Morris Brown to settle $10 million in fed debt

Morris Brown College is expected to settle nearly $10 million in debt for pennies on the dollar in an agreement pending with the U.S. Education Department.

In the April 7 letter, obtained by The Associated Press, the Education Department said it will forgive more than $9.4 million in debt, provided Morris Brown pays the remaining $500,000. The deal would help the college overcome a major hurdle in its efforts to regain accreditation.

Morris Brown College President Stanley Pritchett said the settlement agreement could be finalized as soon as May 1 and that the payment would be due within 90 days of the signed deal. The letter, signed by Department of Education counsel Russell B. Wolff, says the agreement must also be approved by the Department of Justice.

Former SU athletic director files suit

Former Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur, who was fired three days after his April 3 arrest on a misdemeanor prostitution count in Houston, is suing the school for breach of contract.

LaFleur contends in a lawsuit that Southern fired him “before giving him written notice and an opportunity to refute the alleged cause’’ for his termination.

LaFleur is seeking damages, including his base salary for the remaining term of his contract, which he says was to expire June 30, 2013.

The suit was filed Thursday in Baton Rouge state court.

Yarbrough out at SSU

The Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia has voted not to renew the contract of Savannah State University President Earl G. Yarbrough yesterday. The Regents did not give a reason for its decision and held deliberations behind closed doors.

Yarbrough is a finalist to lead Southern University Baton Rouge.

The 64-year-old Yarbrough received the highest ranking among candidates for the Southern University post and is expected to be interviewed later this week, along with five other candidates.

Southern fires AD following arrest

Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur was fired Wednesday following his arrest Sunday night on a misdemeanor prostitution count in downtown Houston.

SU Chancellor Kofi Lomotey announced LaFleur's dismissal in a university news release Wednesday night, a little more than 72 hours after the 52-year-old LaFleur was arrested during a prostitution sting.

Lomotey said his decision to fire LaFleur, who was hired in 2005, is one that had to be made - and made quickly - for the overall stability of Southern's athletic program.

He said the school will launch a nationwide search for a new athletic director.

LaFleur, a former LSU and NFL tight end, was attending the NCAA men's Final Four in Houston last weekend seeking potential candidates for the va-cant SU basketball job.

Houston police said LaFleur was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Sunday. According to the criminal complaint filed by Houston police, LaFleur is accused of so-liciting a person to engage in "sexual intercourse for hire."

After his arrest, LaFleur was taken to the Harris County Jail. He was released on a $500 bond at noon Monday and is scheduled to appear in the Harris County Criminal Court on April 11.

Attempts to reach LaFleur on Tuesday and Wednesday were unsuccessful because the voicemail on his cell phone was full.

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Xavier U of LA to construct new 4,500 seat arena

Xavier University of Louisiana announced plans last week to construct a 4,500-seat Convocation Academic Center that will serve as the home for XULA athletics and other large campus events. Construction is expected to begin in May with anticipated completion in summer 2012.

The Convocation Academic Center also will contain classrooms, offices and meeting spaces. A regulation-size auxiliary basketball court also will be included to add flexibility in scheduling practices for the basketball and volleyball teams.

"This new arena will be a tremendous addition for Xavier athletics," XU Athletics Director Dennis Cousin said. "It will upgrade our already excellent programs and take them a notch higher. It will be a big boost to us in recruiting."

"There also are plans to construct tennis courts in the near future not far from the Convocation Academic Center," Cousin said. "This will give our nationally ranked tennis teams the ability to not only practice on campus but to also host dual matches, something we haven't done in decades."

Howard MBA Program Ranked in Top Ten

The Howard University MBA program has been named sixth on the U.S. News and World Report list of "10 M.B.A.s With Most Financial Value at Graduation." The list ranks the 10 business programs where graduates earn the most in their first year relative to their debt load. Howard is the only Historically Black College and University on the list and is also listed in the top 100 schools in the U.S. News Business School ranking.

"The School of Business is proud that we continue to be recognized among leading business schools," said Dean Barron H. Harvey, Ph.D. "This honor validates the hard work of the faculty, staff, students, alumni and corporate partners who provide tremendous support and continue to dedicate themselves to the pursuit of academic excellence."

The Howard University School of Business, as it is known today, was founded 40 years ago, but its roots date back to 1870, when the Board of Trustees of Howard University approved the establishment of a school of Commerce in conjunction with the Freedman's Saving Bank and Trust Company.

In 1970, the present-day School of Business was founded, with Dr. Milton Wilson as Dean. Over the years that followed, the School of Business' prominence within Howard University grew, as the school became the second largest among schools and colleges within the University in terms of enrollment, and firmly established its reputation for excellence in both the academic and business communities.

