BISON BEAT
A Monthly N e ws l e tte r f r o m the O f f i c e o f the P res i d en t MAY 2014
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 5
INSIDE LEADERSHIP
2
AROUND CAMPUS
3
EXCELLENCE AT HOWARD
4-5 COMMENCEMENT 2014
6-7
Dear Howard University Community:
This year’s historic doctoral class preserves Howard’s lead as the top producer of on-campus doctoral degrees in the United States for African Americans and students of color.
We began the academic year by welcoming the second largest freshman class in 15 years; we concluded it with a commencement for the record books.We conferred more than 2,600 degrees, including 950 professional, graduate and certificates as well as 105 Ph.D.s, the largest number of doctoral degrees conferred in University history. Members of the Class of 2014 represented more than 40 states, the District of Columbia and 33 countries. Both qualitatively and quantitatively, Howard University continues to make an impact on the nation and the world. The commencement address was delivered by a son of Howard Sean Combs, and we honored leaders in journalism, medicine, music and business, respectively: CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer;Transplant Surgeon Clive Callender, M.D.; Jazz legend Benny Golson; and Pepsi Chairman and CEO Indra K. Nooyi.We also welcomed home John Pinkard, a 1935 graduate of the College of Liberal Arts who earned a Master of Science degree from Howard in 1938. In addition, Hortense K. McClinton and Lydia Mussenden celebrated the 75th anniversary of their graduation from Howard in 1939.We also welcomed the 50-year class of 1964. On behalf of the campus community, I also thank the anniversary classes for their gift of more than $600,000. This fall, we are preparing for another exceptional class.The Class of 2018 continues the tradition of competitive academic performance with an average SAT score of 1097 (more than 250 points higher than the average for African-American test-takers) and an average GPA of 3.3. More than 700 incoming students have accepted our prestigious merit-based, freshman scholarships; they have an average SAT of 1263 and average GPA of 3.59. Six Presidential Scholars are among them, and they have SAT scores between 1500-1600. As part of my ongoing effort to engage alumni, I was honored to participate in a Los Angeles-based alumni fundraiser on May 18.The event raised more than $120,000 to benefit the Bridging the Gap Student Aid Campaign.This academic year, we will provide the inaugural GRACE grants, a program I designed to meet the demands of students with the greatest need, ensuring their retention and on-time graduation.The funds will also support athletics and a number of University-wide programs. Heartfelt thanks to hosts Trustee Larkin Arnold,Trustee Debbie Allen and nearly 35 co-chairs who made this event and its success possible. Sincere gratitude also goes to the alumni who hosted me over the last academic year, including groups not only here in Washington, but also in Raleigh, Baltimore, Atlanta, NewYork, Chicago,Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.Your unwavering support of alma mater is energizing, and we thank you. As you saw in a recent letter to the Howard community, Kurt L. Schmoke, our interim provost and chief academic officer, vice president and general counsel, will take the helm at the University of Baltimore. His wisdom, counsel and sterling reputation have been invaluable to Howard University in his roles as dean of the law school and, most recently, as a member of the senior leadership team. I thank him for his extraordinary service and his friendship. And while we are sad to see him go, his appointment fulfills Howard’s desire to disperse our talents around the nation and the world. During this transition, I have appointed respected administrator, Michael R.Winston, Ph.D., as acting provost and chief academic officer. In closing, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and dear friends of Dr. Maya Angelou. A true renaissance woman -- author, poet, activist, dancer, professor -- she was the epitome of “Truth and Service.” Howard honored her in 1985 with a Doctor of Letters for her extraordinary contributions to American literature and culture.The world is a better place because she lived in it. In Truth and Service,
Wayne A.I. Frederick Interim President