HOWARD FORWARD in Action
July - September 2021
The third quarter of 2021 has been filled with some challenges, but, more importantly, we have also had major wins. We welcomed students back to campus and are proud to have welcomed the largest class in University history, with over 12,000 students and 2,920 first-time-in-college students. Howard received high regards with Bloomberg Businessweek’s ranking of the School of Business, as well as the U.S. News & World Report ranking Howard in the top 50 best value schools.
 
As we recently celebrated our 2021 “Remember the Times” Homecoming, rooted in nostalgia – let us also remember the resilience of this University. Our Enterprise Technology Services team pulled off a herculean effort to troubleshoot and mitigate a ransomware cyberattack. While services were impacted, the University was agile and able to restore campus services and get back to business as usual. We are actively working across campus to ensure state-of-the-art facilities to support the highest learning outcomes for our faculty, staff and students. This includes a renovated Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall, Undergraduate Library and Armour J. Blackburn University Center. As part of the adopted and approved 2020 Central Campus Master Plan, we are also planning additional residential housing options for students.
 
Moving Howard forward is a reminder that, while we are focused on the end zone, we may be required to adjust our plays in the pursuit of victory. The Office of Research is quarterbacking our efforts to obtain the University’s R1 designation (very high research activity) as identified by the Carnegie Classification. Collectively, the University must increase its research capacity, and soon, we will implement a pilot initiative that will increase participation in grant funded research activity.
 
Our second pillar, “inspire new knowledge,” is our plan to reward innovation in instruction, research, entrepreneurship, collaboration and capacity-building that maximizes our impact, inspires our faculty and students to change the world. Howard is uniquely positioned with the best and brightest brain trust of our faculty and students and resources from our storied institution to solve major societal issues that disproportionately affect people of color. When achieved, we will once again be the top historically Black college and university (HBCU) in research, as Howard was the only HBCU to have previously attained this classification.
 
To be a Bison is a unique experience, and together we are working to make the Howard experience the best possible for current and future generations, just as we have for the many alumni around the world that continue to bleed blue. For more information about the strategic plan, visit strategicplan.howard.edu.
 
Let us continue to score big!
 
