NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University is allowing students to return home and finish the semester online as a precaution to the spreading coronavirus (COVID-19). Online classes started Monday.
University officials announced last Thursday that TSU was transitioning to online learning. In a correspondence to students, TSU President Glenda Glover stated the decision was in the best interest of the university, as both the federal government and State of Tennessee have declared a state of emergency.
“Concerns pertaining to the coronavirus COVID-19 are affecting all of us and continues to worsen,” said Dr. Glover. “Within the last 48-hours, the country has changed drastically, as the number of U.S cases continue to be confirmed.”
TSU will close all residence halls and apartments on Saturday, March 21. The university will evaluate requests from students with extenuating circumstances that need more time to make arrangements. Housing officials said those requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Students will continue their classes in an online format and there is no requirement to live on campus.
As further precaution, the University has
canceled all campus events where large crowds are expected, as well as
suspended all international travel through the end of April to minimize
exposure to the disease. TSU has made these decisions to ensure the
safety and health of the campus family.
The university will provide more information on campus operations as decisions are made.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – Hundreds of
Tennessee State University students will receive scholarships to continue their
education after the university exceeded its goal to raise $1 million during the
month of February. The total collected hours before the deadline on Saturday,
February 29, was $1,702,674.
TSU President Glenda Glover
TSU
President Glenda Glover expressed her gratitude and appreciation to everyone
that made a contribution.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the unprecedented support of alumni, faculty, staff and our corporate partner, the Nashville Predators, along with the faith-based community and many others,” said Glover. “Because of your unwavering support, hundreds of young men and women will be able to continue their educational journey here at TSU.”
Campaign Chairman Jamie Isabel also expressed gratitude to the
Predators, as well as the hard work of the campaign committee, and Dr. Glover’s
leadership.
“I
am grateful that Dr. Glover challenged the alumni to think outside of the box
and begin a new year and a new decade with the mindset of giving,” said Isabel,
a TSU alum. “The campaign has been a very big success, and we are excited
about the results.”
The
campaign to raise $1 Million in 1 Month during Black History Month laid the
foundation for the historic partnership between TSU and the National Hockey
League’s Nashville Predators. It is the first known partnership between an HBCU
and the NHL, and coincided with the league’s Hockey is for Everyone initiative
in February.
Joni McReynolds, president of the TSU National Alumni Association, said she’s proud of the way alumni responded.
“I
know this will definitely help our students,” said McReynolds. “They are in
such need because the state does not provide us with as much money as they used
to. “
TSU alum Charles Galbreath of New York City is among the many
alumni who contributed to the campaign.
“It’s important for the students to see that we don’t forget
about what their needs are after we leave,’ said Galbreath. “I think that the
energy that everyone is coming together with is everything we learned at TSU;
that Big Blue spirit, to continue to take care of our school even after we’re
gone.”
TSU President Glenda Glover with Nashville Predators President and CEO Sean Henry, along with $1 Million in 1 Month Campaign Chairman Jamie Isabel and TSU student leaders following the kickoff announcement in early February. (Submitted photo)
Money raised from the campaign will provide both merit-based and
need-based scholarships for TSU students. Approximately 500 scholarships will
be awarded to students in an average amount of $2,000. About 90 percent of TSU
students receive some form of financial aid.
TSU freshman Jacob Taylor is one of them. The Memphis,
Tennessee, native said he probably would not be at TSU if he did not currently
have a scholarship.
“My mother has a good salary, but she doesn’t make enough to put
me through school,” said Taylor, a health sciences major. “Having that extra
money to pay for college really does a lot, because it takes stress off
students.”
Junior Sydney Morehouse of St. Louis, Missouri, agreed.
“There are a lot of students that need financial aid,” said
Morehouse, who is also majoring in health sciences. “Some of my friends are
close to the finish line, but they don’t have funds to pay for their tuition
and graduate. I want them to graduate. They are the future doctors, lawyers and
physical therapists. So scholarships from the $1 Million in 1 Month campaign
will really be beneficial.”
