribeau, according to reports.

Jordan said Howard’s challenges over the years will not hinder the quest to find a new president and said the search committee has no timetable: “We are not in a hurry. But we know that it is urgent,” said Jordan.

Tommy Meade Jr. is HBCU Buzz‘s Editor in chief. Follow him on Twitter.

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Family of Unarmed Former FAMU Football Player Killed in NC Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

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140113-shooting-family-1015p.photoblog600CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The family of an unarmed North Carolina man killed by 10 police bullets after he crashed his car and staggered to a nearby house for help has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit.

The family of Jonathon Ferrell said autopsy results, showing a downward trajectory by most of the bullets, suggest that Ferrell was either on his knees or already on the ground when Officer Randall Kerrick fired most of his shots.

They say Ferrell never posed a threat to Kerrick or the two officers who showed up with him after a woman called 911.

“This was a murderer who was acting while on duty. Taxpayers were paying him, and he murdered someone,” Christopher Chestnut, a lawyer for the family, told NBC News. “We all deserve answers. The department needs answers.”

The suit, filed Monday in North Carolina Superior Court, names the officer, the city, the county and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe as defendants.

It seeks monetary damages, but Chestnut said another goal was to use subpoena power to force police to turn over records that have been withheld from the family. That includes police dash-cam video of the Sept. 14 confrontation, which has not been made public.

140113-jonathan-ferrell-120p.380;380;7;70;0Ferrell, who was 24, played football for Florida A&M University, had recently moved to Charlotte and was engaged. His family has said he worked two jobs to put himself through school.

“If he met you only once, you would love him forever,” said his mother, Georgia. “He was a friend to everyone. I don’t care who you were. He didn’t care about color, creed. He didn’t care if you had a bad attitude — he’d love you anyway.”

According to his family, Ferrell had dropped off a coworker and was driving home at about 2 a.m. when he veered off the road and crashed his car so badly that he had to kick out the rear window to escape. The lawsuit says he walked a half-mile up a hill, toward the nearest houses, to seek help, and knocked on a door.

The woman inside, alone in the home with an infant, answered the door, thinking it was her husband coming home late from work. She saw Ferrell, quickly shut the door, called 911 and frantically reported, “There’s a guy breaking in my front door.”

Three officers went to the house. What happened next is not clear. Police have said that Ferrell ran toward the officers. One fired a Taser, but it failed to connect. Kerrick fired 12 bullets and hit Ferrell with 10 of them.

Within a day of the shooting, Charlotte police said they believed it had been excessive and charged Kerrick with voluntary manslaughter. State prosecutors are handling the case, as is customary when police are charged. The case goes to a grand jury later this month.

Kerrick, 28, who joined the Charlotte force in 2011, is on unpaid leave. One of his lawyers, Michael Greene, declined comment on the wrongful-death suit. He also declined an interview on the criminal case against Kerrick, though he has said that the officer’s actions were justified.

“We remain committed to our client and his rights and to procedural due process,” Greene said in a statement emailed to NBC News. “As such, we will try the case in a court of law.”

The police department and the city declined comment. County officials could not immediately be reached.

Toxicology reports showed that Ferrell had alcohol in his system, but that his blood-alcohol level was below the legal limit for driving.

During the confrontation, the suit says, Ferrell never behaved in a way that met the Charlotte police standard of “aggravated active aggression” required to justify the use of force. The suit accuses the officer of a series of mistakes before he fired. Read Full. 

Hampton President Makes 108k Donation to Increase Hourly Staff Wages

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201401133072263Hampton, Va. – Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey and Mrs. Norma B. Harvey have given a $108,403 personal gift to HU to support a wage increase for all full-time permanent HU staff earning less than $9 an hour.  Through this donation, 121 full-time, permanent HU staff employees will receive a wage increase equal to $9 an hour.  This increase took effect Jan. 1.

The Harveys have made two similar donations to the University in the past.  In June 2011, they donated $166,000 to increase staff wages to $8 an hour and in July 2006, they made a donation of $45,000 in support of a five percent increase to staff earning less than $7 an hour.  Also in May 2011, the Harveys donated $1 million to HU to be utilized as incentives to increase faculty salaries.  This was in addition to the $1 million they gave in 2001 to provide scholarships to students who wanted to become teachers.  At that time President Harvey stated that without good teachers there would be no business executives, astronauts, scientists and the like. In total, the Harveys have gifted more than $2.3 million to the University over the past 13 years.

