Chancellor Donald J. Reaves

At the beginning of the academic year we implemented new procedures that were designed to help keep Winston-Salem State University safe for those who study, live and work on the campus.   Over the past few weeks, however, we have seen an increase in criminal activity on this campus. While the new procedures have produced some results and can be credited with helping to keep the criminal element off of the campus, we now feel that they were not enough to accomplish the safety and security goals that we have set for ourselves.  The recent spate of crimes has involved illegal drugs and guns, a situation that is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

I have instructed the Division of Student Life and Campus Police to work even more closely to increase security and to enforce more stringent policies and procedures.  This cooperative effort is designed to support more strongly existing safety and security policies, and to enforce a zero tolerance policy on our campus regarding the possession and use of illegal drugs, including marijuana.  We are firmly convinced that the majority of the criminal activity we are now seeing is coming from a demand for drugs among a small subset of our students.  To protect the vast majority of our students who are not involved in these illegal activities, we are determined to eliminate the demand.

The University has begun to impose stiffer penalties for the possession and/or use of marijuana or any other illegal drugs by students and employees.  The penalties are designed to curtail the activities that are most often associated with the use of illegal drugs.  The stiffer penalties are consistent with the authority contained in the University’s Revised Policy on Illegal Drugs, as adopted by the Winston-Salem State University Board of Trustees on December 14, 2007, which states that “WSSU shall take all actions necessary, consistent with state and federal law and applicable University policy, to eliminate illegal drugs from the University community.” The revised policy sets forth only the minimum penalties that may be imposed for various drug-related violations.  Given the situation at hand a more aggressive approach is called for, one that imposes the harshest of penalties.  For example, the possession and/or use of even one joint, will result in a student losing his or her housing, the loss of University or athletic scholarships, the prohibition from participating in extracurricular activities including the band and sports teams, suspension from the University for a minimum of one semester, and the possibility of criminal charges being sought through the Winston-Salem State University Police Department, the Winston-Salem Police Department and the courts.  With regard to employees the minimum penalty shall be suspension from employment.

Additionally, we are taking the following steps:

• We are increasing significantly the visibility of uniformed officers on campus by bringing on additional officers and freeing up existing officers from other duties.  There will be more officers walking the campus and patrolling on scooters;
• We will conduct background checks on all students at the time of application for admission;
• We are improving enforcement at the entrances to campus by assigning sworn police officers to those posts as opposed to security officers.   Moreover, some entrances to the campus will be closed earlier than the current 10:00 p.m. schedule;
• There will be more frequent and random ID checks of students throughout the campus;
• The University will purchase drug detection dogs and maintain its own canine unit in order to monitor drug activity on the campus, including such activities as they may occur in the residence halls;
• A new system of accountability will be implemented when illegal drugs are found in residence halls rooms and/or suites.   The new approach will assume that all occupants of that room or suite are involved with the possession and/or use of illegal substances and all occupants will be subject to the same procedures and sanctions.

In the past, we had attempted to work with students and to shield them from the criminal justice system, recognizing that such involvement at an early age can change a young life forever.  At this point, however, the situation is such that the well-being of our more than 6,000 students, as well as our faculty and staff, must take precedent and guide our actions.  We cannot and we will not tolerate criminal activity on our campus.  Therefore, we are issuing what amounts to a very strong warning.  We urge you to take this matter seriously because we certainly are doing that.

If you have any questions regarding this matter please contact me or Trae Cotton the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or Patricia Norris the Chief of University Police.

Thank you for your support.

Chancellor Donald J. Reaves

We have had a relatively safe year at Winston-Salem State until just a few weeks ago when there were three separate incidences on campus on the same day.  As is our policy and practice, we advised the campus of these activities through our “Crime Alert” emails in an effort to ensure that our students, faculty and staff would be on a higher alert and to possibly gather information concerning the crimes.

Campus Police are continuing to follow the course of each investigation which, at this time, indicates that two of the incidents may be related.  Their efforts to secure the evidence necessary to support any arrests are also on-going.

Prior to March 7, we had only issued two Crime Alerts since classes began last August.  Because we have zero tolerance for criminal activity, we have made improvements that we believe have increased the safety of our campus.  Last fall, we installed gates at several points as a means of controlling access to the campus.  We have increased police and security officers patrolling the grounds and we have even improved lighting.

Still, we have recently heard concerns about the level of crime on campus.  We cannot, however, deal with what is not reported.  If you are or have been a victim of a crime, I urge you to call Campus Police at 750-2900.  Also, if you are a witness or have witnessed any type of criminal activity at the university, I urge you to call Campus Police.  You, too, certainly have a role to play in campus safety.