The Predators organization made the first donation to the
campaign, as well as an additional $100,000 of in-kind assets to help spread
awareness to the initiative, which includes providing TSU students with
internships.
“With the help of the most passionate fan base in all of sports
and the Nashville Predators organization, we are proud to partner with
Tennessee State University on this life-changing education initiative,” said
Predators President and CEO Sean Henry.
Nashville Predators mascot, and TSU mascot. (Submitted photo)
In addition to the kickoff event with the Nashville Predators,
the university engaged the TSU family with various challenges. The Alpha Theta
Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. claimed victory in the Alumni
Chapter Challenge with a contribution of $16,305, and they also won the TSU
Divine Nine Fraternity and Sorority Challenge with a donation of $21,627. In
the Staff/Faculty Challenge, TSU staff won with a contribution of $10,393.
Campaign activities also included the TSU Sunday Day of
Giving, along with the Dialing for Dollars telethon that took place the last
Sunday of the month, and involved the faith-based community. The pledges for
the telethon exceeded $60,000. The goal was $25,000. The TSU College Challenge
was the final campaign challenge between the eight academic units. Gifts for
this activity are still being calculated.
TSU
students played a major role in bringing in donations as well. Over 100
students staffed a phone bank to make evening calls to alumni during the
campaign and participated in the telethon as callers or as a part of the
production to live stream the event.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Two IBM
executives were on campus recently to talk to TSU students about job-readiness
skills and employment opportunities with the tech giant and its affiliates.
Meredith Stowell, vice president for IBM Z Ecosystem; and Shirley
Meierarend, IBM’s Z series skills leader for North America, spoke to a group of
students, faculty and deans about “very lucrative” job opportunities available
for those with skills and knowledge in Enterprise Computing, which supports
IBM’s mainframe technology.
“IBM is here today because we are very interested in building a
talent pipeline for enterprise computing for both our clients or IBM,” Stowell
said in a presentation on Enterprise Computing and Digital Transformation.
John Thompson, right, TSU’s Enterprise Systems Consultant, talks to a cross-section of students, deans and chair during the IBM executives’ visit. (Photo by TSU Media Relations)
“We do have a number of very large clients here locally, but the
other great thing about TSU is that many of their students are interested in
relocating to other areas. So, that’s why I am here today, to share more with
the students, and to connect students to talent and to the talent pipeline.”
Enterprise-related classes are currently being offered at TSU
through an initiative that was launched in 2014 through the Department of
Computer Science. The initiative was designed to prepare TSU students to be
able to compete for high-paying enterprise internships and permanent job
opportunities with enterprise clients. According to TSU’s Enterprise Systems
Consultant, John Thompson, a former IBM senior manager, between 2015 and
2018, more than 20 students were placed with enterprise companies earning
annual average starting
salaries of more than $82,000, with some receiving
signing bonuses of up to $10,000.
Citing a Wall Street Journal 2020 projection, Thompson said there
will be more than 84,000 enterprise-related jobs available for students across
all disciplines. TSU, being the only school in Tennessee offering courses in
this area, can be a major source to fill the huge demand for enterprise
computing skills that is being created by the retiring baby boomer generation.
During the IBM presentation, TSU President Glenda Glover, who was
on travel, called in to thank Stowell and Meierarend for their visit, and Thompson,
for arranging and coordinating the visit. She stressed the
importance of the TSU partnership with the company.
“This partnership is making a great difference in the lives of our students,”
Glover said. “Student
placement is a very key part of what we are and a major performance indicator
for our state stakeholders and our accrediting body. Training our students to
be adequately ready is so important. That is why we are so appreciative of this
great collaboration.”
In her presentation, Stowell spoke about
specific areas of enterprise computing that students should focus on in
“sharpening your job-skill readiness.” She
and Thompson emphasized the importance of taking classes in
fundamental COBOL business language programming, as well as a basic introduction
to programming, such as C++ and Java.
