Faculty Development Grant Program awards announced 

 

The Offices of Faculty Development and Research & Grants held a Welcome and Orientation Supper for the awardees of the Faculty Development Grant Program (FDGP) on October 31, 2013, in the Faculty Resource Center in Cunningham Hall. The event kicked off the third year of the internal grant, funded by Oakwood University, providing seed money for research, teaching, and service related projects designed to enhance the effectiveness of individual faculty members.

 

With one of the University's seven new priorities being the development of a research infrastructure and assurance of the development of the faculty, the Faculty Development Grant serves as a critical strategy in the fulfillment of this new priority.

Dr. Maxine Garvey studies the handouts at the Welcome and Orientation Supper

  

The process began at Colloquium 2013, where faculty members were invited to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to respond to the Request for Proposals (RFP) via the Faculty Development web page.  Proposals were due on September 16th and were externally reviewed.  Awards were based upon the consideration of five priority criteria: Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, and Environment.

 

This grant year eight research projects were funded totaling over $5000 dollars, representing four schools and five departments. The research projects are listed below:

 

• "Factors Influencing Successful/Unsuccessful Matriculation at Oakwood University: Requisite Data for Creating a Mentoring Program" by Dr. Olivia D. Beverly
• "The Effect of Machiavellian Thinking on Willingness to Use Ethically Questionable Business Tactics among University Students" by Dr. Faye Brathwaite, Principal Investigator, and Drs. Theodore Brown and Malcolm Cort
• "An Exploratory Study of Perceptions of International Social Work Among Social Work Students Attending an HBCU" by Dr. Samson Chama, Principal Investigator, and Dr. Octavio Ramirez
• "Eat - Pray - Move: Health & Wellness Study III for Oakwood University Students" by Dr. Maxine Garvey, Principal Investigator, and Drs. Finbar Benjamin and Jocelyn Peterson
• "Young People's Perceptions of a Group Home's Efficacy: A Retrospective Study" by Dr. Octavio Ramirez, Principal Investigator, and Dr. Samson Chama
• "Integration of Faith & Learning at Oakwood University: A Quantitative Analysis" by Dr. Pauline Sawyers, Principal Investigator, and the Oakwood University Research Society
• "The Prevalence of Divorce Among the Parents of Seventh-day Adventist College Students and the Impact on their Future Relationship Formation and Membership in the Church" by Dr. Eva Starner
• "Investigating Best Practices in Accessibility for the Disabled on College Campuses" by Ms. Mishael Williams, Principal Investigator, and Dr. Maxine Garvey

 

"We are excited and applaud the work of the faculty to advance their scholarly work through research," says Dr. Prudence Pollard, Vice President for Research and Employee Services.  "It is no small task to think about one's research, submit a proposal, take the constructive criticism of the blind external review, and then go and do the actual work of research."

 

Mrs. Lucy Cort (standing), Proposal Specialist, presented "Tips to Becoming Externally Funded."  The FDGP process mirrors the application process for an externally-funded grant.

The Orientation and Supper was an opportunity to celebrate the award recipients, as well as orient them to the grant process for the upcoming year. The funded researchers congratulated each other while enjoying a supper of soup, bread, salad, and assorted desserts.

 

The FDGP will culminate with the 2014 Faculty Research Symposium on Tuesday, April 22, 2014. This fourth year of the annual Symposium will include presentations of papers and posters of the research of University faculty and students including the 2013-2014 FDGP awardees and is chaired by Associate Professor, Mrs. Paulette Johnson, Director of the Eva B. Dykes Library. Dr. Sherine Brown-Fraser, Assistant Professor in the Nutritional Sciences Program at Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, is scheduled to be the keynote presenter.

December Southern Tidings features OU's "AGAPE Day"

 

 

Department of History and Political Science visits the other "Oaks" 

 

Fifty-six students boarded the bus for the Department of History and Political Science's field trip to Tuskegee, Alabama, on November 15, to visit museums and historical sites of interest in the African-American experience.

 

At Tuskegee University, students toured the home of Booker T. Washington (also known as "The Oaks"). The tour guide discussed: the home's architecture; the fact that it was constructed by students; its modern (at the time) amenities; as well as Washington's eminent status as an educator and African-American leader.

 

The group also viewed the Tuskegee chapel with its unique acoustics and decorative stained glass windows, highlighting the stories in Negro Spirituals. Near the chapel is a small cemetery, where students saw the gravesites of Washington and George Washington Carver (the famous African-American inventor, educator and botanist). 

 

Oakwood students viewing the statue of Booker T. Washington figuratively removing the veil of ignorance from a freedman.

 

During the students' tour of the Tuskegee Airmen's Museum, they received a brief history

of the Army Air Corps' Program to develop black pilots during the Second World War. Afterward, they viewed the various artifacts displayed at the museum. 

A tour highlight was being allowed to dress in authentic Tuskegee Airmen's uniforms.

Overall, everyone agreed that the trip was educational, fun and entertaining. Students that participated are thankful for the continued support given by Dr. London and the Department of History and Political Science. In the future, the Department hopes to sponsor additional field trips to enhance the learning experience of Oakwood University students.   

 

OUPD officer elected chaplain of police academy class

 

 

Officer David Clarke, currently a cadet in the Montgomery Police Academy, was recently elected to the position of Chaplain for his class. According to academy sources, Officer Clarke was elected to this position based upon his maturity level and the exceptional spiritual leadership qualities he has exhibited.

 

As class chaplain, Officer Clarke will be responsible for mediating disputes, providing spiritual counseling, and providing invocations at training sessions and for the final graduation ceremony.

 

Officer Clarke joins the ranks of Sergeant Shawn Byrd who served as the chaplain for his class at the Northeast Law Enforcement Academy in Anniston, AL, in 2012.

 

According to Chief Eakins, "the officers we have sent to police academies throughout the state have served as ambassadors for Oakwood University and role models for their fellow classmates. I am extremely proud of how they have represented God, Oakwood University, and our department."

 

Officer Clarke will complete his 480 hours of academy training in January 2014.