While making the campus 100 percent safe for everyone is our goal, I know that is a truly difficult task.  We will continue to strive to make improvements, but as long as crime exists in our community there is always the chance it will affect us as well.  We need the support of our faculty, staff and students to take some responsibility for their own safety by being smart in their actions, being aware of surroundings and reporting crimes when they happen.

I want you to know that I, along with the senior administration, take any and all criminal activities very seriously.  We will be reviewing all procedures to determine what else can be done to continue our efforts to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.

Chancellor Donald Reaves

It is with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you of the passing of Dr. Michelle B. Releford, Dean of our University College.  Michelle passed away this morning (Nov. 8)  at a hospice facility in Georgia following a protracted illness.

From the time she joined Winston-Salem State in 2008, Michelle demonstrated her passion and her concern for our students, particularly our incoming freshman.  In addition to striving to ensure that the support programs were in place within the University College to help students, she enhanced our orientation program through the week-long RAMDITION experience that gave in-coming students an opportunity to better understand the resources available to them, to learn their way around campus, and to begin to feel a part of the WSSU family as they participated in a “Rite of Passage Ceremony.”

Dr. Michelle B. Releford

In addition to her leadership with University College, Michelle assumed the position of Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for ten months, until March of this year.  In that role, she continued her emphasis on the students’ academic achievement and on their social development as well.

Winston-Salem State has certainly benefited from having had Michelle Releford as a part of our university and her presence will be missed.  I know you join me in offering our deepest sympathy to her family, friends and colleagues.  The Provost Office is planning a memorial service on campus and we will advise you of the details as soon as possible.

October 31, 2011

To Students, Faculty, Staff, Colleagues and Friends:

Chancellor Donald J. Reaves

Because of the circumstances, I believe that I have an obligation to advise the campus community, colleagues and friends of a personal matter that will have some effect on the University over the short-term.  On Wednesday, November 2, I will undergo surgery for the removal of a pituitary tumor.  I will be recuperating during the month of November.  While I am away from the campus, Provost Brenda Allen will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the University.

I will complete the pre-surgery process tomorrow, November 1, and the surgery is scheduled for the next day.  I hope you will understand if neither Deborah nor I are able to take your calls or answer your e-mails over the next week to 10 days.  This period will be the most crucial of the recovery process.  After that time, however, I plan to begin some limited activity.  I plan to participate in a few key events that are scheduled during the latter part of November, but I do not plan to return to the office until early December.

As for the actual tumor, it has probably been there for many years – as many as 20 according to the surgeon who will remove it.   It was only diagnosed about two months ago when I started having vision problems, which is a common symptom as such tumors grow.  Since that time, between medical consultations and my own research, I have learned that up to 20 percent of the population might have pituitary tumors with most going un-diagnosed and never causing symptoms.  The doctors have assured Deborah and me that virtually all pituitary tumors are benign, but that surgery is necessary to reverse the symptoms and to ensure that there are no future problems.

I appreciate your understanding of this situation and Deborah will certainly keep you informed of my progress.  I also know that you will give your full support to Provost Allen as she manages the daily business of the University.  If during the time that I am away from the campus you need to speak with or see me, please work through Margaret Brinson.   Finally, if you are interested in information on pituitary tumors, there are several excellent sites on the Internet including an overview from the U.S. National Library of Medicine which can be found at the following link:  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000704.htm

September 22, 2011

Community Engagement: Leveraging our Assets, Making a Difference

Chancellor Donald J. Reaves

Over the past several months, we have shared information about our Strategic Plan, we have talked about the economic impact that the University has throughout the community, and I held a town-hall meeting that covered a wide range of topics, focusing heavily on the budget and its impact on both the campus and the surrounding community.

This morning I want to talk about another aspect of our strategic Plan that also impacts the Triad — and that is our community involvement or what we call community engagement.

These activities come right out of our plan and can be found as Goal #3 — right behind Academic Excellence and Student Success is Community Engagement.

At WSSU we have defined community engagement broadly and in a manner that is consistent with the underlying philosophy of the UNC Tomorrow Report that was completed under Erskine Bowles. The commitment to community engagement is driven by the singular question that is raised in the UNC Tomorrow Report, which is, how can the UNC system better serve the citizens of North Carolina?

