Skip navigation | Text-only | Español
 Title III Activities

The general thrust of the activities that comprise the university's Title III and CCRAA Project is provided below in the order of institutional priority.

Table of Contents

CCRAA Activities

Table of Contents 

  • Center for Promoting STEM Education and Research (CPSER)

    • Enhancing Student Success through Outreach, Advisement, Engagement, and Academic Enrichment and Support

      Activity Director: Dr. John Brooks
      Director of University College
      Funding Level: $800,209

      This activity is designed to help Fayetteville State University meet its Strategic Priority 1: Retention and Graduation Rates. It does so through a number of programs. Some, such as First Steps with the University, attempt to improve first-year students' preparation for university-level study by providing advisement and placement to maximize the chances for initial student success. The Academic Excellence Program seeks to attract and retain more high-ability students to the campus. Other programs improve student engagement and success during the first year. The Reading Club program creates high expectations for college-level reading and engages students with faculty outside the classroom. The National Survey of Student Engagement has identified such reading programs as a high-impact activity. Another high-impact activity - learning communities - is also supported by this activity. Learning communities have been shown to increase student success in the first year, nationally and at Fayetteville State University. The Student Success activity supports a variety of academic support programs, such as the University College Learning Center, Supplemental Instruction, and the Evening Academic Support Program. These programs ensure that students who need help to succeed have resources available to them. The Collegiate Learning Assessment is designed to improve student learning outcomes related to critical thinking and writing. It is another way to strengthen college-level skills and increase student success. The activity supports programs beyond the first year. The Sophomore Initiative Coordinator tracks and creates programs for undeclared students beyond the first year. The Retention Counselor Supplemental Instruction provides support for courses in which large numbers of second-year students enroll. These gateway courses are often stumbling blocks for marginally prepared students. Finally, the activity strengthens advisement through improved advisor-advisee communication. Together these programs of academic advisement, support and enrichment will lead to improved retention and graduation rates as a by-product of student success.

      [Return to Table of Contents]

      Enhancing the Institution through Faculty and  Administrator Development

      Activity Director: Dr. Perry Massey
      Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
      Funding Level: $150,000

      This activity includes two components, the first of which addresses FSU Strategic Priority 1 Retention and Graduation Rates; Initiative 3, Attract and Retain Faculty/Staff and Initiative. The activity will strenghten leadership skills of academic department chairs by providing a series of workshops on "best practices for department chairs" and supporting participation in off-campus conferences on academic leadership. Department chairs will report on their application of the information from all developmental activities and recommend practices for inclusion in a manual that will be used by department chairs. This activity will not only contribute to retention of department chairs by providing improved suport and guidance, it will indirectly contribute to retention of faculty by enabling chairs to administer deparments more effectively. The second component of this activity addresses Strategic Priority 1: Retention and Graduation Rates; Initiative 4 Enhance Attractiveness to Students. This activity will enhance the attractiveness of FSU academic programs by supporting the development of senior capstone courses that incorporate significant learning experiences and career development opportunities. Faculty members will incorporate activities that address critical thinking, analytical reasoning, writing, and decision making skills and will develop instructional strategies that enhance engagement. The capstone course will also incorporate activities designed to facilitate students' transition to their next stage of their lives. These activities will include career development activities and interaction with Alumni Affairs to ensure ongoing communication after graduation.

      [Return to Table of Contents]

      Achieving Academic Excellence through Specialized/Program Accreditation

      Activity Director: Dr. Curtis Charles
      Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
      Funding Level: $100,000

