Start Here, Go Anywhere! CONTENTS 3 Cordial welcome from the lovely Miss Jessica Swindle, Miss AAMU 201314, and Executive SGA President Keith Williams.
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MY WAY! Student decides to cut apron strings and pursue study in England on his own.
10 YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN Kyle’s landing on African soil was a life-changing experience.
18 ROCKET TEAM PROPELS AAMU INTO SPACE AAMU Rocket Team Tops Opponents in successful rocket launch initiative.
PRESIDENT Andrew Hugine, Jr., Ph.D. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Kevin Rolle, Ph.D. INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARKETING, COMMUNICATION AND ADVANCEMENT Archie Tucker, Jr. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Allen P. Vital ________ EDITOR Jerome Saintjones PHOTOGRAPHY J. Saintjones COVER DESIGN D’Artagan Winford Start Here, Go Anywhere! is published by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations Alabama A&M University, P.O. Box 1027 Normal, AL 35762 (256) 372.5607 Send correspondence to the aforementioned address or e-mail public.relations@aamu.edu.
WELCOME Greetings from “The Hill”! You are reaching a very important period in your life. The decisions you make at this juncture could impact everything for many, many years down the road. Selecting the best college for you is key because a great school could give you a firmer foundation for life’s journey. We bring you greetings on behalf of the student at Alabama A&M University, as well as on behalf of the countless men and women who can offer proud testament on the quality of students, student life and development, as well as the exemplary academic programs at A&M. There are literally thousands of institutions of higher learning throughout the United States, and you are blessed to freely choose from among the lot. Nonetheless, because so much is riding on this decision alone, you want an institution that has a longstanding reputation for working in the best interest of its students. At AAMU, you can rest assured that you will not be merely a number among a faceless crowd. Throughout the absolute the pleasure and challenges of serving as student leaders, we often experienced the warm words of greeting, encouragement and inspiration for which AAMU is noted. We have also celebrated A&M’s time-honored traditions. We must inform you, however, that A&M will challenge you on any number of levels, but in the end you will proudly pay it a debt of gratitude for its role in shaping you for the real world. Thank you for accepting our comments and welcome. We wish for you much success in the important months ahead.
Jessica Swindle
Keith Williams
Miss Alabama A&M University, 2013-14 Executive President of the Student Government Association, 2013-14
College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences
Glen Wiggins
Fashion Merchandising and Design (Minor) Mobile, Ala.
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You have to readily admit it: Glenn Wiggins has a certain flair about him. Despite the small frame and the gargantuan spectacles that forever seek out pearls in the oysters of the world, Wiggins exudes the equally mammoth confidence usually reserved for those rare souls whose lives are set to launch. And though he has one foot solidly set in the soil of an international business major, where he is nurtured and inspired by Professor Maurice Dawson, he also anchors himself with a minor in fashion design which, psychologi-
An American in London Making a Minor Major: A Tale of Two Programs
cally and technically aided by Eunice Tibbs, seems to really fuel his passion. “I want to be a tailor for the world’s most prominent leaders and individuals,” said Wiggins, who admits that even at an early age back in Mobile, Ala., he was groomed to have an appreciation and
even a dignity for clothing. “I knew that I would need a good knowledge base.” When he was a high school senior, he took the school’s dress code and developed his own unique style, all while remaining within the administration’s parameters. At A&M, Wiggins worked
with the SGA, and he eagerly delved into styling, modeling and hosting. Then, one day he learned of an opportunity to study in London through World Endeavors, a popular study abroad program. But he needed money. Lots of it. To the tune of $5,000 ... plus. With ample assistance from A&M’s Office of International Programs, along with his personal fundraising team “American Dream,” Wiggins began to work toward the longed-for trip to England. But the vibes weren’t quite right, and two weeks before his scheduled departure date, he withdrew from the structured study abroad program. Wiggins made the bold decision to go to London on his
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own and on his own terms. Although he was simultaneously victimized by a scam that would claim a portion of his money, Wiggins was determined more than ever to reach London. He arrived in London on his birthday. “I’m here,” he recalls saying to himself. He literally hit the British soil in a spirited tizzy, ready to get to work. Almost immediately, he landed an internship with the coveted George Graduate Fashion Week. He found London “very open” to new talent and was amazed by the fashion industry’s countless opportunities. “I would really recommend getting a passport and seeing the world at an early age,” said the AAMU senior.