“Once again, it is really about this openness between industry and
academics, and academic environment opening up to understand what specific
skills that the industry needs and then partnering with those industry partners
to incorporate and infuse those skills within their curriculum. So that, when
the student graduates, there is a job lined up for him already,” Stowell said.
Thompson added: “What makes TSU students so attractive is that they understand the distributing networking environment, but also, when you put them on an enterprise platform, they are right at home, and that’s where we come in. So, I work with the companies to find what they need from the enterprise platform, then I come back and work with Dr. (Ali) Sekmen and the deans, and say, ‘Look, how can we put this in the curriculum for the students to learn that skill?’ Once we do that, then we go and bring these companies in to recruit the students.”
Tamarcus Summers, a senior computer science major from Memphis, and Donovan Varnell, also a senior political science major from Nashville, were among the diverse group of majors at the presentation.
“As a computer science major, I am glad to see the focus on key
areas emphasized here today that my professors talk about in preparing us for
the job market,” Summers
said.
For Varnell, he said he is impressed with IBM’s
integration of technology into all disciplines.
“This really opens my eyes to how it is important to understand
that all these technologies and coding are a need-to-know no matter your
discipline,” said Varnell.
Dr. Sekmen, who is chair of the Department of Computer Science, and a facilitator of the Enterprise Systems Program, said TSU is seeking funding to establish a comprehensive enterprise computing program in the department with a mainframe computer lab.
“We will be the first institution in Tennessee to have such a
computer,” said Sekmen. “We are going to develop an undergraduate concentration
in enterprise computing, as well as training opportunities for TSU faculty,
students and all HBCU faculty.”
Other university officials who spoke at the gathering were Dr.
Jacqueline Mitchell, professor and Enterprise Systems Program manager, as well
as Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean of the College of Engineering. Frank Stevenson,
associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students; Dr. Coreen
Jackson, dean of the Honors College; and Dr. Ray Richardson, Enterprise Program
liaison, were present. Students from a cross section of disciplines and majors
were also present representing computer science, engineering, criminal justice,
business and social work.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only
public university, and is a premier, historically black university and
land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24
master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a
comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie
designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams
Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in
McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee
State University provides students with a quality education in a
nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be
global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online
at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (TSU News Service) – State
lawmakers got a taste of Tennessee State University’s excellence at the annual
TSU Day at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Visitors to the TSU Day on the Capitol check out displays at the daylong event. (Photo by TSU Media Relations)
More than 150 TSU
students, administrators, faculty, staff and others packed a conference
room on the 8th flor of the Cordell Hull Building to hear TSU
President Glenda Glover kick-off the event. Before the official kick-off,
lawmakers saw displays of the university’s diverse research and academic
offerings, including robotics and giveaways like White Dogwood trees grown on
the university farm, that has become a prized and highly requested staple
during the annual visits.
“I am so pleased to see our lawmakers, along with our students, our faculty our staff, our alumni and friends. Thank you for joining us,” Glover said. “This is our seventh annual TSU Day at the Capitol. This event has become one of the institution’s most successful outreach programs. We take this opportunity to share with the lawmakers the great things that are going on at TSU, and to share with them our needs, as we continue the proud legacy of training and nurturing our future – our students.”
Before the kick-off,
President Glover made courtesy visits to the offices of Lt. Gov. Randy McNally
(R-Crossville) and several key members of the Tennessee General Assembly.
Student ambassadors also used the time to deliver packages of TSU mementos to
the offices of lawmakers, as tokens of appreciation from the university.
Among many displays at the TSU Day at the Capitol, researchers in the College of Health Sciences demonstrate the use of the Vest Airway Clearance System, a therapy designed to assist patients who have thick secretions, such as in cystic fibrosis. (Photo by TSU Media Relations)
In her speech, Glover told the lawmakers that past and future appropriations have allowed TSU to maintain its longstanding legacy of “providing education for our students.”
“Thank
you for being a part of this day and for money you have given us,” she said.
“However, we have some tremendous needs. So, we are here asking you to help us
meet those needs. We want to improve our campus’ age-old infrastructure, we
need scholarships for students, we need to make sure that electricity is in
order for next year.”