NC Central among the most popular in the nation

The law school at N.C. Central University, along with Yale and Harvard, has been selected as one of the nation's most popular law schools.

U.S. News & World Report ranks NCCU ninth on its new list, which is headed by Yale, followed by Brigham Young University and then Harvard. Central is the only North Carolina law school on the popular list.

The list is based on the percentage of students admitted to a particular school who actually choose to enroll there. For 2010, the NCCU law school had an admission yield of 49.6 percent. Of 415 applicants accepted by the school, 206 subsequently enrolled there. By comparison, around 80 percent of the applicants accepted by Yale chose to go there.

Other schools in the ranking included Southern University, Liberty University, the University of Oklahoma, Regent University, the University of Memphis, and the University of New Mexico.

This isn't the first time the NCCU law school has been highly ranked.

It had previously been rated as the nation's best value for law schools for two years in a row by National Jurist Magazine.

Tuskegee to offer three new degree programs

Tuskegee University is primed to offer three new academic programs this fall after their board approved the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Public Health degree.

“The approval of these programs is in line with the president’s vision and mandate to increase enrollment,” said Dr. Luther S. Williams, Tuskegee provost.

The information technology degree will be offered in the College of Business and Information Science.

“The IT program takes advantage of the growing IT workforce needs on a national and global basis,” Williams said. “Tuskegee University will be a major producer of IT professionals, subsequently increasing the enrollment of CBIS.”

The public health programs will be offered in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health. The degree programs in public health will prepare students to face the current public health and disparity issues that disproportionately affect the rural, disadvantaged, racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S.

Williams said most of the programs have faculty in place. Recruitment efforts have been approved to find additional instructors.

The Board also authorized approval for Tuskegee to research and develop several other programs the Master of Arts in Humanities-Bioethics; Master of Science in Psychology; Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering; Ph.D. in Veterinary Science; undergraduate degree in civil engineering; undergraduate degree in forensic science; and undergraduate degree in mass communication.

Sessoms: UDC hurt by DC policies

UDC President Allen Sessoms says his efforts to revitalize the school are hampered by some DC policies, including the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant program, which since 1991 has been giving residents up to $10,000 to attend colleges in other states and up to $2,500 to attend private universities in the city.

“The program is a disincentive for students who want to go to UDC,” said Mr. Sessoms. “The District’s high school graduates get zero dollars to attend UDC but the program pays instead for them to attend Michigan, Virginia or Maryland or other states, and the money is not needs-based. Even residents who attend private universities in the District receive tuition assistance. They’re going to Trinity, American, George Washington, Princeton.”

The competition posed by those tuition grants and more prestigious degrees is heightened by the city’s consistently high unemployment, illiteracy and dropout rates, and failure to meet the demands of the 21st-century global labor market.

Dillard University president stepping down

Dillard University President Marvalene Hughes announced her plans to retire in the next few months.

Hughes was hired less than two months before 80 percent of New Orleans was flooded by Hurricane Katrina, has been credited with spurring the institution's post-Katrina recovery and helping Dillard to regain its footing.

Prior to coming to Dillard, Hughes served as president of the University of California at Stanislaus, where she oversaw more than $70 million in infrastructural campus improvements, and was credited with increasing enrollment by 40 percent and achieving many national rankings for the first time in the institution's history.

Dr. Hughes received her undergraduate degree from Tuskegee University and her Ph.D. from Florida State University.

Hughes took over the helm at Dillard in July 2005 and said it has been a challenge to serve the institution and help rebuild the historically Black school since Hurricane Katrina.

"It has been challenging and rewarding to serve 'Fair Dillard' over the past six years," Dr. Hughes said. "It was an honor to play a role in rebuilding Dillard, following its devastation at the hands of Hurricane Katrina. Because of your faith in Dillard's rich legacy, together, we have not only preserved the heritage of this stellar institution, but brought it to new heights, positioning Dillard for greater achievements in the 21st century.

"In the months ahead, I will be working tirelessly to sustain and build upon our many successes, and to identify new opportunities to secure Dillard's future," Hughes continued. "We will continue to focus heavily on fundraising to enable us to rebuild Dillard's entire campus.

Dillard University is expected to soon begin its search for her successor.

Alabama State cafeteria fight leads to arrest

A cafeteria fight on the campus of Alabama State University has lead to a full investigation and one arrest by campus police.

The fight involved two groups of students, and resulted in no serious injuries. The fight involved hundreds of students was videotaped and is making its way around the web.

