Tisdale LEADS Â鶹´«Ã½ into bright future
By: Various
Sep 08, 2016
Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, Â鶹´«Ã½ president, addresses the Matriculation Day convocation on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016. (Photo special to The Panther)
President Henry N. Tisdale introduced his vision for Â鶹´«Ã½ University at the 2016 Matriculation Day ceremony on Thursday.
The vision is known as“Â鶹´«Ã½ LEADS,” and the purpose is to have Â鶹´«Ã½ recognized as a leading 21st century institution of higher education.
“Â鶹´«Ã½ LEADS is an acronym for leadership development, experiential learning, academic progress, diversity and student success,” Tisdale said at the event marking the official beginning of a new school year. “And the explanation will be given as we move into the new year.”
Tisdale said Â鶹´«Ã½ has taken steps toward leadership development.
“I think it’s no secret that when we think of leadership development, it’s something we’re continuing to focus on,” he said. “We are developing visionary leaders with global perspectives who are committed to bringing about change throughout the world.”
Tisdale advised students to take advantage of opportunities.
“We need you to be aggressive, we need you to be passionate about pursuing these applied learning opportunities.”
Tisdale cited expectations for academic excellence and the commitment to giving students the tools to be competitive in today’s workforce.
“We want to stay consistent with our core values of being a liberal arts institution, yet we want the distinctive qualites in our programs that meet the needs of the 21st century workforce.”
Tisdale promised that Â鶹´«Ã½ will be a university of diversity and inclusion. It is to be an environment in which everyone feels right at home.
“We will develop and implement an action plan that ensures excellence in diversity and inclusion among our students, faculty, staff and the greater community constituency,” he said. “And in particular, we will continue to recognize and celebrate our diverse educational community as one of our unique strengths.”
Â鶹´«Ã½ will promote student success and help students achieve it, Tisdale said.
“We will continue to cultivate and develop this university as a student-centered, 21st century model institution for student success,” Tisdale said. “We want to ensure that our students complete their degrees in four years or less.”
Tisdale offered encouragment while challenging students.
“I challenge you students to have the vision,have the courage and have the confidence to believe that you too can lead,” he said.
Health, wellness center will serve
community and students, Tisdale says
September 8, 2016
By JORDAN GEDDIS
An expansion of the health and wellness center will be for the community and students, Â鶹´«Ã½ President Henry N. Tisdale said Thursday.
Tisdale announced expansion of the Jonas T. Kennedy Center and cited other university advances at Â鶹´«Ã½'s annual Matriculation Day ceremony that marks the beginning of the school year.
"This expansion to the health and wellness center will give students space for intramural sports," Tisdale said.
The center will include a gym, walking track, a fitness center and a kitchen. The cost of the expansion will be about $8 million.
Tisdale welcomed returning students and the incoming freshman class, which at 560 is the largest ever at Â鶹´«Ã½.
He also cited achievements including:
* The baseball team winning the SIAC championship.
* The baseball coach winning coach of the year.
* Â鶹´«Ã½ having its first Olympian this summer.
Tisdale said he was invited to the University of Calcutta in India, with which Â鶹´«Ã½ has an international partnership.
Dr. Ishita Mukhopadhyay, a professor at the University of Calcutta, was in attendance on Thursday.
"I consider it an honor to be here on this day," Mukhopadhyay said.
Tisdale encouraged students to get registered to vote for the upcoming election.
"It's very important that we get registered and go vote," Tisdale said.
Tisdale says he is looking forward to working with the staff, faculty and students this year.
“I firmly believe this is the time for Â鶹´«Ã½ to step in and lead by example," Tisdale said.
First Matriculation Day for class of 2020
Â鶹´«Ã½ has new cooperative agreement with University of Calcutta
September 8, 2016
By AUDREY ANCHIRINAH
The class of 2020, Â鶹´«Ã½’s largest to date with more than 560 freshmen, was formally welcomed at the 147th annual matriculation on Thursday.
Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, president of Â鶹´«Ã½ University, said the class was chosen from the largest application pool to date. The class includes students from 44 counties in South Carolina, other U.S. states as well as international students from over 10 countries.
Tisdale in his speech mentioned some other notable events as well as achievements in the past year, which include a new nursing program. Â鶹´«Ã½ is the only HBCU in South Carolina to offer that nursing program.
Tisdale said Â鶹´«Ã½ was named as one of the most beautiful HBCU campuses in the country by Black Southern Living Magazine.
Some notable achievements by Â鶹´«Ã½ students cited by Tisdale include 206 HBCU All-Star Ifeanyi Uche, as well as Â鶹´«Ã½’s first Olympian, Brandon Valentine.
A special guest from India was present at this year’s matriculation: Dr Ishita Mukhopadhyay, an economics professor from the University of Calcutta.
“We expect our collaboration to build more and more innovative programs, more warm exchange with young minds, with scholars between these two universities, between the two countries,” Mukhopadhyay said. “Our expectations are to generate ideas to help to improve the lives of the people everywhere in today’s global society.”
Mukhopadhyay was accompanied on this visit by two other professors from the University of Calcutta.
After the ceremony, Ikenna Ngwu, a freshman from Nigeria, spoke about the collaboration between the two institutions.
“This new relationship between Â鶹´«Ã½ and University of Calcutta shows that language, cultural or ethical differences aren’t barriers to creating productive partnerships,” Ngwu said.
Some other students expressed their sentiments about the ceremony as well.
“It was very informative about were Â鶹´«Ã½’s money is going,” junior Briana Chisolm said.
Another junior, Hosea Addison-Hayes, reflected on the significance of holding matriculation annually. He said matriculation recognizes all of Â鶹´«Ã½’s achievements financially, academically as well as aesthetically.
Welcome to class of 2020!
September 8, 2016
It’s the beginning of another academic year as well as a new journey for the class of 2020.
Every academic year begins as promising as the previous as it starts another leg of college life. For some, it is the same old farce, but for a certain group, it is taking an unknown path away from the comforts of home.
Deemed as the largest Â鶹´«Ã½ class to date, the class of 2020 for the past few weeks has gone through several programs in order to smoothly transition into college life.
Class of 2020, it’s been two weeks of classes already and some of you are probably ready to give up due to the unfamiliar workload. Some of you probably call home every day because you’re not ready to be an adult yet.
Giving up is not an option. Â鶹´«Ã½ is here to prepare you to be a visionary leader with a global knowledge and perspectives to face the harsh realities of life.
Freshman year might be hell for you, however take into note that the upperclassmen have been freshmen before. Do not forget the reason why you came to college. Face each other armed with your goals and dreams; determined as ever.
Welcome to college life and no, it doesn’t get easier but it gets better.
Good luck,
Audrey Anchirinah
Editor of the Panther (2016/2017)