With that question in mind we have developed a Commitment to greater collaborations with the community and we seek constantly to develop new services and programs to address community needs.  So strong is this commitment that we have included service in the recently revised tenure and promotion policy, making service mandatory by recognizing it as one of the three criteria for tenure and promotion, along-side teaching and research.

And we see this as a win-win situation in that many of these activities also provide a more enriching learning experience for our students, they provide teaching and research opportunities for our faculty, and they enrich the lives of our staff while also serving to make our communities better places to live, to learn and to work.

So where does this commitment come from?  As noted it is a big part of the UNC Tomorrow Report commitment, and it is encouraged up the line at GA.  The UNC System also encourages campuses to be more actively engaged.  Let me give you some examples of our efforts.

Take distance learning for example — throughout the Triad our distance learning sites have provided higher education opportunities in the surrounding counties.  And, throughout the county, but especially in the rural areas, we have trained well over 1,000 nurses – nurses who have graduated from the RN to Bachelor of Science in nursing program.

Nursing students learn operational prep procedures.

We are now the third largest producer of nurses in the State of NC, and if we had the space we could expand the program even more.  And these are the front-line people; these are the nurses who are caring for us, for members of our families, for our employees and for our neighbors.  It’s really important work and we enjoy doing it.

In addition to the nursing program we run a number of centers that serve the community.  For example, the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center contributes to discovery of new knowledge in science and technology and also develops student research capabilities in the areas of biomedical and behavioral sciences.  The Center is located in the Piedmont Research Park and includes collaborations with faculty members from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Then there is the Center for Community Safety , which provides statistical data using a Geographic Information System (GIS) that not only analyzes information, but also displays it geographically.  Our ability to provide information in this way has enabled us to work with local law enforcement and has created a powerful prevention and investigation tool for mapping and analyzing crime patterns.

There is also the Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities, which provides research, input into policy decisions, and has held nationally-recognized conferences and other activities to raise awareness of the problems created in all communities by health care disparities.

Then, there is the S. G. Atkins Community Development Corporation, a university affiliate organization that has become a major player in the redevelopment efforts along the Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive corridor.  Carol Davis who heads the CDC has led the CDC’s work from developing a plan for enhancing this area of the community, to creating an anchor for those plans with its own Enterprise Center.  With the opening of the Enterprise Center, Winston-Salem now has a business incubator again.  Not only is the CDC providing space for new businesses, but also taking advantage of the university’s Center for Entrepreneurship and collaborating with other local support organizations to provide needed resources for new enterprises – and you should know that they have a special emphasis on “green” businesses.

For us, it’s always been about meeting community needs in a way that creates win-win situations – the community receives needed services and programs, our students have the opportunity to enhance their education through hands-on experience, the faculty can engage in research, and the university is able to demonstrate its commitment to the community

Mobile Clinic crew prepare to work in area public hoising complex.

Another example in the School of Health Sciences is the Mobile Health Clinic – known as Rams Know H.O.W. which provides screenings, educational services and referrals to citizens in underserved areas – it is estimated that more than $250,000 in free services will be provided in the first year of operation.

And while we are counting, students working with professors at the Community Care Clinic have provided more than $300,000 in physical therapy care.

Earlier I mentioned the national recognition that some of these programs have received — that’s the case with our physical therapy program and the services that it provides to the underserved.  As a result of their effort two of our students have been named Albert Schweitzer Fellows for their projects, one of the most prestigious forms of recognition that one can receive. Clinton Serafino and Timothy Serrano, students in our doctoral program are two of the three physical therapy students in North Carolina to win Albert Schweitzer Fellowships for 2011-2012.

Student measures a child's blood pressure.

These are just a few of our efforts to provide local citizens with much-needed healthcare services while ensuring that our students have the experiential learning opportunities that will prepare them for their profession.   And I remind you that most of our students are from North Carolina so they tend to stay in the state when they graduate, and many remain here in Winston-Salem.

Then there are examples of programs and efforts that address the longer-term needs of the community, such as those that require a high level of technological skills – usually what we call the STEM areas of science, technology, engineering and math.  We have programs that reach out to younger students in an effort to prepare them to enter the educational pipeline for these areas.

One such program is the North Carolina Mathematics and Science Education Pre-College Program at WSSU which includes a Saturday Academy, tutoring, mathematics and science competitions, field trips, a Parent Involvement for Excellence (PIE) Club, a leadership development initiative, and a Summer Scholars Program designed to provide math and science enrichment to rising sixth through twelfth graders.

YEHS campers learn examination pointers during summer camp.

