Tuskegee University breaks ground on new science building

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Tuskegee University will be expanding science education with the addition of a new building to its 5,000-acre campus. In a ceremony on Friday on land between Milbank and Campbell halls, ground was broken on the James Henry Meriweather Henderson Hall Agricultural Life Science Teaching, Extension and Research Building. The facility will be more than 40,000 square feet, and will house laboratories and a seminar room for use by students.

Tuskegee University President Gilbert L. Rochon praised the addition to the campus, and said the building is part of the university’s ongoing efforts to help improve agricultural studies and the livelihoods of farmers in the Black Belt region. He mentioned recent groundbreakings on the Black Belt Family Farm Fruit and Vegetable Marketing and Innovation Center in Selma, Ala., and the Carver Integrative Sustainability Center on campus.

“We’re privileged with this triad of facilities that all have a link with agriculture. All have a link to science and have a link with the new Ph.D. program in agricultural and environmental engineering,” Rochon said.

The building is expected to be completed by May 2013. The architects are Turner Associates of Atlanta and the builders are Brasfield and Gorrie, also of Atlanta. The project manager for the building construction is C&R. The project is estimated to cost more than $13 million and the LEED-certified building will also feature many energy-efficient mechanical and plumbing elements such as a rainwater harvesting system that will collect water for landscape irrigation and motion sensors that turn off lights when rooms are not in use.

The building will have state-of-the-art technology features such as data connections and wireless Internet throughout the building, and rooms with video conferencing capabilities. Also, the building will have “super labs” that can accommodate up to 48 students at the same time.

“We’re in the construction phase of one of the most creative and innovative science buildings that has been designed by our firm in the last 35 years,” said alumnus Cubell Bain of Turner Associates.

The building is named after the late James Henry Meriwether Henderson, a Tuskegee professor and administrator who spent more than 50 years at the university. He came to Tuskegee in 1945 and taught botany and plant physiology. He also served as head of the biology department, chair of the Division of Natural Sciences and director of the Carver Research Foundation. Henderson died in 2009.

The ceremony was moderated by Walter A. Hill, dean of the College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences. The program included remarks from former students of Henderson such as Louis Maxwell, Macon County Commission chairman; and retired Maj. Gen. Charles E. Williams, chair of the university’s board of trustees. Henderson’s widow and members of his extended family were also present at the ceremony.

One of Henderson’s four children, Edwin B. Henderson II of Falls Church, Va., shared some memories of his father’s attention to detail and dedication to science and serving his community.

“I am sure this will be an example and a symbol of his life here at Tuskegee,” Henderson said about the project. Referenced from Tuskegee

VSU enters concurrent enrollment agreements with Charles City and Franklin Public Schools

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VSU President Keith T. Miller signs concurrent enrollment agreement with Charles City County School Superintendent Dr. Janet Crawley (L) and Franklin School Superintendent Dr. Michelle Belle.

Virginia State University (VSU) has entered into an agreement with Charles City County and the city of Franklin public schools to offer college courses to juniors and seniors at Charles City High School and Franklin High School. These localities represent the eighth and ninth city or county system with which VSU has signed a concurrent enrollment agreement.

Under the terms of the program, qualified high school students may enroll in university courses through VSU. The courses will be taught at high schools, but course curricula, syllabi and tests will be identical to those used at VSU. Grades earned will be considered dual credit for high school and VSU. Should the high school students matriculate to VSU, their transcripts will reflect both the college credits and earned grade point average.

Concurrent enrollment students, and their teachers, are encouraged to utilize VSU resources and facilities. Students will be issued VSU identification cards so they can access the University’s library and laboratories. Some classes and tutorial sessions will be held on campus and VSU faculty will assist high school faculty in teaching the courses.

There is currently no tuition charge to the students taking concurrent enrollment courses. Textbooks are usually purchased by the high school system hosting the classes. Through the program, students typically enter college with close to a semester’s worth of credits, resulting in savings of several thousand dollars.

In addition to Charles City and Franklin, VSU has concurrent enrollment agreements with Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Surry and Sussex counties and the cities of Petersburg and Richmond. The university is pursuing similar initiatives with school systems in Hampton Roads.

“These partnerships epitomize ‘win-win’ collaborations between secondary schools and higher education,” said VSU President Keith T. Miller. “They allow high school students to get a leg up on their college education, both academically and economically. Meanwhile, VSU is able to share its human resources and technology with our public schools. Regardless of whether the high school student ultimately enrolls at VSU, he or she is more prepared for success at the college level.”

