Students Put Thoughts on ‘Blast’ at Town Hall on Academic Renewal

Students voiced their thoughts and concerns at the Put it on Blast forum with Provost James Wyche which was held Wednesday Sept. 28, in the auditorium of the School of Business. 

Daniel Cokes, Mr. Howard, and the Howard University Student Association hosted the event. Cokes presented the question, "Are we there yet?" which also serves as the title of his platform. He emphasized a need to progress towards academic renewal. The discussion, he said, was to figure out how the university can progress. 

Provost James Wyche believes that we have a long way to go to revitalize Howard, but plans have been put in motion to start the process.

"In the fall we will report to bring faculty and students in a town hall setting," Wyche said. In doing so, students can have voice in how to achieve academic revitalization. In order to achieve this goal, the Provost believes that it takes the efforts of staff, faculty and students.

HUSA President Brandon Harris raised the issue of Howard's recent drop in college rating scores.

"When I started at Howard we were 96 overall and now we are 115," Harris said. "How do we get our rating back up?" 

As a goal, the Provost remarked that Howard is striving to get a 70 percent average for graduates graduating in four years. In measuring up to the national graduating rate of 46 percent, Howard has a male graduating rate of 58 to 61 percent among males and 67 percent for females for graduates who graduate in six years of less, the Provost said.

The Provost addressed new programs that will also be introduced at Howard. In the future, Howard will be a part of global competition. 

"We need to regain the promise of being a global institution,"Wyche said.

There are plans for Howard to become a part of the Washington Area Library Consortium as well as more programs abroad such as the summer trips to China.

In order to have an academic revitalization, Wyche believes that we must start with physical renovations on campus. 

This includes two new academic buildings as well as two new dormitories. According to Wyche, as one of the only colleges with earthquake insurance, Howard University gained $250 million. This money will go towards 

Brandon Dean, sophomore political science major and financial aid advisor for HUSA, raised the question about when the Founders Library will once again be readily available to students. Even though a date has not been set, revitalization plans are being made to physically improve Founders Library.

With time and physical renovations the Provost believes Howard can reach a better academic state.

"We intend to bring in new leadership," said the Provost.

"We need to change the face of education and broaden the involvement of campus."revitalization.