Notice of availability

The university’s 2014 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online. To receive a hard copy of the report, stop by the University Police Department in Ward Hall, 406 Laurel Street, or request it be mailed to you by calling 336-334-7128.

The 2014 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety including topics such as crime prevention, fire safety, university police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures and other matters of importance related to security and safety on campus. There is also information about crime statistics for the three previous calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings and on property owned or controlled by N.C. A&T, as well as on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

This information is required by federal law known as the Clery Act, and is provided by N.C. A&T State University Police Department.

Closing Bell

John W. Bluford III, recently retired president and CEO of Truman Medical Centers, will speak at the next installment of the School of Business and Economics’ Closing Bell Speaker Series at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, in Merrick Hall, room 125.

Bluford is a nationally known healthcare innovator who has been recognized by Modern Healthcare and Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the Most Influential People in Healthcare. He began his tenure at TMC in 1999, providing 15 years of progressive leadership and change management to the organization. His tenure at TMC is part of a distinguished career in hospital and health system administration that has spanned more than four decades.

He is the grandson of Ferdinand D. Bluford, third president of N.C. A&T (1925–1955).

Africana symposium

The Africana Committee will host its Third Africana Fall Symposium, “The Role of Politics in Transforming Africana Education in the 21st Century,” Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. in the General Classroom Building Auditorium, room A-218. This event continues the committee’s initiatives to promote student, faculty and community awareness on the challenges facing Africa and the African Diaspora in the globalizing world. For information, contact Dr. Pauline A. Uwakweh at 336-285-2343 or pauwakwe@ncat.edu.

Homecoming tailgating pre-purchase

Tailgating spaces may be purchased in advance for Saturday, Oct. 25, in the Laurel Street Lot 38 parking area. Spaces are $75 and are sold on a first come, first served basis. Lots will open for tailgating at 5 a.m. For more information contact the Ticket Office at 336-334-7749.

Leadership series

Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail, managing partner of The McPhail Group LLC (consulting firm) and former president of Cypress College, will be the keynote speaker for the Higher Education Lecture Series that is sponsored by the Department of Leadership Studies in the School of Education. The lecture will take place 3–4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, in Proctor Hall, room 160.

McPhail is founder and professor of the Community College Doctoral Leadership Program at Morgan State University, where she is credited with graduating a record number of over 60 doctoral students—including a high percentage of African Americans—in less than a decade. Her inspiration and effectiveness gave rise to a national agenda on increasing graduation rates for students of color between peer and smaller graduate programs. She also successfully created and managed the State of Maryland's first series of leadership training of mid-level professionals, hosting more than 16 institutions across the state in community college education and thus adding more than 200 professionals to the ranks of teaching and administration at community colleges.  

For information about the series, email pehunter@aggies.ncat.edu.

Nominations sought

North Carolina A&T State University will accept nominations for the 2015 Human Rights Medal through 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7. The award, which was established to recognize people who have worked to correct social injustices and who have contributed to the betterment of the world, is given in honor of the extraordinary action against social injustice by The Greensboro Four/A&T Four.

Candidates are selected from nominations submitted to the University Awards Committee. The medal is presented to an individual who has had a positive impact on correcting social injustices and other humanitarian activities that include human welfare and social reform, acts of heroism, promotion of fellowship, dedication to technological discovery, academic advancements or contributions, diplomatic endeavors and community contributions.

Anyone can nominate a potential honoree. The winner(s) will be notified in December and will be invited to accept the award at the Sit-In Anniversary Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015. The honoree(s) must be able to accept the award in person and agree to give a lecture at a mutually agreed upon campus event. For additional information, contact Vicki Coleman, chair of the University Awards Committee, at 336-285-4151.

GCS graduation rates

Guilford County Schools (GCS) holds the state’s record for the most high schools (seven) with 100 percent graduation rates, according to North Carolina Public Instruction June Atkinson. GCS was among 12 school districts and 43 high schools honored Oct. 3 by Atkinson for having the highest four-year cohort graduation rates in the state in 2013-14.
 
The seven schools that achieved 100 percent graduation rates are The Middle College at N.C. A&T, The Middle College at Bennett, Penn-Griffin School for the Arts, The Academy at Central, The Academy at Smith, The Early College at Guilford and Weaver Academy. GCS’ 2014 graduation rate was 88.5 percent as compared to 83.9 percent for the state.
 
Fourteen other schools achieved graduation rates over 90 percent, including 10 comprehensive high schools with larger student populations: Andrews High, Greensboro College Middle College, Grimsley High, GTCC-Greensboro, GTCC-High Point, GTCC Jamestown, Northeast High, Northern High, Northwest High, Page High, Ragsdale High, Southeast High, Southern High and Southwest High. To read more, click here.