Academic Insights: April 2017 by pvamuAcademicInsights

APRIL2017

ACADEMICINSIGHTS March was a wonderful time to be a part of the Prairie View A&M University community. The campus hosted a number of Women’s History Month events, and there was a tremendous amount of participation, feedback, and support. A few weeks ago, we held an exceptional 2017 Founders’ Day and Honors Recognition Convocation, in celebration of more than 3,000 students achieving academic success in the fall and spring semesters of 2016. Towards the end of March, Dean Danny Kelley of Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences put on a stellar performance commemorating 100 years of music at PVAMU and honoring our university as “An All-Steinway School.” Spectacular things happened in March, and I guarantee you, much more is in store for April. As we move into a season of prepping for and closing out the end of the spring semester, we have several new policies that the university is continuing to review and make improvements on, before they go into effect. Please note, there is a change to the requirements to participate in commencement. Students will no longer be denied participation in commencement, once approved, if they do not pass all of their courses for the respective semester. The new requirement is that all students must meet all requirements for graduation and be currently enrolled in all remaining courses, in order to be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony. If students do not pass all of their courses for the semester, their degree will not be conferred, and they will be required to reapply for graduation during the next semester in which they register for the courses that they did not pass. Please refer to the PVAMU website regarding this change as well as other policy updates. Over the next few months, our campus will be buzzing with dozens of recruitment festivities, including New Student Orientation. At any given time, hundreds of prospective PVAMU students could be on campus taking in all of the sights and sounds of “The Hill.” I said that to say this: During these final few days of spring 2017, strive to experience PVAMU the way you experienced it on your first day at Prairie View A&M University, either as a student, faculty member, staff member, or administrator. In doing so, I’m sure you will have no problem continuing to IGNITE your passion.

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OFFICE FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS academicaffairs@PVAMU.EDU | 936-261-2175 | Felecia M. Nave, Ph.D., Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

excited

about

the

opportunity to help enhance and grow Prairie View A&M University’s graduate business programs and assist in the further development of the College of Business.

”

MR. GABRIEL CROSBY Director of Graduate Programs, College of Business Agriculture and Business Building, Room 363 (936) 261-9217 | gacrosby@pvamu.edu Reports to: Dr. Munir Quddus, Dean, College of Business; Associate Provost, NWHC Mr. Gabriel Crosby joined the PVAMU family on March 15 as the new Director of Graduate Programs in the College of Business.

new faces

“

Mr. Crosby comes to PVAMU from the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University where he served in various capacities over the past eight years. He most recently served as Associate Director for admissions for TAMU’s MBA program. In that role, he played an integral part in the success of a nationally ranked MBA program. Mr. Crosby holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, a Master of Arts degree in History, and a Master of Education degree in Supervision from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Crosby was born in Eagle Pass, Texas and raised in Beaumont.

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graduating for the COB’s MBA and MSA programs.

Webmaster, Office for Academic Affairs (936) 261-1074 | amleiva@pvamu.edu Reports to: Dr. Felecia M. Nave, Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Ms. Ashley Leiva is the new Webmaster in the Office for Academic Affairs. She is responsible for managing, maintaining and updating all content within the OAA websites, such as the Office of the Provost, and PVAMU’s eight colleges and schools. Ms. Leiva will collaborate effectively with designers, writers, photographers as well as PVAMU’s faculty, staff and administrators to develop content for sites. She will also serve as a technical resource to ensure each website meets accessibility requirements, and complies with the standards and the needs of various audiences. Ms. Leiva hails to PVAMU from University of Houston’s College of Technology where she served as a web developer for nearly five years. She performed administrative, development, maintenance and other technical duties, in support of her college’s website and server. She also coordinated with division contacts and updated information on the website to ensure the college was well represented. The Rosenberg, Texas native holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Houston. She double majored in Communications and Art.

Mr. Crosby is in charge of the MBA and the MSA programs. He is also responsible for recruitment, retention, advising, and on-time

MS. ASHLEY LEIVA

“

I am grateful and honored to be a part of the Prairie View A&M University family. I look forward to doing my part in helping the university reach its goals and much more.