Several
of the lawmakers followed Glover with greetings and congratulations to TSU and
its leaders for the “great work going
on at TSU.”
“I appreciate you all being here today,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton said. “We are going to work well to make sure that we move Tennessee forward and keep doing the things we can agree on, such as education.”
TSU alums Sen.
Brenda Gilmore, and Rep. Harold M. Love, Jr., two strong supporters of the
university, promised to keep TSU at the top of the agenda.
“I am so happy to
see you all up here. It means the world to me,” Gilmore said. “As you
(students) walk these halls and meet the legislators, tell them about your
studies and what you plan to do when you graduate. That helps us as we work
hard to get your rightful funding.”
Love
added: “It does our heart well to see our students, faculty, staff and alumni
here with us on Capitol Hill. We need your voice to move TSU. So, I encourage
you to keep telling us what needs to be changed in policy.”
In an
oratorical presentation, Mr. TSU Damyr Moore moved lawmakers with a call for
proportionate funding for HBCUs, arguing that the matrix used to determine
funding, such as retention, enrollment and on-time degree completion, are not the
best indicators by which to measure HBCUs.
“I
propose proportionate funding for HBCUs and PWIs, or predominantly white
institutions, alike, as well as increase funding for scholarships and funding
for pre-college summer bridge programs,” said Moore, a senior mass communication
major from Atlanta.
Also making remarks was Katelyn Thompson, president of the TSU Student Government Association. Among other lawmakers who spoke at the ceremony were Reps. Antonio Parkinson (District 98) and Barbara Cooper (District 86), a TSU alum.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s
only public university, and is a premier, historically black university
and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s
degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive
research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a
graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd
Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to
excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality
education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as
alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the
University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands drumline and New Direction Gospel Choir headlined “TSU Night” at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday. The event kicked off a historic, long-term partnership between the university and the Nashville Predators to raise $1 million during Black History Month for student scholarships, and more.
TSU President Glenda Glover talks about campaign in interview before Predators’ game. (Submitted photo)
“This is an exciting
night for TSU,” said TSU President Glenda Glover in a live broadcast before the
Predators’ game against the Vegas Golden Knights. “This is a time to raise $1
million in one month for our students, our need-based students, our merit-based
students. These are amazing students with promising careers, and we need to do
our best to help them graduate and go on to make the best contributions to
society.”
The choir
performed the national anthem, and the drumline entertained Predators’ fans
before the game and throughout it.
TSU New Direction Gospel Choir performs national anthem at Predators’s game Saturday night. (Submitted photo)
Fan Kenny Scribner
said he saw the Aristocrat of Bands perform at football games and was looking
forward to seeing the drumline. He also thinks the partnership between TSU and the
Predators is a good idea.
“Anytime you help
the students it’s a good deal,” Scribner said.
TSU and the
Predators announced their partnership on Thursday. The Predators organization
made the first donation to the campaign, as well as an additional $100,000 of
in-kind assets to help spread awareness to the initiative.
Money raised from
the campaign will
provide both merit-based and need-based scholarships for TSU students.
Approximately 500 scholarships will be awarded to students in an average amount
of $2,000. About 90 percent of TSU students receive some form of financial aid.
The university and
the Predators will also work together on providing internships.
“With
the help of the most passionate fan base in all of sports and the Nashville
Predators organization, we are proud to partner with Tennessee State University
on this life-changing education initiative,” Predators President and CEO
Sean Henry said Thursday. “When you combine two great things – the
education of the next generation with our passionate fan base, we know that
strong goals seem to be more achievable, and that’s what we are hoping to do
with this campaign.”
Nashville Predators promote ways to contribute to campaign. (Submitted photo)
Also Saturday night
was the Big Blue Old School Concert hosted by TSU Student Affairs. Portions of
the proceeds will go toward the fundraising campaign.
