USDC Awareness Campaign

Today, you will start seeing a series of print, broadcast and online advertisements designed to get the word out on all the great things going on in the University System of the District of Columbia. This is the most aggressive effort in the history of this institution to promote itself. The goals of this campaign are – of course – to increase enrollment, but we are also lifting the image and public perception of the community college as well as UDC, including the law school.

Now that the university system has been established, it is time that the world knows about the valuable programs offered here.

As always, I value your feedback.

Allen Sessoms

Another International Tragedy Calls for Action

Friends,

We once again find ourselves staring at yet another world tragedy.  The earthquake in Chile over the weekend has killed hundreds and has sent our world community into a panic, wondering what we can do to help.  I invite you do all you can to support our friends in Chile by donating to the relief agency of your choice.  Instead of physical goods, consider money, which is desperately needed at this stage of the rescue and eventual recovery mission.  Also, keep up to date on the developments there by following the Red Cross website: www.redcross.org.

I want to commend our International Student Association for again showing leadership in the wake of this tragedy and beginning activities to support the victims.  As tragic as the events in Haiti and now Chile have been, it is heartening to see our community come together to assist people in need.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Allen L. Sessoms

University System of the District of Columbia

Message From President Allen Sessoms on Haiti Disaster

Dear University System Community:
 
Like all of you, I was shocked to see the news coverage of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.  My thoughts are with the families of the victims and with the first responders who are right now risking their lives in order to save scores of people still trapped in the rubble.
 
I have asked Ambassador Denis Antoine, UDC’s Director of International Programs, to liaison with the Haitian embassy to assess the situation there and to learn what we can do to help.
 
In the meantime, I would invite you to access the American Red Cross’ website: www.redcross.org – to make a donation to the relief effort and to discover ways in which you might volunteer.
 
Thank you,
 
Allen L. Sessoms

College Funding and Affordability

We have realized for a very long time that America lags behind many nations of the world in making higher education affordable for most people.  President Obama has suggested some plans to catch this nation up, including a so-called “America Opportunity Tax Credit”.  In the President’s words, “This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university.  And by making the tax credit fully refundable, my credit will help low-income families that need it the most.”

Mr. Obama would free up monies by using public instead of private loan providers.  This would help expand higher education to those who would otherwise not have that opportunity.  Looking at the big picture, it would be wise to strengthen our public institutions because these are the types of facilities to which those who need help turn first.  Our new Community College perfectly illustrates the issues of affordability and flexibility.  The President himself underscored the “sense” of community colleges this Summer when he unveiled his American Graduation Initiative.  In announcing the program, he indicated that community colleges offer the best, most economical way for Americans to further their education or engage in workforce development and that the jobs requiring at least an Associate’s Degree are projected to grow twice as fast as jobs requiring no college experience.

The opportunity we have before us is clear.  To educate the fastest growing segment of our society is the challenge we will face in the coming months and years.  I welcome your comments.

Proud History!

As we move toward the end of what has been an incredibly productive year, I’d like to take this opportunity to once again focus on our proud history – and the mission of land-grant universities.

The purpose of land-grant universities, established by two acts of Congress in 1862 and 1890, was to expand practical education to people who before this time were not able to access classical higher education.  If you were not able to attend the exclusive private institutions, you were essentially relegated to farming and what were considered menial trades.  The idea behind the land-grant concept was to bolster education in areas like agriculture and engineering and expand access to this knowledge and technology to everyone.

At UDC, that spirit continues.  But in our modern world, practical education includes health sciences, biotechnology, the full spectrum of engineering, agricultural sciences through our Cooperative Extension Program, and all of the programs found right here at the University of the District of Columbia and our new Community College.

We have a unique opportunity to provide direction in our community.  We are poised to enter 2010 as the leader in providing ‘practical’ and affordable education in this region.  Our history is strong, and it carries through to this day.

I welcome your comments.

Allen Sessoms

Peebles Scholarship

I want to make sure our community is aware of the extraordinary gift made by our most recent convocation speaker, R. Don Peebles.  During the convocation, Mr. Peebles announced that he was creating a scholarship for women in business in honor of his mother, who passed away this year.

I was moved when I learned of this woman’s struggles as a single mother.  She sacrificed for her family.  She learned the real estate industry on her own and supported herself through the certifcation process.  And she became successful in an industry in which her son would later become a legend.

It is with great honor that I announce the creation of the Yvonne Willoughby Poole scholarships (there will be more than one per year) that will make dreams come true for working women here at UDC.  And I congratulate Mr. Peebles for bringing honor to the memory of his mother – and for helping working women trying to make better lives for themselves and their families.

I will post the relevant information when it is finalized by Mr. Peebles’ staff.  In the meantime, for more information, you can contact Ms. Felicia Brant at fbrant@udc.edu.

Thank you for your continued support!

Allen L. Sessoms

Student Health Insurance

I am very proud of the new health insurance coverage being offered to students by the university this year.  I’ve had some very positive comments so far, and I’m blogging on this issue to see what you think.

All full-time students and all international students are automatically enrolled in the UDC Basic Student Health Insurance Plan.  The premium for this coverage is added to your bill.  It is $166 for domestic students; $550 for international students.  That fee is for the whole year.  If you already have health insurance through another carrier, you may waive out of the plan by completing a form online: www.maksin.com/udc.aspx.  You must waive out of the plan by September 20th or the fees will be automatically added to your bill.

We’re excited to be able to offer this service in a way that make sense financially and in a way that optimizes health coverage for each student.

I look forward to your comments!

Allen L. Sessoms

From Dr. Sessoms

Dear UDC System Family:

Welcome to the inaugural post of my Presidential blog.  I am looking forward to open, honest, and constructive dialogue with you on varying topics as they relate to UDC.  It seems hard to believe that the fall semester will begin in just a few short weeks.  I am excited to enter this academic year with the University continuing to engage in initiatives that are advancing the institution’s capacity to serve its students and other key stakeholders.  We all share a common goal of making the University System of the District of Columbia and its component parts, the land-grant flagship university and the community college institutions of first choice for citizens of Washington, the region and, indeed, the world.

I am glad to report that applications to the system are up substantially.  I am also delighted to note that the community college will officially open in August.

The day is coming when students will not only come to this University just because it is affordable, but they will choose it because it is among the best academic institutions in the world. That day starts now.

Sincerely,

Allen L. Sessoms, Ph.D.

President

University of the District of Columbia System