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FAMU Appoints Long-Time Administrator as New Dean

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Michael Thompson, assistant dean for Clinical Affairs and professor of pharmacy practice at Florida A&M University (FAMU), has been appointed the new dean in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (COPPS).

“We welcome Dr. Thompson to this new role and believe that he has the expertise to help us fulfill our goals for the College of Pharmacy,” said FAMU Provost Larry Robinson, who also serves as vice president for Academic Affairs. “Through the years, Dr. Thompson has played a major role in making pharmacy a flagship program for this campus, the state, nation and world. We have great expectations.”

Thompson has worked in COPPS since 1981 when he was hired as an assistant professor of pharmacy practice.  He was promoted to associate professor in 1987 and became a full professor in 2001.  In 1996, he became assistant dean for Clinical Affairs.  In this position, Thompson provided leadership and administrative oversight for the pharmacy practice division instructional centers in Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville and Tallahassee.

“I am delighted and honored to be the dean of the illustrious College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences,” said Thompson.  “We will continue to provide an atmosphere of academic excellence, research superiority and service, which is the focus of our mission.”

Thompson’s research has focused on HIV therapeutic management and he has made more than 100 presentations at professional meetings on the topic.

He has received several awards including the Clinician of the Year award from the Florida Pharmacy Association in 2005.  He is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he earned the bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and the PharmD.

He starts his tenure as dean on June 8, 2012, at a salary of  $175,000. Referenced from FAMU

Howard Boasts Prestigious Rangel Fellowship Recipients in 2012

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A current Howard University student and two class of 2009 graduates were awarded 2012 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowships. With three winners this year, Howard maintains its position as the top provider of Rangel Fellows in the country.

The Rangel Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and managed by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University, supports extraordinary individuals who seek careers in the U.S. Foreign Service. The Fellowship will provide each recipient with approximately $90,000 in benefits over a two-year period to pursue a master’s degree in international affairs.

The award recipients were: Kelly McCray, a native of Decatur, Georgia, who graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2009 with bachelor’s degrees in English and Greek; Charlotte Young, a Columbia, S.C.-native, who graduated from the School of Communications in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism; and Sheena Hall, of Richmond, Indiana, a May 2012 candidate for a bachelor’s degree in political science.

As part of the Rangel program, the recipients will work for members of Congress on issues regarding foreign affairs this summer. In the summer of 2013, the fellows will receive overseas assignments from the U.S. Department of State. They will work in a U.S. Embassy to get hands-on experience with U.S. foreign policy. Upon completion of the fellowship, the three will become U.S. diplomats.

“We are thrilled to have Charlotte, Kelly and Sheena join the program,” said Patricia Scroggs, director of the Charles B. Rangel program. “Each has demonstrated impressive achievements in their academic careers at Howard University. I have no doubt that they will excel in graduate school and make important contributions to promoting global peace and prosperity as U.S. diplomats.”

Kelly McCray was a Laureate scholarship recipient at Howard University, president of the Sterling Allen Brown English Society, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. During the fall of 2007 she studied abroad in South Africa, and during the summer of 2008 she was a participant in the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program. In 2009, Kelly was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Chiang Rai, Thailand. After completing her Fulbright Scholarship, she remained in Thailand for an additional year and a half working as a public relations and information officer at Mae Fah Luang University. Read Full

DIllard Alumna and Board Member Dr. Ruth Simmons Honored

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At its Thursday evening dinner celebrating the 11-year presidency of Ruth J. Simmons, the Corporation of Brown University announced its decision to rename Lincoln Field as the Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle. The quadrangle, part of the University’s original 1770 Providence campus, is the only part of that original tract of land to be named for an individual.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — At the conclusion of its Thursday evening (May 24, 2012) dinner celebrating the 11-year presidency of Ruth J. Simmons, the Corporation of Brown University made public a recent resolution: The section of Brown’s original 1770 Providence Campus once known as the “lower campus” or Lincoln Field will “be henceforth and in perpetuity known to all as The Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle.”