For the moment, ASU Police are not releasing any specifics because they don't want to jeopardize the investigation.

They did tell us the altercation involved only students.

"Most important is that the safety of our students, staff and our faculty is paramount so it's going to be investigated and anyone who is found to be in violation of ASU's zero tolerance policy on violence will be dealt with judiciously," stated ASU's Police Chief Huey Thornton.

Since it's early in the investigation, Thornton says he can't say who was involved or how many students.

Link to fight vide here

JSU Professors Create Possible Prostate Cancer Treatment

A team of researchers at Jackson State University have created a possible treatment for prostate cancer using particles that are about 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

But their potential is massive, said Paresh Ray, who led JSU’s research team.

“The particles can be used in three ways: detecting the cancer cells, killing them and monitoring the treatment to see if it is working,” he said.

It’s that monitoring capacity in particular that is new, Paresh wrote in an article published recently in The Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Reading over an abstract of Ray’s report, Dr. Charles Pound, chief of urology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said, “This could be something that is so novel and exciting that they win the Nobel Prize.

Howard U. Board votes to refocus University

Howard University's board of trustees voted Saturday to shutter or consolidate 71 of its 171 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an effort to make the institution stronger and better. Howard plans to invest the savings in its research and doctoral programs. Critics of the move, contend the actions fly in the face of some of the institution's most storied academic legacies.

"We're excited about what we've done," said Alvin Thornton, special adviser to Howard’s president, Sidney A. Ribeau, and leader of the review, which he said left the institution "more strategically focused" as a research-oriented historically black college. The review leading up to the trustees' unanimous vote on the "academic renewal" plan spanned three years. This process included preparation for the reaffirmation of accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and a review of Howard's degree programs by the Presidential Commission on Academic Renewal, which preceded Ribeau's first set of recommendations. The review process also included town meetings and a series of appeals in which faculty members and their advocates argued in person with the provost and in written proposals for the future of their programs.

"We no longer have to be everything to everyone," Ribeau said in a statement, reflecting the view that Howard's place in higher education has changed because it no longer needs to offer the broad range of programs it did when segregation prevented black students from enrolling at many universities. “We have identified specific areas of emphasis and we plan to be leaders in those areas.”

Of those areas of emphasis, two consistently emerged as perhaps the most notable, according to several faculty members and administrators: the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and Africana and diaspora studies. The remaining four were to revise Howard's model for undergraduate education and increase interdisciplinary programs; increase the commitment to internationalism and global studies; streamline graduate and professional offerings in favor of research; and enhance humanities, communication, urban education, business, and performing and visual arts programs.

Howard is also adopting a new core curriculum with a more consistent freshman courseload, and considering beginning a "black male initiative" and honors program. Also new will be a requirement that will reduce from 127 to 120 the number of credits needed to graduate. These and other moves are designed to help push Howard's four-year graduation rate from 49 percent to a percentage in the 80s -- all while continuing to serve Howard's traditional base of students, said Thornton. "We want to show people how it's done with a certain demographic," he said.

Improving the quality of Howard's doctoral program will also take some effort. An overview of the pending changes noted that the university's doctoral classes tend to comprise five students, on average, and that a 2010 survey conducted by the National Research Council showed "considerable room for improvement" in Howard's Ph.D. programs. "Few performed strongly in comparison with all programs in their fields," the overview read, "and none operated at a level of national distinction."

Twenty-two undergraduate, 11 graduate and 38 graduate professional programs -- were marked for closure or reconfiguration, a few that faced that fate late last year escaped the chopping block. The lucky programs include African Studies and a dance concentration within the theater department.

"I’m extremely excited," said Denise Saunders Thompson, an instructor who helped lead the fight to save the dance concentration. She credited a push from students, including a scholarly forum, as well as a booklet she and others produced on the history of the program and position statements from such luminaries as Debbie Allen, the actress and choreographer who is an alumna, with swaying the administration and trustees. But, noting that the stay of the department's closure is no guarantee of future prosperity, she said she and her colleagues would need to find new ways to collaborate, both within and outside the university. "We just have to step up our game now," she said.

Three-quarters of Howard's tenured faculty members are eligible to retire, with their age plus years of service equaling or exceeding 70. Thornton said that the university was committed to hiring tenure-track faculty to replace those who retire, though they obviously will be in different disciplines, with different expectations placed on them for tenure. Any savings resulting from hiring more junior faculty will be reinvested in the university, not used to cover budget deficits, he said.

