To lessen the impact of state budget reductions, the N. C. General Assembly authorized a supplemental tuition increase for all 16 campuses of the University of North Carolina (UNC) by a maximum of $750.  At Winston-Salem State University, the increases will vary depending on the student classification, but all increases will be taken over a two-year period.

Many students in the UNC system will have to dig a little deeper to pay for college.

Tuition for undergraduates at WSSU who are North Carolina residents will increase by $390 for the 2010-2011 academic year and by $233 in 2011-2012.  Non-resident undergraduate students will see a tuition increase of $550 for the new academic year and a $200 increase in 2011-2012.  Resident graduate students will see a $640 increase over the two-year period, with $500 being applied in 2010-2011 and the remainder in 2011-2012. Non-resident graduate students will receive a $600 increase for 2010-2011 and a $150 increase in 2011-2012.

“While these increases may be seen by some as extraordinary, we are operating in extraordinary times,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.  “These tuition increases will help to offset the impact of state budget cuts and protect the academic quality of our programs, including increased need-based financial aid.”

The UNC system received a $70 million cut in management flexibility funding for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.  WSSU’s share of the reduction in state funds for this year will be approximately $2.8 million.  This reduction is on top of the loss of more than $8 million that has been absorbed over the past two fiscal years.

“Until this latest cut, WSSU has been able to absorb the loss of state funding by reducing administrative expenses,” Chancellor Reaves explained.  “With little left to cut, the loss of additional state funding for 2010-2011 would have impacted directly and adversely our core academic missions of teaching and research.“

To reduce the financial impact on students and their families, 20 percent of the legislatively authorized supplemental increase and 50 percent of a previously approved tuition increase of $115 will be allocated for need-based financial aid.  More than 50 percent of WSSU students will be minimally affected by the tuition increases due to the level of financial aid that will be available to them.  The impact on the remaining students will depend on their personal level of need.

“Increasing tuition is always a difficult decision.  Yet, maintaining low tuition at the expense of a quality education is not a bargain for anyone,” said Chancellor Reaves.  “The steps that have been taken were necessary if WSSU and the other UNC schools are to continue to provide our students with a quality education and contribute to the economic development of our state and communities.”

WSSU to issue its own payroll checks.

Winston-Salem State University has begun transitioning its payroll system to its own Banner payroll process.  WSSU is one of nine campuses in the University of North Carolina moving to this new electronic system with a Shared Services Center to manage banking, benefit premium payments and tax administration.

The new Banner process will be very different since most employees will eventually be using a computerized Web Time Entry (WTE) system for completing on-line timesheets that are then approved electronically.  With the electronic system, employees must meet payroll deadlines for getting their timesheets to their approvers and the approvers then getting the timesheets to payroll for processing.  Missed deadlines with the Banner payroll will mean missed paychecks for employees.

In addition to the timesheets, the new system will provide a self-service portal that allows employees to view pay stubs and W-2s online, with permanent employees also able to view up-to-date benefits and deduction information.

Students and temporary employees who are paid on an hourly basis have already moved from a monthly payroll to being paid bi-weekly.  Students and temporary employees who are paid a flat salary will move from being paid on the 15^th of the month to being paid on the last working day of the month beginning in October.

New permanent faculty hired for the Fall Semester will be paid on September 15 for July and August and then move to being paid on the last working day of the month.  Adjunct faculty will move from being paid on the 15^th of the month until September when they will be paid at the end of the month.

Current and permanent employees, which include SPA, EPA non-faculty and EPA faculty, will continue to be paid on the last working day of the month.  Both permanent employees and adjunct faculty will be paid from the current payroll system until October when they will also move to the Banner Payroll.

If you have any questions please call the Payroll Hotline at ext. 8908 or email 2payroll@wssu.edu.

The Winston-Salem State University Foundation has elected new officers and four new directors.

James Martin

The new officers for 2010-2011 are:  James Martin, president of Arbor Investment Advisors, chair; Roger Vaughn, retired former president of Aon Consulting US, vice chair; Martha Logemann, owner of Logemann & Co., PA, treasurer; and Tim Grant, director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Winston-Salem, secretary.

New Board members elected to serve three-year terms are:  Peggy Carter, vice president of the Forsyth Medical Center Foundation; Fred Harwell, managing shareholder of the law firm of Davis & Harwell, PA; Ray Owen, retired vice president of State Farm Insurance Company; and Shirley Danner Shouse, owner and president of Winston Personnel Group.

Directors elected to a second three-year term are:  Kelvin Farmer, president and CEO of KE Farmer Enterprises, Inc.; Catherine Petite Hart, immediate past chair of the Board; Harold Kennedy III, attorney with Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy & Kennedy LLP; Dr. Charles Love, dean of the School of Education at the University of South Carolina Upstate; and Patricia Norris, police chief at Winston-Salem State University.

The Winston-Salem State University Foundation, Inc. was created in 1970 to generate financial resources for the university through private giving.  The Foundation’s board oversees how money is raised, how contributions are invested and how the Foundation distributes grants.  The board also advises and supports other activities of the Foundation designed to further the strategic initiatives of the university.

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) has announced a restructuring that is designed to provide more implementation support for its strategic plan that focuses on improving student retention, graduation rates and post-graduation outcomes.  The changes will become effective July 1, 2010.

“Our strategic plan has identified the programs and initiatives that will provide our students with the support that they need to be successful while at Winston-Salem State and after graduation,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.  “We define success as graduates who are well-prepared for advanced study or work in their chosen profession and who also are willing and capable of providing leadership and service to the community.  There is, however, a set of management challenges that must be addressed if we are to implement successfully the strategies that are contained in the plan.”

To provide the implementation support necessary to monitor and measure the work outlined in the strategic plan, the role of the executive vice chancellor for management and strategic initiatives will be realigned.

Dr. Dorcas Colvin

“We must have someone working continuously on the various aspects of the plan,” Reaves explained.  “Dr. Dorcas Colvin will be the day-to-day driver of our implementation efforts.   Reporting directly to me, and working collaboratively with the other senior officers who have responsibility for various aspects of the plan, she will lead the on-going implementation effort and will ensure that we are measuring our progress in a meaningful manner.

“We will be reassigning the enrollment service and human resources function to allow the executive vice president to provide leadership for new initiatives such as staff development, service excellence and process improvements,” Reaves added.  “Dr. Colvin also has been designated as WSSU’s project manager for the UNC-FIT, or Finance Improvement and Transformation initiative, which is designed to align people, processes and technology throughout the multi-campus University system.”

In August 2008 the responsibility for enrollment management was assigned temporarily to Colvin while the university searched for a new provost.  With Provost Brenda Allen in place for a year, enrollment management will be reassigned to academic affairs.  Additionally, the office of human resources will be reassigned to the finance and administration area where it is better aligned with other business operations.

As part of its larger restructuring effort, the university will create a Secondary Education Department within the School of Education and Human Performance to better serve students who are preparing to teach high school English, mathematics and science.

“We have been providing a high level of education in these specific subject areas that have been housed in our College of Arts and Sciences,” said Reaves.  “By consolidating our secondary education program in the School of Education and Human Performance, we can focus more attention on teacher training.  The world of teaching has changed significantly over the years and we need to be sure that the teachers that we produce are equipped to be successful in the classroom.”

Other changes include moving the physical education major from the Department of Human Performance and Sports Sciences to the new Department of Secondary Education and the English as a Second Language program from the College of Arts and Sciences to the new Department of Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Professional Studies. The new departments will become effective July 1.

The university is also reorganizing the administration of its graduate programs by eliminating the School of Graduate Studies and Research and consolidating the responsibilities for graduate school programs administration, institutional research, sponsored projects and special projects under one associate provost.    Effective July 1, Dr. Carolynn Berry, currently assistant provost for planning, assessment and research will become an associate provost with responsibility for the activities outlined above.   She also will retain responsibility for institutional research.

Dr. Carolynn Berry

WSSU’s strategic plan for 2010-2015 includes five goals that address the curricular, infrastructure and resource factors that have been identified as most relevant to successful academic outcomes.  The five goals are centered on academic excellence at the undergraduate and graduate levels; student success; community engagement; efficiency, effectiveness and resources; and university pride and culture.

“These organizational changes will enable the university to manage more effectively its day-to-day responsibilities while focusing on the implementation requirements of the strategic plan,” Reaves said.