A month of campaign activities includes
the TSU Alumni Chapter Challenge Feb. 1-7; Faculty/Staff Challenge Feb. 8-14; TSU Divine Nine Fraternity and Sorority Challenge Feb. 15-21; TSU Sunday Day of Giving on Feb. 23; and TSU Colleges Challenge Feb. 22-29.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University, under the
leadership of President Glenda Glover, has launched an aggressive campaign to
raise $1 million in one month for student scholarships beginning February 1, to
kick off Black History Month. TSU, Nashville’s only four-year public
institution, is teaming up with the Nashville Predators hockey team to help
them reach the winning goal.
TSU President Glover pins Nashville Predators CEO Sean Henry into the TSU family. (Photo by Charles Cook, TSU Media Relations)
The funds will provide both merit-based and need-based
scholarships for TSU students. Approximately 500 scholarships will be awarded
to students in an average amount of $2,000. About 90 percent of TSU students
receive some form of financial aid.
Today, the university held a press conference featuring
President Glover, the Predators’ leadership and members of the TSU family to
share information about the campaign and partnership.
“Tennessee State University is proud to launch this
campaign to give students access to the funds they need to stay in school,
graduate, and achieve their dreams,” said President Glover.
TSU PresidentGlover and Predators CEO Sean Henry with campaign committee members. (Photo by Charles Cook, TSU Media Relations)
“Many students are not able to complete their degrees because of
financial hardship, so these funds are very important. We’re excited to have
the support of the Predators, and we look forward to contributions from our
alumni, friends, and the community to support these TSU students, our leaders
of tomorrow.”
February also marks the NHL’s “Hockey Is For Everyone” initiative. Predators CEO and President Sean Henry said the team’s partnership with TSU is ideal as the university looks to provide scholarships for deserving students. And he said the organization has long-term plans for the TSU- Predators partnership beyond the $1 Million In 1 Month campaign.
“With the help of the most passionate fan base in all of sports and the Nashville Predators organization, we are proud to partner with Tennessee State University on this life-changing education initiative,” Henry said. “When you combine two great things – the education of the next generation with our passionate fan base, we know that strong goals seem to be more achievable.”
TSU Board of Trustees student trustee Braxton Simpson talks about importance of campaign for TSU students. (Photo by Charles Cook, TSU Media Relations)
Jamie Isabel, a TSU alum and chairman of the campaign, said the entire university family can be a part of this historic fundraiser.
“I said yes immediately to President Glover when she asked me to
chair the one million dollar, one month campaign that will provide financial
assistance to help students to continue their education,” Isabel said. “It’s
one of the most important responsibilities of an alumnus, and that is you give
back to students following in our footsteps, and for them to pay it forward
when their time comes.”
TSU National Alumni Association President Joni McReynolds agreed with Isabel. She said she knows firsthand how beneficial the campaign will be because of the requests she receives from students about funding.
TSU and Predators mascots. (Photo by Charles Cook, TSU Media Relations)
“I get calls, I get emails at the beginning of every semester with
students asking me as the president of the National Alumni Association, do I
have any resources,” McReynolds said. “So I know the campaign will totally
benefit the students of Tennessee State University that are needing additional
scholarship money.”
TSU junior Joycelyn Barney of Atlanta said she has personally experienced some financial hardships and understands just how important it is to have funds available to help students in need.
“Students come to college to better themselves, to make a difference
in their families,” said Barney, a health sciences major. “So it’s really hard
when you can’t go, or have to come back home, because you don’t have the
money.”
Dr. Glover is not only a strong advocate for TSU’s students,
but also those attending the nation’s other historically black colleges and
universities (HBCUs).
She has a track record of raising millions, in a short
amount of time for the institutions.
As international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated, President Glover has successfully led the sorority in raising one
million dollars in one day for two consecutive years as a part of their HBCU for Life: A Call To Action Initiative. The
initial funds were disbursed to 32 of the 106 HBCUs to establish an endowment.
The second round of the disbursement of funds will take place during the summer
to 32 more HBCUs.