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AAMU Program Helps Fill Void of Minorities in the Sciences For more than two decades, Alabama A&M University has diligently worked to help the National Science Foundation increase the number of minority students entering STEM-related disciplines and professions. A program that stands out as a shining example of the partnership is the Alabama Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ALSAMP) program. The ALSAMP program is among the oldest of the NSF’s nationwide alliances, and it pulls together 12 dynamic institutions of higher education from throughout the state. Deemed one of the most effective diversity programs in the United States, inclusive of similar LSAMP alliances, more than 500,000 students have earned STEM-related undergraduate degrees owing to the program’s assistance. That record makes the AAMU LSAMP program site coordinator proud. “Alabama A&M University can truly boast about its role in the development of scientists, researchers and other STEM professionals,” commented Dr. Jeanette Jones, professor of biology. “They help to fill what would have been an undeniable void in minority participation throughout the field of science.” AAMU lists seven among its 2013-14 ALSAMP transition scholars, funding each for the amount of $6,000 per year. For more information about the LSAMP program at AAMU, contact Dr. Jeanette Jones at (256) 372-4924. - Jerome Saintjones Start Start Here Here -- Go Go Anywhere! Anywhere! -6-6-
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A&M Students Help Expand Relationship with Brazil
Students at two historically black land-grant universities in Alabama are broadening their educational, research and cultural horizons, thanks to a $300,000 grant by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Faculty and students at Alabama A&M University and Tuskegee University will continue through 2015 a focus on Brazilian agriculture that could impact curriculum, as well as broaden international competence and global experiences. According to Dr. Zachary Senwo, professor of soil microbial biochemistry in AAMU’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, despite the decades-old expansion of U.S. business into globalization, African-American students have not achieved the benefits of international and intercultural competence. Building and broadening the international scopes at 1890 institutions is a necessity if faculty and students are to remain competitive and relevant in our changing global environment. The USDA-NIFA grant allows AAMU and Tuskegee to expand an international reach that dates back to the early 1900s. “This project will strengthen the global competence of our students and faculty in food and agricultural sciences,” says Senwo. “It will also broaden their global awareness in a South American culture and open a more global vision through collaborative partnerships in Brazil.” Among the linkages established through the project are the Brazil Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Federal University of Roraima, Agronomic Institute of Campinas, and the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica. During a more recent visit to Brazil, two professors and three students from AAMU and Tuskegee participated in lectures, research and training in agricultural sciences, visited agro-ecological integrated production systems, and observed organic farmers markets. The group was also able to witness firsthand the Brazilian approach to bacterial inoculants, bioenergy production, low carbon agriculture, meat goat production, land reclamation, and reduction of greenhouse gases. A group will return to Brazil in the summer of 2014, and Senwo says proposals will be submitted to build upon such global engagement projects beyond 2015. One such proposal, he adds, will target establishing a relationship between the Alabama HBCUs and Rwanda and continue current engagements in Costa Rica. For the past three years, AAMU and Tuskegee have sent students and faculty to EARTH University in Costa Rica through an earlier USDA-NIFA funded project. For additional information on the USDA-NIFA project, “Building Global Engagements to Enhance Faculty and Students’ Professional Development and Career Opportunities in Agriculture’s Challenge Areas,” contact Dr. Senwo at (256) 372-4216. - Jerome Saintjones Start Here - Go Anywhere! -7-
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A&M Environmental Science Club Lures “Real Food Challenge” Students at Alabama A&M University are playing an active role in bringing about more options in their on-campus food choices, all part of a gradually swelling national initiative. A case in point is the Environmental Science Club’s 2013 hosting of the “Real Food Challenge” organization. The latter organization conducted a tour of universities in the Southeast, and A&M was added to its schedule. Facilitators from “Real