Irene Pace Hairston

Irene Pace Hairston, a WSSU alumna, former board trustee, and strong supporter of Winston-Salem State University, died Thursday, June 17, 2010. She was 96 years old.

Her memorial service was held June 22, at Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church in Winston-Salem.

Hairston was a dedicated educator for more than four decades. She was not only an educator but a dedicated civil servant as well. She served as a member of the city/county planning board for 16 years from 1980 to 1996.

After graduating from Columbia Heights High School, she enrolled at what was then Winston-Salem Teacher’s College.

Her parents’ house burned down, and Hairston left school with a two-year teaching certificate. She taught school for a few years so that she could earn money to help her parents rebuild their home. Then, she went back to college and earned a bachelor’s at WSSU and then a master’s degree from N.C. A&T State University.

When Winston-Salem State’s nursing program was in danger of losing its accreditation in 1989, Hairston is widely credited with saving the program. As a member of the WSSU Board of Trustees, she used the connections she made in the school system and as a community volunteer to get the ear of politicians and decision makers to save the program.

Hairston also served as member of the Winston-Salem Urban League Board of Directors. For her service, she received the League’s Community Service Award.

Because of her attention to community development concerns, the needs of small businesses, and individuals in need of help in the community, she was named “Woman of the Year” by the Winston-Salem Chronicle in 1992.

In recognition of her unwavering support of her alma mater, Hairston was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters degree by WSSU in 1993.

Kevin Ritsche is WSSU's new interim baseball coach.

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) will field a baseball team next spring for the first time since 1973.

“Having a baseball team was a requirement to join the CIAA, but beyond that, it is a great sport to add to the athletic roster,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.  “I believe a Rams baseball team will be good for the university’s athletic program and for the image of the university as an athletic competitor.  As an avid baseball fan, I am certainly excited.”

“I understand why the CIAA wanted to expand the conference’s baseball presence,” said Bill Hayes, WSSU’s athletic director.  “Developing an eight-team league will definitely create more competitive play within the conference.  As for WSSU, I think the local community is much more excited about baseball in general as shown by the attendance at DASH games in Winston-Salem and Grasshopper games in Greensboro.  I am hopeful that the growing interest in baseball will create support for our team as well.”

Chancellor Reaves (left) and WSSU director of Athletics (right) listen as Ritsche answers questions from the media.

WSSU has hired Kevin Ritsche as interim, part-time head coach in an effort to move the baseball program forward.  Ritsche has been an assistant professor in exercise science at the university since 2006.  He was team captain and later a graduate assistant for the varsity baseball team at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn., where he earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees in exercise physiology.  He was also a two-time Academic All-American and selected for the Midwest Baseball All-Region First Team in 2004.

The CIAA now requires that schools entering the conference have a baseball program.  With the addition of Chowan University, Lincoln University and now WSSU, eight of the 13 CIAA schools will have baseball teams next spring.

New WSSU Trustee Chuck Wallington

The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina has elected Chuck Wallington, vice president of public affairs and communications at American Express in Greensboro, N.C., to serve on the Board of Trustees for Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) completing a term that ends on June 30, 2011.

“We are extremely pleased that Chuck will bring his expertise in communications and community affairs in a global environment to our Board of Trustees,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.  “He has been a valuable member of the Board of Directors for the university’s Foundation and I know he will have that same level of commitment with his new responsibilities as a trustee.”

Wallington has been with American Express in Greensboro for 14 years and currently is responsible for communications, media relations and philanthropy for the company’s U.S. Customer Service Network that includes four Service Centers in this country and multiple partner sites in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Argentina.  A former newspaper reporter with the Dallas Times Herald, Wallington was in public relations and communications with RJR Nabisco in Winston-Salem for 11 years prior to joining American Express in 1996.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, he is a founding member and current board chairman of the Touching Lives Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Greensboro that provides programming in the areas of education, health and wellness, recreation and financial literacy.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the United Arts Council of Greensboro, a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and a past member of the Board of Visitors at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

The School of Health Sciences at Winston-Salem State will receive $100,000 for scholarships from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) through the RWJF New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program (NCIN). Grants provided through this competitive program will be given to students traditionally underrepresented in the field of nursing and strives to prepare culturally competent leaders in WSSU’s accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing program. NCIN was launched in 2008 to address the national nursing shortage and fuel the pipeline of diverse nurse faculty.

Dr. Peggy Valentine

The grant will provide 10 scholarships in the amount of $10,000 each for students entering accelerated nursing programs during the 2010-2011 academic year. To date, the NCIN program has supported 1,917 students at 101 schools of nursing, and continues to develop culturally competent health professionals and future leaders of the profession.

“These scholarships will be extremely beneficial in supporting our recruitment and retention efforts for students enrolled in our accelerated program to earn their bachelor degrees in nursing,” said Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of the School of Health Sciences.

“While there is a national shortage of professional nurses, we know that shortage is much greater in the underrepresented groups, such as males and most ethnic classifications,” Valentine added. “Nurses from these underrepresented groups can have a major impact on health care outcomes because they are more likely to understand the cultural values of their patients.  While this cultural competency is certainly beneficial for the patients, it can also improve the use of health care systems which would positively impact an entire community.”

WSSU offers an accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing in collaboration with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in any discipline to be eligible for the accelerated option. Students complete the accelerated option in 13 months and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.

The NCIN was created through RWJF and AACN to enable schools of nursing to expand student capacity in accelerated baccalaureate and master’s programs, and build a more diverse workforce ready to serve the needs of a changing patient population. Schools receiving grants through NCIN provide scholarships directly to students from groups underrepresented in nursing or from disadvantaged backgrounds. In its second year, 58 percent of scholarships went to students from diverse racial and ethnic groups and 37 percent went to male nursing students.  Men currently account for only 6.6 percent of the national nursing population.

“Through the NCIN program, we are challenging the nation’s nursing schools to be innovative and resourceful in how they grow their nursing programs, diversify student populations and contribute to the nursing leadership of tomorrow, said Denise A. Davis, Dr.P.H, RWJF program officer for NCIN.  “We are very pleased to support this unique approach, particularly at a time when growing numbers of Americans are gaining insurance and entering our health care system.”

In the 2010 – 2011 academic year, 397 students in accelerated baccalaureate programs and 114 students in accelerated master’s programs will receive scholarship funding.  The only universities in North Carolina receiving funds for the upcoming academic year are WSSU and Duke University.

By bringing more nurses into the profession at the baccalaureate and master’s degree levels, the NCIN program also helps to address the nation’s nurse faculty shortage. Data from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration show that nurses entering the profession via baccalaureate programs are four times more likely than other nurses to pursue a graduate degree in nursing. This trend is reflected in the NCIN scholars, as 95% of the students receiving funding in the first two years of the program indicate a desire to advance their education to the master’s and doctoral levels.

Finally, the RWJF New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program is clearly having a positive effect on the nation’s nursing schools. Many programs that received awards have used the NCIN funding to help leverage additional resources to add new faculty, secure matching funding from state programs, develop mentoring and leadership development programs, strengthen outreach efforts, and establish new partnerships with community and practice leaders. These efforts will enable schools to sustain their program expansion while positioning them for growth.

Carol Trent Davis

Frank L. Blum Construction Company has been selected by the Simon G. Atkins Community Development Corporation to manage the initial renovation phase of its planned Enterprise Center in the former Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club building at 1922 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

The Enterprise Center will serve as the anchor for the south end of the MLK corridor by providing a mixed-use facility.  The initial phase of the renovations will focus on developing space for a small business incubator that will support new and emerging companies, especially those with a “green” focus.  The incubator will be a business networking, training, support and counseling hub for its tenants. It will have approximately 20 offices ranging from 100 to 500 square feet, with rental rates starting at $150 a month.  In addition to supporting the creation of sustainable economic growth in the community, the S. G. Atkins CDC will incorporate sustainable, or “green,” principles in the renovation of the Enterprise Center, as well as through future programs and activities that will be held there.

The Old Boys and Girls Club will soon have a new look and feel.

“We chose Blum Construction because they are a local contractor that will provide jobs for local people, because they have a proven track record, and because of their experience building and renovating ‘green’ spaces,” said Carol Davis, executive director of the S. G. Atkins CDC.

“We are excited to be involved in this important project and to help facilitate Simon G. Atkins CDC’s mission,” said Drew Hancock, president of Frank L. Blum Construction Company. “The economic health of the neighborhoods surrounding Winston-Salem State University certainly deserves the important focus the Enterprise Center will offer.”