“The last eleven years have been a remarkable time of change for Brown. So much has happened during this decade plus, and throughout it all the constant has been the exacting, inspiring, and inspired leadership of our president,” said Brown Chancellor Thomas J. Tisch as he prepared to read the Corporation’s resolution. “The wisdom, the compassion, the integrity, the work ethic, and the vision that the 30 members of the search committee saw in her in 2000 has been a blessing for all things Brown. Ruth, we will be in your debt for many years to come.”

The Corporation chose the lower campus for its celebratory dinner and as an appropriate honor for President Simmons because it has important historic and symbolic significance. All four academic disciplines have facilities on Simmons Quadrangle: physical sciences (planetary geology, Lincoln Field Building), social sciences (sociology, Maxcy Hall), arts and humanities (Leeds Theatre, Ashamu Dance Studio), and life sciences (Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Metcalf Lab). It is bounded to the west by Sayles Hall, site of many historic occasions including Simmons’s introduction as 18th president-elect, and to the east by Soldiers Arch. It is also one of the two parcels of land that formed the original College Hill campus in 1770. Read Full

Winston-Salem State University student fee hike could pay for Bowman Gray Stadium purchase

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Winston-Salem State University has officially made an offer to buy Bowman Gray Stadium, but the school is considering raising student fees 5 percent in order to do that.

The City of Winston-Salem has valued the 17,000-seat stadium at $10 million. WSSU officials said the student fee increase would raise $7.5 million over the next 20 years.

The increase would add another $110 to the bill of full-time students, raising total student fees to $2,100 a year.

“We can’t go to the state and say, ‘Would you buy us a football stadium?’ It has to come from auxiliary sources, and those sources have historically been student fees,” said Owen Cooks with WSSU.

A bill that would authorize the stadium’s purchase is currently heading through the General Assembly. If passed, a deal could be ready to be signed by the fall.

The student fee increase would be implemented this fall as well.

For the neediest students, university officials said it would provide financial aid to pay the student fee.

Besides being the home for WSSU football, it is also home to the longest-running weekly races in NASCAR.

Regardless of who owns the stadium, racing will continue at Bowman Gray for the duration of a 20-year lease, which was signed in December.

Race promoters said they don’t plan on charging parking fees to cover the proposed sale.

Read more: wxii12

S.C. State University gets Interim President, Dr. Cynthia Warrick from Howard University Pharmacy

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The board of trustees and South Carolina State University has selected a interim president to fill the spot left by former university president Dr. George Cooper.

Dr. Cynthia Warrick will step into the interim role on July 1.

“We as trustees are excited that Dr. Cynthia Warrick will become our interim president,” said Dr. John H. Corbitt, acting chairman of the SC State University board of trustees. “Dr. Warrick is highly qualified and will bring new energy and creativity to SC State University.”

Warrick currently serves as a senior fellow in the Howard University School of Pharmacy, Center for Minority Health Services Research. As a senior fellow, Warrick has developed research proposals, mentored faculty and students, participated on search committees, recruited students, participated on Federal Advisory Committees, reviewed grants for federal agencies (NIH, CDC, and NRC), published two research papers, facilitated panels at national conferences, and participated on the Middle States Accreditation reviews for two major universities’ 5-year periodic review.

Prior to her research scholar appointment, Dr. Warrick served as tenured full professor of Pharmacy, dean and chief research officer at Elizabeth City State University; associate professor and director of Environmental and Occupational Health at Florida A&M University; and, assistant professor in the Division of Management, Policy and Community Health at the University of Texas School of Public Health, Center for Health, Promotion and Prevention Research.

“I have an entrepreneurial approach to higher education and I’m very secure in my abilities to raise funding to develop the types of programs needed to move South Carolina State University forward,” Warrick said.

Warrick, a native of San Antonio, Texas, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from Howard University; a Master of Science degree in Public Policy from Georgia Institute of Technology; and a terminal degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University.

Web-based application process increases ASU enrollment numbers

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Enrollment numbers for Alabama State University are up for the fall, and university officials say it’s because of a new web-based application process.

According to information from the university, as of May 30, 4,511 students have been admitted for the fall semester, which is up from the 4,199 admitted last year.

Cherise Peters, associate provost and vice president for enrollment management, said the university has  exceeded goals for new student enrollment and overall admissions.

“I am really excited about the number of students who have applied,” Peters said in a statement.  “System improvements have moved us from a primary paper process to a primary online process. We are now receiving an average of 150 online applications each week.”

The university held summer orientation sessions Wednesday and today and many of the new students were on campus.