TSU cheerleaders provide some spirit. (Photo by CharlesCook, TSU Media Relations)
The $1 Million in 1 Month campaign will officially start February
1, with a slate of activities including a TSU Night with the Predators and the
Big Blue Old School Concert that night hosted by TSU Student Affairs. Portions
of the proceeds will go toward the fundraising campaign.
A month of activities will include the TSU Alumni Chapter Challenge Feb. 1-7; Faculty/Staff Challenge Feb. 8-14; TSU Divine Nine Fraternity
and Sorority Challenge Feb. 15-21;
TSU Sunday Day of Giving on Feb. 23;
and TSU Colleges Challenge Feb. 22-29.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University and the nation’s other historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) look to reap the benefits of federal legislation that permanently allocates $255 million to the institutions.
TSU President Glenda Glover
Last month, Congress passed the FUTURE Act to provide for the historic funding. TSU students and officials say the bill is critical to the viability of TSU and other HBCUs.
TSU President Glenda Glover commended
Congress for passing the legislation and hopes it will lead to additional
funding.
“The FUTURE Act legislation is a game changer for TSU, and the university is thankful to our Tennessee leadership of Senator Lamar Alexander, Representative Jim Cooper, Congressional Black Caucus members and others for their guidance to ensure the bill passed through both chambers,” says President Glover.
“I personally made calls to Sen.
Alexander’s Office, advocating the need for HBCU funding because of the
tremendous impact TSU has in changing the lives of our students, the community,
state and nation. I also spoke regularly with other HBCU presidents and
assisted advocacy groups United Negro College Fund, Thurgood Marshall College
Fund and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in higher education in
getting the bill passed. HBCUs have been
traditionally underfunded on all levels of government.”
“TSU is fortunate to have
relationships with local and state lawmakers that have resulted in much needed
appropriations. I believe the FUTURE Act is the beginning of the tide changing
in the amount, and types of funding HBCUs receive.”
The FUTURE Act not only provides permanent
funds to HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, but also simplifies the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and eliminates paperwork for
income-driven student loan repayment plans.
“We believe it’s a really
important piece of legislation,” says Amy Wood, assistant vice president for
financial aid at TSU.
The legislation
eliminates up to 22 questions on the FAFSA and allows the Internal Revenue
Service to share applicants’ tax information directly with the U.S. Department
of Education. It also automates income recertification for federal student loan
borrowers who use income-based repayment plans.
“Being able to eliminate some of
the processing time allows us more time to spend counseling students and
ensuring that they have what they need,” adds Wood.
Mariah Rhodes, a junior at TSU
majoring in political science, says she’s pleased the legislation may soon
become law. It has been sent to the President, who is expected to sign
it.
“HBCUs have produced some of the
best African-American doctors, lawyers, politicians and engineers,” says
Rhodes, a Memphis native who is an HBCU White House ambassador. “This money
will help HBCUs in a tremendous way.”
Her mother agrees.
“They (HBCUs) are underfunded, and
we need to really do something about that,” says Denise Woods.
TSU Dean of Students Frank
Stevenson called the legislation a “game changer.”
“HBCUs are still seeing a number
of first generation college students, and funding is really important to the
success of these institutions that have done so much to move the needle toward
equity and opportunity for higher education for students,” says Stevenson.
Last year, TSU received $2 million to support retention of academically high achieving students from underserved communities.
The funds were included in Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s budget
during the latest legislative session, and approved by state lawmakers.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State UniversityFounded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover provided encouraging words of perseverance at the 8th annual Presidential Prayer Service on Jan. 8.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper thanked President Glover for her leadership. (Photo by Michael McLendon, TSU Media Relations)
Dr. Glover was the keynote speaker, as TSU and the Nashville faith-based community joined hands to begin the New Year with a morning of prayer at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church.
Faith-based leaders of various denominations from across Metro Nashville, as well as Mayor John Cooper, Vice Mayor Jim Shullman, and TSU alum and gospel legend Dr. Bobby Jones, participated in the program. Also participating was Bishop Joseph Walker III, chairman of the TSU Board of Trustees and presiding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International.