As a small business development project, the Enterprise Center is supported by numerous partners including Winston-Salem State University, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of Winston-Salem, Golden LEAF Foundation, Duke Energy, Truliant Federal Credit Union and the Winston-Salem Community Development Support Collaborative.

Dr. Teresa Conner-Kerr

Researcher Dr. Teresa Conner-Kerr,  is working to fine tune ultrasound waves to destroy dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause open wound infections that claims lives annually.

Bacteria in open wounds are often treated with antibiotics, according to Conner-Kerr, WSSU Department of Physical Therapy chair in the School of Health Sciences and author of the study.  But antibiotic-resistant forms of bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are emerging as problems in daycares, sports facilities and homes.   They are no longer just a problem in hospitals.

Conner-Kerr and her research team found that very low frequency ultrasound at 35 khz kills bacteria, including MRSA, by puncturing and fracturing the bacterial cell walls and altering the cells’ tendencies to grow in colonies.   This study measured the effects of ultrasound on bacterial viability, cell wall structure, colony characteristics and antibiotic sensitivity. The study was conducted on in vitro bacteria samples. The study documented that when exposed to 30 seconds of treatment, antibiotic-resistant forms of bacteria dropped from 106 per milliliter to six per milliliter, an approximate 99 percent drop.

“We are happy to report, based on our study, 35 kHz very low frequency ultrasound is more effective at reducing total bacteria cells in vitro than other frequencies of ultrasound.  This is encouraging and timely news because standard therapies are failing and the importance of finding alternative approaches to managing these pathogens are becoming increasingly important,” said Conner-Kerr, “but further study is recommended on this potentially effective therapy.”

In the past, one antibiotic medication, methicillin, has been effective in killing open wound bacteria.  But increasing cases of MRSA have become a particular concern in the medical community.   This study focused on those bacterial strains.

Conner-Kerr and her research team found very low frequency ultrasound alone and in combination with standard antimicrobial compounds may prove to be beneficial and may provide an alternative strategy for not only treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including MRSA, but also in reversing its resistance to drugs. The ability to resensitize MRSA to methicillin points to a new way of utilizing older antibiotics that have become ineffective by pairing them with low frequency ultrasound when administered to the wound bed.  Because low frequency ultrasound penetrates tissue deeply, the entire wound can be treated.

Multiple studies, including population surveillance studies, have shown that MRSA infections in hospitalized patients are associated with greater lengths of stay, higher mortality, and increased costs.  Other studies show MRSA infections of lower extremity wounds are associated with increased lengths of stay and a higher incidence of adverse postsurgical outcomes in hospitalized patients.

Capacity crowd for WSSU's 2010 Spring Commencement.

More than 1200 graduate and undergraduate candidates for graduation were able to give their mothers a big present the day before Mothers Day, when on Saturday May 8, they accepted their degrees before a huge crowd of more than 12,000.

Nearly 500 December 2009 graduates participated in the morning ceremony. Their ceremony in December was canceled because of a snowstorm. North Carolina State Representative Larry Womble gave the keynote address. Both he and Representative Earline Parmon, also a WSSU graduate, were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees for their many years of service.

Dr. Donald Stewart

In the afternoon session, nearly 900 graduates received their diplomas, the largest class in the school’s history. Dr. Donald M. Stewart, who served as president of Spelman College for 10 years, served as the keynote speaker.  Stewart and WSSU graduate Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, named one of the NBA’s Top 50 players of all time, received honorary degrees.

Click here to see and hear more of WSSU’s 2010 Spring Commencement.

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe

Nearly 900 undergraduate and graduate students participated. Here are some of their stories.

The Politician

Public Administration major Derwin Montgomery made national headlines in fall 2009 when he won, by a large margin, the vote in Winston-Salem’s East Ward race to become one of the youngest members of the Winston-Salem City Council in recent memory.

Chancellor Reaves congratulates graduate and city council member Derwin Montgomery.

A native of Hopkins, SC, Montgomery plans to attend Wake Forest University entering their dual degree program between the Law School and the Divinity School.  Currently he is 1st Vice President of the North Carolina NAACP’s Youth & College Division and East Ward City Councilman. He was recognized for his community involvement by the City of Winston-Salem in January of 2009 when he was one of the recipients of the inaugural Martin Luther King, Jr. Young Dreamers Award. Montgomery aspires to be a U.S. Senator.

The Mother and Son

When Victor Banks moved back to Winston-Salem several years ago to help care for his ailing father, who knew he would eventually be attending college with his mother.  After losing her husband to a lengthy illness, Sondra Banks began to look at other areas of her life to help recover from her tragic loss and focus on new horizons.  Sondra, a full-time WSSU administrative assistant in the School of Education and Human Performance, decided to expand from taking one course per semester to attending school full-time. Working and taking classes helped Sondra to fill the void in her life.  Eventually, she found herself enrolled in a course with her son.

“We were in the same class together one time, an economics class.  When the instructor asked if we were related, I said ‘I don’t know that boy,” noted Banks. “All of the students in the class knew I was his mother. . . . I’m proud of him.”

Banks said her son eventually tutored her in that economics class.  “It was great to do this together –  it was actually fun,” Banks said.

According to Victor, “This is a really happy time for us, I feel great.  It’s been exciting to experience college and to graduate with my mother. I tried to get more classes with her, but couldn’t because we are in different majors.  I can see my Mom worked hard with class, full-time work and an internship.  I am proud of her.”

Both Banks will participate in WSSU’s commencement.  Sondra will receive a degree in social work with honors, Victor will graduate with a degree in business administration.  Both, mother and son, each will each wait a year before deciding whether to further their education.

TWIN PEAKS

It was a big deal for fraternal twins Samatha and Saundra Hayes to go to college in the “big city” of Winston-Salem.  The Hayes are from Skipwith, VA, population 807, give or take a few, and no stoplights.

Saundra (left) and Samatha take a last college photo together.

Back in Skipwith they were known as “The Twins.” Upon arrival at WSSU, they became known as – “The Twins.” But that was about the only thing that remained the same for the Hayes. Besides their classes, the twins were exposed to new cultures, city life, people of diverse interests, backgrounds and intellectual abilities.

“It is really huge here,” said Samatha. “The first time we rode a bus to the mall, we called our Mother because it was the first time we ever rode on a bus.  She told us not to talk to anyone.”

Since then, the Hayes twins have come the proverbial “long way.”  They no longer go home as often to “breathe fresh country air.”  After doing everything together all of their lives, they in fact, are now ready to venture off into new communities — separately.

After commencement, Samatha, an exercise science major, will go to the University of South Carolina to study for a master’s degree in social work.  Saundra, a rehabilitation studies major, will attend Virginia Commonwealth University to study rehabilitative counseling. Each wants to move to a larger city –  such as Washington, D.C. –  after grad school.

Their mother, a teacher’s assistant, had a huge impact on their lives. The twins’ career choice was inspired by someone they met when their mother sustained an injury that required physical therapy.  The therapist sparked the twins’ interest in physical therapy and helping those with physical challenges, “such as children who can’t always help themselves,” said Samatha.

The Hayes twins will be the first in their families to receive bachelors’ degrees. They will also make family history by becoming the first to pursue master’s degrees.

Husband and Wife and Oldest Grad

Doris (left) and Theodore prepare to recieve their degrees.

Theodore Evans and his wife, Doris, were the husband and wife team and this class’ oldest graduates. The couple say it was their daughter, Ianthe Nivens, a Business Administration major and also a 2010 graduate, who inspired them to go back to school and get their degrees. Both earned their degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies.  For Theodore, getting his degree was a long time coming. He began his quest to earn his degree more than 35 years ago. Theodore is 71.

The Molecular Biologists

Cynthia Grady and Jacqueline Jackson are standout molecular biology majors with a slew of awards, medical and graduate school acceptances.

Grady is the recipient of the WSSU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) award for the Outstanding Student in Academics.  She has been on the Dean’s List during her entire time at WSSU, which began in Fall 2006.  She has maintained a cumulative Grade Point average of 3.8 throughout her studies (during the last five semesters she maintained a 4.0 cumulative GPA).

A former member of the WSSU Track team, Grady was named to the 2008-2009 Mid-Atlantic Eastern Conference (MEAC) Commissioner’s All-Academic Team and a WSSU Athletics Academic All-Star from 2006-2009.  In addition to WSSU, Grady has participated in biomedical training and research programs at Duke, Johns Hopkins and the University of the Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa.  She has received other awards for athletics and for participating in student leadership and community volunteer programs.