“Attending the summer session is a great way for students to get ahead and a great opportunity for them to become acclimated to campus life a few months earlier than their peers,” said Freddie Williams, ASU’s director of admissions and recruitment.

Morgan State Student Charged in Dismemberment Missing Man

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A man who lived in the same townhome as a missing Joppa man now feared dead was arrested and charged with first-degree murder Wednesday, after parts of a dismembered human body were found inside the home and in a dumpster nearby, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

The arrest of Alexander Kinyua, 21, came almost a week after Kujoe Bonsafo Agyei-Kodie, 37, first went missing Friday, and followed a search of the home the two men shared in the 500 block of Terrapin Terrace in Joppatowne early Wednesday morning, police said.

Detectives had first “located evidence that led them to believe a crime had been committed” during an initial search for Agyei-Kodie, who was first publicly identified as missing Monday, police said.

A search and seizure warrant for the home, which is owned by Kinyua’s parents, Antony and Beatrice Kinyua, was obtained, leading investigators to search the home and find the dismembered body parts, police said.

Police also found body parts in a dumpster on Trimble Road.

It was not immediately clear whether Kinyua’s parents or other family members or friends also lived in the home, but property records do list the home as Antony and Beatrice Kinyua’s primary residence.

The body parts found in the home had yet to be identified by the chief medical examiner late Wednesday, but police believe they are those of Agyei-Kodie, said Monica Worrell, a police spokeswoman.

Kinyua has been charged with first-degree murder as well as first-degree and second-degree assault, and was being held at the Harford County Detention Center, awaiting an appearance before a court commissioner.

The charges are not Kinyua’s first in recent weeks.

On May 20, Kinyua, who otherwise does not have a criminal record in Maryland, was charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment in Baltimore in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 19, according to court records.

He was scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing in that case June 19. On May 25, what appeared to be a plea from his parents for help paying Kinyua’s legal fees in the case from was posted on the website Mwakilishi.com, which touts itself as “The Leading Source of Kenyan Diaspora News & Entertainment.”

The post says Kinyua had been arrested for “being involved in a fight in his dormitory room at Morgan State University.”

University police reached late Wednesday would not comment.

The online plea says, “In order to get him the best defense possible, we need to secure an attorney who will take his case and leave no stone unturned.”

It also states a fundraising event was scheduled at the International Christian Community Church on Sunday, and lists a number and address for Antony and Beatrice Kinyua. The address is the same as that where the body parts were found.

Late Wednesday, a man who answered a phone at the number listed said Antony and Beatrice Kinyua were “resting,” and that the family did not wish to speak to the media without an attorney present.

No other details about the investigation were immediately available, Worrell said. Referenced from Baltimore Sun

Bowie State University Announces New Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

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Weldon Jackson, Ph.D. has been selected as the new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bowie State University and will begin serving in that capacity on July 8, 2012. Currently Special Assistant to the President at Morehouse College, Dr. Jackson has more than 27 years of experience in higher education administration.

Dr. Jackson has an extensive background in leadership of the academic enterprise, having served as the chief academic officer at both Morehouse and Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York. He was responsible for advancements in the academic and research programs of both institutions and developed numerous initiatives to support student and faculty development. Deeply passionate about student success, he designed the student success center at Morehouse College and expanded the use of technology in the teaching and learning process, at Manhattan College.

“I am very pleased to have Dr. Jackson assume this critical leadership position as part of my Bowie State University team,” said President Mickey L. Burnim. “He brings with him a wealth of experience, character and commitment to help us move Bowie State University to the next level of excellence.”

As Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at BSU, Dr. Jackson will provide direct oversight to the University’s academic programs. BSU offers 23 undergraduate majors, 19 master’s programs, two doctoral programs and 12 certificate programs organized into the Colleges of Business, Arts and Sciences, Professional Studies, and Education, and the Graduate School. BSU enrolls 5,600 students including 4,400 undergraduate and over 1,200 graduate students.

“I am enormously excited to join the Bowie family,” said Dr. Jackson. “Bowie State University is an impressive institution with a record of achievement that is well recognized. It is a special privilege to join Dr. Mickey Burnim’s exceptional senior leadership team and the outstanding Bowie faculty and staff to continue our pursuit of ‘world-class pre-eminence’ in higher education.”

