President's Bison Beat December 2013

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 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2

INSIDE SERVICE & GIVING

2

EXCELLENCE AT HOWARD

3

AROUND CAMPUS

4-5

HOWARD IN THE NEWS

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VIEW HOLIDAY VIDEO Dear Howard University Community: Welcome to another edition of Bison Beat. The passing of Nelson Mandela provided an opportunity for reflection on the indelible mark he left on the world and his deep connection to Howard University. Several of our faculty members were featured in local, national and international media as they shared their memories of his visit to our campus in 1994 and of how he transformed South Africa.While we mourn his death, we also celebrate his life and legacy. I invite you to visit our exciting multimedia exhibition at the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Nelson Mandela: Character, Comrade, Leader, Prisoner, Negotiator, Statesman.

There are many ways to give to our students, colleges, schools and academic research initiatives. I encourage you to take a moment to read the Service & Giving section. You can designate your contribution towards a specific academic department or college, program or initiative. By giving, you help preserve our traditions and advance our mission.

I thank the Alumni Clubs of the Research Triangle and Charlotte for hosting me for a regional reception in Durham, N.C., on Dec. 15. Special thanks also to the Alumni Club of Baltimore for the Dec. 19, reception. It is always a pleasure to connect with fellow Bison. I am looking forward to my visit with NewYork City alumni in January. As interim president, I am firmly committed to engaging alumni in the student recruitment process. In the coming days, we will reach out to alumni clubs across the country for volunteers interested in participating in a new interviewing process for select, prospective students applying for the 2014-2015 academic year.

We see many opportunities as we assess our response to the challenges. Our plans include, re-engineering the workforce, maximizing operational efficiencies and investments toward academic excellence.

I personally thank you for rallying around the Capstone in 2013! Our coming together bodes well for a bright and prosperous 2014 on the Hilltop.

I would like to wish you and your family a very happy holiday season and a wonderful NewYear.

In Truth and Service,

Wayne A.I. Frederick Interim President

SERVICE & GIVING

Angel TreeChapel Projecthosted The Office of the Dean of the its Angel Tree Project, which benefited more than 200 District elementary school students.

The 2013 Food2Feed radiothon raised $101,000 for Washington area families in need for Thanksgiving. SunTrust Foundation’s Muriel Garr, second from left, presents checks totaling $30,000 as, from left, Howard University Radio General Manager Jim Watkins, Nancy Roman of the Capital Area Foodbank, Howard Interim President Wayne A.I. Frederick, and radiothon hosts Tony Richards and Taylor Thomas signal their gratitude.

CONTRIBUTING TO HOWARD Your gift, no matter the size, makes a difference and has an impact where you direct it. You can designate your contribution to student needs as well as your favorite college or department.

The Bridging the Gap Student Aid Campaign supports deserving students by directly addressing the gaps in financial aid. Through this campaign, Howard University will enhance student enrollment and retention; increase overall graduation rates; reduce student indebtedness; and increase student involvement in enrichment activities. To give, please click here.

The Howard Family Fund is the University’s internal giving campaign for faculty and staff. Through this program, employees can contribute and designate funds to help the University reach its long-range funding goals. It is a program committed to improving the overall University. Making a commitment to the University is easy.

We are offering opportunities for payroll deduction for our employees to contribute. Simply choose from one of the following options to make your donation: Payroll Deduction or Online Giving.

For more information, click here.

At present, 12 percent of our alumni make financial contributions to the University. I would like to expand that through increased alumni engagement. The chart on the right provides an account of the impact of your contributions.

Thank you for your generosity and continued support of Howard University.

$14,717,015 RAISED

IN CALENDAR YEAR 2013 (AS OF 12/18/13) $7,414,702 $3,358,992 $2,022,280 $1,154,290 $766,750

50%

ALUMNI FRIENDS

23% 14%

CORPORATIONS ORGANIZATIONS FOUNDATIONS

8% 4%

The impact of the generous contributions of our benefactors is reflected in the following categories: • $7 million contributed towards the funding and establishment of endowed chairs, scholarships, lectureships and professorships • $1.5 million contributed towards the Bridging the Gap Student Aid Campaign to provide scholarship assistance to deserving students facing a shortfall in available financial aid • $5.7 million contributed towards current-use scholarships and academic operations • $471,880 in annual unrestricted funds for use at the discretion of the schools and colleges

EXCELLENCE AT HOWARD

Record Number of Students Prepare to Study Abroad

The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center recently announced that 61 students will travel abroad next semester to develop cross-cultural connections and learn new perspectives as global leaders. The students will travel to 13 countries: England, Spain, France, Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Morocco, China and Japan. Interim President Wayne A. I. Frederick encouraged students to fully immerse themselves in new languages and cultures as they prepare to change the world around them.

McGhee Named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year Bison quarterback Greg McGhee has been named the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

This year, McGhee, a 6’3, 208-lb. junior from Pittsburgh, had his best season as a Bison, rushing for a career-high 896 yards, which placed him third in the conference, while passing for 2,379 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was second in passing and led the conference in total offense with over 272 average yards per game. McGhee led Howard to five wins in its last six games, and the Bison averaged over 40 points and more than 400 yards per game in the last three contests. McGhee led the MEAC in total offense and was ranked nationally. He was the MEAC Rookie of the Year in 2011.