”

TEACHING

PVAMU’s Army ROTC Program Holds Fall Recruitment Drive

Faculty, Staff and Student

STANDOUTS IGNITE your passion

March 10, 2017 | Written by Marchita Shilo

Earlier this month, you might have heard the

not aware of what was happening. After finding

“It’s funny, because a large number of faculty

noise or seen a military chopper flying over

out about the Recruitment Drive, the principal of

and staff did not know our program existed!” said

campus. It was Prairie View A&M University’s

Jones Elementary invited the entire campus to

Williams. “Our department really appreciates

Army ROTC program conducting its Spring 2017

the Drive, so kids could explore and learn.

everyone’s cooperation and understanding.”

Recruitment Drive.

“We developed an immediate relationship with

“It was the final Hump Day before the close of

Jones Elementary,” said Williams. “Every battalion

fall 2018 registration for our program. Our goal

adopts a school, and we are in talks with Jones

was to bring awareness to and also, to bring

Elementary to become Partners in Education.”

awareness to the existence of our program here at PVAMU,” said Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Williams, Department Head of Army ROTC. “We really wanted to generate some interest and entice students to join.” Two crew members from Conroe, Texas flew the 1-158 Attack Helicopter Battalion (AHB) to PVAMU on March 1. After exploring the chopper, 30 PVAMU students expressed interest in the National Guard and Army Reserve, and a few other students had interest in ROTC. “Our program benefits students in many ways,” said Williams. “Many people don’t realize that combat arms are transferable to the workforce. We possess the innate capability to operate in environments of extreme stress and chaos.” Speaking of chaos, Jones Elementary, which is located on PVAMU’s campus, went into lockdown mode, because school officials were

In addition to Jones Elementary, some faculty and staff members at PVAMU visited the Drive, too.

Students interested in PVAMU’s Army ROTC program had until March 8 to register.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about PVAMU’s Army ROTC program, please visit www.pvamu.edu/arotc.

RESEARCH

Faculty, Staff and Student

STANDOUTS

Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Visits PVAMU

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March 8, 2017 | Written by Marchita Shilo

More than 30 students and faculty members from

Prairie

View

A&M’s

departments

“This visit was a wonderful opportunity for

“During

Dr.

McMillan’s

visit,

those

CMaES

students,” said Fan. “Dr. McMillan’s visit not only

students also got the opportunity to showcase

Chemistry and Engineering met with the director

provided the most needed exposure for students

their research work,” said Fan. “It was exciting to

of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

to learn more about the national lab, but it also

host the lab director and the impact of his visit

helped them learn more about how they could

will be far and extensive.”

Dr. Hua-Jun Fan, a professor in PVAMU’s Department

Chemistry

and

Principle

Investigator of Consortium for Materials and Energy Security (CMaES), arranged the visit from Dr. Charles F. McMillan last month. McMillan met with attendees and shared research, internship and collaboration opportunities at the New Mexico-based lab. and

production

provide

comprehensive approach to national security that cannot be found elsewhere,” McMillan said in his presentation. “It’s been essential to the nation’s security for more than 70 years.” Students learned how the lab works and the history behind it. They also learned how they could get involved in cutting edge research with scientists at LANL.

and LANL have a long collaboration history with PVAMU. Through this partnership, it has helped PVAMU train and mentor close to 250 students since 2012.” Three students, who attended the seminar, applied to the 2017 Science Undergraduate

“Los Alamos seamlessly integrates mission, science,

contribute as students. The Department of Energy

Laboratory Internship program at the national lab and were accepted.

During his visit, McMillan also met with Dr. Felecia Nave, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Cajetan Akujuobi, Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, and Dr. Ramaswamy Krishnamoorthi, Director of Research & Sponsored Programs.

SERVICE

Faculty, Staff and Student

The College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Puts in Service at the HLSR

STANDOUTS IGNITE your passion

April 4, 2017 | Written by Marchita Shilo

The month of March was very busy for the

Participants were invited to check up on their

College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, and

seedlings’ progress at PVAMU’s Agricultural Field

the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo played a

Day on April 28-29.

huge part.

“A large part of the Houston Livestock Show and

“Prairie View A&M University had two roles in

Rodeo is about giving people an experience, and

this year’s rodeo: competition and exhibition,”

promoting some of the ongoing programs within

said LaRachelle Smith, Director of Marketing,

the CAHS, such as Ag Field Day and upcoming

Communication and Information Technology

summer programs for youth,” said Smith.

for CAHS. “The exhibition portion featured three focuses, one for each week of the HLSR.”