During her speech, Glover encouraged the gathering — community, state and local leaders and citizens, TSU staff, administrators, alumni and students — to “stand” in the face of difficulties.
A cross-section of faith-based leaders participated in the 8th Annual Presidential Prayer Service at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church. (Photo by Michael McLendon, TSU Media Relations)
“There will be difficult days in accomplishing goals, when others will challenge you and or doubt you, but you must stand and be steadfast,” Glover said. “We had some ups and downs, we had some trials and tribulations, but we are here. We are thankful for people who have stood up for TSU.”
Before
Glover’s presentation, Mayor Cooper thanked her for her leadership, and the
community for coming together in prayers for the city, TSU and residents.
Darrien Phillips, a TSU senior commercial music major, performs a musical rendition at the prayer service. (Photo by Michael McLendon, TSU Media Relations)
“Dr. Glover, this is your day as you go into your eighth year as president of Tennessee State University,” Cooper declared. “The city of Nashville and I thank you for all you have done for not just this community but across the nation. TSU graduate students, teachers, engineers, to name a few, continue to nurture our students that come from TSU to go out near and far. The city of Nashville is so fortunate to have you here. We thank you for this annual prayer service.”
Following
Glover’s address, ministers offered prayer in several areas, including peace,
the global community, the Nashville community, children and youth, and the TSU
community.
Rev. Aaron X. Marble, pastor of
Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, presided over the program. He
praised Dr. Glover for her leadership and said the annual prayer service “is a
wonderful tradition that she’s established.”
The prayers concluded with the Rev. Derrick Moore, pastor of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, praying fervently for Glover as various ministers gathered around her in a display of unity and support.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State UniversityFounded in 1912, Tennessee State
University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier,
historically black university and land-grant institution offering 38
bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven
doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution
with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its
downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery
Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to
excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality
education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them
as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the
University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) –
Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover on Monday lauded faculty and
staff for their service, and assured them the institution is poised to
accomplish great feats for 2020, and beyond.
Dr. Glenda Glover
Dr. Glover spoke at the spring Faculty and
Staff Institute, a customary State of the University address held to commence
the start of each academic school year. Her address commended employees, and
touted fiscal strength and student success.
In thanking employees for their hard work, she
pledged her continued support, and encouraged them to strive to make the
university better.
“I’m here for you,” said Glover. “I just ask
that you show up every day and do your best.”
She reminded them that includes doing all they
can to help students succeed.
Glover noted that from 2018 to 2019, the GPA of incoming freshmen increased from 3.10 to 3.14. The university also implemented a targeted recruitment plan for high school students with a 3.0 or better to improve retention and graduation rates. Students’ GPA has steadily risen since TSU increased admission standards in 2016. All students must now have a 2.5 GPA and a 19 on the ACT for admission. The previous admission scores were 2.25 or a 19 on the ACT for in-state students, and a 2.5 or 19 ACT for out-of-state students.
The president also stressed the university’s fiscal soundness and plans to continue the trend. She discussed an endowment increase of $19.3 million over a five-year period, and a net increase of $15.7 million for reserve and endowment funds during the same time span.
Over the next 10 years, in what she called
TSU’s Decade of Excellence, Glover said she envisions an endowment of $150
million and $100 million in reserves. She would also like to see TSU be the top
HBCU in the nation, with an enrollment of 12,000.
The president also talked about TSU’s sanction by its accrediting body and gave a detailed update on the “plan of action” to address the issue. She emphasized to the several hundred in attendance that it is important to dispel any misconceptions and that TSU never lost accreditation.
Corrective steps taken so far under the plan include the university retaining a nationally known firm with expertise on accreditation matters and hiring a full-time director of assessment and accreditation to guide the process internally.
“We are 100
percent confident that TSU will do all that is required to prepare and submit
the documentation that is necessary to remove us from probation,” said Glover.
“Everyone is working together to get this done.”
TSU’s landscape will change over the next few months when construction of the new health sciences building is complete. The president shared the latest information on that, as well as planned construction of two new residence halls. Groundbreakings were held for the three buildings, along with a welcome center, during homecoming last year.