We also have Camp YEHS! – Youth Exploring Health Sciences the provides a summer enrichment program to educate, prepare and enhance academic qualifications for health sciences careers for rising ninth grade students from the Forsyth and surrounding counties.

Then there is the TEAM-UP Program (Teens Engaged in Aspiring Mentorships: an Uplifting Partnership) that has been recognized by the state Association of Directors of Social Services as a “Best Practice” in community collaborations.  The program, spearheaded by our Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Departments of Social Services from Forsyth, Guilford and Durham Counties, provides a variety of real-world educational opportunities for young people in foster care in an effort to help them be more productive citizens.

These are just a few of the ways that we work to enhance and enrich the community.  There are other ways.

Our faculty and staff share their time, their talents and their experiences by serving on an array of boards – ranging from the Chamber of Commerce and the Arts Council to Habitat for Humanity and the Enrichment Center.  The Women’s Fund is a prime example of the influence our employees can have.  Our own Michelle Cook is one of the founding members of this organization that has put more than $1 million into the community since its inception

We also bring in nationally-known speakers and performers through a variety of programs such as the Gray Lecture Series and the Lyceum Series.

One of many works at Diggs Gallery.

And The Diggs Gallery is well known for being home to one of the South’s leading showcases dedicated to African and African-American art.  And in addition to being of interest to visitors, the gallery had nearly 7,000 visitors walk through its doors last year.

When I began thinking about what I would say this morning, I knew there was no way I could tell you all of the things our students, faculty and staff are doing in the community to impact everything from economic development to improved healthcare.  I struggled a bit with how to get you to understand the importance of our community engagement efforts – not just for the university, but for people who live and work in Winston-Salem.

Then I remembered a few weeks ago when some of the staff members brought me a sampling of fresh produce that came from the Simon’s Green Acre community Garden. What a simple story that illustrates the return on investment we seek for our community engagement projects.

The Atkins CDC provided space behind the Enterprise Center for a community garden.  Some of our students, faculty and staff came together with others in the community to provide hands-on learning about sustainable horticulture, therapeutic gardening, organic food and eating healthier using fresh produce.

Student volunteers take a break from work at Simon's Green Arce Community Garden.

From planting to weeding, watering and harvesting, the garden became a symbol of our involvement in the community surrounding the campus.  With an open house, more people were able to see what was happening on this plot of land – as well as learn how good grilled vegetables taste.

This one garden has had a tremendous impact and has been extremely successful at engaging different people from the campus in working together and creating interaction with community residents.

Nearly 2,000 pounds of have food have come out of the Community Garden. Fall crops are being planted now.

But, here is the rest of the story.  At a time when Second Harvest Food Bank was dealing with empty shelves and we are reading that hunger is on the rise in our community – Simon’s Green Acre has provided nearly 2,000 pounds of food to organizations such as Samaritan Ministries and AIDS Care Service as part of meeting a community need.

This one simple story of a community project sums up what we are trying to do with all of our efforts — educate, bring people together, meet community needs, and produce results.  That’s what community engagement should be about — leveraging our assets to make a difference.

Thank you very much!

Thursday, April 28, 1011
Reforming the Curriculum at WSSU
This morning’s briefing is the third in the series and will focus on what I consider to be the single most important activity taking place today on the WSSU campus – curriculum reform.
For those of you who attended the first briefing, you will recall that it was a [...]

The following are the remarks of Chancellor Donald J. Reaves to the Congregation of First Baptist Church on Sunday, April 17, 2011. The Winston-Salem State University Choir provided special music under the direction of D’Walla Simons Burke.

Good morning everyone.  My thanks go out to Reverend and Mrs. Aaron and to members of the First [...]

The following is Chancellor Reaves’ address at the Donor Reception held at Diggs Gallery April 12, 2011.
Good afternoon everyone and thanks for joining us. I am extremely pleased to be with you today and to have the opportunity to personally thank you for making such a difference for our students and for this university.
Your investments [...]

The following are the remarks of Chancellor Donald J. Reaves to the Congregation of United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday, April 10, 2011. Special music was provided by The Winston-Salem State University Choir under the direction of D’Walla Simmons Burke
Good morning everyone. Deborah and I are absolutely delighted to join you this morning. This [...]

The following is the address of Chancellor Donald J. Reaves to the Brown Chapter of the WSSU National Alumni Association March 18, 2011, at McNeil Banquet Hall.
Good evening and thank you for that wonderful introduction and thank you very much for inviting me to speak to you this evening.  I bring you greetings from [...]