Grady has been accepted at seven medical schools.

Jacqueline Jackson is the recipient of the WSSU College of Arts and Sciences’ Outstanding Student in Research award.  In addition, she is the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Best Research in the College.  Jackson has participated in scientific research since her freshman year (2006).  During her time as a WSSU student, she has partnered with WSSU Life Sciences researchers, as well as participated in biomedical training and research programs at University of Michigan and University of Maryland in Baltimore County.  She has presented research findings at conferences in as far a way as Orlando, FL and Austin, TX.

Jackson plans to obtain a Ph.D. in biological sciences and pursue a career as a research professor.

The Ram Pack

In the summer of 2006, at least six freshman participants in WSSU’s Summer Outreach Program – an initiative to increase the number of graduates in biology, chemistry, computer science, and mathematics – made a promise to each other.  Ja’Pel Sumpter, Jennifer Paige, Mia Lassiter, (Cynthia) Grady, Robin Scott, Jasmine Peterson, Ashley Pierce, and (Derwin) Montomery “all made a pact and believed we will be going to medical school after graduation,” said Sumpter, a Chester S.C. native who has been accepted at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Only Montgomery and Scott are not going to medical school. “Derwin changed his mind along the way and decided on law school, and Robin is going to Pharmacy school,” Sumpter said.

Nearly all of the Ram Pack members have maintained a 3.75 GPA, were involved in community service and served as campus leaders through athletics, Student Government Association, honors programs or service based organizations.

“We all have grown to understand the importance of obtaining a higher education while maintaining a true sense of altruism and compassion towards the betterment of our community and the underprivileged populations whose voices often go unheard,” Sumpter said.

Sumpter plans to wear her mother’s University of South Carolina cap and gown when she participates in WSSU’s commencement as a tribute.  Her mother wore the regalia several years ago when Sumpter was in high school.  Her mother received two master’s degrees that day, one in nursing, the other in public health.  It had an impact on Sumpter.  “She inspires me,” Sumpter said.

WSSU Officers respond to "active shooter" notification.

On Wednesday, May 12, from 8 a.m. until approximately 3 p.m., Winston-Salem State University participated in a full-scale drill to simulate a real emergency on campus.  All campuses within the UNC system are holding these mock “active shooter” exercises in an effort to ensure that the university is prepared in case of an actual emergency.

The drill included two gunmen who have shot victims in Brown Hall with Campus Police responding and shooting one of the suspects.  The second shooter took hostages at the Thompson Center and later a vehicle in Parking Lot O was identified as containing unknown devices, which could possibly be explosives.

Drill evaluator observes officer in action.

City of Winston-Salem Fire and HAZMAT personnel also participated in the drill.

While the drill focused on Brown Hall, the Thompson Center and one parking lot, the entire eastern side of the campus was locked down after 8 a.m. The campus was closed to students, visitors and vendors.

The WSSU Public Safety Office coordinated the exercise, which also included local law enforcement and emergency response agencies.  WSSU security was stationed at all entrances once the campus went into lockdown.

Since this exercise was designed to simulate WSSU’s response to a shooter on campus, all personnel were requested to do what they would do in a real emergency:  stay inside or go inside; close windows and doors and wait for updates.

The result of the test was that the university and emergency responders all said they learned a few things that will need to be improved in case of a real emergency.

Dr. Janice Witt Smith

Seven faculty members at Winston-Salem State University recently received teaching awards for their accomplishments in the classroom and 26 other faculty and staff members were recognized for earning more than $9 million in grant funding for the university.
Dr. Janice Witt Smith, associate professor of management in the School of Business and Economics, was recognized for receiving the UNC Board of Governors’ Excellence in Teaching Award and Dr. Beth Day-Hairston, an associate professor in the School of Education and Human Performance, received the Wachovia Excellence in Teaching Award.

Those faculty members receiving Master Teacher Awards were: Dr. Cedric T. Bass, assistant professor of English; Dr. Naomi M. Hall, assistant professor of psychology; and Dr. Shannon Matthews, assistant professor of Gerontology.  Dr. James S. Etim, professor of Education, received the Wilveria B. Atkinson Distinguished Research Award and Dr. Shirley Manigault, professor of English and the associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, received the Cedric S. Rodney Distinguished Service Award.
“Faculty, staff and administrators conduct programs designed to improve the health, education and services within the city of Winston-Salem, the region, the nation and globally,” said Valerie Howard, director of Sponsored Programs, the area responsible for working with grant submissions. “The $9,177,386 that came in to the university was for the 2008-2009 academic year.

We will exceed that amount this fiscal year by more than $5 million, which is a true indicator of the dedication to sponsored program activities in addition to their teaching or administrative responsibilities.”

In addition to individual faculty members recognized for the grants they had received, the School of Health Sciences was acknowledged as earning the highest total dollar amount of grants and awards for the third consecutive year.  That total was $2,251,578.

Dr. Azeez Aileru, with the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, and Carol Davis, executive director of the Simon Green Atkins Community Development Center, were inducted in the Million Dollar Club for bringing more than $1,000,000 each into the university.

Five staff and faculty members were recognized for being awarded between $500,000 and $1 million in grants.  They were Alvin Atkins, interim director of the Center for Community Safety; Dr. Sylvia Flack, executive director for the Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities; Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of the School of Health Sciences; Dr. Lenora Campbell, of the Division of Nursing; and Davis from the Atkins CDC.

Robert Cowie, from the Master of Science in Physical Therapy Program, and Blair Abee with the Small Business and Technology Development Center, each brought in grants ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 while 17 other staff and faculty members received grants ranging from $250,000 to $10,000 each.

Dr. Phillip Jeter

Dr. Phillip Jeter, professor and chair of the Department of Mass Communications at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), has been named the recipient of the 2010 Edward L. Bliss Award for Distinguished Broadcast Journalism Education.

This award recognizes an electronic journalism educator who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the field in the areas of teaching, service and scholarship. It is given annually by the Radio-Television Journalism (RTVJ) division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and will be presented August 5 at the association’s national convention in Denver.

Jeter has been at Winston-Salem State since 2008.  Previously, he had spent 19 years on the faculty of the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University.  In 2007, he was named the Geier Visiting Professor at Middle Tennessee State University and he has also taught mass media courses at Johnson C. Smith University, Marshall University, Michigan State University and the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus. Prior to becoming a professor, Jeter was a news writer for United Press International and worked at WTTW-TV, a public broadcasting station in Chicago.

Jeter currently serves on the editorial board of RTVJ’s academic journal, Electronic News, and is former chair of the Minorities and Communications division. He has been a chair and member of the Teaching Standards Committee and is on the board of contributing editors for Journalism History, American Journalism, Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, and the Howard Journal of Communications.  Jeter is a past chair of the Multicultural Division of the Broadcast Education Association.

One of Jeter’s former students is Kathy Times, an Emmy-winning investigative reporter who is now an anchor for Fox 40 in Jackson, MS, and this year’s president of the National Association of Black Journalists.  “Dr. Jeter has the right ingredients for reaching and teaching students.  I remember him being calm, but he demanded that we excel in every aspect,” Times said.  “(He gave) me my tuition’s worth and more.”

In writing Jeter’s nomination letter, Dr. Don Heider, dean and professor of the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago, said, “Phil represents everything we look for in a Bliss winner.  He is a dedicated teacher who has served students for many years.  He is dedicated to broadcasting where he worked and has kept an active hand over many years, and he has an exemplary record of service, stepping up whenever asked.”

Jeter holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, an M.A. from Cornell University, and a B.A. from Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU).  He is active in the alumni associations for both Wisconsin and JCSU, and he is a life member of the NAACP.

The distinguished broadcast journalism educator award is named for Edward L. Bliss, a long-time writer, producer and editor for CBS News.  Bliss was known for his work with Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite and ended his career as an educator at American University, which now houses the plaques bearing the award winners’ names.

The Official Directory of Winston-Salem State University

Dr. Peggy Valentine

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) has received approval from the University of North Carolina’s Board of Governors to establish a doctoral program in physical therapy that should be available in January 2011, pending approval of a level change by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

“We are extremely pleased with this decision and proud of the work that went into making this proposal a reality,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.  “We have had tremendous success with our master’s degree program in physical therapy.  With the American Physical Therapy Association now planning to make doctoral level preparation a requirement for physical therapy education, we knew we had the foundation, the faculty and the ability to take our program to that next level.”