PVAMU’s second week at the HLSR focused on bringing awareness to healthy eating and proper

The first week included a demonstration of

nutritional planning, according to data from

the planting of seedlings to promote sustainable

www.choosemyplate.gov. The third week was all

goats from the International Goat Research

home gardening.

about the 4-H2O experiment which demonstrated

Center competed in the rodeo and won several

the importance of reducing carbon dioxide in

competitions.

“It’s important for everyone to know where their food comes from and its nutritional value,” said Smith.

the atmosphere.

“The team brought back numerous ribbons, as

“Our goal was to teach and show participants

well as trophies for having the outstanding dairy

something they might not have known,” said

herd, and Junior (kid) and Senior (Milker) group of

Smith. “It was all about service and outreach,

sisters. While they were at the show, the students

and our outreach was phenomenal this year

and goats were part of the celebrity milking

because the HLSR experienced record numbers.

competition, with a lot of radio and television

That being said, there was a lot of potential for

exposure,” according to the CAHS Blog: Growing

more people to learn about PVAMU and the field

Ideas, Impacting Lives.

of agriculture.”

Smith said, “PVAMU has participated in the

CAHS extension staff, researchers, faculty,

rodeo since 1989. I look forward to it every year

alumni and current students volunteered in this

because we are able to educate our participants

year’s HLSR. In addition, 12 Prairie View A&M

and expose them to PVAMU and all of the great

Livestock Show Team members and 24 dairy

things it has to offer.”

Faculty, Staff and Student

PVAMU Students Win Second Place at First-Ever HBCU Battle of the Brains

STANDOUTS IGNITE your passion

April 3, 2017 | Written by Marchita Shilo

The inaugural HBCU Battle of the Brains

So how did the competition work? Organizers

It also showed our students the importance of

competition took place March 10-12 at the South

presented a case to the teams and set a 24-

being able to work in teams and think broadly.

by Southwest (SXSW) Conference & Festival in

hour time limit for them to respond. The case

They had to think outside the box, formulate

Austin, Texas, and five students from Prairie View

challenged students to take on the role of a

their ideas quickly, and work together to clearly

A&M University competed in the event.

newly elected White House administration and

articulate their solutions to the judges.”

“The team was comprised of three engineering students, one business finance student, and one political science student, all of which were undergraduates. To help increase our success rate in future competitions and expose students to the case competition process, we brought five

additional

students

observe,”

said

Professor Clyde McNeil, an accounting instructor in PVAMU’s College of Business, who coached the team. PVAMU was up against groups from Florida A&M

University,

Huston-Tillotson

University,

Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State

University,

Paul

Quinn

College,

and

Philander Smith College.

in that role, develop a go-to-market strategy that delivered a healthcare initiative for all Americans,

decreased

the

unemployment

rate to under 4% from the current rate of 4.9%, and elevated the educational system to the 95th percentile.

Teams had to come up with

innovative solutions, and present their response

opportunities, as well as provide access to the tech companies housed here in Austin,” said Gregory Gibson, Jr., founder of HBCU Battle of the Brains. “The premise was, if we can have these companies and investors observe these talented students over the course of a weekend, those individuals couldn’t help but be impressed.”

“After watching most of the other teams present, I was confident we were going to place high,” said McNeil. “I felt our team really worked hard in the weeks leading up to the competition and it showed. They were professional, presented

to a panel of esteemed judges, which primarily

very well, and handled the Q&A masterfully. Our

comprised members from the tech industry.

team really put together a stellar performance.”

“This was a wonderful opportunity for students

Gibson said, “This year served as a pretty good

from different disciplines to work together to

pilot for what we were trying to accomplish.

create a solution to a rather complex issue,” said

There were lessons learned that we will apply

McNeil. “I think it helped our students really gain

moving forward, and opportunities to make the

an appreciation for the unique perspectives

competition even more impactful in the years to

students from other disciplines bring to the table.

come. We’ve only just begun.”

“The goal was to expose HBCU students, undergraduate and graduate alike, to the

For all of their hard work, PVAMU placed second in the competition, behind Paul Quinn College.

