UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
10 - 16 MARCH 2017
Staff elect representatives to the Staff Council
Members of the Electoral Commission Mr. Wilson Okee (Technician Assistant), Mr. Bonface Inganga (IBA Junio), Mr. James Aluvanze (Front Desk Clerk) administer the Staff Council elections to Ms. Anne Kyule (Office Administrator) on Thursday, March 9 at the University Librarian’s office.
Over 200 employees participated in the just-concluded election From March 8-9 staff members were offered the annual opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote for their departmental representatives in the USIU-Africa Staff Council. The Council is a governing body established through the University Charter, with a
mandate to deliberate, consult and find fact with a view to make recommendations regarding the growth and welfare of university staff members. The Council is run by an executive committee comprising a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian and Member-at-large, and convenes regularly to review and approve Council reports. This year over two hundred employees voted for 34 of their colleagues to fill some of the 48 vacant seats in the Council, presided over by the Human Resources
department. A by-election to fill the remaining seats will be held on Monday, March 13 at 1pm in the Office of Human Resources. Once all seats are filled, the new Council shall convene before Friday, March 17 to elect members of the Executive Committee. The current Chairman, Mr. Eannes Ongus (Principal Fundraising Officer) is not eligible for re-election having served the maximum two terms of office, as detailed in the Constitution of the Staff Council.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
10 - 16 MARCH 2017
USIU-Africa hosts editors at Media Roundtable
Journalism alumna Ms. Asha Mwilu (CNN African Journalist of the Year 2016 and KTN Features Editor) makes a point during the Media Roundtable held at the Intercontinental Nairobi on March 1. Looking on are Station Manager - Hot 96 FM Ms. Cynthia Mwangi (second left), News & Social Media Editor - ‎Royal Media Services Mac Otani (third right), Blogger Mr. Maina Kibue (second left) and USIU-Africa Legal Services Director & Company Secretary Ms. Helen P. Ambasa (left).
On Wednesday, March 1, USIU-Africa hosted members of the fourth estate at a media roundtable at the Intercontinental Nairobi. The gathering met to discuss the issues surrounding media coverage of the higher education sub-sector. Speaking during the event, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza decried the commercialization of higher education, noting the need for universities to comply with recognizable measurable standards and increase their focus on disseminating research results using new media platforms. Aside from Prof. Zeleza, the event was attended by DVC-Academic & Student Affairs Amb. Prof. Ruthie Rono, Director of University Advancement Mr. James Ogolla, Director of Administration Mr. Jared Raburu,
Dr. Haron Mwangi (Chief Executive, Media Council) delivers keynote remarks during the Media Roundtable held on Wednesday, March 1 at the Intercontinental Nairobi.
Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary Ms. Helen Ambasa, Professor of Economics Prof. Francis Wambalaba and Faculty Council Chair Scott Bellows (Assistant Professor of Management).
Entrepreneur, media personality and USIU-Africa student Ms. Terryanne Chebet moderates the discussions during the Media Roundtable organized by the University on Wednesday, March 1 at the Intercontinental Nairobi.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
10 - 16 MARCH 2017
Culture Week celebrations finally here USIU-Africa’s annual celebration of culture is taking place this coming week beginning Tuesday, March 14. Every year, students organize a three day bonanza to celebrate the melting pot of cultures that is USIU-Africa. This year, a majority of the 65 nationalities represented in our student community will participate in the various activities planned between March 14-16 behind the cafeteria (for the Cultural Village) and at the soccer pitch (for the Culture Night) on Thursday March 16. Culture Week’s 2017 theme of “Travel the World in One Week” will showcase how differences in food, dress, music and language draw various communities together, rather than apart. Other highlights include the “Carnival of Colors” – a part of the Hindu Holi Festival which commemorates the victory of good over evil where participants chase and spray each other with colored water and dry power accompanied by song and dance.
Above: Scenes from Culture Week 2016
Food drive launched in response to famine crisis Members of the USIU-Africa community have come together to organize a food drive in response to the biting famine currently ravaging large parts of the East African region, and affecting an estimated 11 million people. Beginning Monday, March 13, through the #IamCompassionate campaign, students, staff and faculty have been requested to donate, maize flour, wheat flour, dry cereals (rice, beans, maize, green grams) as well as cooking oil at the Red Cross stand to be situated in front and behind the cafeteria. Other activities in the campaign include a “Skip a Meal” day on Thursday, March 23, where community members are encouraged to donate money that would have been used to purchase their lunch meal, to support the cause.