The WSSU doctoral degree will be a three-year program that includes 36 weeks of clinical education.  Students will also participate in community clinical practice and focused research experiences.  Currently, physical therapy students provide comprehensive, free physical therapy services to the Winston-Salem community through the Walkertown Community Care Center.  This Center is the largest of its kind in North Carolina providing high-quality healthcare services to the medically uninsured and underserved.

The university began offering the Masters of Physical Therapy (PT) program in 2000 and the enrollment has grown over 560% since that time, with graduates having an overall pass rate of 95% on the national boards.   The program has also established a national reputation in simulation training and was the first to fully integrate human patient simulation across the curriculum.  Further, the program also received funding to design a one-of-a-kind physical therapy serious game, which will be offered nationally to the professional rehabilitation community once completed.

“Our success and our on-going efforts in the field of physical therapy are extremely important as the demand for PT services continues to increase, particularly as the population ages,” said Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of WSSU’s School of Health Sciences.  “Even with the current level of graduates from all of the PT programs, physical therapy has the most vacancies of any allied health discipline in the Upper Piedmont and western areas of the state.  As the profession migrates toward requiring a doctoral degree for entry, the WSSU program becomes even more important in meeting the health needs in North Carolina.”

Historically, the PT program at WSSU has had the highest graduate retention rate in the state with over 80% of graduates remaining in the state of North Carolina to serve its people.  The program is also uniquely qualified to address rapidly changing population demographics in North Carolina since it enrolls some four to 10 times the number of ethnic minorities than the national average.

The program also enjoys a strong research infrastructure, which includes a collaborative research laboratory shared with Wake Forest University’s Department of Surgical Services.  The WSSU and WFU Human Movement & Biodynamics Laboratory supports faculty research from both institutions, as well as graduate medical and physical therapy student training.  According to Dr. Conner-Kerr, chairperson of the Department of Physical Therapy, “this laboratory offers a state-of-the-art motion analysis system, as well as, the most comprehensive pressure-mapping system outside of the military educational centers.  This technology, along with other instrumentation in virtual reality, electromyography and postural assessment provides a significant infrastructure for conducting sponsored research.”

“With access to a state-of-the-art human movement lab, virtual health center with human patient simulators and rehabilitation gaming, and internationally known faculty, the program is well positioned to deliver the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree,” added Valentine.

The program currently houses eight full-time faculty, three staff and specialty adjunct faculty from the community and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.  There are also plans to hire several new faculty members over the next three years.

Dr. Aileru

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and Wake Forest University (WFU) officially kicked-off a new undergraduate neuroscience training cooperative prior to a regional student neuroscience conference held March 26-27.

The collaboration on the new training cooperative is designed to increase minority participation in neuroscience, education and research.  It will provide a neuroscience minor degree program for five students at WSSU, who will complete additional courses at WSSU and WFU over a two-year period.  At least one semester of research is also required.

“The Department of Life Sciences is excited to offer this neuroscience degree minor,” said Dr. Donna Durham-Pierre, department chair.  “This will serve as a stepping stone for students who are interested in graduate programs in neuroscience.”

Dr. Azeez Aileru, professor of neurobiology at WSSU and director of the university Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center (BRIC), was instrumental in developing the collaborative agreement between the two universities. He also was the keynote speaker at the pre-conference banquet that served as the official kick-off of the cooperative effort.

“BRIC and the Department of Life Sciences at WSSU have a critical mass of neuroscientists and we need to build upon these strengths,” Aileru said.  “Our goal is to create a neuroscience training ground for our students in which this program will firmly stand.”

Aileru also emphasized that underrepresentation of minorities in the biomedical sciences is well-documented, especially in neuroscience.  In 2006, approximately 60 of the 483 neuroscience degrees were awarded to underrepresented minorities, with only 3 percent going to African Americans.

“A 2005 survey noted that only 3 percent of U.S. citizens who are postdoctoral trainees in neuroscience are African American, Hispanic or Native American,” added Aileru.  “Consequently, the neuroscience program at WSSU will continue to support the goal of increasing minority participation.  Consequently, this will increase the involvement of minorities in important research areas such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.”

The actual conference, Symposium for Young Neuroscientists and Professors of the Southeast, provided opportunities for undergraduate students to present their research results and obtain feedback from neuroscientists, as well as to participate in workshops and learn about cutting-edge research in the field.  This year’s conference was hosted by Wake Forest with Winston-Salem State hosting the pre-conference banquet.

Chancellor Reaves

Chancellor Donald J. Reaves of Winston-Salem State University has been appointed to serve on the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Capital Financing Advisory Board by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

The Board provides advice and counsel to the Secretary of Education and the designated bonding authority on the most effective and efficient means of implementing construction financing on HBCU campuses, and advises Congress regarding the progress made in implementing the program.  Reaves’ term began immediately upon notification of the appointment and will end on September 30, 2013.

“I am honored by the appointment, as well as excited about the opportunity to work in this area of critical need for HBCUs around the nation,” Reaves said.  “We focus a tremendous amount of attention on the academic efforts of our schools, as well we should.  We cannot, however, underestimate the impact of our facilities and physical infrastructure on the quality of education we can provide.”

The HBCU Capital Financing Program was created by Congress in 1992 to provide low-cost capital to finance infrastructure improvements.  Loans may be used for classroom and laboratory facilities, dormitory and dining, student centers, libraries, instructional equipment, research instrumentation and capital equipment or fixtures.

Winston-Salem Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian Burke

The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina has elected Dr. Vivian Burke to serve on the Board of Trustees of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), fulfilling a partial three-year term that ends on June 30, 2011.  Burke is a long-time educator who retired from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System and is mayor pro tempore for the City of Winston-Salem.

“Dr. Burke’s experiences in education and community service will certainly be an asset to our Board of Trustees,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.  “She has been a tireless advocate for causes that highlight minority achievement and we are extremely pleased that she will be bringing that energy and determination to this new role at WSSU.”

A former member of the Board of Trustees at Elizabeth City State University, Burke retired from the school system after having served as a guidance counselor and industrial education coordinator.  She has been a member of the Winston-Salem City Council since 1977 where, in addition to serving as mayor pro tempore, she chairs the Public Safety Committee.  Burke is a member of numerous civic and governmental organizations, including the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, the N. C. Mental Health Board, the N. C. League of Municipalities, National Women of Achievement and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  She is also the founder of the local Black Political Awareness League and a former member of the N.C. Banking Commission.

Burke earned her undergraduate degree from Elizabeth City State University and her M.S. degree from North Carolina A&T State University.  In 2002, Livingstone College conferred upon her a Doctor of Humane Letters degree and she received a similar degree from Winston-Salem State University in 2004.  She is married to Logan Burke, a former state representative.  They have one son, L. Todd Burke, a Superior Court Judge, and two grandchildren.

Donald Stewart

On the recommendation of Chancellor Donald J. Reaves and with concurrence of the faculty committee on honorary degrees, the Board of Trustees of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) voted unanimously to award the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters to Dr. Donald M. Stewart and Earl Monroe at its meeting on March 19. Stewart served as president and chief executive officer of The College Board and president of Spelman College, while Monroe is a WSSU alumnus who was a star on the university’s 1967 NCAA Division II National Championship basketball team.

“Donald Stewart has made tremendous contributions to higher education over his career,” said Reaves.  “While he was leading The College Board, he helped to expand efforts to improve the academic preparation of minority and financially disadvantaged students.  Additionally, he served as president of Spelman College for 10 years, serving as the last male president at that historically Black women’s college in Atlanta. Donald also has a storied career in the not-for-profit arena working with the Ford Foundation and The Chicago Community Trust.  After retiring as chief executive officer of The Trust, he is now a visiting professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy Studies.”

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe

A 1967 WSSU graduate known as “Earl the Pearl,” Monroe was the number two choice in the 1967 NBA draft and became a standout player with the Baltimore Bullets, earning NBA Rookie of the Year honors.  He later joined the New York Knicks where he was a member of the 1973 NBA-title winning team.  In 1990, Monroe was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 1996 he was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.

“Earl played a key role in WSSU being the first all-Black school to win the NCAA Division II National Title,” Reaves said. “Because of him, many more people became aware of our university.  There has never been any doubt that Earl certainly helped herald in a new era in basketball, but he has also been a great ambassador for Winston-Salem State University. Additionally, he has been active in various community programs, receiving many honors for his work such as the Harlem Professional Inspirational Award, the Most Outstanding Model for American Youth Award, and the YMCA Citizenship Award.”