      Academic units seeking specialized accreditation within the next five years (and their respective agency) include, but are not restricted to, the following: BS in Music Education and BA in General Music: National Association of Schools of Music; BS in Computer Science: Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology; BS in Social Work: Council on Social Work Education; BA, BS Chemistry: (ACS) American Chemical Society; MA Counseling: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; BS in Forensic Science Education Programs: American Academy of Forensic Science; BS in Fire Science: International Fire Service Accreditaition Congress; Visual Arts: National Association of Schools of Art and Design. During the 2009-2010 academic year the National Association of Schools of Music will be conductiong its accreditation visit to evaluate FSU's BS in Music Education and BA in General Music. By the end of the 2009-2010 grant year the BS in Computer Science, BS in Music Education, and BA in General Music academic programs will achieve full specialized accreditation. The BA in Visual Arts will submit the program's Self-Study to NASAD, and the Theatre faculty will develop their program's self study as will the Chemistry, Counseling Fire Science, and Forensic Faculty. The Social Work Department will achieve reaffirmation of its MSW program, and continue efforts to develop the Bachelor of Social Work program.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Strengthening Academic Support through Internationalization of Education 

      Activity Director: Dr. Yunkai Chen
      Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Education
      Funding Level: $163,775

      The International Education Center's main focus will be making and maintaining the International Education Center a one-stop resource center for information, international education, scholarship information, student support and suport for international activities and travel for the Fayetteville State University campus community and the community at large. This year's Title III funding will allow the IEC to address and expand on its three primary objectivies: Objective 1 to sustain a comprehensive International Education Center through September 30, 2010; Objective 2 to facilitate, support and organize various cultural immersion programs and curricula development at FSU; Objective 3 to sponsor faculty, administrators and students to participate in study abroad, international exchange and other international activities. Expanding opportunities to share knowledge, ideas, and experiences across national boundaries by offering faculty and students more oportunites to study, exchange, and research abroad. IEC plans to identify and establish more foreign partner institutions in Asia, Africa, Latin Amearica, and the Caribbean Island countries, establish more 3+1/2+2 dual degree and other exchange programs with foreign partner insitutuions, and work with current and new foreign partners to establish more study abroad hosting institutions for FSU's faculty and students to study, teach, and conduct research overseas. 

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Enhancing and Strengthening the Foreign Language Lab 

      Activity Director: Dr. Yali Li
      Director of Foreign Language Lab
      Funding Level: $115,849 

      One of the approaches to internationalize the Fayetteville State University is to continually support and develop the Foreign Language Laboratory built with Title III funds, and materialize the Priority 4 of FSU’s 2009-2014 Strategic Plan to prepare our students, faculty, administrator, and staff as “leaders and global citizens”. The Foreign Language Labotory provides services to foreign language and cultural programs at the University. It has been successful in facilitating the expansion of foreign language offerings that help our students gain global competencies. Since the language lab was built, Fayetteville State University has offered foreign language programs in French, Chinese, Yoruba, Swahili, Hindi, Urdu, Russian, Arabic, Persian, and Spanish. With the support from Title III, the lab has become a hub for foreign language and cultural activities, services, and consultations. With the Title III funding support, the lab will be able to implement the initiatives under FSU’s Strategic Plan Priority 4: supporting and promoting “international and intercultural education, understanding”; and developing “internally focused” and “valued added programs and activities” in order to increase FSU members’ “global competencies”.   To complete these tasks and provide quality services to foreign language and culture programs and activities, the Foreign Language Laboratory needs to increase learning tools, upgrade facilities, generate data warehousing, and purchase equipment in order to support teachers and students with a wide range of resources, language learning software consultation sessions, computerized short courses, and also personalized tutoring. For these purposes, a considerable portion of the requested funding will cover the salary of a full time lab director and five student workers, acting as lab assistants, as well as equipment and learning program upgrading so as to support and promote international and intercultural education programs, as stated in the Initiative I of Priority 4 of FSU Strategic Plan.    The other parts of the funds requested will accommodate activities in order to increase student interest in non-traditional/critical foreign languages, to purchase new learning systems and equipment, and to construct new services and value added programs for global competence building in Priority 4, Initiative 2 of the FSU 2009-2014 Strategic Plan.   The Title III funding will also build foundations for the future plan in order to develop the Lab into a foreign language and culture learning resources center to better serve the internationalization of students, faculty, staff, and administrators at the Fayetteville State University. The visionary foreign language and culture learning recourses center will have abilities to run short language and culture programs, to support culture and learning research needs and activities of faculty and students, and to provide a special for-credit program for the small number of students registered in foreign languages, which combines computer facilitated self-learning, native speaker tutoring, and tests/exams set by foreign language faculty. The plans also include seeking financial support to expand the foreign language lab, and building an audio room to produce audio and visual materials for foreign language learning and teaching. This will provide well-tailored resources for global competence building.