Glover also
touted a major accomplishment for TSU in 2019 that is carrying over to the New
Year: its coding partnership with tech giant Apple, Inc., which is drawing
global attention.
In July, TSU launched HBCU C2 “Everyone Can Code and Create,” which seeks to bring coding experiences to historically black colleges and universities and underserved communities. The initiative is part of TSU’s newly established National Center for Smart Technology Innovations, created through the HBCU C2 Presidential Academy.
The undertaking to bridge the technology divide has not gone unnoticed. President Glover told the audience that the university and Apple’s corporate office have received several inquiries about the program.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is among the initiative’s
champions.
“Anything is possible when people come together
with a shared vision,” Cook tweeted. “Thank you to @TSUedu for your leadership
and enthusiasm in bringing coding to your community and HBCUs nationwide!”
The institute marks the beginning of the academic semester. Students return on Jan. 13.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State UniversityFounded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University is a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader for Academic Year 2018-2019, solidifying its position even more on the global stage.
The designation was recently announced in a letter to
TSU President Glenda Glover from Marie Royce, U.S. assistant secretary of state
for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
TSU is one of 19 HBCUs to receive the Fulbright
designation for demonstrating noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange
participants during the 2018-2019 academic year, as well as for promoting
Fulbright program opportunities on campus.
“We are extremely excited to be recognized for our participation
in this prestigious program,” Glover said. “With our diverse student, staff and
faculty population, TSU identifies with the Fulbright program’s goal of
promoting mutual understanding between people of the United States and other
countries through cultural exchanges.”
Last year, TSU became the first historically black university to
host the Fulbright Pakistan Re-entry Seminar (April 25-28). The seminar, funded
through a grant from the Institute of International Education, was intended to
help students from Pakistan, who have studied in the United States for two
to seven years, prepare for the culture shock they may experience when they
return home.
Earlier this year, TSU professor Janice M. Williams received a
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to South Africa in Dental Sciences. She
was one of over 800 U.S. citizens who were selected to teach, conduct research,
and/or provide expertise abroad for the 2019-2020 academic year.
According
to Dr. Jewell Winn, executive director of the TSU Office of International
Affairs, having this designation with Fulbright, which has partnerships with
more than 160 countries worldwide, positions the university to be more
attractive globally.
“It
has been challenging to develop cultural exchange programs with major research
institutions around the world,” she said. “But this designation will show that
we are among the most prestigious and respected HBCUs implementing
comprehensive internationalization.”
In the State Department’s letter, assistant secretary Royce
congratulated TSU for attaining the Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leadership
status, along with the other 18 HBCUs.
“ECA has established this new designation to acknowledge the strong partnership between the Fulbright Program and HBCUs, and to encourage the entire network of HBCUs to increase their Fulbright engagement,” the letter said. “This initiative is part of the U.S. State Department’s long-standing commitment to build diversity and inclusion within the Fulbright Program and within the Bureau’s international exchange program overall.”
TSU will be recognized at a special reception hosted by the Fulbright Program on Feb. 18, during the annual Association of International Education Administration in Washington, D.C.
Terrence Izzard, TSU’s associate vice president for Enrollment
Management and Student Success, said the designation helps the university’s
recruitment effort by further opening the pipeline for engaging more foreign
students.
“We have a large international population of students, and this
designation certainly helps to enhance our outreach to continue to attract the
best and brightest from abroad,” Izzard said.
Added Katelyn Thompson, president of Tennessee State’s SGA, “TSU’s
diverse student population makes us unique. I think the Fulbright Program would
help to expose our students to more cultural exchanges, as well as bring in
more students from foreign countries.”
As part of the State Department designation, TSU received a certification of congratulations, as well as a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader digital badge to display on the institution’s website and on its social media platforms.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State UniversityFounded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only
public university, and is a premier, historically black university and
land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24
master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a
comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie
designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams
Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in
McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee
State University provides students with a quality education in a
nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be
global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online
at tnstate.edu.
