By Lucas Johnson NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Tennessee State University recognized Veterans Day with a special program that emphasized the benefits veterans bring to the workforce. Dr. Karon Uzzell-Baggett, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and former AFROTC Detachment commander at TSU, was the keynote speaker for the program on Nov. 11. “This is a wonderful day to set aside to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the ideals of democracy and freedom,” said Uzzell-Baggett. She went on to talk about the 4.2 percent unemployment rate for…
Author: Lucas Johnson
By Lucas L. Johnson II Supporters of more mental health resources for Tennessee students say the COVID-19pandemic has revealed even more the need for what they’ve been preaching. For years now, health care advocates have been calling for more resources to address themental health of K-12 students, such as more counselors in schools. In the wake of COVID-19, K-12 families, particularly those in underserved communities, are facing significant mental health issues. “Mental health resources were often not available, other than through schools,” said Dr. Sherry Blake, a licensed clinical psychologist and national expert on mental health. “When the schools shut…
By Lucas L. Johnson II NASHVILLE, TN — Thirteen-year-old Nivea McCloud was frustrated, and a bit worried. It was the height of the COVD-19 pandemic last year, and the seventh-grader’s school in Memphis, Tennessee, had switched to virtual learning, like others across the country. Some days, she said her math teacher would not show up, and when she did, “she might not teach us anything,” McCloud recalled. Needless to say, she started falling behind in math. She was failing. But a tutoring program based in Nashville, Tennessee, called Homework Hotline, threw her a lifeline. “I would be stressed out…
By Lucas Johnson NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Legendary R&B crooner Howard Hewett and rapper Chief Keef will headline Tennessee State University’s 2021 Homecoming, the first in-person celebration in over a year. The COVID-19 pandemic forced TSU to have a non-traditional virtual homecoming last year. But, appropriately themed “The Return,” this year’s celebration Oct.24-31 is pretty much back to normal. “This is an exciting and special time at Tennessee State University. After a year without a homecoming because of the pandemic, we have returned!” says TSU President Glenda Glover. “This homecoming is extra special because of what we have…
By Lucas L. Johnson, II NASHVILLE, TN — Black Tennessee lawmakers representing the state’s three regions say they plan to build on legislation passed during a special session on education to address learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the most part, the lawmakers said they are pleased with the historic proposals that came out of the special session called by Gov. Bill Lee earlier this year. But they see room for enhancement to fully reach those students in underserved communities whose learning loss was worsened by the pandemic. The state invested more than $160 million in academic…
By Lucas Johnson NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Tennessee State University’s national coding hub is welcoming 12 new HBCUs to be community centers as part of Apple’s Community Education Initiative. The schools will become community centers for Coding and Creativity as part of Apple’s Community Education Initiative and Tennessee State University’s HBCU C2. The teaching and learning initiative is designed to empower Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to expand technology and creativity experiences within their institutions and broader communities. “In expanding the partnership to include the twelve new HBCUs we are on track in reaching our goal to…
By Lucas Johnson NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Tennessee State University is offering a course on the history of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their impact around the world. The course starts this fall and is available to undergraduates and graduates. It provides a chronological and thematic study of the history of HBCUs in the United States from 1837 to the present, paying close attention to the ways they have influenced the social, economic, political, and intellectual life of African Americans in the U.S. and the impact their graduates have had on Modern America and the…
By Lucas Johnson NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Returning Tennessee State University students can spend more time focusing on their studies and less time worrying about finances after TSU announced it will be paying off their account balances. Instead of visiting the financial aid office, desperately seeking funds to cover previous school debt, the institution is wiping the slate clean. School officials say this will allow students to return to campus with their full attention on academics and campus life since being away because of COVID-19. It’s important to note that this account balance forgiveness initiative applies only to…
NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — As Tennessee State University approaches the start of the 2021-2022 academic year, students currently enrolled have a succinct message for their peers pondering whether to return: Join us! “Don’t allow COVID, or anything, to jeopardize your HBCU experience,” said Maya McClary, a junior mass communications major from Orlando, Florida. “We’ve allowed COVID to rob us of so many things. But college, being young, is something that we can’t take back.” TSU officials announced a few months ago that the university will be open and fully operational for the fall 2021-22 academic year, with continued enforcement of federal and state health and safety regulations.…
By Lucas Johnson NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Many turned out for a memorial service in honor of Dr. Frederick Stephen Humphries, a stalwart of higher education and President Emeritus of Tennessee State University and Florida A&M University, who inspired the “ordinary to become extraordinary.” Dr. Humphries, who was TSU’s fourth president, passed away on June 24 at the age of 85. The memorial service on July 18 was held at TSU’s Avon Williams Campus near downtown. A number of those who attended recalled his leadership and staunch support of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). But they also…