Senior Vice President Young Welcome Message

The five pillars and 18 initiatives that make up Howard Forward touch every aspect of who we are as a University. Under the leadership of President Wayne A. I. Frederick, this living plan will move the University in a direction that will allow us to be agile in our approach while making sustainable changes. Every day, we are doing our part to help mitigate the impacts of coronavirus, the residual economic hardships and changing priorities, all the while maintaining and improving upon our commitment to our students, faculty, staff alumni and community. 
 
Our work has not gone unrecognized, and we are thrilled about our improvement in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 “Best Graduate Schools” rankings in the areas of nursing, business, law and education as well as specialty rankings for medicine, African-American history and African-American literature. From teaching students and modernizing their learning environment, to making sure that we have resources to invest in top-tier training, to efficiency and customer service, to how we address and engage with the community, this newsletter will illustrate Howard Forward in action.
 
This quarter, we hosted review sessions for each Howard Forward initiative to assess progress, clear bottle necks and discuss the goal posts that will help us track progress while maintaining our flexibility and thinking about our strategy in the present-day circumstance. We have kicked off three Howard Forward working groups (communications; initiatives and operations; and data and technology) to expand involvement and engagement of Howard Forward. Our teams have continued to focus on the implementation of our aggressive capital plan, a key tenet of Howard Forward, prioritizing advancing the renewal of academic spaces, specifically in the areas of education, fine arts & communications, and academic health sciences. We are also moving on community engagement and alumni support for our reimagined Howard East site, a 23-acre parcel located in the district’s Ward 5 (formerly home to the School of Divinity). 
 
As Howard University continues to be at the forefront of national dialogue, we are working to enhance our federal, state and local community relations. Using that synergy, we are building on our donor and corporate relations efforts to create meaningful and impactful programs, funding and resources that continue to push the needle forward. These opportunities will ensure that Howard students are prepared for success and will be competitive in their careers. And while the Howard Forward plan is broad in scope, it is strategic in its application.  

In Truth and Service, 
SVP Rashad Young
Data Talks!

The Office of the Chief Strategy Officer, in collaboration with the Howard Forward Data & Technology Working Group, has developed leading indicators for each of the Howard Forward pillars. These measures will be illustrated in our Howard Forward micro-website as interactive data graphics to increase the transparency and progress against the University’s strategic plan. Here is a snapshot of the interactive data tool that will be available soon.
Enhance Academic Excellence
HPS Investment Partners & Kapnick Foundation Gift

As new opportunities emerge, we are reacting quickly to become stronger in our competitive position. A recent example is how two of our strategic planning pillars came together to deliver in a meaningful way. We are excited about the $10 million gift from HPS Investment Partners, LLC (HPS) and The Kapnick Foundation to create the HPS Center for Financial Excellence, which will focus on helping students better prepare for careers in private investment and investment banking.

Howard, through its School of Business, will prepare students to secure more in-demand jobs in an industry which traditionally few Black people participate. The School of Business through our academic prioritization efforts (Howard Forward, pillar one "enhance academic excellence"), and Howard’s development team (Howard Forward, pillar five "achieve financial sustainability"), came together to secure a resource that meets many objectives of our Howard Forward plan. That is the strategic thinking and cross-departmental and unit alignment and integration that we will use to sustain our progress and move the needle forward. 
Goldman Sachs’ Inaugural Market Madness: HBCU Possibilities Program
 
In February, Goldman Sachs announced a new five-year $25 million commitment to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The commitment is tied to the Market Madness: HBCU Possibilities Program, a four-month training in finance fundamentals. Forty Howard University students will receive in-depth training and insight from Goldman Sachs professionals, which prepares students for a case study competition, “Market Madness.” In its inaugural year, 125 HBCU first- and second-year college students are participating in the program. The students will receive hands-on training and learn fundamental finance skills in a professional setting, complementing their coursework and extracurricular activities. The case study competition concludes the program, with students presenting to senior leaders at Goldman Sachs and competing for prize donations to their institutions – funding opportunity for future generations.
Inspire New Knowledge
Office of Research - Series on the Status of Research, Grants and Contracts 
 
The Office of Research launched a series, "The Status of Research, Grants and Contracts," in collaboration, so far with five of the University’s 13 schools and colleges. The series sessions included "Grant and Contract Portfolios"; "Grants Management and Administration: What Works and What is Not Working"; "Research, Grants and Contracts Resources - Support Options"; and "Research Forward - What the Future Holds". Howard is committed to growing research and externally funded projects, as the University’s goal is to increase research funding to the level of a Carnegie Classification R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity. Howard University is currently classified as an R2: Doctoral University – Higher Research Activity institution. Research is an essential part of Howard University’s delivery of outstanding education and professional training experiences for students. 
Just Futures Initiative

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded Howard University $5 million for its Just Futures Initiative. Howard University’s proposal was to create social justice consortium (SJC) that will increase the critical consciousness people need to analyze injustice in their own communities and develop innovative and collaborative action-oriented remedies. The SJC increases community knowledge on social justice, including supporting social justice research, art and activism; but its most significant effort is to democratize access to knowledge through its innovative social justice certificate, which will be offered to Howard students and more, including Title I high school students, teachers, community activists, continuing education students, retirees and incarcerated populations. The certificate courses will not only deepen community social justice knowledge but position the field of humanities as the means to solve social problems.
Howard and NYU's New Nursing Partnership 

