State of University Ad dres s

President Frederick Kickstarts Homecoming Weekend with State of University Address

By - Mekala Seme

President Wayne A.I. Frederick delivered the State of the University address to kick-start homecoming weekend on Oct. 21. President Frederick began the address by outlining key updates on the university's shared vision in the Howard Forward plan.

The Howard Forward Strategic vision was first developed in 2016 to drive “a culture of continuous improvement” by enhancing academic excellence, inspiring new knowledge, serving the community, improving efficiency and effectiveness, and achieving financial sustainability. In the address, President Frederick acknowledged the growing construction projects surrounding the university’s campus.

“We will invest $785 million into our facilities in a variety of ways,” he said.

The university intends to construct new core academic buildings, revitalize the Howard University Hospital, improve the student residential experience, and construct apartmentstyle residences. The

improvement of the student residential experience and the construction of apartment-style residences has become of growing concern to upperclassmen and graduate students at the university.

Ravyn Dorleus is a junior chemistry major at Howard that currently resides in Mazza Grandmarc. Mazza Gradmarc is located in College Park, Maryland, and provides off-campus housing for college students in the area.

As a student living in Mazza, Dorleus commutes 30-40 minutes each day to attend classes on Howard’s campus. For Dorleus and many other upperclassmen at Howard, transportation can be extremely unreliable and costly.

“I hope the construction of these new buildings provides future students with more affordable housing options near campus,” Dorleus said. President Frederick continued the address by reflecting on the impact bomb threats have had on the Howard community. Over the past eight months, Howard University has received over eight bomb threats—this has become of growing concern to students, parents, faculty, and administration.

“Seeing students at Banneker with their pajamas and blankets at 3 a.m. is not a great sight to witness,” he reflected. President Frederick indicated the measures the University will take to uncover the perpetrators of these attacks, and outlined how the university has prepared campus safety and security measures for the Howard community during homecoming.

To conclude the address, President Frederick recognized and thanked Howard students and faculty for their ability to excel despite the obstacles they face.