Pictured: PVAMU Students Jaylen James - Sr., M.E. Meshia Greer - Sr., Finance Isis Ashford - Sr., E.E. Samantha Rhoden - Sr., Political Science Janet Onwukamuche - Sr., M.E. Founder, HBCU Battle of the Brains Gregory Gibson

Faculty, Staff and Student

STANDOUTS Dr. John Williams, Professor of Chemistry and Director of Distance Learning, will be the first African American inducted into the Texas Distance Learning Association (TxDLA) Hall of Fame.

Dr. Rochelle Williams, Research Scientist, is one of four women who will be honored

at the 5th Annual Women of Excellence Luncheon in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Office of Academic Engagement and Student Success, Explained Prairie View A&M University established a new Office for Academic Engagement and Student Success in the late fall of 2016. But, many faculty and staff members, both new and old, don’t know much about it, and how it is helping PVAMU. “The newly created office focuses on providing central oversight and improving efficiencies to currently existing and newly formed academic student support services, such as University College (UC), First Year Experience (FYE), Transfer and Transitional Programs (formerly COMPASS), Testing Office, The Learning Curve (Tutoring), Texas Success Initiative (TSI), Developmental Education, Professional Academic Advising, New Student Orientation and Academic Events, Early Alert and Retention Programs, and Program for Minors,” said John Gardner, Assistant Vice President for Academic Engagement and Student Success. “I am responsible for providing leadership in connecting the dots of the various programs with the expectation of improving the academic indicators of PVAMU, which is embedded in the ‘Access to Success’ vision of President Wright and Provost Nave.” Gardner has been working to build the new office’s infrastructure. He hopes to have 90 percent of the office’s staff in place by the end of 2017. “So far, we have hired four employees. In the coming months, we hope to hire a Director of Academic Advising, plus ten additional Professional Academic Advisors who will be stationed in the various colleges to provide advising services to our students,” said Gardner. The office also plans to hire a Social Services Specialist, to support students outside of the classroom. “Our ultimate purpose is to provide academically related support services and engagement opportunities for students that foster student success.” Since its start on November 1, 2017, the Office for Academic Engagement and Student Success has aggressively implemented a host of new programs, initiatives, and processes, including student development workshops, extended tutoring services and hours, the Early Monitoring Alert Program for freshmen on probation, the Freshman Common Read (A-Game), purchasing Grammarly writing software, redesigning the Programs for Minors application process, restructuring the New Student Orientation process, and creating an advising area for students who are undecided on a major. “If we enroll a student at Prairie View A&M University, we must be committed to providing that student with the tools, resources and services needed to obtain academic success.”

The office is also developing a First Year Experience Course, which will begin this fall. “This course will help our students transition to and adjust to higher education, by acquiring essential academic skills needed for understanding the learning process, beginning the career exploration process, and developing an understanding of the university’s rich history,” said Gardner. The office will also kick off a Transfer Experience course in the fall, which will be geared towards transfer students. “They will have the opportunity to build a network of friends and learn about the myriad of support services that are available to them.” Adding to the list of changes, New Student Orientation is being condensed from more than a dozen dates to around six dates this spring and summer. Gardner ultimately hopes to cut that number down by half, in the very near future. “Fewer orientation dates means that we will become more efficient with the orientation process.” Gardner hopes to add a parent session to New Student Orientation, as well as a parent panel, so that new parents can speak with parents of PVAMU upperclassmen about how to help their students succeed in college. “In addition to other modifications occurring, we will roll out an online orientation portal called Comevo, so students and parents can view, in one online location, all of the information they would normally receive at New Student Orientation.” With all of the changes, already implemented and forthcoming, Gardner said the needle is moving. “The key indicators that the student success needle is moving in the right direction are higher freshmen and second-year student retention rates, and a higher percentage of freshmen achieving 30 semester credit hours after their first year. PVAMU’s overall retention rates are also showing modest improvement. Once this infrastructure building phase is completed by early fall 2017, the office will turn its focus on faculty-student engagement, and for me, and this is where the rubber will really meet the road.” Gardner said the ultimate goal is to see an improvement in PVAMU’s sixyear graduation rate by 2020. “This office provides the university with an opportunity to be more deliberate and intentional on how it engages students to achieve academic success in a very efficient manner.”

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