      [Return to Table of Contents]

      Strengthening Campus Information Services

      Activity Director: Mr. Nick Ganesan
      Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer
      Funding Level: $870,000

      The five activities stated here are in support of UNC Tomorrow and FSU Strategic priorities 1.3  (To attract and retain faculty/staff), 1.5 (To improve Student Services and Satisfaction), 1.6 (To Improve Facilities and Technology), 3.3 (To enhance Marketing and Communication) and 6.1 (Maximize the use of funds). Objective One: To implement training curricula for faculty/staff development.  This initiative directly supports FSU’s strategic priority 1.3 which calls for actions to attract and retain faculty and staff and 1.5 that requires improving student services.  Objective Two:  To infuse technology in the teaching and learning process is to primarily support FSU’s strategic objective 1.6 which calls for increased use of technology in the academy and administration.  Objective Three: This objective also supports FSU strategic objective 1.6.  This proposes maintaining network currency—which is to refresh and expand the network capacity as the university grows and the demand for capacity grows with it.  Objective Four: To enhance administrative process by implementing Workflow directly supports the FSU’s strategic priority 6.1 which is to maximize use funds.  This activity will focus on identifying administrative processes that could be automated to increase efficiency and decrease turn-around time.  Objective Five—To increase the use of BANNER ERP system.    This activity’s goal is to assign dedicated IT and functional staff to review the system modules, identify features not used, compare best practices and implement features that will benefit the campus.   This, like objective 4, contributes to FSU strategic objective 6.1 that calls for maximizing the use of funds.

      [Return to Table of Contents]

      Establishing and Enhancing Library Resources

      Activity Director: Mr. Bobby Wynn
      Director of Library Services
      Funding Level: $848,326

      In 2009-2010, the library will continue to develop resources for Education and Educational Leadership, Physical and Life Sciences, Computer Science and mathematics, Business Administration, Economics, Psychology, Social Sciences, Nursing, and Music, Art & the Humanities.  Special focus will be given to Information Science, Entrepreneurship and International Relations.  An ongoing emphasis will be given to developing resources in Educational Leadership, Business Administration and Nursing.  The staff development component of the Strengthening and Enhancing Library Resources Activity continues to ensure that the Associate Director for Collection Development continues to update skills, knowledge and familiarity with library resources, trends and operations. The information obtained at professional conferences is required to manage the selection of resources and assist faculty. The second objective will be accomplished by attendance at the American Library Association Annual Conference, the Charleston Conference, ACRL or similar national conference. The majority of the funds will be spent on resources, $ (99%).  The Associate Director will collaborate with other institutions to get the best value for funds used by joining consortia or making group purchases whenever possible. The remaining funds will be for the faculty development component, $ 6,000.00 (1%). The Strengthening and Enhancing Library Activity supports Priority 1 in the Chancellor’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2014 (Retention and Graduation Rates 1.4.2, 1.4.4, 1.5.1, 1.5.2) and Priority 5 (Collaborations and Partnerships 5.1).

      [Return to Table of Contents]

      Strengthening Writing Across the Curriculum to Support Student Success

      Activity Director: Dr. Sonya Brown
      Assistant Professor, English & Foreign Languages
      Funding Level: $49,700