Dr. Jackson earned his doctorate in government from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Morehouse College. Early in his career, Dr. Jackson taught at Wellesley College. He and his wife Lorraine have three children.

CONTACT

Cassandra Robinson
University Relations and Marketing
crobinson@bowiestate.edu
(301) 860-3505

Holmes Punches 800m Ticket to NCAA Semifinals

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Donte’ Holmes (Hyattsville, Md.) continues to excel as his collegiate track and field career winds down as the Delaware State University senior qualified individually Friday for the first time in his career for the NCAA Championships with his seventh-place performance during the 2012 NCAA East Regional’s 800m quarterfinals at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium.

Holmes recorded a season-best time of 1:48.33 in Friday evening’s race, good for second in his heat and seventh overall.  He finished third in Thursday’s preliminary race with a time of 1:48.89 to qualify for tonight’s quarterfinals.  Holmes previously competed in the 2010 East Preliminaries in the 800m, but failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

The trackster will compete on Wednesday, June 6 at 6:15 p.m. in the 800m semifinals in Des Moines, Iowa at Drake Stadium.

Holmes will join juniors Ryan Carter (Wilmington, Del.), Tyquan Brown (Neptune, N.J.) and Tariq Devore (Queens, N.Y.) in Saturday’s 4×400 relay as the Hornets seek their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  DSU is seeded 10th for the East Preliminary Round and will compete in tomorrow’s Quarterfinals at 9:25 p.m.

Man charged in March crash killing WSSU student

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The driver of a car that crashed into a utility pole in Winston-Salem, killing a Winston-Salem State University student and injuring another, has been charged with two felony counts.

Vince Sherman Williams, 27, of Winston-Salem, was charged with felony death by motor vehicle and felony serious injury by motor vehicle on Wednesday.

The wreck happened in the early morning hours of March 28 on North Cherry Street.

Winston-Salem police said Williams lost control of a Honda Civic and hit a utility pole just north of the intersection of Reynolds Boulevard.

Passenger Jillian Rose Charlet, a 22-year-old senior accounting major from Indiana, died at the scene. Passenger Chloe Claudette Morse, 21, suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Charlet played on the WSSU women’s basketball team for three years. Charlet and Morse were scheduled to graduate this spring.

Williams, who is not a WSSU student, was held under a $10,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court June 8.

Police said in its first news release after the crash that speed and alcohol appeared to be factors. Referenced

Dr. Calvin Johnson to lead UAPB in interim

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Dr. Calvin Johnson, former UAPB education dean, has been named to be interim chancellor of UAPB, in a leadership transition after Dr. Lawrence Davis Jr.’s retirement May 25.

Johnson will not be a candidate for the permanent job, the UA news release said.

Johnson had been rumored for another high UA position — to succeed Dr. Carl Johnson of Little Rock on the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. Johnson’s term expired last month, but he has continued to serve until Gov. Mike Beebe announces a replacement. Beebe will announce a choice from a “short list” after his return from China, his office said. While we’re at it, add to the hat the name of Dr. Stephen Broughton, a Pine Bluff psychiatrist, who’s currently a member of the War Memorial Stadium Commission.

UA President Donald Bobbitt says he hopes to have a permanent leader for UAPB in place by July 1, 2013.

UA NEWS RELEASE

University of Arkansas System President Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt has named Dr. Calvin Johnson to serve as the interim chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff beginning Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Read Full 

Johnson will serve as interim chancellor while a national search is conducted to find a permanent replacement for Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., who will retire Friday, May 25. Johnson has said he will not be a candidate for the permanent position.

Johnson is former dean of the College of Education at UAPB and former chair of the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His career in education as a teacher and faculty member spans more than 30 years. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1998 to 2004 and is a current member of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a position he will resign before becoming interim chancellor.

“After consulting with campus and community leaders, I’m pleased that Dr. Calvin Johnson has agreed to serve as interim chancellor of UAPB,” Bobbitt said. “Calvin has vast experience in higher education and is a strong leader in the Pine Bluff community. I believe he has the right combination of experience and knowledge of the university to serve in this capacity, and I look forward to working with him.”

Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture education at UAPB and a master’s degree in counselor education from the University of Central Arkansas. He completed his Ph.D. degree in adult education and public school administration at Kansas State University.

“As a graduate of UAPB and having served on the faculty for almost 20 years, I have a firm understanding of the important role the university plays in our community and state,” Johnson said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to serve in this capacity and help bridge the transition to a new chancellor.”