Filmaker speaks to graduate digital media class Filmmaker Mr. Jeff DeKock - Creative Director at Open Hand Studios - spoke to students of the Introduction to Digital Media graduate class on Friday, March 3. His guest lecture was on “The Evolution of Cinema and Photography in the Digital World”. Mr. De Kock holds a Master’s degree in Visual Anthropology from the University of Manchester. The class is part of the Master of Arts in Communication Studies program, and is taught by Assistant Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication Dr. Maria Canudo.
Director of University Advancement Mr. James Ogolla (center right) hands over a gift pack to Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) Mr. Francis W. Wangusi (center left) following a courtesy call on Wednesday, 8 March 2017. He was accompanied by Mr. René Denis, Audiovisual Attaché for Eastern Africa, French Embassy in Nairobi (second left). Looking on (from left): Acting Director of Consumer and Public Affairs - CAK Mr. Christopher Wambua (left), Multimedia Services Director- CAK Eng. Leo K. Boruett (second right) and Corporate Planning Manager -CAK Ms. Emma Anne Otieno (right). The discussion between USIU-Africa, the French Embassy in Nairobi and CAK focused on potential partnership opportunities and CAK support for the proposed Bachelor of Arts in Animation and Bachelor of Arts in Film Production and Directing programs.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
10 - 16 MARCH 2017
USIU-Africa explores collaboration with Rwandese university On March 2, Prof. Agnes Binagwaho (Professor of the Practice of Global Health Delivery; Former Minister of Health of Rwanda; Senior Lecturer on Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School) and Dr. Pierre Paul (Lecturer, Faculty of Global Health Delivery; Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Partners In Health) paid a courtesy call on Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza and met with officials of the Division of Advancement and the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to explore areas of collaboration. The areas under discussion include joint research, faculty exchange, joint grant applications, student supervision, student internships, joint curriculum development, among others. Prof. Binagwaho and Dr. Paul were in Nairobi to attend a meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria - a 21st century partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, designed to accelerate the end of the diseases as epidemics, by raising and investing nearly US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local
Prof. Agnes Binagwaho (center) and Dr. Pierre Paul (right) paid a courtesy call on Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza (second left) before a meeting with University Advancement and School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences officials. From left: Mr. James Ogolla (Director of Advancement), Prof. Paul Zeleza (Vice Chancellor), Prof. Agnes Binagwaho, Mr. Eannes Ongus (Principal Fundraising Officer) and Dr. Pierre Paul.
experts in countries and communities most in need.
USIU-Africa represented at CUE exhibition Our admission team represented the university at the Commission of University Education (CUE) exhibition at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) from February 27 - March 3. The weeklong exhibition which was attended by over 40 universities accredited by CUE from all over the country, provided opportunites for participating universities to showcase their recent research outcomes and innovations, as well as their academic programs. The exhibition further provided a platform for universities to showcase the various programs they offer and the technological advancement depicted by the universities. The event was organized by the Commission in conjunction with the Universities Exhibition Steering Committee.
Michael Bruno Lochemem (IST Sophomore) speaks with a prospective student at the USIU-Africa stand during the Commission for University Education Exhibition at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa on Thursday, March 2, 2017.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
Dr. Brown presents at doctoral association colloquium
10 - 16 MARCH 2017
DRUG AWARENESS WEEK
Dr. Dana Basnight Brown (Associate Professor of Psychology and Research Scientist) was a guest speaker at the Doctoral Association of East Africa (DAEA) colloquium on Friday, February 24, whose theme was "Getting Published." Her presentation at the United Kenya Club, was titled “Identifying appropriate journals for your manuscript: what to look out for” and was preceded by the University of Nairobi Business School’s Prof. Zachary Awino.
Members of the Counseling Services department administer questionnaires to students to gauge awareness of drug abuse issues, as part of a three–day awareness drive aiming to have university community members take charge of their individual destiny by protecting themselves and their colleagues, friends and family from the devastating effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
Summer internship positions announced The Office of Internship has advertised Summer Internship positions in fifteen organizations spanning technology, banking, media, government, advocacy, health, entertainment, and financial services sectors. The deadline for applying for any of the positions is this Friday, March 17. Further details are available on the noticeboards, as well as on request through email (internship@usiu.ac.ke) and phone (0730116777).