He also stressed that, even though STEM fields represented a major focus for Howard in the future, it would not abandon a commitment to liberal education, adding that Howard sees no discrepancy between STEM fields and the humanities. "Any suggestion that you can have an excellent STEM-focused university and not have a high quality liberal arts and humanities concept is folly," he said, citing John Slaughter, president emeritus of the University of Maryland at College Park and a member of the commission that analyzed and recommended changes at Howard. "You can’t have it."

Faculty gives SC State President vote of no confidence

For the second time in nearly six months, South Carolina State University president George Cooper is under fire again, this time from the faculty senate has given Cooper and his administration a vote of “no confidence.”

The group voted 19-3 with one abstention at a meeting last Thursday. Faculty Senate members are elected by their respective departments.

The Faculty Senate outlined what it thinks are Cooper’s shortcomings. They include his failure to:
• Provide and implement a compelling vision for the university
• Adhere to shared governance by refusing to communicate with the elected representatives of the faculty
• Uphold policy and properly oversee the financial status, including the cash flow, of the university, as found by the outside financial consulting firm Elliott Davis

The document also states that Cooper has “ignored public scrutiny regarding the university’s financial status and has provided no answers or embarrassing answers to the public, particularly regarding the James E. Clyburn Transportation Center.”

Attorney Donald Gist, who said he is Cooper’s personal attorney and does not represent the university, said, “Dr. Cooper takes the position that the Faculty Senate does not reflect the full faculty at South Carolina State University.”

Jonathan Pinson, chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees, in a prepared statement Friday said, “The majority of the Board of Trustees’ members do not feel that the action is representative of the entire faculty and supports the president and his administration. Thus, the majority of the Board of Trustees’ members continue to express confidence in the president and his administration.”

This is not the first time the university’s Faculty Senate weighed in on Cooper’s leadership. The university’s board in June voted not to renew Cooper’s contract, effectively firing him. The Faculty Senate released a position statement supporting the board’s actions.

Then two weeks after letting Cooper go, the terms of two board members expired, and two new members took their places. The newly configured board rehired Cooper.

Southern abandons tougher admission standards

Southern University has abandoned, indefinitely, its plan to toughen student admission requirements, Southern System President Ronald Mason Jr. said.

Partly citing “financial reasons,” Mason touched on the issue after a discussion about a new Baton Rouge Area Chamber research paper, titled “Toward a Renaissance at Southern University A&M College.”

The recently released report suggested toughening Southern’s GPA and ACT entrance standards among other recommendations.

Last year, Southern had planned to increase the minimum GPA standard from a 2.0 to a 2.5 — on a 4.0 scale — and to phase in the minimum ACT test score from a 20 to a 22 by 2012. But after facing opposition from the Faculty Senate and others, the decision was made to delay implementation until 2011.

Now, Mason, who became president last summer, said the toughened standards are being indefinitely delayed.

Mason said the focus is on doing a better job of retaining and graduating students under the current admission standards.

Tougher standards typically cause a temporary dip in student enrollment, which is why Mason cited financial concerns from the potential loss of tuition dollars at a time of state budget cuts to colleges and Southern’s problems with already declining student enrollment levels.

Southern’s enrollment has dropped from nearly 9,500 students in 2000 to about 7,300 this past fall.

Southern Chancellor Kofi Lomotey said, there is a “Catch 22” in terms of improving performance at a time of continuing college budget cuts.

Lincoln U. (PA) president announces retirement

Ivory V. Nelson, who as president led Lincoln University out of debt and spearheaded a building boom that is transforming the nation's oldest historically black college, will retire in June.

Nelson, 76, guided Lincoln during a critical time in its history, when university officials decided to relinquish majority control of the Barnes Foundation board of directors, leading to the art collection's controversial move from the college to Philadelphia. The decision was seen by some as the catalyst behind the release of millions of dollars in state funds to the school.

Nelson joined Lincoln in 1999 after serving in leadership posts at Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University, and Central Washington State University. When he arrived at Lincoln, the infrastructure and many buildings were rundown, and the school was $15 million in debt.

In January 2000, the school's main electrical line had ruptured, so, with no power on campus, he had to send the 1,500 students home for three weeks. "We couldn't educate them, feed them, take care of them," Nelson said. "Our infrastructure had failed and we couldn't deliver."

During his presidency, Nelson has dealt with a faculty strike, controversies over a fitness course required for some students, and anti-Israel statements made by a tenured professor.

Since 2005, the school has built a $22 million residence hall, a new cultural center equipped with an art gallery, computer labs, and a 1,049-seat auditorium; a $40 million science and technology center (which will be renamed in Nelson's honor); and a newly renovated student union and library.

Due for completion in 2012 are a wellness center and athletic complex, capping off a $325 million campus makeover.

