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In his first quarterly meeting with the 快活视频 Board of Trustees as president and CEO, Dr. Mark A. Brown provided a status of the university and outlined his plans for a Students First focus.
During his 90-day review, Dr. Brown introduced new plans to increase student support in a variety of ways, including increasing the number of Financial Aid Counselors and Reach tutors to ensure students understand the financial support available and so that they have the foundation for academic success and job readiness throughout their matriculation.
鈥淲e learned a lot during our registration period this fall and in introducing the SOS campaign,鈥� said Dr. Brown. 鈥淲e found a number of students were not aware of the financial resources available to them to register and stay in school.鈥�
That campaign raised $283,000 and supported 519 students. In addition, the University used multiple other sources of institutional aid and grants to get students registered. The Office of Sponsored Programs has doubled the number of grant writers, which contributes to our R-2 status.
鈥淲e are going to hire an additional 29 financial aid counselors, tutors, and career placement officers for a total of 50 to ensure our students have the financial counseling and support they need to map out funding for their academic career, academic support they needed for classes that have historically slowed their progression, and aggressive career advice that puts them in a paid internship at least one time during their time at Tuskegee. We truly will focus on Students First and that includes their entire life cycle from recruitment to job placement to active alumnus,鈥� he said.
The instructors and course directors will ensure that students who are performing at less than 80 percent in any course are referred to tutors to identify the challenge and course-correct before the student fails the class. Importantly, students will be counseled on the financial impacts of dropping courses to avoid failing grades.
The Students First initiative will be introduced more formally as a university priority, but Dr. Brown says the focus does not negate faculty and staff.
Dr. Brown introduced to the Board new incentives for faculty researchers as the university works to develop R-2 status. Tuskegee has a reputation for solving the nation鈥檚 most complex problems ranging from cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and the ability to grow food in space. As a result of this work and well-earned reputation, Tuskegee scholars receive significant funding for research, including identifying areas to support minority communities in the Black Belt. Now, those researchers will receive 3.5 percent of every grant earned as an incentive to continue that work as part of our service to the country and the world. The incentive will go to the individuals doing the research and a portion will go to upgrade the laboratories and research equipment necessary to continue the research process.
Another area Dr. Brown discovered upon his arrival was that the salary for 139 employees was considered at or below the poverty line.
鈥淎ll of those employees can expect to see pay changes that increase their pay to above poverty levels before the end of the year,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he university requires so much from its employees that ensuring everyone is earning competitive compensation based on their role is the right thing to do.鈥�
Dr. Brown also updated the Trustees on the university鈥檚 accreditation review through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. He updated the Board on budget and spending along with plans to increase the endowment.
鈥淭he university is about to celebrate its centennial Homecoming in a few weeks, and we have set up systems to ensure that support for the endowment is included at all levels,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are going to watch our endowment grow from $164 million to $200 million with support from foundations, corporations, and alumni to ensure the university鈥檚 success for future generations.鈥�
Currently, 4.5 percent of the endowment is used as institutional aid for students. The goal is to make sure the endowment is healthy and when necessary use it to support student focused areas like institutional aid. Institutional aid reduces student debt and that is also central to a Students First Focus.
Finally, Dr. Brown stated that he is grateful for a Board of Trustees that is focused on students. This is exactly what we need and exactly what was provided in the Board of Trustees meeting.
The university president provides updates to the Board of Trustees every quarter. The next meeting is scheduled for January.
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