Excellence in Truth and Service,
Rashad Young
Senior Vice President
Chief Strategy Officer
Senior Vice President Young Welcome Letter
DATA DASHBOARD FEATURE - Inspire New Knowledge Pillar
Data Talks!
We are well on our way to our target of $100 million annually for grants and contracts by 2024 as part of the strategic plan's emphasis on augmenting research revenue. Our current 2021 research revenue is $92 million, a $36 million increase from the FY 2019 amount of $56 million.
SPOTLIGHT FEATURES - POWER PLAYERS
Howard Forward implementation is a collaborative effort that touches every corner and aspect of the Howard community. While there are many power players behind the scenes that do integral work that pushes this plan forward, we are recognizing people that have made the Howard Forward plan central to their everyday work.
Pamela Clarke
Pamela Clarke serves the University as director of Research Development in the Office of Research. In alignment with Howard Forward, Pamela works to support the "inspire new knowledge" pillar's plan to regain Carnegie Research 1 (RI) status and increase grant proposal development and awards. Additionally, Pamela cultivates academic research partnerships with key external organizations, enhances research collaboration and interdisciplinary research initiatives to promote the HU Research enterprise.
Shaunado Edwards
Shaunado Edwards has been with Howard University for 14 years and currently serves as the desktop support team lead in the Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) group. In this role, he provides senior-level technology support to the University community. Shaunado is also a graduate student in the School of Business and a father of three children. His favorite quote is "love is the only solution."
ENHANCE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Debt Alleviation From Tuition and Fees For Students in Need
Howard cleared the debts of juniors and seniors facing financial hardships as a result of the pandemic. Students who had an expected family contribution of $0 and an outstanding balance for the Spring 2021 semester received a credit to their accounts that eliminated their current debt. Under the Recruitment, Retention and Access to Education initiative, Howard is working to increase need- and merit-based funding to increase access and student retention to ensure a Howard University education is affordable for all students. The University will continue to leverage its financial aid resources through the Graduation Retention Access to Continued Excellence (GRACE) Grant. The GRACE Grant pays the remaining tuition and selected mandatory fees for highest need students who are on track for graduation. Other recent efforts to support students with financial needs include:
  • Clearing the debt for seniors from the Class of 2020 prior to graduation;
  • Securing a $31.7 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to reduce the debt burden on Howard medical students; and
  • Creating the Howard Easement and Assistance Relief Trust (HEART) Grant using University resources to help students afford the cost of attending Howard.
School of Social Work Announces Online Masters Program with 2U
The Howard University School of Social Work will offer its nationally recognized Master of Social Work (MSW) degree online in partnership with 2U, Inc., a global leader in education technology. Under the Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Student Success initiative, we are developing and integrating strategic and effective distance learning options, with the goal to have 20 percent of course offerings offered online. Under the same initiative, our team is prioritizing and supporting academic offerings with national and global priorities, so that programs are in areas of demand. By bringing its rigorous, distinctive social work curriculum online, Howard aims to equip more aspiring social workers from all backgrounds to serve Black and marginalized populations in a range of contexts and transform oppressive systems into ones that sustain and uplift their communities. Howard University’s part-time online MSW program will launch in January 2022, with a full-time online degree to follow in September 2022. 
PharmD Program Gains Eight-Year Reaccreditation
Howard University’s College of Pharmacy has received national reaccreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) for the Doctor of Pharmacy program, which awards the highly sought-after PharmD degree. This latest round of accreditation marks the first time the College of Pharmacy was granted ACPE’s full eight years of reaccreditation, which will last until June 30, 2029. Previously, the College of Pharmacy had been awarded a six-year reaccreditation period. The reaccreditation effort supports the Recruitment, Retention, and Access to Education initiative that champions University academic programs that drive student success to propel the University towards a top 50 ranking in U.S. News and World Report.
INSPIRE NEW KNOWLEDGE
College of Medicine and STANLEY Healthcare Collaborate on Research Driven Diabetes Medication Adherence Pilot Program
Howard University’s 1867 Health Innovations Project announced an innovation and research partnership with STANLEY Healthcare to bring digital health devices to home health and senior living environments. The first project in the collaboration will focus on developing a digital health care delivery model to enhance diabetes care and medication adherence management. This announcement aligns with the Research Success for a Changing World initiative. This partnership supports research that addresses local, national and global health challenges through collaboration with STEM academic fields, such as biology, chemistry, medicine, engineering and computer science, and the social sciences. 
SERVE THE COMMUNITY
Pop-Up COVID-19 Testing Sites Across Campus
The health and safety of our campus remains the top priority for the University. It is critical that we conduct robust COVID-19 testing across the entire University body so that we can minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our faculty, staff and student population. To provide more convenient testing options, we created pop-up testing sites in locations around campus, including the Blackburn Center, Undergraduate Library and Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library. This effort supports the Leaving a Positive Impact on the World initiative. 
Virtual Day of Service for Class of 2024 and 2025
The ninth annual Howard University Day of Service (HUDOS) was held on August 20, with the theme of “resurgence.” Students persisted in serving the community by enhancing their knowledge and actively participating in several community service Zoom meetings. The event included volunteer opportunities for incoming first- and second-year Howard students in the following service areas: housing and food support, environmental justice and youth outreach. As part of the “serve the community” Strategic Corporate and Community Engagement initiative, Howard is working to develop effective models for industry and community engagement through expansion of the Day of Service initiative. More than 1,000 students registered to participate in community service projects, including Howard University’s Interpersonal Violence Prevention Program (IVPP). Howard University Day of Service is a student-led event that helps acclimate students to the University and Washington, D.C. community by providing individuals, of all faiths and backgrounds, an opportunity to embrace the University motto, “Truth and Service.”
IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
JP Morgan Chase as Primary Bank of University
Howard University and JPMorgan Chase announced an expanded relationship, making JPMorgan Chase the University’s primary operating bank. The banking relationship is directly aligned with improving the “efficiency and effectiveness” pillar’s customer service and engagement initiative to increase productivity, improve efficiency, reduce costs and manage the assets of the University towards a sustainable future. Implementing JPMorgan Chase’s innovative technology and digital banking solutions will simplify and reduce manual processes to increase efficiencies and save time for Howard staff. With the bank’s help, the University will adopt digital payments technologies that improve cash flow processes, enabling Howard to deliver refunds to students faster and facilitate more seamless donor transactions. Business continuity and prevention measures around fraud and cybersecurity will also be a significant area of focus. The new banking relationship is expected to reduce costs to the University, with savings totaling the equivalent of more than 20 full-time scholarships.
SCOUT RFP
The Office of Procurement has implemented Scout RFP, a leading cloud-based platform for strategic sourcing and supplier engagement. Scout RFP, an add-on to Workday, will allow better delivery of business outcomes, including reduction in spend, greater policy compliance, and maximized engagement and transparency throughout the procurement function. This announcement is part of the Operational Excellence & Compliance initiative which aims to streamline key processes and procedures, reducing the time to completion of key processes by 30 percent by 2024, through the implementation of Workday. 
ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Announcement of the Partnership to Create a National Research Center for Health Disparities
Howard University is making way for its National Research Center for Health Disparities, with the selection of a team of private real estate development firms to construct a 260,000-square-foot laboratory and office building. The center will be a privately developed and funded project designed to attract pharmaceutical companies and biomedical research organizations that are focused on finding solutions to chronic illnesses, particularly those affecting communities of color. Additionally, the center’s location in Howard University’s “Duke District” commercial corridor will allow pharmaceutical companies located at this site greater access to Howard’s pool of diverse and talented graduates. The research center’s location, proximate to the Howard University College of Medicine, will allow private sector companies to collaborate with Howard University faculty on research and development of innovative solutions, including new drugs and cutting-edge therapies.
 
