Beginning March 24, the Presidential Commission on Academic Renewal (PCAR) will host a series of town hall meetings across the University campus, designed to broaden community participation in the ongoing discussions on academic renewal, which began last fall with the appointment of the commission by President Sidney A. Ribeau, Ph.D.
Alvin Thornton, Ph.D, chairman of the Commission, says PCAR aims to comprehensively review Howard's academic programs to ensure their continued efficacy in a challenging global environment.
"At each stage of the development of our nation and the African-American community, Howard renewed and restructured itself to address at the highest level of excellence and quality the changing needs of our nation and underrepresented communities.
Contemporary opportunities and challenges require that Howard review its academic programs and organizational structures to ensure that once again it is able to carry out its mission and remain competitive in the higher education community," Thornton said.
Convened in fall 2009, the commission comprises 38 members of the Howard University faculty, including six representatives designated by the faculty senate; four members of the Howard University Staff Organization; four students; three administrators; one member of the Board of Trustees; and five external experts.
The Commission's work will culminate in spring 2010 when a full report and recommendations will be submitted to the president.
Thornton says the process is designed in a way that will draw on the collective wisdom of the campus community through ongoing communication and substantive engagement before making final recommendations to the president.
This is being facilitated through regular meetings of the commission, an interactive Web site, periodic reports, meetings with academic departments and schools and colleges and town hall meetings.
Town hall meetings are scheduled for March 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the School of Business Auditorium and on March 30, 2010, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the School of Law, 2900 Van Ness Street, will focus on the uniqueness of Howard University.
Three additional meetings—Wednesday, March 31, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the School of Social Work auditorium; Thursday, April 8, 2010, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m at the School of Law, and Tuesday, April 13, 2:00 4:00 p.m. in the College of Medicine Auditorium, will focus on the status of the Commission's work.
"Operating on the premise that the United States and the world need Howard more than ever, we are using this opportunity to review what we do and how we do it so we can better address areas of critical societal and human needs and so that we can continue to educate a new generation of leaders," said President Ribeau.
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P.S. By the way, you need to stop outsourcing jobs (i.e., maintenance, security, legal[especially this one],to those who do not live in our community
So, President Ribeau what you're doing is nothing more than making it appear as if the university is going to really make substantive changes. When in fact, there is no need to conduct another evaluation of the plethora of systemic problems at Howard because they were noted, last year, the year before that, etc.. Thereby, you and your cronies should keep it simple and do your jobs as you are paid instead of wasting more time, energy, and money that could redirected to the reprehensible libraries. Matter of fact, the students don't need to venture down south to New Orleans to see harsh environments(i.e., Black mold, dirty floors, hanging lights fixtures, non-operational bathrooms, etc)because this can been seen in the undergraduate library(UGL) or Founders Library.