NSU President Forecasts New Focus, Growth Opportunities

By Leonard E. Colvin

Chief Reporter

New Journal and Guide

To assure another 80 years of service as a viable institution of higher education, Norfolk State University must assure its accreditation, be more efficient with  the use of its fiscal and personal resources,  acquire new  income and bolster its ability to serve and provide new opportunities for its students.

 This analysis came from the university’s interim president Eddie N. Moore during his 2015  “State of The University”  speech”

“Repositioning Norfolk State University Begins Now”  was the heart of the speech delivered by  Moore during the opening session of the school on August 17 to  faculty, staff and  state and federal officials.

One of the major efforts to achieving that goal, according to Moore, is working to remove the damning sanctions imposed by  Southern Associations of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges (SACCOC) last year because of  the school’s  long term management and operational shortcomings.

NSU still has its accreditations, but it could be pulled, if the school does not meet the criteria set by SACCOC during an inspection of the school this fall.

This issue has raised questions about NSU’s  viability as a university in the view of  parents  of potential students and state officials.

Moore said he recently told state political leaders about plans his administration  will be employing  to overcome the issues, including being more efficient in “the way we do business”; increasing accountability at all levels; generating more revenue and implementing creative strategies; adjusting  academic programming and services to ensure adequate faculty and support; and becoming more “nimble” in meeting the needs of the students it serves.

Moore said the accreditation agency will be on the school campus  in October to  conduct its survey of the school’s  ability to  comply with SACCOC suggestions  for having the sanctions against the university removed.

The  NSU leader said that school officials are working on “producing a complete and effect report for the agency by  September. He said the school has engaged internal and external reviewers of  the draft of the plans and  has received feedback from the Board of Visitors.

Moore said while a college’s liberal arts programs provides a “foundation” for learning, more funding and emphases are being directed on  STEM-H or Science, Technology Engineering and Healthcare

Moore said he is steering NSU toward being a major player in the  “Go Virginia” initiative which is designed to expand private sector employment in these STEM-H areas   to spur regional cooperation among locales and economic development.

The plan calls for NSU outreach and  coordinating with   K-12 school divisions and   seeking private investment in university-based research which will lead  to new products, services and businesses to bolster the state’s  “New Virginia Economy” program.

Moore said NSU is  “on the cusp” of the new economy with a $30 Million in federal funds   to pursue cyber-security research. NSU was designated a center for academic excellence in cyber defense education until 2020 by the federal government.

Moore heralded the development of the cell phone app “Kwiz-O-PIA” developed by the NSU gaming  lab to aid students in practicing for Standards of Learning  (SOL) Test.

To better improve services to students, Moore said NSU has launched 15 living learning community centers for students with 45 faculty and staff members who are involved in operating them.

“NSU leads in these areas by serving as the HBCU-Model for learning communities across the country,” said Moore.  “Additionally the ‘ideal Spartan’ concept was created last year to emphasize some of the core values of the university community: civility, pride, engagement, curiosity and excellence.

Moore said along with the 95 foot communications tower  to improve campus  safety and communications, the school has hired a new chief after a national search.

He reported that the NSU raised some $5.2 million in cash and pledges during the  2014 “I am NSU” fund campaign  from 4,200 donors. He said that alumni, faculty and staff pledges were increased as well.

More said the  school has already raised $1.3 million of the $3 million goal its has set for 2015. 

NSU, Moore said, is also seeking to re-craft its image with the hiring of a public relations firm to expand  the university brand  and increase public awareness of NSU  programs.