      In its third year, the Writing Across the Curriculum program at Fayetteville State University will dedicate its resources to assisting faculty in the disciplines as they design and teach writing intensive courses. At present, twenty faculty members have revised syllabi, assignments and rubrics, for use with writing intensive sections of courses in fall 2009. We expect that additional faculty willl teach writing intensive courses in Spring 2010. According to High-Impact Education Practices, published by the Association of American Colleges, and Universities and written by renowned scholar George D. Kuh, Writing Intensive Courses are effective means of raising the level of student engagement and teaching effectiveness. Our writing intensive courses will affect over 400 students in fall 2009. To support faculty teaching writing in the disciplines, we will expand our program of peer mentoring, hold monthly meetings, update and revise our website, and offer workships on writing pedagogy and resources. We will continue to offer student workshops on writing issues, and will invite staff members for the first time this year, in part because we recognize that quality staff communication is beneficial to the total university community, and also because we believe that having staff in workshops with students emphasizes the need to write well in the workplace. The activity director will support writing-related activities on campus in other ways, such as by assisting the new director of the writing lab and tutors on campus when needed, and by assisting faculty in University College and other interested departments with CLA in the Classroom initiatives. Finally, attention will be directed at FSU's core writing courses, English 110 Freshman Composition I and English 120 Freshman Composition II. In collaboration with members of the English department, notably the Director of Writing, those course will be reviewed and pilots of revised versions of these courses will be tested in Fall 2009 (for English 120) and Spring 2010 (for English 110). These programmatic goals support the university's Strategic Plan Priority Programs. The following specific "Accountability Indicators" from the Strategic Plan guide the Writing Across the Curriculum program: 1. Achieve an average score of "above expectation" by seniors on the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA). 2 Demonstrate through assessment data that students are achieving mastery of core curriculum learning outcomes 3. Demonstrate mastery of learning outcomes of major programs as specified in each program's objectives 4. Increase the number of faculty members who utilize faculty development resources to improve student learning.  

      [Return to Table of Contents]

      Strengthening Institutional Assessment for Continuous Quality Improvement

      Activity Director: Mr. Alvis Moore
      Director of University Testing
      Funding Level: $200,000

      Since the Creation of FSU’s Testing Center over a decade ago the primary goal has been to provide unbiased analytical data for University Programs and services, while also serving as a centralized location where FSU students and the southeastern region of North Carolina can go in order to take necessary exams to demonstrate both competency and proficiency in chosen fields. The work by the Testing Department is essential in determining whether programs and activities are meeting goals and objectives, and also indicating possible changes that may need to be made. The surveys and assessments conducted by the Testing Office fall in line with many of the priorities set forth by Chancellor Anderson, particularly Priority 1.1: Increase the percentage of students who identify FSU as their first-choice institution, Priority 2.2: Demonstrate through assessment data  that students are achieving mastery of core curriculum learning outcomes, Priority 2.3: Demonstrate mastery of learning outcomes of major programs as specified in each program’s objectives, Priority 3.1: Increase the percentage of employees with high levels of satisfaction with their employment at FSU and who rate the overall quality of FSU’s programs and services as very high on survey instruments, and Priority 6.3: Increase levels of satisfaction as reported by faculty and students with FSU physical facilities, such as office space, classroom space, maintenance of buildings and grounds. The work done through University Testing assists in assuring that FSU students and the people of the surrounding area are getting the most possible value out of University services and programs. Furthermore, the FSU Testing Office provides an additional service in that it is a nationally recognized and certified testing center working with a number of highly respected testing agencies and a multitude of other schools. FSU’s Testing Department administers thousands of exams each year to FSU students and much of southeastern North Carolina. The exams administered by the Testing Department range from make-up exams for University professors to certification exams for employment. Although many of the exams administered annually are for University benefit, to assess program efficiency and effectiveness, many of the assessments administered are to people from the surrounding community, with a large Fort Bragg contingency; thus helping in meeting Priority 1.3: Increase participation in pre-college outreach programs, duel  enrollment programs, and distance education, Priority 1.4: Reduce loan indebtedness of students and their families by containing costs and leveraging all financial aid resources to meet the financial needs of students; Priority 2.1: Analyze and respond to data on the types of industries (and related jobs) that will result from BRAC initiatives, Priority 2.2: Assess the skill sets required for the rapidly growing southeast region, and Priority 4.3: Increase FSU faculty, staff, and administrators’ leadership roles in the BRAC RTF and Greater Fayetteville Futures II efforts. Over the next few years the University will need to ensure that we are wisely spending money on programs that work, and the only way to gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of programs is to collect data through exams and surveys. The Office of University Testing will play heavily in many of the Chancellor’s Principals as described in the Strategic Plan by providing unbiased and quantifiable data collection. Lastly, while providing a vital service to the University’s Testing Center, also additional services to the surrounding community by administering a wide range of exams for personal and professional development.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Strengthening Student Success by Establishing a Reading Across the Curriculum Program