Food Challenge” conducted a workshop to show students how to get local, organic and healthy food. “It is very important for students to have real options in their food choices,” says Dr. Elicia Moss, an active research professor who also serves as a co-advisor for the AAMU Environmental Science Club. Moss stressed that knowing healthy food choices is vital, especially in light of the numerous food recalls consumers hear about
every day. “Often, college students have to eat what’s there,” Moss explained, thus, true healthy food options, as well as student influence on those options, have to be sustained. The professor noted that simple variety in fruits and vegetable are a key piece of the nutritional puzzle. Moreover, the Real Food Challenge served as both a campaign and a network. The campaign increases the procurement of real food on col-
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lege and university campuses, with the national goal of 20 percent real food by 2020. By leveraging their purchasing power, college students can impact the larger food system, say Challenge organizers. The network also offers a chance for students and their allies to make connections, to learn from one another, and to grow the movement. - Jerome Saintjones
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Kyle S. King
International Business Westwood, N.J.
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The World According to Kyle
Kyle S. King learned about Alabama A&M University through the friend of his mentor. That friend happened to be AAMU Trustee Norman Hill. “He spoke very highly of the school,” said King, a international business major from Westwood, N.J. Armed with his parents’ incessant encouragement of reading and self-expression, King is glad he chose AAMU, where he entered a path to several new opportunities. The track student-athlete has amassed numerous accolades, including All-Academic All-American, Athletic Director’s Honor Roll Award, All Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Academic Team, Scholar Athlete Award and Silver Presidential Medallion. King also carves out time to play a productive role in the Honors Program, the University Echoes (student ambassadors), Royal Court escorts, Men of America Nurturing Ushering Progress (MANUP, Inc.) and the CoOp Professional Club. Although he was accepted to take part in a study abroad program in China, he declined the offer. His research on the
high demands and needs of the economy of Ghana convinced him to travel to West Africa instead. King traveled with four other AAMU students and two professors. He was very nervous and had no idea what to expect. Then came an epiphany. “When we arrived,” King recalled, “and when I first felt Africa ... it was like a coming home.” It wasn’t all roses, however. There were some air conditioning issues, mosquito spraying, an immediate and almost total change in diet (i.e., more natural, no preservatives). In fact, he did get sick and had to be nurtured back to health by the professors for a few days on the trip. Perhaps the most somber aspect of the trip was the visit to Ghana’s Cape Coast Castle, another point of no return to thousands of slaves destined for shipment across the Atlantic Ocean via the lucrative slave trade. “I learned things that served as the 360-degree moment on the trip,” King said. “Things like the start of religion in the slave castles, the churches above the castle
dungeons, the role of the chiefs in the slave trade, and the different ways slaveholders tried to undermine the grip of slave’s family-oriented culture.” Another memorable point in the course of the trip was the visit to the burial site of African American scholar and historian W.E.B. DuBois in Accra, Ghana. Additionally, King joined the squad comprised primarily of science and engineering majors who formed and conducted experiments as AAMU’s “Zero Gravity” team at NASA in Houston, Tex. “A&M also has opened my eyes to the challenges of being an African-American male,” said King. “I feel prepared for post-graduation, and by prepared I mean academically and mentally.” King said he continues to get words of wisdom from AAMU faculty and staff. For instance, he will always remember Professor Barbara A.P. Jones stressing that education is more than learning and deeper than the classroom. Clayton Gibson, AAMU business administrator, in his role as an accounting faculty member, empha-