Students listen keenly during the video link interview of a candidate for the position of Dean – School of Science and Technology on Tuesday, March 7. The student focus group posed questions as they interrogated the candidate’s vision for the School. The three candidates faced similar interviews from staff and faculty, members of the University Senate and Management Board, as well as individual interviews with the Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza and the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic and Student Affairs Amb. Prof. Ruthie Rono. On Tuesday, March 14, similar interviews will be conducted at the same venues for candidates for the position of Dean – School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Further details are available on email and on the electronic screens. Photo Credit: Robert Alai
Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Zeleza, receives “Crashing” – a painting by alumna Sylvia Mwihaki from Principal Fundraising Officer Mr. Eannes Ongus (left). He purchased “Crashing” during the Art for Change Exhibition and Silent Auction held at the opening of the Freida Brown Student Center on Thursday, November 10, 2016. A portion of the auction proceeds have been channelled into the Freida Brown Scholarship Fund which was formed with a goal of raising ES 500 Million in five years to support prospective and current students in need of financial assistance in achieving their dreams at USIU-Africa.
Ms. Wakonyo Igeria (Company Secretary/Head of Legal Services at Consolidated Bank of Kenya), Ms. Caren Wakoli (Emerging Leaders Foundation Executive Director) and Mr. Lee Karuri (Director of Dimensions Architects and Interior Designers) address the audience during the Future Leaders African Summit held in the auditorium on Friday, February 17. The Future Leaders African Summit is an annual gathering of the members of the Future Leaders’ Network - a team of successful professionals, innovative entrepreneurs and impactful global leaders committed to bringing solutions to Africa’s greatest challenges.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
10 - 16 MARCH 2017
FE AT URE
Workplace Bullying By Scott Bellows The recently reported episodes of secondary school
through undue pressure, unnecessary disruptions, and
and decreasing budgets all increase bullies’ gain cycle
bullying, torture, and hazing shocked the nation in the
impossible deadlines.
opportunism that can lead to bullying.
past week.
destabilize a subordinate by failing to give credit when
research also shows that introverted workers, very
institutional cultures must exist in order to promulgate
due,
unjustifiably
agreeable individuals, those with low self-esteem,
regularized repeated physical violence by and against
removing responsibilities, repeatedly reminding him or
minorities, and women all sadly receive more bullying
pupils in varying high schools.
her of previous blunders, and actively setting up the
on average.
In its wake, Kenya ponders what sick
assigning
Fifth, a supervisor might
meaningless
tasks,
The same
employee to fail. Upon reading the above, do you wonder whether your Many might not realize that the depravity of bullying
Eleanna Galanaki and Nancy Papalexandris highlight
workplace experiences constitute bullying?
exists beyond schools and sports fields.
Duncan
the impact of bullying in another study. The effects of
yourself the following seventeen statements and
Chappell and Vittorio Di Martino of the International
workplace bullying affect both individual employees as
answer on a five (5) point scale whereby 1 equals
Labor Office highlight deviant behaviour at workplaces
well as organizations.
“never occurs”, 2 means “yes, occasionally”, 3 stands
as one of the most pertinent emerging issues in
medium-term effects include feelings of depression,
organizations across the globe. Executives and social
paranoia,
scientists alike maintain many terms to describe
self-esteem, irritability at home and at work, higher
deviant counterproductive behaviour in work settings
blood
of
You are ordered to do work clearly below your level of
including delinquency, deviance, retaliation, revenge,
helplessness, and lower job and life satisfaction.
competence. You are systematically required to carry
violence,
Long-term
out
emotional
abuse,
mobbing,
bullying,
misconduct, and organisational aggression.
anger,
pressure,
Negative personal short to
anxiety, mood
negative
despair, swings,
personal
plummeting feelings
effects
include
Ask
for “yes, at least once a month”, 4 equates to “yes, at least once a week”, and 5 means “yes, every day”.
tasks
which
clearly
fall
outside
your
job
post-traumatic stress disorder and inability to function
description. Someone withholding information which
in future work environments.
affects your performance.