      Activity Director: Dr. Trela Anderson
      Assistant Professor, English & Foreign Languages
      Funding Level: $30,902

      The goals of the proposed Reading Across the Curriculum program at Fayetteville State University are geared towards both students and faculty. For students, the program will enforce the notion that reading is an active process and through various workshops offer them techniques for improving their critical literacy skills. For faculty, the program will offer teaching methodologies that break with the traditional assessment mode of requesting that students simply read a text, commit the information to memory, and respond to what they read. They will learn best practices apropos to teaching read in the disciplines (RID) and providing students with more opportunities to practice reading in class, engage more critically with texts, and incorporate textual evidence into their written and verbal responses to texts.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Enhancing and Strengthening the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs

      Activity Director: Mr. David Camps
      Director of Sponsored Research & Programs
      Funding Level: $168,000

      The mission of Fayetteville State University (FSU) is deeply connected to the conduct of research.  It is critically important to the reputation and future of our institution that we remain committed to the highest standards of research integrity in all research and scholarship conducted at FSU.  A comprehensive institutional sponsored research program is one that integrates and coordinates all significant requirements with which the institution must comply by law, regulation or other binding rule or agreement. Research and creative endeavors represent an important commitment of FSU. The Office of Sponsored Research and Programs (OSRP) is a campus-wide unit of the university. The purpose of the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs is to ensure compliance with Federal and state laws and UNC policies; to clarify proposal submission procedures and processing of awards for external sponsored program funds; and to ensure a uniform administrative process among the constituent UNC institutions. OSRP is a support structure and seeks to assist faculty, staff and students in identifying appropriate funding sources to match academic and research interests, assisting with the development of proposals and budgets, and developing a process that includes pre-award and post award non-financial administration of grants, contracts and cooperative agreements. The office is an advocate for a campus environment that is conducive to the research enterprise and advises the administration on matters of regulatory compliance issues. OSRP’s mission is to provide comprehensive and high-quality support services to faculty, staff and students to develop proposals and secure external grants, contracts and cooperative agreements to implement effective research, instructional and public service programs in support of the institution’s mission.. The proposed activity aligns with the mission supports Priority 6 - Fiscal Resourcefulness and Sustainability within the University’s Strategic Plan (2009-2014).The proposed activity will strengthen the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs’ ability to provide appropriate internal and external responses to grant opportunities. The foundation of the activity is the acquisition of administrative personnel in the area of pre and post award services. Through this endeavor faculty, staff and students will be able to receive individualized services from the stage of development to award.  Moreover, discipline specific training and educational sessions will be administered throughout the year to assist in facilitating an increase in the research capacity of faculty and advance the University’s research agenda. 

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

       Enhancing Facilities

      Activity Director: Mr. Rudy Cardenas
      Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Facilities
      Funding Level: $450,000

      Fayetteville State University-Facilities Management has several projects for Title III consideration for the 2009-2010 year. They all involve enhancing FSU facilities to provide a safer, more attractive and more user-friendly campus for faculty, staff and especially students. In the area of safety, the Chemistry Program area in the Lyons Science Building and Annex needs to be addressed. The area currently occupied by the Chemistry Department presents potential hazards to faculty staff and students. New campus signage, to include way finding and building identification, makes the campus more attractive and more user-friendly for everyone, especially new students and visitors. All of the aforementioned projects are directly related to the initiatives under Priority 1 (Retention and Graduation Rates) of the FSU Strategic Plan. Three of the initiatives under this priority are related to attracting and retaining faculty/staff, improving student services and improving facilities and technology. This application is also linked to the FSU Strategic Plan in the area of sustainability.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Project Administration and Evaluation