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sized to King the importance of appearance and how “it affects everything”--especially in corporate America. Even former Wendy Kobler, AAMU’s former vice president for marketing, communications and advancement, opened King’s eyes to the value of networking and maintaining patience as the groundwork conducts its own magic. On a broader level, King said he finds inspiration in the lives of men such as entrepreneurial legend Steve Jobs, Thurgood Marshall and actor/writer Hill Harper. King said he envisions someday launching a foundation that specializes in building up developing world economies and their educational systems through technology. If he could pass on some key words to incoming freshmen, King said he would tell them that their future should not be based on the monetary value they acquire, but rather on how well they have built a legacy. He went on to add that he would recommend that they step outside their majors for new challenges. by Jerome Saintjones
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Present and Accountable A&M Accounting Students Visit Capital City’s Finance Department
There’s nothing quite like getting it from a key source, and that’s what Alabama A&M University accounting students did recently on a trip to Montgomery, Ala. Participants in the Accounting for Government and Non-Profit Entity’s (ACC 450) class at AAMU traveled to the state capital to visit the City of Montgomery’s Finance Department. Hosted by Betty Beville, deputy finance director for the City of Montgomery, stu-
dents witnessed firsthand the application of governmental accounting in a state government environment, as well as received an opportunity to ask questions on topics pertinent to their course. Accounting Bulldogs also met Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange. Accompanied on the trip by course instructor Eric Ohene-Nyako, the students are part of an AAMU accounting program tradition. For example, non-profit classes have visited numerous
finance departments during the spring semester in various cities to learn more about the non-profit accounting environment. Among the previous municipal finance department sites are Nashville, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Huntsville, Ala.; and Knoxville, Tenn. Bonnie McQuitter Banks serves as interim chair of AAMU’s Department of Accounting & Logistics.
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A&M PBL Chapter Brings Home the Honors
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The Phi Beta Lambda Business Fraternity Incorporated, XIXI Chapter from College of Business and Public Affairs at Alabama A&M University, concluded another excellent performance during recent state competitions. AAMU business students participated in the two-day Alabama State PBL Annual Spring Leadership Confer-
ence held at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham, Ala. Nearly 30 students attended the mid-April conference and competed in skilled events and written events on business and related courses. AAMU students netted 21 prizes, among them two (2) first prizes; nine (9) second prizes; and 10 third prizes. The first and second
prize winners represented the State of Alabama in the PBL National Leadership Conference the following summer in Anaheim, Calif. The members of PBL
XIXI Chapter are grateful to the teachers, staff, departmental chairs and dean for all their support. “We also appreciate the efforts and leadership of Jasmine Buxton,
director of student activities, and Dr. Jeffery Burgin, vice president for student affairs, who made A&M’s attendance possible.” The Office of Admis-
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sions and the Department of Management and Marketing heavily contributed to the team’s success at the state competition. by Jerome Saintjones
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College of Education, Health and Behavioral Sciences
Vocalists Leave Washington, DC . . ! e w A in
The vocal talents and community engagement of two students from “The Hill” received accolades at a celebratory music gathering sponsored in part by the internationally renowned Washington National Opera. Christopher E. Cole (left) and Deric Jackson (r) represented Alabama A&M University as competent participants in an event coordinated by the noted 105 Voices of History HBCU National Concert Choir.
The organization’s National Soloist Award activity was held in celebration of African-American Music Month at the Washington National Opera Studio. In recognition of “off-stage” performance, Jackson earned a national citation for and recognition for AAMU owing to his volunteer and community service work over the past year, while Cole achieved an important distinction for his performance in the National Soloist Award event. “Chris did a phenomenal job,” commented Shonda Devine (above, center), AAMU assistant professor of voice. According to Devine, Cole, a native of Camden, Ala., was the youngest of five finalists and endured three intense days of master classes to earn second place honors and a monetary award. Devine also praised Jackson’s accomplishment which, she said, made him an excellent ambassador for AAMU. The finance major is a native of Birmingham, Ala.