Stewart and Monroe will receive their degrees during WSSU’s Spring Commencement on May 8 at 2 p.m. in the Lawrence Joel Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, where Stewart will serve as the commencement speaker.

Winston-Salem State University’s (WSSU’s) Simon G. Atkins Community Development Corporation (CDC) has purchased the former Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club building at 1922 S.  Martin Luther King Drive.  The building will be renovated and developed as an enterprise center to serve as a green-business incubator that will also offer space to meet other community needs, such as a health clinic, green-job training, a community garden, music and language classes, and a computer lab.

Carol Trent Davis

The approximately 40,000 square-foot building will be renovated floor by floor to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status.  Carol Davis, executive director of the CDC, acknowledged that being “green” is more than using the right equipment or materials.  “We will work to incorporate renewable energy, such as solar panels, and we will emphasize energy conservation and recycling in our operations and in our educational outreach. A community garden will provide food for the neighborhood and volunteers who work in it, which also presents an opportunity to teach good nutrition and entrepreneurship.  We would like the garden to be organic, and we will try composting to create fertilizer and collecting rain to water the garden.”

Once the incubator floor is complete, it will become the home for up to 20 small businesses, with an emphasis on those that have a “green” focus.  In partnership with WSSU, the Simon G. Atkins CDC is focused on revitalizing the neighborhoods adjoining the WSSU campus and along the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Drive corridor. Last year, the CDC finished work with Brailsford & Dunlavey to develop a comprehensive strategic master plan for the MLK corridor between U.S. 52 and Waughtown Street; in the plan, reuse of the former Boys and Girls Club site is highlighted as an anchor for the corridor that may stimulate additional development.

“The master plan also supported the concept of developing a business incubator for the MLK Drive community,” Davis said. “This is a prime location for this project and the timing is perfect to meet the demand to grow small businesses and create jobs.”

Notis Pagiavlas, chair of the CDC and WSSU business professor, is a strong proponent of the incubator and is working closely with the CDC on this project because of the significant impact it can have on rejuvenating the community and the region.  Under his leadership, the WSSU Center for Entrepreneurship will provide technical assistance to the entrepreneurs, match them with mentors and help them raise capital.

The first phase of renovations will start in Spring 2010 and is expected to be completed in the fall, with the first class of entrepreneurs moving in late this year. Davis has been working with the architect to ensure that the building will accomplish the needed renovations under the green-certification with a goal of having the first green-certified small-business incubator in North Carolina.

“I would like to completely occupy the building with businesses today, but much work needs to be done to retrofit the space,” added Davis. “ We are currently developing partnerships with a diverse group of supporters from WSSU, the City of Winston-Salem, the MicroEnterprise Loan Program, the Chambers of Commerce and even Duke Energy.  When The Enterprise Center is complete, the mix of tenants and community organizations will range from small start-up businesses to a health clinic.”

WSSU Chancellor Emeritus Cleon F. Thompson

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) Chancellor Donald J. Reaves has announced the establishment of the Cleon F. Thompson, Jr. Distinguished Professorship in Nursing.  The endowed chair was made possible by a gift of $250,000 from the C. D. Spangler Foundation and a matching grant from the State.

“Our program continues to be a major provider of nurses, particularly in the State of North Carolina,” said Reaves.  “An endowed professorship is crucial to our ability to recruit distinguished professors who will promote excellence in teaching, research and service.  With the impact of the healthcare field on our area and state’s economic development efforts, the emphasis on quality nursing education becomes even more important.”

The chair is named in honor of Dr. Thompson, who served as Chancellor at WSSU from 1985 until 1995.  During Thompson’s tenure, the goals of the university included recruitment of quality faculty and surpassing accreditation standards.  The Student Services Center on the campus is named for Thompson.  After leaving WSSU, he continued work within the University of North Carolina system and at Shaw University.  Thompson is also a director emeritus for the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development.

“Cleon had a tremendous impact during his 10 years at Winston-Salem State,” added Reaves.  “The $25 million ‘Centennial Campaign’ was launched under his leadership and that led to expansion of the university’s program and its campus.  It was also during this time that the nursing program was revitalized and the university saw an increase in both the student body and the size of the faculty.”

The C. D. Spangler Foundation is named after C. D. Spangler, Jr.  A successful Charlotte businessman and advocate for public education at all levels, Spangler served as president of the University of North Carolina from 1986 to 1997.  The Foundation supports a challenge-grant program created by UNC to increase the number of distinguished professorships in high-need academic fields.

The Motorsport Management Program at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is increasing its global presence by establishing a new academic journal, “The International Journal of Motorsport Management,” and by planning international opportunities for its students.

Dr. Teague has worked tirelessly to expand the motorsport program.

“We are very pleased to announce that Shell Oil Company has made a generous contribution to our efforts,” said Dr. Travis Teague, coordinator of the Motorsport Management Program. “This gift will enable us to expand our international efforts, as well as address the critical need to provide our students with experiential learning opportunities that now exist in the industry.”

“Winston-Salem State University’s motorsport management program is a leader in secondary education and its expansion into the international scope of our business further strengthens their position,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Shell Oil Company’s long history in the motorsports industry, including their current partnership with Richard Childress Racing, gives them a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed. This involvement in the expansion of Winston-Salem State’s motorsport program shows their commitment to the future of our sport.”

The journal and expanded international efforts also underscore WSSU’s commitment to the future of motorsports.

“With the international impact of motorsports, it has become evident that an academic journal focusing on the management issues in the industry is a needed project that we would like to take on,” Teague added.  “The journal will provide an opportunity for higher education professionals to publish scholarly works that are both timely and useful to professional motorsports managers.”

The journal will focus on the management of motorsports facilities, teams and human resources, as well as the risk and legal issues facing today’s industry administrators.

As part of efforts to expand the Motorsport Management Program on a more global level, the faculty will travel to France this summer to further develop an international curricular component for the program.

“In the summer of 2011, students and faculty will then travel to Paris to study the tremendous cultural and historical aspects of motorsports in France,” said Teague.  “They will also study the impact of the 1955 24 Hours of LeMans tragedy, which was the worst accident in motorsports history killing 83 people including spectators and drivers.  That accident had a profound impact on safety initiatives within the global motorsports industry.

“As we continue to expand our program opportunities, our goal is to have an annual international experience. These global initiatives are designed to prepare today’s college students for the international challenges of tomorrow’s motorsports marketplace,” Teague added.

WSSU is the only four-year university in the country, and the only historically black college or university, to offer a Bachelor of Science degree program in motorsport management.  The program offers two concentrations, motorsports operations and motorsports marketing/event planning.

The program also benefits from an Advisory Council, which represents management facets of the motorsports industry.  Some of the members of that group are Childress, Sprint Cup driver Jeff Burton, NASCAR’s Director of Diversity Dawn Harris and International Speedway Corporation’s Todd Ervin.

“With the guidance of our Advisory Council members and supporters such as Shell Oil Company, we are able to provide our students with the skills, knowledge and experience that will make them assets in the global motorsports industry,” Teague explained.  “Our work also complements the efforts that many motorsports organizations are making to include more minorities and women in their operations.”

Chancellor Reaves

Winston-Salem State University was the subject of a town hall community forum to support the university sponsored by the Minister’s Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity at Union Baptist Church March 16.

The forum titled “The Minister’s Conference and Winston-Salem State University Town Hall Meeting” consisted of musical selections from the University Choir, a message from Chancellor Reaves, a panel discussion involving representatives from the Minister’s Conference and the WSSU community, and a question and answer session.

The event also included information booths set up and manned by representatives from various elements of the university community.

By most accounts, the event was a major success.

Dr. Wilkerson maintained her connection to the university all her life.

Winston-Salem State University has received a $220,000 gift from the estate of Dr. Rachel E. Diggs Wilkinson, who passed away in 2008.  The funds will be divided equally between an endowed scholarship and establishing an endowment fund for Diggs Gallery.

“This gift represents Dr. Wilkinson’s long-term commitment to the university and is one of the largest estate gifts we have ever received,” said Dr. Brenda Allen, provost.  “The new Rachel E. Diggs Wilkinson Scholarship will certainly benefit worthy students who are in financial need.  Also, this initial gift to Diggs Gallery will allow us to establish an endowment fund that can provide operational support for this unique art treasure that serves not only the university, but the broader community.”