      Activity Director: Ms. Tendai Johnson
      Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness and Director of Title III
      Funding Level: $197,000

      The primary responsibility of the office of Title III Coordination at Fayetteville State University is the administration, monitoring and the evaluation of the institution’s Title III grants. The office is currently staffed with a Title III Director and administrative officer. Hiring of a permanent office assistant IV is still planned for grant year 2009-10 and will be funded from the regular Title III grant. The purpose of project administration is to assist the university to achieve its mission and vision through the development and implementation of the university’s strategic priorities and Title III activities. The Title III activities and Institutional priorities are aligned with those of the State of North Carolina Board of Governors.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Title III 2009-2010 PROJECT FUNDING LEVEL: $4,142,369

      Center for Promoting STEM Education and Research (CPSER)

      Activity Director: Dr. Sherrice Allen
      Assistant Professor
      Funding Level: $264,184

      The purpose of the activity is to continue the support for the Center for Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Research (CPSER).  The Center serves as an umbrella program for integrating all existing STEM educational enrichment programs and research activities in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).  The Center coordinates an outreach summer research camp for rising high school seniors, a summer intramural research training program for rising Fayetteville State University sophomore STEM majors, a STEM tutorial program, the annual Mathematics and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium, and the STEM Faculty Focus Group. The primary goal of this Title III activity is to improve student outcomes by increasing the recruitment, retention, progression and graduation rates of minorities and women in STEM disciplines and to ensure their successful completion of baccalaureate degrees in STEM academic areas.  The objectives of this activity are as follows: Objective 1: Improve retention & graduation rates toward fulfilling the 80-30-50 mandate for the STEM majors Objective 2: Increase student enrollment in the STEM disciplines at FSU Objective 3: Improve collaboration & implementation of existing STEM enrichment programs Objective 4: Improve research collaborations amongst faculty in the STEM departments Objective 5: Improve achievement of secondary school students and rising FSU sophomore students. The various components of this activity will be used to assist in producing well-prepared STEM graduates from FSU to help ensure the existence of a more diversified and competent workforce especially in the fields of life/physical/behavioral sciences, mathematics, computer science, technology and engineering to meet the demands of an ever changing global market.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Establishing a School of Education Academic Advisement & Retention Center

      Activity Director: Dr. Leontye Lewis
      Dean of School of Education
      Funding Level: $105,418

      The School of Education Academic Advisement & Retention Center (SOEAARC) operates under the Office of the Dean, School of Education.  The SOEAARC aligns with Priority 1:  Retention and Graduation Rates.  Its goal is to meet or exceed the teacher education retention and graduation rates of 80-30-60. One strategy to achieve this goal is to expand services to more of the student population. The SOEAARC will improve student success by providing answers and information for all four departments within the School of Education once the student matriculates at the institution with an interest in teacher education.   Services that will drive the SOEAARC will include explanation of the general core requirements, tutoring in preparation for the Praxis I examination, class scheduling support, clarifying goals and options, and expanding community outreach to students transferring from community colleges. Data on student satisfaction will drive continuous improvements in student services. All activities are designed to increase the retention and graduation rates in teacher education.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Enhancing Minority Student Success in the School of Business and Economic by Creating a New Paradigm for Learning

      Activity Director: Dr. Pamela Jackson
      Assistant Dean of School of Business and Economics
      Funding Level: $200,000

      The teaching/learning paradigm has evolved with traditional methods of classroom teaching increasingly supplementd by alternative methods to enhance student understanding of course materials. Because traditional methods frequently fail to provide students with the skills necessary to solve real world problems, emerging technologies (e.g., 3D dynamic illustrations, virtual reality worlds) have been developed to provide an engaging and diverse means to receive and apply knowledge. Previous experience has demonstrated that these technologies enhance learning by allowing students to manipulate, experiment, and translate theories into real world applications. This Title III grant will allow the School to purchase: The infrastructure for Second Life, a 3D virtual world created in 2003 by San Francisco-based Linden Labs; 3D modeling equipment to enhance conceptual understanding in STEM and process oriented courses; additional equipment for the School of Business' trading room which was designed to enhance student understanding of stock market, investment portfolios, and the dynamics of global financial market. The successful implementation of these technologies is excpected to enable the School to make significant inroads in meeting the University's retention and graduation rate targets.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Librarian/Faculty Collaborative for Information Literacy 

