Inside TSU 2015 | Page 30

THINGS HAPPENING ON CAMPUS President’s Message A s I start my seventh year as President of Texas Southern University I want to touch on a very few of the most recent changes that are helping Texas Southern University become a leader among urban universities across the country. The start of this semester saw the first students enrolled in the recently approved civil engineering program, one of two new engineering programs being launched this year. The electrical and computer engineering program will begin in fall 2015. • TSU students are also enrolling in the expanded Aviation Sciences program, which has added a flight school option for students wishing to achieve pilot’s license along with their degree. Students in Administration of Justice will soon study forensics in our recently upgraded Crime Lab, which is as extensive as the one in Police Departments across the country. We also are now preparing students to be first responders to local, state and national emergencies with a new degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. • We have expanded our internships and international exchange programs with students studying Mandarin in Beijing, and Public Affairs and Business in Brazil. We have had student interns in federal offices in Washington, D.C., and Senator Rodney Ellis’ Texas Legislative Internship Program that we oversee has brought hundreds of students from TSU and universities across the country and world to serve in offices during legislative sessions in Austin. • The law school was inducted into the prestigious American Association of Law Schools. Students in pharmacy continue to top 95% passage on licensing exams each year, and the respiratory therapy has been recognized as one of the top programs in the country. The Urban Academic Village was developed four years ago to test the impact of increased academic support on the retention of a small group of freshmen. Next fall, the program will expand to become the University College to strengthen support for their first, most critical year before students begin their major classes. Houston Endowment, which was the primary support of the original program, is helping to transform the support services to all of our freshmen. AT&T and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo have also contributed to these efforts. When we open the new 800-bed residence hall next year, we will have facilities to support all freshmen with these expanded academic services. Our graduation rate has already moved up more than 5 percentage points, and we will continue to see increases as these freshmen progress in their journey toward graduation. • Our student athletes, are excelling both on and off the field. TSU’s athletics program has increased its six-year graduation rate to better than 54%. All 16 sports at TSU are above the NCAA mandated APR (Academic Progress Rate). If you haven’t visited Texas Southern University’s campus in a while, I can promise that you will be amazed. Our 150 acres encompass a breadth of landscaped green space, new entrances, expanded walkways, renovated facilities and a special student and alumni area for Homecoming and other activities. We appreciate your support and hope you will join us in celebrating Texas Southern University’s achievements and help us attain our goal of ensuring our students’ success and our graduates’ contributions to the growth of Houston, the state of Texas, and the world. Sincerely, John M. Rudley TSU Seven S AMENITIES INCLUDE: • • • • • • • 800 beds Social and study areas Laundry on all residential floors Convenience store Roof terrace Locker storage Gaming area Founders 8 Day FROM P. 24 Locke pointed out. “He had a certain way about himself and was the type of person everyone loved. If he were here today he could not resist the temptation of talking to the students about making a difference. He would stand here and challenge you to change this world, to be a part of making a difference in somebody’s life. But he would also say “Make a difference in your own life.” In 1989, Leland died in a plane crash during a mission trip to Ethiopia leaving behind a legacy of international service. Following the Founders Day celebration, officials moved to the School of Public Affairs for the unveiling of the Mickey Leland Center Archives Collection. The exhibition has over 4,000 individual digital files and covers Leland’s views on apartheid and hunger as well as his legislative and international initiatives. A yearlong service project is dedicated in Leland’s name. 30 | SPRING 2015 InsideOneTSU Magazine.indd 30 4/6/15 5:36 AM