An organization also
You are given tasks with
Nancy
suffers from bullying through decreased quality of work
unreasonable or impossible targets or deadlines. Key
Papalexandris define workplace bullying as recurring
environments, increased staff turnover, and lower
areas of responsibility are removed or replaced with
persistent negative acts directed to one or more
productivity.
trivial or meaningless tasks.
Social
scientists
Eleanna
Galanaki
and
persons that create a negative work environment. In
You are ignored or
excluded.
You are exposed to an unmanageable You are subjected to false allegations.
bullying, the targeted person experiences difficulty in
Helen Cowie, Paul Naylor, Ian Rivers, Peter Smith, and
workload.
defending and protecting themselves. Therefore,
Beatriz Pereira highlight personal issues that can
Rumors and gossip are spread about you. Somebody
bullying does not refer to conflicts between two parties
cause one to bully another including aggressive
tries to sabotage your performance. Hints or signals
of equal strength but rather a more influential
personality
interpersonal
from others that you should quit your job. Threats of
aggressor in an imbalance of power.
conflict, and one’s capacity to morally disengage.
making your life difficult (e.g. overtime, unpopular
However, organizations stand as the key to reducing
tasks). You experience intimidating behaviour, such as
Managers might not understand the severe depths and
the frequency and severity of bullying. Roberta Fida
invasion of personal space, shoving, or overt violence.
prevalence of workplace bullying. Workers in some
and her large research team detail institutional factors
Somebody causes you economic or material damages.
industries report versions of bullying at rates of 70%.
that influence someone’s propensity to produce
Pressure not to claim something which by right you are
Researchers Ståle Einarsen and Anders Skogstad
counterproductive workplace behaviour even when
entitled to (e.g. sick leave, holiday entitlement, travel
detail
their internal personal factors do not constitute a
expenses). Persistent criticism of your work and effort.
machismo and masculinity or efficiency at any and all
propensity for bullying.
Your work is excessively monitored.
costs increases workplace tensions and provides
workplace bullying include unrealistic key performance
greater
that
male-dominated
industries
valuing
tendencies,
history
of
Organizational causes of
behaviour.
indicators, excessive workplace constraints, lack of
Look through your responses. If you scored above or
Construction sites, military barracks, investment
decision latitude in staff and supervisors, and lack of
equal to a 3.0 on more than five questions, you survive
banking, and professional sports teams all stand out as
organizational support all lead to negative emotions
in your job as a victim of workplace bullying. If you
highly
that cause employees to increase aggression and, as a
scored a 4.0 or higher on six or more questions, then
result, bullying.
you experience serious workplace bullying and need to
tolerance
for
susceptible
aggressive
industries.
However,
female-dominated industries do not enjoy immunity from workplace bullying.
exit your current employment. If you scored a 5.0 on
The UK Department of
Education started warning and educating educators
Al-Karim Samnani and Parbudyal Singh highlight
six or more questions, you suffer from severe
about teacher to teacher and principal to teacher
additional organizational causes of workplace bullying
workplace bullying and should consider immediate
bullying in primary and secondary schools as far back
as
intervention assistance and psychological counselling
as 2009.
inconsistency between similar job grade positions, low
accepted
aggressive
team
norms,
status
to overcome the effects.
departmental autonomy, coercive leadership styles, Charlotte Rayner and Helge Hoel delineate workplace
unfair or impossible reward systems, ambiguous or
In summary, organizations must proactively stamp out
bullying in the following five types. First, a threat to an
biased organizational policies, and poor organizational
entity-induced causes for workplace bullying all the
employee’s professional status might include belittling
cultures.
Peter Armstrong’s research shows how
while looking out for individual counterproductive
opinions,
and
bullying often results during budget decision cycles
behaviour with clear anti-bullying policies and incident
accusations about the lack of worker effort. Second,
and from budget constraints. He details how bullies
reporting mechanisms. Individual victims of bullying
public
professional
humiliation,
via
even build up what he terms “fear capital” to control
Third,
the target’s behaviour even when the bullying manager
contact the human resources department, and seek
superiors may isolate an employee by preventing
might not even be present in the office.
professional counseling.
access to opportunities and meetings, physical or
Wheeler and team also discuss how employees who
social isolation, and withholding pertinent necessary
fear personal resource loss from reassignment,
information. Fourth, staff might get overworked
possible poor performance reviews, plausible job loss,
threatening name-calling,
a
worker’s insults,
personal
intimidation,
standing etc.