This announcement delivers simultaneously on several Howard Forward pillars such as
The “achieve financial sustainability” Increase Growth of Revenue Streams initiative to execute real estate partnerships that reduce institutional risk and increase revenue that reinvests in the core mission. Further, this announcement supports the “inspire new knowledge” Growing Research Capacity initiative to build and renovate new academic and research facilities in accordance with the University master plan and the Research Success for a Changing World initiative that supports research that addresses local, national and global health challenges through collaboration with STEM academic fields such as medicine and the social sciences. In addition, this announcement supports pillar four, the “improve efficiency and effectiveness” Campus Footprint and Sustainability initiative to prioritize the campus master plan and align renovations and new construction with academic and research priorities. 
Stephen Graham Named CFO
Howard University announced the appointment of Stephen Graham as senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). In this role, Graham will oversee the University’s financial operations in line with the Howard Forward strategic plan’s efforts to achieve greater financial sustainability and increase efficiency and effectiveness. In his new role at Howard, Graham will report directly to President Frederick and maintain responsibility for all aspects of the financial management of the University, including budget planning and resource allocation, accounting and financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, procurement and cash management. He will provide oversight of Howard University Hospital’s financial management and oversee investment management for Howard’s endowment and pension, debt management and capital planning.
HOWARD FORWARD IN THE NEWS
Bison Beat
Catapulting Howard Forward, Full Steam
We are proud to welcome students back to campus and are well into rounding out the second year of Howard Forward, the University's five-year strategic plan. While we all are responsible for managing the impacts of COVID-19 and continuing to adjust to the new normal, the University community has not slowed its progress. Despite a global pandemic, we have collectively scored significant wins on our 2024 goals.
HOWARD IN THE DISTRICT
VP Kamala Harris Bleeds Blue
For an event hosted by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Howard’s campus on July 8 with a message to students that “Your vote matters. Your voice matters. Your will matters.” Speaking at Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library, Harris unveiled a $25 million expansion of the DNC’s “I Will Vote” Initiative to combat voter suppression and protect voting rights nationwide. The event was one of the first major visits by Harris to Howard’s campus since taking office. It also represented the first major public event held on campus since the pandemic began. Harris’ remarks at Howard University came in the midst of political efforts to pass restrictive voting laws across the country. 
 
The inaugural Truth and Service Classic football game hosted by Howard University took place on September 18 at Audi Field in the district. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris led the opening coin toss and watched as her Alma Mater took on the pirates of Hampton University. This match kicked off a long-term goal of an annual showcase game taking place at Audi Field under the “Truth and Service” moniker with future opponents named at the beginning of each collegiate football season. True to the University
mission, and to mark the occasion, the Office of the Dean of the
Chapel hosted the inaugural Truth and Service Classic Day of Service,
where staff and students traveled to Anacostia Park in southeast D.C. to aid in park beautification. 
Walking Tours
Howard’s external affair team is hosting a University walking tour, available monthly and open to the public on the third Sunday. This tour allows community members to learn more about Howard’s historic main campus that is home to the landmark Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, Founders Library, and the newly renovated Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall. A student ambassador will guide tours and discuss the many historic campus events and landmarks, academic programs and extracurricular activities. Interested parties can register here.  
Full Bison Pride for D.C.'s Open Streets Event
Howard University and the Howard University Hospital (HUH) participated in the District of Columbia’s Open Streets 2021 kickoff on Saturday, October 2. The “Showtime” Marching Band performed, and other areas of the University as well as the Howard University Hospital (HUH) participated and showed its support. HUH set up a health and wellness station, gave out healthy snacks, provided safety tips and information about community services. The HUH women’s, infant and children’s (WIC) team was on hand to supply baby products and program information. The College of Dentistry handed out toothpaste, brushes and other care products.
Participation in Alma Thomas Day in D.C., First graduate of Howard's Arts Department
On September 22, Howard’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts joined the government of the District of Columbia and Mayor Muriel Bowser to recognize Alma W. Thomas Day in the District of Columbia. Alma Thomas, Howard University’s Department of Art’s first graduate, made significant artistic and educational contributions throughout her life and continues to do so posthumously, as this event took place on the 130th anniversary of her birth. Howard University honored Thomas in 1975 by bestowing the Alumni Achievement Award to her for “distinguished postgraduate contributions … in the fields of art and colorifics.” In 2015, Thomas became the first Black woman to have a work of art acquired by the White House Collection. She continues to be a trailblazer posthumously as her painting “Alma’s Flower Garden” (c. 1968-1970) was sold in March 2021 for a record-breaking $2.8 million.
HUH Hosts National Night Out
Howard University Hospital took part in the National Night Out on Tuesday, August 3 in the hospital’s front pavilion. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. HUH’s National Night Out featured family activities, refreshments, entertainment, COVID-19 vaccines, health and wellness information stations, and giveaways for the kids.
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