The ties Wilkinson and her family have to Winston-Salem State go back to the institution’s beginnings.  Her parents were graduates of Slater Industrial Academy, while she and four of her five siblings were honor graduates of what was then Winston-Salem Teachers College. The education wing of the Anderson Center on the WSSU campus is named after her grandfather, Bishop Jefferson Davis Diggs, as is Diggs Elementary School, Diggs Boulevard and Diggs Memorial United Holy Church in Winston-Salem.  Additionally, the Diggs Gallery is named for her brother, “T” Diggs, who was an artist and art professor at WSSU for 45 years.

Wilkinson graduated from WSSU in 1933 and was then denied admission to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill because of her race.  She enrolled at Columbia University and earned her master’s degree there in 1937.  She then returned to North Carolina to teach in the public schools until she was named dean of women at WSSU in 1940.

She earned her doctorate in higher education at New York University and later joined the City University of New York, where she stayed until her retirement in 1972 as a full professor.

New blueprint for student success adopted by WSSU Board of Trustees.

The Winston-Salem State University board of trustees adopted a new strategic plan for the university during its quarterly meeting in December. The plan is likely to impact every facet of the university, from academic advising to enrollment.

At the core of the plan is a call to improve student retention and graduation rates.

In the plan, statistics show that the percentage of first-year students who stay for a second year dropped from 77 percent in 2003 to 68 percent in 2006. WSSU Chancellor Donald Reaves wants to see that number improve to about 85 percent. He would also like to see the six-year graduation rate improve to 60 percent from the current number of approximately 40 percent.

University officials say one of the ways the university can improve those rates is in the selection process. That means selecting prospective students with stronger academic backgrounds. Although enrollment boomed in the early 2000s, the university was not attracting top academic students, officials said. That changed this year, when WSSU scaled back its freshman class to 795 from the 2008 record high of 1,357.

The document adopted by the board brings into focus Chancellor Reaves’ overall vision for WSSU over the next five years. “This is a blueprint for how to move the university along a continuum of improved outcomes,” Reaves says.

Reaves also talks about the need to see more core classes that will excite students.  As it is now, new students take a narrow core curriculum and typically declare their major during their freshman year. He has called for a more flexible approach.  “We’ve got to get our core curriculum to a place that is modern and flexible and that provides a student with choices,” Reaves says. “We have to get away from the notion that when 17-year-olds arrive on campus  they have to pick a major. “

Other changes ahead include:

• A first-year seminar program.

• Increasing internship opportunities.

• Expanding online- and distance-learning offerings and programs.

• Increasing financial aid for graduate students.

• Enhancing retention support for at-risk students.

• Increasing revenue from fundraising and philanthropic support.

• Investing in new and renovated facilities designed to build a better sense of community.

Rams' new head football coach Connell Maynor

The university has named Connell Maynor, a college football veteran with more than 20 years of experience as a player and coach, as its ninth head football coach.

Maynor has been part of 10 championship teams, six as a player and four as a coach.  Most recently Maynor was the offensive architect of the 2009 CIAA Champion Fayetteville State University Broncos, serving as both offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Maynor, a former standout football student-athlete at both Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina A&T State University, was introduced as the Rams’ head coach at a press conference in the Richardson Hospitality Room of the WSSU Bowman Gray Fieldhouse Dec 15, 2009.

“I am extremely pleased that Connell Maynor has accepted our offer to become Winston-Salem State’s head football coach,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.  “I am also delighted that we were able to move the selection process so quickly because time is, of course, of the essence for our recruiting and planning for the 2010 season.  Now, we will be able to start the new year with Bill Hayes as our athletic director and Connell Maynor heading up our football program,” Reaves added.

An eight-person search committee led by search committee chair, Dr. Dennis Felder, was charged with the responsibility of filling WSSU’s football coaching vacancy from a pool of more than 75 applicants representing 17 states.

“Undertaking this process of being chair of the search committee for our head football coach search, and having been given the directive of needing to have a coach in place by January 1, was a challenge,” Felder said.  “However, with the outstanding search committee we assembled, the goal was accomplished.  As the head of the search committee I can unequivocally say that we are welcoming the most qualified candidate for our head coaching vacancy and the person who is certainly the best fit to represent our university and lead our football program.”

Maynor spent the last 10 seasons as a member of the Broncos’ award-winning football staff. He helped to lead Fayetteville to four CIAA title game appearances and three CIAA championships (2002, 2003 and 2009).  His offensive unit produced two All-CIAA quarterback selections (2002 and 2003) and ranked first in the CIAA in rushing offense, total offense and scoring in 2008 en route to a 13^th-place national ranking in scoring offense and a 39^th-place national ranking in total offense in Division II in 2008.

In addition to his collegiate coaching responsibilities, Maynor served as offensive coordinator for the Arena Football League’s Philadelphia Soul from 2006-2008 and helped lead the Soul to the 2008 Arena Bowl World Championship.  Under his leadership the Soul ranked first in scoring offense (62 ppg), touchdowns (132), touchdown passes (102) and red zone efficiency (85 percent) in 2008 en route to an Arena Bowl title.

As a player, Maynor has earned six championships.  He was the starting quarterback for the Rams’ 1987 CIAA championship football team under then-head coach and incoming WSSU Director of Athletics William “Bill” Hayes; he was named to the All-CIAA team as a freshman.

After following Hayes to North Carolina A&T State University, Maynor was named First-Team All-MEAC in both 1990 and 1991.  He was also named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, was honored as the 100% Wrong Club Player of the Year in both 1990 and 1991, and help lead the Aggies to the 1991 MEAC Championship.

Learn more about Maynor’s plans for the Rams.

Dr. Jones is widely recognized in the technology field.

Dr. Elva J. Jones, chair of the Department of Computer Science at WSSU, was named to the 10th Annual 50 Most Important African-Americans in Technology for her work in education, research and outreach.

The selection was made by eAccess Corp., a San Francisco-based publisher. The purpose of the list is to raise the profile of African-Americans in technology and to inspire new generations.

Jones is professor and department chair in WSSU’s College of Arts and Sciences. Her entire career has centered on exposing underrepresented minorities to computing and preparing them for computing careers.

“It is a tremendous honor for me to be included on the 50 Most Important African-Americans in Technology list,” said Jones. “Computing has been such a captivating field for me that I never tire of the work and the discovery each day brings. I want as many students as possible to experience the joy of idea discovery, creative design, and technology integration.”

Jones has focused her recent teaching, research and outreach in two areas: analysis and visualization of NASA data and robotics as tools to attract African-American students to the field of computer science.

She is the founding chair of the Department of Computer Science. She has led the natural progression from teaching the first courses in computing, developing the first concentration in computer science, leading the development of the major program in computer science, leading the development of the master of science program in computer science and information technology and the BS in information technology, to most recently leading the development of an option in information security.

Jones and other honorees was recognized at a 10th anniversary symposium in San Francisco, CA on Jan. 15, 2010.

“Jones is an example of the critically important role of African-American innovators, educators, policymakers and executives who shape the future of the global economy,” says John William Templeton, president/executive editor of San Francisco-based eAccess Corp., which has produced the list since 1999. “During a transformational national administration, they represent the role models to propel new generations into the careers of the future.”

One of two guilts for the First Family.

A group of grandmothers, part of a WSSU program for grandparents, were hoping for a unique holiday gift – a trip to the White House to present a gift to President Obama.  That didn’t happen, but they are still hopeful about meeting with the president.

The seven women created a quilt for Obama and requested to meet with him through U.S. Sen. Richard Burr’s (R- North Carolina) office.  They anxiously wait, pray and sew.

“This quilt is special because it is filled with love and prayers,” says Shirley Smith, a local grandparent participant in WSSU’s  Grandparenting program who coordinated the creation of the quilt.

The full-bed-sized quilt includes the seals of each state and the District of Columbia, according to Smith.  She said the grandmothers felt motivated when the president caught their attention in a unique way.

“Back when President Obama first announced he was running for president, and we learned he was raised — and had a special relationship — with his grandmother, we knew he would be a special person, even when many thought he didn’t have a chance,” Smith said.

The grandmothers met and started praying and knitting.  They prayed throughout the entire 800-hour sewing process.  It took eight months; the quilt is just about finished.

“Anyone raised by their grandmother has special insight into people and the world,” Smith says.