      Activity Director: Mr. Bobby Wynn
      Director of Library Services
      Funding Level: $40,000

      According to the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to ‘recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, use the information effectively and observe ethical use of the information.’  The Librarian/Faculty Collaboration for Information Literacy is a continuation of the pilot project that began last year. The goal of this project is to increase librarian and faculty collaboration by blending the expertise of both groups to improve classroom assignments and thereby enhancing student retention.  This project supports Priority 1 (Student Retention and Graduation Rates 1.4.2, 1.5.1, 1.5.2) and Priority 5 (Collaboration and Partnerships (5.1, 5.4) in the Chancellor’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2014.Through a variety of exercises and presentations, librarians will work with faculty to modify and existing syllabus to include information literacy objectives.  Librarians and faculty will work together to design active learning assignments, plan instruction and develop assessment strategies.  The goals are to promote resource-based learning outside of the classroom, to encourage use of library resources and to equip students with the skill they will need in their matriculation at the university and beyond.  Each student will be able to meet basic information literacy competencies as defined by the Association of College and Research Libraries.There will be three sessions (January 2010, May 2010, and December 2010).  Workshops will be facilitated by a consultant who will help plan and construct the workshops.  Ten faculty members will be selected by pre-determined criteria.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Improving Retention and Graduation Rates of Male Students: A Project to Plan and Implement Activities and Programs to Address the Deficit in Male Enrollment and Retention

      Activity Director: Mrs. Marsha McLean
      Special Assistant to the Provost
      Funding Level: $168,550

      The primary objective of this activity is to establish a comprehensive program that addresses enrollment management with a special focus on retention activities to strengthen college success for male students that enroll at Fayetteville State University.  Based on 2007 data, FSU retention of male students from the freshman-to-sophomore year is 67.6%, the graduation rate for 4 years declines significantly to 6.4% and rebounds at 6 years to 30.8%. Given these data, it is imperative that FSU further assess and establish academic support and co-curricular programs and activities that will help our male students persist and succeed. Through focused efforts, FSU can strengthen its efforts to attract and retain male students. This can be done through careful planning, focused strategies, data collection and gathering of information with regard to the issues and problems, utilization of best practices and models, and the development and implementation of solutions in the form of programs, activities, and intervention that will result in increased year-to-year retention and graduation rates. Collaboration between Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and other FSU units and departments will be critical to the success of this project.  Working with these units, the activity director, program director, and program assistant will establish and implement programs and activities that focus on male students’ preferences and needs in the areas of student life, academic programs, and support services.       

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Enhancing Undergraduate Students' Research Training through Faculty Mentorship: An Interdisciplinary Behavioral Science Approach

      Activity Director: Dr. Akbar Aghajanian
      Professor of Sociology
      Funding Level: $110,000

      The proposed project seeks to improve the quality of the undergraduate experience in the behavioral sciences at Fayetteville State University through active participation in community-based research. Undergraduate students in the Departments of Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work will form interdisciplinary research teams to collaborate on community-based research projects in Cumberland and surrounding counties. Faculty members in the four disciplines will also form mentoring teams to assist the students to undertake the research projects. The major outcomes of the proposed project include: (a) enabling students to develop advanced skills in applied research; (b) deepening students’ appreciation of the importance of team work and collaboration in research; and (c) facilitating student-faculty interactions and role modeling through mentorship. 

