Monthly Archives: October 2014
Another Ranking of the Nation’s Best HBCUs
The website BestColleges.com ranks the nation's colleges and universities in a number of categories and recently published a list of what it considers the best HBCUs. Morehouse College in Atlanta took the top spot.
Two Black Scholars in New Teaching Roles
Tanjala S. Purnell was named an assistant professor in the department of surgery at Johns Hopkins University and Ben O. Lukongo was appointed assistant professor of agricultural economics at Southern University.
North Carolina Central University Announces New Communications Disorders Program
The communications disorders program in the School of Education at North Carolina Central University in Durham has announced that it will offer a new specialty track that combines speech-language pathology and special education.
A Pair of African American Women Honored With Prestigious Awards
The honorees are Tiffany A. Flowers, instructor of education at Georgia Perimeter College in Decatur, and Serita Acker, the director of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program at Clemson University in South Carolina.
Tennessee State University Signs a Reverse Transfer Agreement With a Community College
Under the agreement, students who transfer to Tennessee State before earning an associate's degree at Dyersburg State Community College can use credits earned at Tennessee State to complete their associate's degree requirements.
Two African Americans Appointed to University Administrative Posts
Kecia Thomas was named associate dean for faculty leadership development and diversity at the University of Georgia and Miron P. Billingsley is the new vice chancellor of student affairs at North Carolina Central University.
Morgan State University Announces the Finalists for the Position of Provost
Among the finalists are Gloria J. Gibson of the University of Northern Iowa, Steve O. Michael, the former provost at Arcadia University, and Donald B. Pope-Davis of DePaul University.
Claudia Rankine Is a Finalist for the National Book Award in Poetry
Claudia Rankine, the Henry G. Lee Professor of English at Pomona College in Claremont, California, is one of five finalists for the National Book Award in the poetry category.
Higher Education Grants of Interest to African Americans
Here is this week’s news of grants to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
The New President of the National Association of African American Honors Programs
Coreen Jackson is a professor in the department of communication and director of the Honors Program at Tennessee State University in Nashville. She had served as the organization's vice president since last October.
Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers
From time to time, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week's selections.
Recent Books That May Be of Interest to African American Scholars
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. Here are the latest selections.
Yale University Acquires the Records of the Cave Canem Foundation
The Cave Canem Foundation, an organization that that was founded in 1996, supports the field of African American poetry and nurtures Black poets. Its records will be housed at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.
Scholar Is Documenting the History of African Americans at Vanderbilt University
Rosevelt Noble is senior lecturer in sociology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. After 13 years on campus as a student and faculty member, he realized he knew very little of the history of Blacks at the university. He has set out to remedy that gap in his, and many others', knowledge.
Howard University’s Frank Ross Honored by the American Institute of CPAs
Frank K. Ross, the director of the Center for Accounting Education at the Howard University School of Business, received the 2014 Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Service from the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).
A New Orientation Program for Black Students at the University of California, San Diego
The Black Resource Center Success Institute is designed to foster a strong sense of community for new Black students, connecting first-year and transfer students with key support services that encourage engagement, retention, and graduation.
In Memoriam: Norward Roussell, 1934-2014
After working in the New Orleans public schools, in 1987 Dr. Roussell was appointed the first Black school superintendent in Selma, Alabama. Later he was an administrator at his alma mater, Dillard University in New Orleans.
Toni Morrison’s Papers to Be Housed at Princeton University
The archives of the Nobel laureate and professor emerita consist of about 180 linear feet of papers that include correspondence, manuscripts, drafts, proofs, diaries, course materials, lectures, notes, and photographs.
University Research Finds Black Parents Benefit When Their Children Are in Head Start
A new study by researchers at Northwestern University shows that the parents of children who participate in Head Start had higher levels of educational attainment by the time their children were age 6. The effect was particularly significant for African American parents.
Raymond Burse Named the 14th President of Kentucky State University
Raymond Burse was named interim president of Kentucky State this past June. He was scheduled to serve as interim president for a year but the board of regents voted unanimously to give him a three-year contract.
Academic Study Finds Political Animosity Now Exceeds Racial Hostility
Hostile feelings for people of the other political party now exceed racial biases and dislikes, according to a study conducted by researchers at Stanford University and Princeton University.
New Credit Standards Issued for Parent PLUS Loan Program
Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, estimates that since 2011, 28,000 students at the nation's historically Black colleges and universities were negatively impacted by the Education Department decision to tighten credit standards.
National Institutes of Health Funds Major New Diversity Effort in Biomedical Research
The 12 universities awarded grants will develop approaches to training and mentoring to encourage students from underrepresented groups to enter into and stay in research careers.
Morgan State University Reports Progress on Key Academic Indicators
At Morgan State University in Baltimore, first-year enrollments are up 19 percent from a year ago. The university also reports significant gains in its retention and graduation rates.
Three Women Named to New Faculty Positions at U.S. Universities
Taking on new teaching roles are Francine Huff at Florida A&M University, Phyllis Dennery at Brown University in Rhode Island, and Shalanda H. Baker at the law school of the University of Hawaii.
Maryland HBCUs Team Up With the University of Baltimore School of Law
HBCU students who complete the two-week boot camp program and have a 3.5 grade point average and score at least 152 on the Law School Admission Tests (LSAT) receive a full-tuition scholarship to the law school.
Honors Bestowed on Four African American Scholars
The honorees are Antoine J. Alston of North Carolina A&T State University, Adriel A. Hilton of Western Carolina University, Phyllis Miller of Mississippi State University, and Bernardine M. Lacey of Delaware State University.
Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, Tightens Its Belt
Gaddis Faulcon, interim president of Shaw University, the historically Black educational institution in Raleigh, North Carolina, has announced a series of cost-cutting measures in an effort to shore up the university's financial situation.
Four African Americans in New Higher Education Administrative Roles
Wanda Raby Spurlock was named vice president of the National Gerontological Nursing Association. Olivia Goodheart at Jackson State, Reyniolda Brown at Harris-Stowe State, and Nathan Haymar at Southern University are all taking on new roles.
Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers
From time to time, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week's selections.
Recent Books That May Be of Interest to African American Scholars
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. Here are the latest selections.
Colorado State University Scientist to Be Honored by the Institute of Caribbean Studies
Robert B. France, professor of computer science at Colorado State University, has been selected to receive the Excellence in Science and Technology Award from the Institute of Caribbean Studies.
Emory University Acquires the Papers of Barbara Chase-Riboud
The Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library at Emory University in Atlanta has announced that it has acquired the papers of Barbara Chase-Riboud, a noted sculptor, novelist, artist, and poet.
Higher Education Grants of Interest to African Americans
Here is this week’s news of grants to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
UCLA Faculty to Vote on Instituting a Requirement for Undergraduates to Take a Diversity Course
The proposal calls for each undergraduate to complete a course with a grade of C or better that substantially addresses racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, religious, or other types of diversity.
Delaware State University Names Three African Americans to Administrative Posts
Jacqueline A. Washington was named associate vice president for academic affairs. Stephen J. Ampersand was named vice president for financial aid services and Bill H. Means was appointed director of the Office of Career Services.