“I envision this quilt as something the President can use to cover himself to relax under a tree or something.  It has enough prayers in it to cover him in love and work for him in blessings,” she adds.

WSSU’s Grandparenting program is affiliated with the School of Health Sciences and the Division of Nursing. The program was initially funded in part by a four-year $730,000 W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant received in 2003 along with funds from Georgia State University.  Currently the program is funded by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are used to maintain a school readiness program to provide academic support, health care and other assistance for families where grandparents are the primary caretakers of children.

Two years ago the grandparents created 13 hand-sewn quilts that were auctioned to benefit orphaned children who are victims of AIDS in Lesotho, Africa.

“Many of the grandparents who are making these quilts could very easily sell them to use the revenue for their own situations,” says Dr. Lenora Campbell, associate dean for the Division of Nursing and project director of WSSU’s Grandparenting program. “It’s inspiring how they look beyond their circumstances to help others they don’t know – whether for school supplies for children in another country or providing inspiration for the President of the United States.”

Chancellor Reaves (left) and President Green (right) shake on a dual admissions agreement

Winston-Salem State University and Forsyth Technical Community College have entered into an agreement that will allow students to be simultaneously granted admission to both institutions. Chancellor Donald J. Reaves and Forsyth Tech President Gary M. Green signed the memorandum of understanding December 3.

The new Dual Admissions Program (DAP) partnership will provide support and resources to students who may not be ready to succeed in a bachelor’s degree program. The initiative, which will begin Fall 2010, is designed to provide a seamless and successful transition from community college to a university.

“We have students who come to Winston-Salem State without the depth of preparation needed to be successful at our university,” said Chancellor Reaves. “This partnership with Forsyth Tech will provide those students with such important supports as smaller classes and lower tuition.  By using dual admission, we also will be taking the steps necessary to help students feel a part of our campus so that the transition to a four-year institution will be easier.”

Under the DAP agreement, students will have an application process that includes admission to both institutions.  The two schools will share responsibility for student advising, access to resources at both campuses, and opportunities to participate in university activities.

“Part of the mission of WSSU, and of all historically black colleges and universities, is to provide access to higher education,” added Reaves. “As we increase our admission standards, this program ensures that students will continue to have the opportunity to earn a four-year college degree.”

Students who apply and do not meet the admission standards at WSSU will receive information on the Dual Admissions Program. Students who sign the contract to join the program and are accepted will receive a letter of deferment for admission to WSSU. Once they complete their requirements at Forsyth Tech, the students are guaranteed admission into a related baccalaureate degree program at WSSU.

Students who graduate with associate degrees in arts or science from Forsyth Tech are already able to transfer their credits to University of North Carolina schools. This new partnership provides additional advantages.

“Students will have the same benefits as in our regular program, but will have the additional benefits of an established relationship with Winston-Salem State,” said President Green.  “They will have access to academic advisers, student activities and facilities at both schools.”

“We are excited to be able to offer our students another option for continuing their education,” Green added.  “Our partnership with Winston-Salem State enhances our ability to provide quality, affordable, accessible educational opportunities.”

Rep. Larry Womble

The Honorable Larry W. Womble, a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives since 1995, will serve as keynote speaker for Winston-Salem State University’s Fall Commencement Ceremony on Friday, December 18, at 4 p.m. in the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Womble, a native of Winston-Salem, graduated from Atkins High School and earned a B. S. degree in education from WSSU. He received his M.Ed. in administration and Principal’s Certificate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Womble served in a variety of positions in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School system, including as assistant principal at Old Town Elementary, Mineral Springs Middle, Cook Middle, Kennedy Middle and Paisley Middle Schools. He was named Assistant Principal of the Year for the State of North Carolina prior to retiring.

Womble began his political career in 1981 when he was elected to what was then the Winston-Salem Board of Alderman from the Southeast Ward.  He was elected to fill the 71st District State House seat in 1995. Involved in many humanitarian causes and social justice issues, Womble was a primary sponsor of the N. C. Racial Justice Act Bill that was signed into law in August.

Active in numerous professional and civic organizations, Womble has received many awards for his volunteer work in the state and in the community.  After visiting Kenya in 1999, Womble began his “Books to Africa” project, which has provided young people in that country with more than 30,000 books.

Coach Kermit Blount

Winston-Salem State University announced on Nov. 19 that Kermit Blount, head football coach since 1993, would step down from his position following WSSU’s game at Norfolk State University Nov. 21.  Blount will remain at WSSU and will be reassigned other duties within the university.

“Over the years, Coach Blount has done a great job of leading our football program and building an academic foundation for our student athletes,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves. “We truly appreciate the contributions Kermit has made to Winston-Salem State as an athlete, a coach, an alum and a leader.”

“Having known Kermit for so many years, I have tremendous respect for him,” said Bill Hayes, who becomes the new WSSU athletic director in January.  “However, I support a change in leadership for the football program in order to improve our recruiting efforts, to create more excitement and enthusiasm for the program among the students, and to build support among the alumni and within the community.”

Blount, a 1980 graduate and former quarterback for the WSSU Rams, is completing his 17^th season as coach and has posted a 91-87-3 record.  He led his teams to two CIAA titles and two Pioneer Bowl appearances.

A native of Richmond, Va., Blount began his college coaching career as an assistant at East Carolina University in 1983.  He was offensive coordinator for Howard University from 1984 until 1989 and served on the coaching staff at South Carolina State University for the next four years.

North Carolinians will start seeing Winston-Salem State University in familiar places in the coming weeks and months while driving, shopping, even going to the movies. The Office of Marketing and Communications has launched its latest campaign, “Small setting, big start,” to build the university’s visibility and brand awareness and to support student recruitment.

The campaign features a playful, silhouetted graphic look-created in-house-to refresh recruitment materials.  In addition to a 16-page recruitment viewbook and mailing pieces, the campaign includes billboards, print ads, airport advertising, radio ads, and mall placements.

Sigrid Hall

“We’re excited about some of these new placements, like the elevator wrap and tabletop graphics in the food court at the Hanes Mall,” says Sigrid Hall-Pittsley, interim chief marketing officer. “The campaign is part of our effort to refresh our  brand to reflect the university’s updated strategic plan.”

Travelers will see WSSU advertisements on video screens at the Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Piedmont Triad International airports and in area movie theaters. An increased use of digital venues allows the office to update and revise messages more frequently, even daily, Hall-Pittsley notes.

“Rams Write” is the slogan adopted for the university’s “Writing in the Major” campaign to improve student writing.

Writing in the Major is the topic the university chose for its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). WSSU is preparing for its decennial Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation review.  The accreditation process involves the preparation and submission of a Compliance Certification report and the development and submission of a plan to improve student learning: the QEP. The Rams Write campaign is an effort to familiarize everyone on campus with this initiative prior to the SACS reaffirmation visit scheduled March 23-25, 2010.

The goal of the five-year project is to improve the writing proficiency of students who are enrolled in junior- and senior-level courses in the majors. A host of forums have been held to familiarize faculty, staff and students with the concept. Each forum discussed the project, student learning outcomes, and proposed interventions that will be implemented for students and faculty designed to improve student writing proficiency.

Through the use of a holistic writing rubric, eight to ten randomly selected junior and senior papers from each major will be analyzed and scored to determine the writing proficiency of those students. The papers will be rated across disciplines by a select team of scorers in early spring 2010.

You will start to see pens, fliers, buttons, T-shirts and more imprinted with Rams Write around campus. If someone asks you what Rams Write means, you will know that it is an initiative to improve student learning through writing in the major.

To inject new energy and perspective into its efforts, the Office of Alumni Relations has unveiled a contest, “I Am Ram,” to recruit young alumni who care about Winston-Salem State University and want to have a voice at their alma mater.

Winners of the “I Am Ram” contest will attend University events as a VIP and network with other alumni; appear online and in print publications as spokespersons for WSSU, and consult with administrators on WSSU initiatives.

Alumni Relations invites passionate, articulate graduates from the classes of 2000 to 2009 to submit an essay by December 17. In 500 to 600 words, the essay should explain why the university should choose you. The top five entrants will be invited to submit a video, no longer than two minutes, again explaining why they should be selected. The videos will be posted to the Web site by February 1 for young alumni, Classes 2000 and on, to vote on their favorite. Winners will be announced on March 1, 2010.

To learn more about the contest, visit www.wssu.edu/iamram.