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A&M Students’ Fascination with
Books & Coffee Do you love the works of Zora Neale Hurston? Would you prefer instead to read biographical information on the Godfather of Soul? Have the novels and characters of Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison left you wondering whether she harbors a secret hatred for men? If so, then chances are that you have sat in on an exciting, afternoon book discussion at Alabama A&M University. The Books and Coffee Series
at AAMU has been around a long time. Hosted by the Department of English, Foreign Languages and Telecommunications, the series provides faculty members a chance to share their favorite books with students, colleagues and the community. The presenters have been as diverse and engaging as the myriad books they share with attentive audiences. Often, students sit spellbound, ignoring for the moment, at least, all smart phones and devices
that would connect through social media. This feat alone speaks volume for the program’s ongoing success. A case in point is one popular presentation highlighting Robert Putnam’s 2000 book, “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.” Presented by English instructor Jody Jones, the book discussion focused on the author’s observation of social interaction in America, and
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how old social interactions are being replaced by newer models of social discourse. Contributing to the Putnam’s notion of the decline of human interaction are such elements as generational change, television and other forms of mass media, differences in family structure, as well as mobility and sprawl, noted Jones, during a presentation in the Learning Resources Center. “People are happy on their
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own island, at their own home,” commented Jones. “People feel that they don’t have to interact because they have everything they need.” But Jones counters that human beings do, in fact, “need each other.” There is a sort of village cohesiveness in neighborhood get-togethers and parties. Materialism, said Jones, has made people forget the importance of belongingness, adding that the lack of human interaction also means that the community misses out on such milestones as graduations, birthdays, etc.
Jody Jones, Department of English and Foreign Languages, discusses Robert Putnam’s “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community during a 2013 Books and Coffee session in the LRC auditorium.
“There is no substitute for bonding,” said Jones, stating that social media (i.e., Skype, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) has both good and bad aspects. She noted in particular social media’s “false sense” of connectedness.
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“Many old things are our foundation and shouldn’t be thrown away,” said Jones. “Community is a value that shapes us.” The Jones presentation is but a subsample of the treats in store for students who participate in the Books and Coffee Series. Past presentations have included a lively discussion of a biography (Valerie Boyd’s “Wrapped in Rainbows) on author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, presented by AAMU staffer Marilyn Simpson Johnson; the works of Toni Morrison, presented by English professor emerita Mattie Thomas; as well as presentations by numerous faculty and staff throughout the campus.
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College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences
AAMU Rocket Team Wins NASA Launch Alabama A&M University can chalk up another one for the history books. A team from the College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences (CETPS) topped NASA’s coveted annual University Student Launch Initiative in spring 2013. Nearly 40 universities from all over the country competed at the Bragg Farm in Toney, Ala. The AAMU team’s rocket was closest to the one mile target (5,280 feet), reaching 5,269 feet, noted team advisor, Dr. Mohamed Seif. Points were
awarded for altitude, payload, design, and other design and performance factors. The team was made up of students from AAMU’s engineering programs. Dedicated to the project for the entire 2012-13 year were: Dr. Mohamed Seif (mentor); Justin J. Taylor, rocket team leader/ president, senior; Julion Bell, senior; Gabriel Odinaka, senior; Landon Cook, senior; Shaquille Dial, junior; Rickey Muirhead, junior; Emmanuel Hunter, junior; and Sebastian Alsop, sophomore. In a word, the AAMU
team, advisors and administrators were ecstatic. “This is unbelievable,” commented Dr. Chance Glenn, dean of CETPS. “This is a testament to the initiative, knowledge and leadership of our students. They confidently strode onto a national stage and performed brilliantly. The college and the University can be proud of their achievements.” “I am very proud of their dedication, perseverance and enthusiasm,” commented Dr. Seif, adding that the team was very confident that it would
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win. “When I found out that the students were able to match the testing results with the analysis and computer simulation (RockSim Analysis), I realized that AAMU had a winning team this year.” According to NASA, the Student Launch Projects (SLP) challenges middle, high school and college students to design, build and launch a reusable rocket to one mile above ground level as it carries a scientific or engineering payload. On the night before the competition, the AAMU