The school's enrollment, also, has grown from 2,000 in the 1999-2000 school year to 2,361.

A search committee has been formed to look for a new president.

Former Albany State President named interim President at Tn State

Tennessee State University has named Dr. Portia Shields, former president of Albany State University, as interim president, she starts work on Jan. 2, 2011.

TSU’s current president, Melvin Johnson, announced in July his plans to retire on Jan. 1.

Shields who was chosen from a pool of candidates listed with the Registry for College and University Presidents, a national search service that assists universities and colleges around the country as they seek exceptional leadership during transition periods has been signed to an 18 month contract with an option for it to be extended or shortened. She also can not become a candidate for permanent president.

Most recently Shields served as chief executive officer and chief academic officer of Concordia College in Selma, Ala., from November 2007 to December 2009. While there she improved academic programs and institutional effectiveness, raised campus academic standards, and enhanced the college’s financial operations.

She helped Concordia address accreditation concerns. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges initially placed Concordia on probation for issues concerning 17 different requirements and standards. In its most recent report, SACSCOC cited only two issues remaining for the college to address.

Sheilds becomes the first female leader in TSU's 98-year history.

Tuskegee U. Veterinary School to be beneficiary of $1.6 million gift

The Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine recently was designated as a beneficiary in a $1.6 million planned gift from Tuskegee alumni Dr. Matthew and Roberta Jenkins. The funds are made available through a remainder unitrust, and the University will receive 50 percent of the net assets at the time of distribution.

The couple formed the Matthew and Roberta Jenkins Family Foundation in 1984. It has been responsible for providing a number of scholarships across the country to students, colleges and institutions.

Getchel L. Caldwell II, vice president for university advancement, underscored the significance of the gift.

"Tuskegee alumni have long heard the call to structure and create planned gifts for their alma mater," he said. "The Jenkins' gift is a sterling example of alumni giving and will serve as another great example of Tuskegee pride."

Dr. Tsegaye Habtemariam, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health at Tuskegee, said students will indeed benefit from the gift.

Matthew Jenkins, a former member of the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees, received the doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee in 1957. Roberta Jenkins, received an institutional management degree from Tuskegee. is

The Jenkins currently reside in Long Beach, Calif. They are the parents of three children and have six grandchildren.

The Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine (TUSVM) historically was established in 1945. TUSVM graduated its first class of fully qualified veterinarians in 1949. Since then, it has graduated more than 70 percent of the black veterinarians in the U.S.

Howard U. fires football coach

Howard University fired football coach Carey Bailey last Monday, according to a source who requested anonymity because details of the financial settlement are still being worked out.

Bailey, who just completed his fourth season, has two years remaining on his contract.

Howard went 8-36 under Bailey, including 2-30 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games. The Bison's season-ending 59-35 loss at home to Delaware State on Nov. 20 was their 27th consecutive MEAC loss and marked their third consecutive winless league season. The only game Howard (1-10, 0-8 MEAC) won this season was against Division II Lincoln University.

The Bison had the second-worst offense in the league, averaging 18 points per game. Despite all-MEAC first-team selection Keith Pough, they also had the worst defense in the league, allowing 37.5 points per game.

Fred Humphries to speak at Sav State fall commencement

Frederick S. Humphries, Ph.D., president emeritus of both Tennessee State and Florida A&M Universities, will be the guest speaker at Savannah State University's fall 2010 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Dec. 11 at Tiger Arena.

About 170 students will receive undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Humphries graduated magna cum laude from FAMU in 1957 with a B.S. in chemistry. Humphries was also a distinguished military science graduate and is reported to have been the first black officer commissioned into the Army Security Agency, the Army's signal intelligence branch from 1945 to 1976, according to SSU.

After two years in the military, he entered the University of Pittsburgh as a teaching assistant in chemistry, became a graduate research fellow in 1960 and earned his doctoral degree in chemistry in 1964, the first black student in university history to earn a doctorate in that discipline.

The Tennessee Board of Regents named Humphries president of TSU in 1974. Humphries and others argued in U.S. District Court that expanding the predominantly white UTN alongside the traditionally black TSU fostered competition for white students and perpetuated segregation, according to SSU.

The court ruled the two schools should merge, with UTN placed under the administration of Humphries and TSU. TSU became the surviving institution, and Humphries earned a national reputation for fighting for historically black colleges and universities and opportunities for minorities.

Humphries left TSU in 1985 to serve as president at FAMU. While at FAMU Humphries served on the Board of Directors of several Fortune 500 companies, Wal-mart Stores, Brinker International (the parent company of Chilli's and On The Border restaurants, and others.