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

       Continued Enhancement of the WFSS Laboratory for Communication Majors

      Activity Director: Mr. Jeffrey Womble
      Director of Public Relations/General Manager WFSS 91.9
      Funding Level: $208,426

      In 2008, funding was provided for the formulation of a laboratory for communication majors. The funding supported the repair and purchase of equipment that allowed students and staff to be properly trained for careers in the radio and television industry. Funding also enabled administrators to subscribe to programming, new services, and memberships in professional organizations.  The acquisition of these materials allowed instructors to teach students about program directing, interviewing, and how highly regarded wire services gather and disseminate news. The funding awarded through Title III/CCRAA will continue these efforts and initiate new projects such as the hiring of a full-time technician to assist students in the lab, establishment of a news laboratory, and purchase of equipment that will make the communication arts program among the best in the university system. The funding provided addresses two of the Chancellor’s Strategic Priorities. The first priority is Initiative 4 – Enhance Attractiveness to Students:  FSU will provide academically rigorous and relevant programs that address the wide variety of higher education needs in southeastern North Carolina and beyond. The university will develop new courses, concentrations, certificate programs, on-line degrees and new degree programs based on these needs. The communication arts program is among the fastest-growing if not the most rapid growing program at the university. Students who graduate from the program will be competitive with peers from other institutions as they venture into the job market. The second priority this funding will help address is Initiative 6 – Improve Facilities and Technology:  FSU will engage in continuous improvement of facilities and technology to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of administrative processes and improve student learning, engagement, and satisfaction, while exercising fiscal responsibility and promoting sustainability and conservation of natural resources. FSU will provide facilities and technology resources that are comparable to competitive peer institutions.   Improvements in these areas will be guided by data that indicate the impact of facilities and technology on administrative processes, student learning, engagement, and satisfaction.  The Title III funding will allow for renovations that will allow the communication arts program to function at the highest levels.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Establishing a Student Services Center to Strengthen Student Support

      Activity Director: Mrs. Roxie Shabazz
      Assoc. VC for Enrollment Management
      Funding Level: $200,000

      The primary objective of a Student Services Center is to develop a culture of responsiveness and expert student service within academic affairs.  The center will initially focus on the enrollment areas, admissions, financial aid and registration to enhance our efforts to engage and retain students and to provide seamless delivery of services and assistance to students. The Student Service Center will consist of a centralized call center, tele-counselors and a director of student services.  The call center is a central place where enrollment management tele-counselors handle enrollment related calls from all constituencies.  The call center will need equipment that will give the staff the ability to handle a considerable volume of calls at the same time.  The staff will screen calls and forward to individual staff in EM offices as appropriate.  The service center will handle walk-in traffic for the office of financial aid, the registrar’s office and the Bursar’s office. The first implementation phase of the center will be the design and establishment of a call center that will consolidate and enhance services provided through the three offices.  Next, we will establish an on-campus service center that we will staff with cross-trained enrollment generalists who can handle the first level of student contact.  Lastly, we will establish a virtual and interactive service office, where we will consolidate all enrollment related activities into one website. Through focused service initiatives and expert student service, FSU’s enrollment team can help increase the retention and graduation rates by providing efficient and effective service to students throughout their academic careers at the University.  Collaboration between Enrollment Management, University College, Bursar’s Office, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, ITTS and other FSU units and departments will be critical to the success of the student services center.  Working with these units, the activity director will establish training sessions and implement programs and activities that focus on expert student service. This activity addresses the Chancellor’s first priority, Retention and Graduation Rates, and initiative 5, Improve Student Services and Satisfaction.  

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      Project Administration and Evaluation

      Activity Director: Ms. Tendai Johnson
      Assoc. VC for Inst. Effect. and Title III
      Funding Level: $10,000

      The primary responsibility of the office of Title III Coordination at Fayetteville State University is the administration, monitoring and the evaluation of the institution’s Title III grants. The office is currently staffed with a Title III director and an administrative officer. Hiring of a permanent office assistant IV is still planned for grant year 2009-10 and will be funded from the regular Title III grant. The purpose of project administration is to assist the university to achieve its mission and vision through the development and implementation of the university‘s strategic priorities and Title III activities. The Title III activities and institutional priorities are aligned with those of the State of North Carolina Board of Governors.

      [Return to Table of Contents] 

      CCRAA 2009-2010 PROJECT FUNDING LEVEL: $1,306,578