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team monitored the weather conditions and stayed in the machine shop until 1 a.m. modifying their design, said Dr. Seif. “They realized that they were competing nationally with very high caliber teams, and they tried their best to eliminate any source of error.” In 2004, chemistry professor Razi Hassan led a team of students on a similar launch in Manchester, Tenn. However, the goal at that time was
two miles (more than 10,000 feet). A Proteus rocket fondly named “Butch,” after the school mascot, reached 1.8 miles, falling short of rival UAH, which achieved 1.9 miles. However, the UAH rocket was not successfully retrieved. This led toward an overall win by the AAMU team. Team members, Hassan and former engineering dean Arthur J. Bond were proud of the achievement. The Academic Affairs Of-
fice at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., manages SLP. It comprises two project elements: NASA Student Launch Initiative (SLI) for middle and high school teams and the NASA University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) for community college and university teams. Participating in USLI is requires commitment and discipline. The program is an eight-month or academic-year
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commitment with multiple requirements, chief among them a series of reports and reviews, a website, education outreach in the local community, provision of a timeline, a budget and even more requirements. Additionally, all teams must successfully complete an initial and a final ‘launch readiness review’ safety check before launch in Huntsville, Ala. - Jerome Saintjones
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AAMU Civil Engineering Students Learn About
‘Roughing It’
College students are supposed to learn about the newest techniques and equipment of their respective professions, right? And, isn’t it also true that many academic programs aptly boast about that ‘edge’ that distinguishes their graduates’ experiences from the rest? But theory and text are not enough for Dr. Mahbub Hasan, assistant professor of civil engineering at Alabama A&M University. After amassing a plethora of his own civil engineering stories, coupled with the uniqueness acquired by several years of study and work in Japan, Hasan decided to offer his hydraulic engineering design students a new way of doing things, a way calling for some deviation from the textbook. While books and theories remain vital, Hasan notes they can only go so far. There are occasions, adds Hasan, when field problems occur that textbooks cannot adequately address. In that Dr. Hasan prefers to teach and develop his students utilizing the assistance of practical experiences, the class was assigned the task of determining the discharge in the open channel spanning the AAMU Wellness Center and the human resources offices. Students had to conduct their calculations without the use of the sophisticated equipment normally needed to determine the velocity and to calculate the flow size of water in open channels. “We teach our students to become field problem solvers,” said Hasan. “We do not simply give them information available in the textbooks.” Start Here - Go Anywhere! -20-
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Myles to Go Promises to Keep ...
A graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in materiel engineering at Alabama A&M University, Myles Morgan is in the final stretch of his program. Ordinarily, he might welcome the entire notion of winding down. But he has miles to go and promises to keep. The Lithonia, Ga., native has several irons in the fire. In addition to graduate school, he wears a hat as an ROTC cadet. Yet he has taken on a new role and its accompanying responsibilities. While simultaneously conducting a co-op with the casting component of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA) in Jackson, Tenn., Morgan will serve his fellow AAMU students as their federal Forest Service ambassador.
His selection by the Forest Service makes Morgan one of only 10 such ambassadors nationwide, he said. The successful completion of the program includes a $2,000 stipend, he added. Morgan applied for the program at a career fair held during the previous fall semester. To fulfill his ambassador role, Morgan will have to hold virtual workshopsm conduct monthly presentations, edit resumes and, in essence, sell the Forest Service and its opportunities to AAMU students. Among the entity’s many pluses are access to USAJobs, resume critiquing, federal payscale and numerous internship opportunities. His aim is to reach a minimum of 100 AAMU students, the publish two (2) articles, hold a meeting to meet and
greet faculty and staff, and to participate in a weekly coach call with Partnership for Public Service in Washington, D.C. Morgan’s energy has been both encouraged and tempered by such mentors as Dr. F. Michael Ayokanmbi, Mebougna Drabo and Eugene Black. AAMU students who desire additional information Start Here - Go Anywhere! -21-
about Forest Service opportunities should contact Morgan at MrMorgan80@yahoo.com
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Whatever you hope to become in life, you will have to start somewhere and at some point in time. At Alabama A&M University, you will find a place with all you need to make life’s major decisions. We have numerous degree programs that cover all the major aspects of life, from agriculture and education to engineering and the humanities. Discovery is a beautiful thing. Let us help you find yourself. Visit www.aamu.edu or call (256) 372-5245.