Bobbitt has met with the UAPB Faculty and Staff Senate, campus administrators, and state and local leaders about the search for a new chancellor. He plans to convene an advisory committee to assist in the process with the goal of having a permanent chancellor in place by July 1, 2013.

ASU Enters New Partnership With EPA

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Alabama State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are partnering together to support campus greening and sustainability at the University.

ASU President William H. Harris and Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, region 4 administrator of the EPA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a ceremony held in ASU’s Life Science Building auditorium on Monday, May 21.

“The science about global warming is real; it’s good science, and it tells us that we need to be concerned about the big future for our children and grandchildren,” Harris said. “If we don’t think big thoughts now, it’s going to be too late. We’re here this morning to say that we’re ready to … join the EPA in thinking big about the future of our world.”

The agreement is intended to help attract student participation in environmental study and to enhance ASU’s environmental policy and science curricula. ASU now is the 23rd institution to partner with EPA’s region 4.

The University’s administrative council, college deans and other faculty and staff listened intently as Fleming explained how the partnership will build awareness about environmental concerns in the local community and help further ASU’s commitment to a sustainable future.

Fleming also praised ASU’s chapter of the EnvironMentors, a national science program that provides mentoring opportunities to prepare minority student for degree programs in environmental and related science fields. In fact, ASU will introduce its own degree program in environmental studies, set to start in 2014.

“I applaud this institution for recognizing that investing in simple, on-the-ground practices is what’s going to drive the environmental movement today,” Fleming said. “We all breathe air, we all need water to survive; therefore, we can all become environmentalists and ensure that we protect those vital regions.”

Fleming ended her presentation by re-creating a popular ASU motto.

“I understand that the quote goes, ‘When we teach class the world takes note,'” Fleming said. “So how great will it be that from this point forward, ‘When ASU teaches class about the environment, about environmental sustainability, about environmental protection, the world takes note.'”

John Montgomery takes Alabama State’s golf team to new heights

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After John Montgomery made history as a freshman by becoming the first Alabama State golfer to participate in the NCAA tournament, coach Gary Grandison had a brief talk with him.

“Western Kentucky was hosting the tournament back in 2009, and I knew they’d earned a bid to host again in 2012,” Grandison said. “So I asked John to help me in making sure our entire team played that course.”

Montgomery, now a senior, and the rest of the Hornets team gave Grandison exactly what he wanted: For the first time in the program’s history, the men’s golf team claimed the SWAC championship to earn a spot in an NCAA regional — the one in Bowling Green on the Western Kentucky course.

Grandison, a Mobile native and graduate of Shaw High, guided the ASU women’s golf team into the NCAA field a year ago.

“This proves that last year was not a fluke,” he said. “Our men’s team was close to advancing the previous three years. A lot of people were not aware of that. Some of our past players paved the way for this year’s team academically and athletically. This team’s attitudes, efforts and talents propelled this championship team.”

The ASU men’s program has a grade-point average of 3.53.

Growing up in the Highpointe community, Grandison, who is an Alabama State graduate, got his golfing start at the Highpointe Golf Club at the age of 13.

Influenced by several members at the club, the 36-year-old said one of his primary supporters remains former Mobile County Emergency Management Agency director Walt Dickerson. Read Full

NSU says hires will address state auditor’s concerns

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Norfolk State University has made three hires in its finance and administration department and will continue training employees in accounting to help address concerns raised recently by the state’s auditor of public accounts.

The auditor, Walter J. Kucharksi, stated in a letter to the university earlier this month that his department could not complete its audit for the fiscal year ending June 2011 because of “material weaknesses” in the school’s internal controls.

The letter said many of the problems were caused by significant turnover and extended vacancies in key positions, such as controller, at the university.

Several of the problems centered on a new accounting system implemented last summer. The auditor said the school did not provide enough training for employees and management to monitor the process.

Gregory Davis, NSU’s interim vice president for finance and administration, said Thursday that all of the problems are “solvable” and that the university is on its way to doing so.

The concerns, he said, dealt primarily with internal processes, such as producing financial statements for audits and management purposes, and did not affect issuing paychecks or paying bills.

“It comes down to this: We didn’t have people in place, and some of these can be predicted if you don’t have people in place,” said Davis, who started on March 1. Read Full