Howard University’s College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences and New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing have formed an educational and research partnership to work together to have a greater impact on improving health and health equity in urban areas and global communities. The new partnership will enable nursing researchers at Howard and NYU to collaborate on existing research projects and jointly apply for grant funding for new projects. The schools are in the process of applying for funding to develop a mentoring and education program to encourage African-American nurses to obtain specialty nursing certifications. In addition, faculty will be invited to attend research seminars and professional development opportunities at both schools, creating stronger cross-school collaborations to improve care for the patients and communities we serve.
Serve the Community
Vaccination Clinic

Howard’s vaccination clinic established through the Howard University Faculty Practice Plan and College of Medicine continues to provide COVID-19 vaccines to District of Columbia residents. As a critical community partner in the Districts fight to combat the coronavirus and flatten the curve, Howard’s team organized and worked quickly to coordinate faculty in preparation of vaccine administration. This was a collaborative interdisciplinary activity involving faculty, residents, students and staff from the College of Dentistry, College of Medicine, College of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences and College of Pharmacy. Significant support was also provided by the Howard University Staff Organization, Howard University Alumni Association and a host of other members of the Howard University community.
She’s Howard: Own Your Power

The Department of Alumni Relations announced a new partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies to launch She’s Howard: Own Your Power. With an alumni population of 100,000 people, and the majority identifying as women, She’s Howard: Own Your Power will support the success of Howard University women graduates to create a safe space for alumnae to build community and receive programming to include virtual networking events, a lecture series and seminars on relevant industry topics. The program will serve as a centralized hub for Howard alumnae to participate in experiential learning, career coaching, professional training and self-empowering mentorship opportunities. Discussions will focus on topics that support the personal and professional needs of Howard alumnae, including strategies for balancing personal and professional responsibilities, navigating the challenges Black women face in the workplace and more.
Policing Inside Out Partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department
(Photo credit: Muntaquim Muhammad)

Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad through the Department of Sociology and Criminology, continues to be recognized for her work to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve through the Policing Inside Out (PIO) program. This program allows robust and meaningful discussions between law enforcement, students and communities by helping to gain trust and break barriers between all parties. This year, Dr. Muhammad and the Metropolitan Police Department will develop a series of programming, including community engagement and implementing a diverse recruitment strategy that engages a variety of voices. This partnership will also help to give students a voice in public safety. 
Improve Efficiency & Effectiveness
Steam Plant

ENGIE North America and Howard University executed a long-term agreement for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a new central utility plant on Howard’s campus. The new modern steam plant will be a combined heat and power (CHP) plant that provides both electric and steam services for buildings on campus and will generate 35-40 percent of the University’s electric consumption on site. This technology produces a single source of energy that generates electricity or power at the point of use and utilizes exhaust heat that would normally be lost in the generation process to be recovered and recycled to produce steam.
Workday Update

The first phase of the Workday implementation is well underway and on target to go live on July 1. Workday will replace PeopleSoft for financial and human resources functions, including payroll, benefits, recruitment, grant management, departmental budgeting and procurement. The Workday @HowardU Resource Hub is an internal primary resource for the Howard University community to learn about the Workday project, stay informed about current activities, and access materials you will need to do your job in Workday.
Achieve Financial Sustainability
Marriott Donation

The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation together with Howard announced a $20 million endowment to establish the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership. Marriott International also announced the creation of the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund, which will support the critical programmatic and career development elements of the center. This fund is dedicated to helping the industry build leadership talent in hospitality. Marriott has pledged the first donation of $1 million and is inviting other companies, organizations and individuals – from all industries – to support this effort.
Siebert Williams Shank Foundation

The Howard University School of Business announced a $100,000 gift from the Siebert Williams Shank Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC (SWS), the nation’s top-ranked minority- and woman-owned investment banking firm. The gift will support the schools 50th anniversary strategic plan, which includes a variety of initiatives aimed at enhancing the school’s traditional practices and promoting excellence. The gift will support the 50th anniversary strategic plan, which seeks to tactically inspire alumni to establish scholarship funds, invest in the expansion of programs and centers, and modernize the facilities and technology labs.
Spotlight Feature – Power Players

Howard Forward implementation is a collective 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.


Yesenia Espinal

In her busy life as the director of institutional research, Yesenia still finds time to meet one-on-one regarding data analysis, participate in a host of working groups, and consistently produce high-quality work. Her dedication and commitment make her an invaluable asset to Howard Forward implementation.





Derrek Niec-Williams

Howard architecture alumnus and the executive director, campus planning, architecture and development, Derrek spearheads campus planning and drives implementation of Howard Forward through his stakeholder and community engagement efforts around the campus master plan. His commitment, day-in and day-out, is moving Howard forward.
Howard Forward in the News
SVP Rashad Young joined President Wayne A. I. Frederick on his weekly WHUR program, "The Journey." SVP Young talked about his career path, strategic plans for Howard and all things Howard Forward.
April 2021 Bison Beat focused on achieving financial stability through Howard Forward.