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Grad Becomes State Assemblyman in Wisconsin
Mandela Barnes was born on December 1st, 1986, graduated from MPS’s John Marshall High School in 2003, and attended Alabama A&M University, before returning to Milwaukee in 2009. After returning to Milwaukee, Mandela began interning in City of Milwaukee Office of Mayor Tom Barrett, eventually moving into the position of Staff Assistant. After leaving the Mayor’s Office, Mandela began working in the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, and eventually became the Lead Organizer and Director for Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), a coalition of faith-based groups advocating for social justice in the greater-Milwaukee community. Representative Barnes was sworn into office on January 7th, 2013, and serves on the Committees on Urban Education, State & Federal Relations, Workforce Development, Ways & Means, Urban & Local Affairs. Wisconsin’s 11th Assembly District is comprised of the northeastern region of the City of Milwaukee, and also includes the southern half of the City of Glendale. Start Here - Go Anywhere! -23-
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AAMU Becomes Tree Campus USA Students and staff at Alabama A&M University planted trees donated by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota Wednesday, April 10, following a program in Clyde Foster Auditorium on the AAMU campus. The planting is in celebration of the University’s
commitment to tree care and conservation, and its quest for Tree Campus USA recognition. Wednesday’s volunteer activity was one of a series of hands-on tree planting events sponsored by the Foundation and Toyota during the spring of 2013.
The event was also supported by Alpha Kappa Alpha, the oldest Greek-lettered organization established by African-American, collegeeducated women, as part of a broader campaign to recruit and train environmental leaders. Companion events included
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tree plantings at the University of Florida and Rutgers University. The public was invited to witness some 30 trees that were planted at Legacy Lake, across from the Morrison Building, and in the vicinity of the Chase Road and Meridian Street intersection.
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Journal: Graduation Rates Increase at AAMU, HBCUs An article in the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (JBHE) cites significant graduation rate increases at several historically black colleges and universities over the period of more than a decade (19982011). According to the report,
which draws heavily from NCAA data, Alabama A&M University achieved an 8 percent increase in its graduation rate over the period, improving to a 43 percent rate. AAMU was eclipsed by Howard, Jackson State and Virginia Union, each with
graduation rate improvements in the double digits. However, some institutions’ graduation rates decreased, most notably the North Carolina public HBCU institutions; both Coppin State and Morgan State of Maryland; Grambling of Louisiana;
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Lincoln of Pennsylvania; South Carolina State; and Florida A&M. Among Mississippi HBCUs, Mississippi Valley and Rust College bottomed out the list at -12 percent and -16 percent, respectively.
AAMU Committed to Holding Down Tuition Costs American institutions of higher education have been urged to do more to keep down their spiraling tuition. For decades, Alabama A&M University has been doing much to rein in its operational costs, even as utility rates and health insurance have climbed. At the onset of FY2013, AAMU was the only college or university in Alabama that did not raise its tuition. One factor in A&M’s ability to hold constant its tuition rate for the 2012-13 school year was the dramatic improvement in the University’s finances since its fiscal lows of 2009. AAMU President Andrew Hugine, Jr., further acknowledges that these pluses mounted despite declines in yearly state appropriations. Additionally, AAMU allocated some $20 million to address deferred maintenance issues and increased its endowment to more than $40 million. Finally, AAMU faculty and staff were set to receive a two percent pay increase, marking the first such pay increase in more than five years.