By Nate Delesline III
nate.delesline@insidebiz.com
Five points of action are necessary to protect and strengthen the future of Norfolk State University, the school's interim president and CEO, Eddie Moore Jr., said at a state of the university address to open the 2015-16 academic year.
Speaking in the university's L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center on Aug. 17, Moore said NSU must increase accountability at all levels, generate more revenue by implementing creative strategies, make adjustments to academic programs and services, improve service by changing the way NSU does business, and become more nimble to adjust to the changing demands of constituents.
In December, Norfolk State's accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, placed the university on academic probation, citing governance and finance issues. This fall, the university will learn if the probation sanction will be dismissed.
"Norfolk State University is at a pivotal point in its history," Moore said in his speech. "I make this statement because of 80 years that we have served as a place of opportunity and access for many without regard to race, gender, age or socioeconomic status."
"Today," Moore continued, "we have an opportunity to make a statement by beginning the process of creating a new framework for our success and ensuring at least another 80 years of our existence. Repositioning Norfolk State begins now. Our reality after we are removed from SACS sanctions - and I predict we will be removed from SACS sanctions - begins with what we do today. No one person or small group of individuals can do this alone."
Moore cited the recent award of about $30 million to support cyber security programs as an indicator that the school retains the confidence of state and federal officials. NSU also has been designated a center of academic excellence in cyber defense education until 2020.
Moore also used the speech to express his thanks to everyone for their "loyal service, your dedication and your steadfast love to this great university." At a news conference following his formal remarks, he said one of the first tasks at hand is to complete the student registration and validation process, but he acknowledged a bigger task is on the horizon.
"The single largest challenge we face will be the SACS accreditation and the outcome from that," Moore said. "There's very high expectations. Right behind it will be repositioning the institution so that we can grow enrollment, and we're working on both of those. And of course, we're hoping that our faculty will cooperate, which does mean a sacrifice of the liberal arts faculty so that we can invest more in the [science, technology, engineering, math and health care] programs, and that's part of the concern, I think, that you will hear if you were to interview faculty members."
Moore also announced that NSU has raised $1.2 million of its $3 million 2015 fundraising goal and that faculty and staff have contributed $166,000 to the campaign. He acknowledged the $3 million figure is an ambitious goal.
"Historically, we've only raised about $2 million a year, so $3 million is a stretch goal," Moore said. "We really should be at probably $5 million one day, and that's what I'd like to see. The world does not end if we don't reach the goal, but programs like our athletic program and things like that may be adversely affected if their part of the fundraising goal is not met."
A special committee of the SACS Commission on Colleges is expected to visit Norfolk State this fall. This December, the SACS Commission on Colleges Board of Trustees will consider Norfolk State's accreditation status and is expected to take one of three options.
The options are to remove NSU from probation without requiring an additional report; continue accreditation for good cause, continue probation, request an additional report and authorize another special committee visit; or remove NSU from membership with the SACS Commission on Colleges, according to a December 2014 statement on the organization's website.
In addition to Moore, Anne Holton, Virginia's secretary of education, also spoke at the university's opening conference. She lauded Moore for his work to turn the university around.
"His work over the last two years, his determination, his steadfast leaders in this challenging time has helped right this ship and has been crucial," Holton said. "Higher ed is going through all kinds of disruptive changes across the board. It's not just here at Norfolk State that there are challenges. I am absolutely convinced, and I'm satisfied that my colleagues throughout state government are absolutely convinced, that Norfolk State has a long and important role to play in higher education in Virginia. You have already played a long and crucial role."
Speaking after her formal remarks, Holton reiterated that she thinks the university's issues have been dealt with and better days are ahead.
"Clearly the focus over the last 18 months has, of necessity, been the SACS accreditation issue, and I fully anticipate that when the SACS board meets in December that everything is in position for Norfolk State to come off probation," Holton said.