Anthony
should document instances of each bullying incident,
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
10 - 16 MARCH 2017
SPORTS UPDATE USIU-Africa to host writer and researcher on Afro-Colombian heritage
Our sports team recorded mixed results in various games they participated in this past weekend. The
This Friday, March 17 USIU-Africa will host Mrs. Maria
Colombia to Kenya), who will deliver a brief overview of
Matilde Rodriguez for a talk on “African heritage of the
her country before later on donating the complete
San Andres Island (Colombian Caribbean Sea)” at the
works of her fellow countryman Gabriel Garcia
Chandaria School of Business Lecture Theater II from
Marquez - a 1982 receipient of the Nobel Prize in
10am. Mrs. Rodriguez will be accompanied by Her
Literature – to the USIU-Africa Library and Information
Excellency Elizabeth Taylor Jay (Ambassadress of
Center.
men’s rugby team whitewashed Thika Millars 41-5 in the on-going Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship League that took place on campus last weekend. Their female counterparts who again teamed up with Kenyatta University to form the Varsity Warriors, squashed Comras 15-5, but lost to Top Fry Nakuru, Mwamba, Shamas and Impala at the KCB rugby grounds on Sunday, March 5. The men’s team will meet South Coast Pirates in Mombasa while the Varsity Warriors take on Top Fry Nakuru, Mwamba, Shamas Comras and Impala at the Impala Grounds this weekend.
Our cricket team are the new champions of the 6-A-Side cricket tournament after they beat African Nazarene Cooperative
University,
Mount
University,
Kenya
Kenyatta
University, University,
Multimedia University and JKUAT, in the joint Cricket Kenya - Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) league match that took place at the Lenana School in Nairobi this past weekend. Members of the Jazzika Music Band during a practice session at the Music Room in the auditorium on Friday, March 3. The band comprised entirely of six USIU-Africa students was formed in August 2016. The band can perform music from all genres, though it does have a preference for afropop and afrosoul music. Their most recent performance was at the Mr. & Miss USIU-Africa 2016 beauty pageant in November 2016.
On Saturday March 4, the ladies hockey team
UPCOMING EVENTS
other hand, had a goalless match against Kenyatta
Monday, March 13
#IamCompassionate Campaign begins
Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) league at Kenyatta University. The men’s hockey team on the
Meanwhile during the KUSA league at Kenyatta Wednesday, March 15
University, the ladies volleyball team beat Kenyatta
Student Affairs Council Elections Voting
University 3-0 but lost to St. Paul’s University and
@ 9am - 8pm
Daystar University 3-0 and 3-1 respectively.
Cafeteria (Upstairs)
Staff Council By-Election @ 1pm
Culture Week 2017
Office of Human Resources
Behind Cafeteria
Tuesday, March 14
Thursday, March 16
Behind Cafeteria
Dome, Soccer Pitch
Student Affairs Council Elections Voting
Friday, March 17
Cafeteria (Upstairs)
University 6-0 and 5-0 respectively, in the ongoing
University.
Student Affairs Council Elections Debate Day
Culture Week 2017
triumphed against Daystar University and Mount Kenya
Culture Week Night 2017 @ 6pm
Embassy of Colombia Talk @ 10am Lecture Theater II
MEDIA MENTIONS March 5: USIU-Africa was mentioned by the Standard Digital in an article titled “Gun drama at rallies raises security fears ahead of polls.” http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-mentions/694-standard-digital-gun-drama-at-rallies-raises-security-fears-a head-of-polls
In basketball, the men’s team thrashed Mt. Kenya University 58-19 and narrowly lost to Zetech University 36-38 during an internal league and KUSA league respectively held at the USIU-Africa basketball pitch last weekend. The ladies team also recorded a 43-15 win against St. Paul’s University and a slight loss to Daystar University, 20-22. The soccer men won against Daystar University in the KUSA league and drew with University of Nairobi (CAV) but lost to National Youth Service (NYS-VTI) in the Universities and Colleges Federation league (UCFL) while their female counterparts won against Daystar University and drew with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in the ongoing KUSA league. The team further lost University of Nairobi and drew with JKUAT University in the UCFL.