Dr. Carolyn M. Byerly

Howard Professor Publishes Groundbreaking International Handbook on Women and Journalism

Dr. Carolyn M. Byerly, professor in the Department of Communication, Culture and Media Studies, has published the groundbreaking handbook, The Palgrave International Handbook of Women and Journalism. The handbook is a timely academic adaptation of information contained in the “Global Report on the Status of Women in News Media,” a study commissioned by the International Women’s Media Foundation and published in 2011.

AROUND CAMPUS

New Time-Lapse Video Shows Significant Progress on Construction of Two Residence Halls Construction crews continue to make remarkable progress on Howard’s two new livinglearning residence halls. The buildings are currently on target for completion by August 2014. A “model” room has been completed and is fully furnished. The facilities will accommodate 1,360 students and will include two-person semi-suites designed to serve the University’s underclassman population, as well as communal social and study lounges, game rooms, laundry facilities and independent apartment units for faculty, staff and guests.

To watch and share the time-lapse video documenting the construction progress click here.

Howard University Radio Network Launches New Radio Station The Howard University Radio Network recently expanded its platform with the addition of a new station, HBCU Channel 142 on SiriusXM. The station is a collective blend of programming from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It offers a unique look into the Black higher education experience and bridges the gap between alumni and current and prospective students with information and entertainment.

Search Committee for Law School Dean Underway Dr. Frederick recently appointed members to a search committee that will lead the national search for a new dean of the School of Law. The 14-member committee is comprised of students, faculty, staff, alumni and other key stakeholders.

Students Participate in Flight Aboard NASA’s Reduced Gravity Aircraft Four Howard University students, along with NASA and faculty mentors, ventured to NASA Johnson Space Center’s Ellington Field in Houston to conduct experiments aboard the reduced gravity aircraft.The Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program (RGEFP) gave students an opportunity to design, build and try experiments in reduced gravity.The teams have been working with NASA scientists and engineers to develop experiments based on current NASA research.

Students and their NASA mentors performed these experiments aboard a microgravity aircraft.

ANSWER THE CALL

African Studies Celebrates 60 Years The Department of African Studies culminated its year-long 60th anniversary celebration of its graduate program with an Alumni Symposium. Alumni, professors and students discussed the program’s accomplishments and highlights. Guests included Howard distinguished history professor emeritus Joseph Harris and African Studies professor Sulayman Nyang. The roundtable discussion also featured Kwame Wesley, a Hansberry scholar, and Gail Hansberry, daughter of William Leo Hansberry, who was known as the “Father of African Studies.”

Howard.edu twitter.com/HowardU facebook.com/howarduniversity

Bidging e Gap STUDENT AID CAMPAIGN

AROUND CAMPUS

Howard University Receives $110,000 GM Foundation Grant The General Motors Foundation has given a $110,000 grant to Howard University to be used for its science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum, as part of GM Foundation’s University Grants program. The grant, which will be administered by the United Negro College Fund, will be used to support a variety of initiatives at the University, including curriculum development projects, job skills development and creative design. Alumnus Ed Welburn (B.F.A. ‘72) is GM vice president of global design and GM Foundation Board member.

Howard Alumnus and GM Executive Ed Welburn

Howell Named Chairman of Internal Medicine Charles D. Howell, M.D., has been appointed chair of the Howard University Department of Internal Medicine, effective Feb. 10, 2014. As chair, Howell will be responsible for overseeing all academic, clinical and research activities of the department, as well as directing a new interdisciplinary viral hepatitis program that will work to reduce the burden of hepatitis in the Washington metropolitan area. Prior to becoming chair of the department, Howell served as a professor of medicine and director of hepatology research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

WHUT-TV Receives Award for Community Service Howard University’s WHUT-TV has been recognized as an American Graduate Champion by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for its support of the “American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen” initiative. Through the initiative, public broadcasting stations have engaged over 1,000 partnerships with businesses, schools, faith-based and other nonprofits to inspire dialogue and help more young people stay on the path to a high school diploma.

WHUT-TV General Manager Jefferi Lee receives American Graduate Champion award from Corporation for Public Broadcasting President and CEO Pat Harrison.

HOWARD IN THE NEWS

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS How Nelson Mandela Impacted Howard

NBC Nightly News featured students and a recent graduate in the Howard University community who reflected on the profound impact Nelson Mandela has had on their lives. To view the segment, click here.

Interim President Frederick Appears on NBC4’s Viewpoint

Dr. Frederick recently appeared on NBC4’s Viewpoint. During the interview, Dr. Frederick discussed new initiatives, Howard’s enrollment rebound and current trends in higher education. To view the video, click here.

MORNING EDITION Mandela’s Death Reverberates Across U.S.

Howard University students reflect on the contributions of Nelson Mandela amid the backdrop of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center’s new photographic exhibition on the life of the world leader. To read more, click here.

Howard University Listed Among 20 “Low Debt” Colleges

Howard University continues to be one of our nation’s most accessible and affordable comprehensive research institutions. A new report from the Institute for College Access and Success lists Howard among top schools with least student debt. To read more, click here.

Howard Conference Addresses Stigma Linked to AIDS

Howard University hosted the Fourth Annual HIV Stigma Conference. To read more, click here.

Moody’s Update

Last summer, Moody’s Investor Services changed the ratings on Howard’s public bonds from A3 to Baa1 with a negative outlook. This is a one-notch downgrade and reflects “pressure on all of the University’s major revenue sources.” The new rating is still “investment grade” meaning that Howard’s public bonds continue to be appropriate for prudent investors. Further, there is no change in interest cost on the rated bonds to Howard, and there will be no negative impact to services that are provided to students or the University’s budgeted financial and operational commitments.