“Over the last several years, Norma and I have made donations to increase the wages of hourly support staff. While everyone at Hampton already earns more than the minimum wage, we wanted to show our gratitude to those staff members who work hard and serve the campus behind the scenes,” said President Harvey.

Harold Jackson Named New JSU Head Football Coach

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HaroldJackson_JSU-566x400Jackson State named Harold Jackson as its next head football coach, the school announced Monday morning in a press conference.

A Hattiesburg native and former JSU wide receiver, Jackson played in the NFL from 1968 to 1983. He served as an NFL assistant coach for teams, such as the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints. He landed his first head coaching job at Benedict College for one season, and followed up as a wide receivers coach at Kentucky (2001 to 2002) and Baylor (2003 to 2006).

Jackson, 68, replaces Rick Comegy, who was fired Dec. 18. Comegy is expected to be named Mississippi Valley State’s head coach, according to reports from WLBT and WABG.

SU Alum, Wife Donates $50,000 to Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund

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urlSU alum, wife donate $50,000 to chancellor’s scholarship fund

Southern University alum Irving Matthews and his wife Darlene have donated $50,000 to the Chancellor’s Centennial Scholarship Fund to endow 4-year tuition scholarships to two African-American males entering SU in the fall of 2014.

Matthews is a 1970 engineering graduate and a native of Lake Charles. He is the owner of Ford dealerships in Mount Dora and Stuart, Fla.

“The commitment by Mr. and Mrs. Matthews strikes at the core of the mission of Southern University – access to higher education and academic support for success,” Chancellor Dr. James L. Llorens said.

“Their commitment – they already provide two endowed scholarships in business and engineering – to Southern University epitomizes the role of alumni in giving back to the institution that prepared them for success,” Llorens said.

The scholarship fund will provide full tuition scholarships for eight consecutive semesters beginning in the fall 2014 semester. Qualified applicants must meet Southern’s admission criteria, be Pell Grant eligible, and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 at the end of each academic year.

The Matthews scholars will receive mentoring and academic guidance over the course of their matriculation. REFERENCED

 

 

Tuskegee University Plans MLK Observance to Address Black American Health

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Tuskegee University’s will host a birthday observance for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Jan. 22.MLK_portrait_fi

Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will be the guest speaker. He is also the founding dean and former president of The School of Medicine at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Sullivan is chairman of the board of the National Health Museum in Atlanta, whose goal is to improve the health of Americans by enhancing health literacy and advancing healthy behaviors. He also is chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based Sullivan Alliance to Transform America’s Health Professions. He served as chair of the President’s Commission on Historically Black Colleges and Universities from 2002-2009, and was co-chair of the President’s Commission on HIV and AIDS from 2001-2006.

The event will be held at 11 a.m. at the Tuskegee University Chapel.

No men allowed: ASU’s new president banned from bringing dates home

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ee8442fe8cc89101480f6a7067004ac9_s640x456 The newest president of Alabama State University has just signed a contract for a $300,000 annual salary — if in return, she promises not to bring home any men to stay or live with her on campus.

Gwendolyn Boyd is a single woman, and so long as she stays unmarried, her new contract bans her from bringing back boyfriends and dates to her home, The Daily Mail reported. Ms. Boyd, who attended both Alabama State University and Yale, said she doesn’t mind the rule and will start work on Feb. 1, the Birmingham News reported.

The contract specifically states: “For so long as Dr. Boyd is president and a single person, she shall not be allowed to cohabitate in the president’s residence with any person with whom she has a romantic relation.”
But lawyers say the contract stipulation may be stretching legal boundaries.

“I don’t know of any state that has the right to invade someone’s residence even if the state owns that residence,” said Washington, D.C., lawyer Raymond Cotton said, The Daily Mail reported. “To convey that residence and dictate what kind of romantic relationship you can have in that facility — I mean, she’s not in prison.”

A university spokesman said the contract was negotiated by Ms. Boyd and university officials, and was jointly agreed to and signed Read more: