,By Michael Grayson
Since Dr. James A. Anderson
raised his right hand on June
9,2008 and became the 11th
official chancellor sworn in at
Fayetteville State University,
much has changed.
A significant investment in
the university’s infrastructure
has been underway including
new academic buildings and
residence halls. Several
programs have excelled,
and the support of
faculty and staff is well
noticed.
The nursing pro
gram’s recovery
According to Dr. Jon
Young, Provost and
Vice Chancellor for
Academic Affairs
at FSU, in the first
year of the nursing
program there was
a 63 percent pass
rate on the licensure
exam. The following
year there was a 39
percent pass rate. Due
to state-low passing
rates the university in
vestigated an immediate
suspension on the admis
sion of new students in the
program.
Dr. Young said a whole
revision in the nurs
ing curriculum was
deemed necessary. A
new nursing building
was also the foundation
to meeting academic
expectations.
1
Three things have hap
pened in the last two years
to restore the nursing
program to respectability.
Chancellor Anderson said.
The first thing we had to
do was increase the
passing rates. Second, We had
to hire a chairperson to lead
the program. Thirdfwe had to
rebuild our nursing faculty by
hiring new faculty who were
committed to s^rvitig otir stu
dents and the program.
And, with the last two classes
achieving passing rates of 85 #
and 100 percent, the nursing
program appears to be showing
some signs of revival.
Nursing Department Chair Dr.
Afua Arhin, was hiiSd as one
of those individuals to assist in
reshaping the nursing program.
“I had to stert from scratch*’
Arhin said . There were ho
faculty. Dr. Arhin credits the
chancellor for being support-'
ivci creating a good^faculty ^
base and making sure the pro
gram has what it needs to be
successful. The first he^jlass ^
since the suspension will begin
in January of 2013, he added.
Dr. Young said the pogram has
gained approval to be reae-
tivated by the N.C. Board of
Nursing.
The nursing program isn’t the
only program excelling these
days. FSU’s business program
continues to be one of the
university’s most distinguished
programs.
The School of Business and
Economics
The School of Business and
Economics is one of the best
programs in the nation. Chan
cellor Anderson said. The only
two programs ranked ahead of
FSU in the state are Duke and
UNC Chapel Hill.
Department of Accounting
Chair and Professor of Ac
counting Ulysses Taylor, cred
its Chancellor Anderson for a
lot of the success of the
business department has
encountered. Chancellor
Anderson is the head, Taylor
said, and nothing can be done
without the “head’s approvtf
Chancellor Anderson’s sup
port through various resources
is what continues to move ui
in the right direction. “He is a
visionary,” Taylor said.
Assistant Professor of BADM
215 Dr^Carolyn Jewell, also
acknowledged Chancellor
Anderson for the success of
the department. Dr.‘Jewell said
the chancellor does not accept
“niediwrity”. He allows us
to go tS conferences to obtain
the most modem knowledge.
Chancellor Anderson also does
a great job in supplying the
s, program with money so that
“classrooms are up-to-date.”
While giving Chancellor
Anderson some credit for the
success of the business pro
gram, Dr. Young also credits
the Dean of business Dr. Assad
Tavakoli for a lot of the ac
complishments the program
“acquires. ®
The School of Business and
Economics is accredited by the
Southern Association of Busi
ness Colleges and Schools.
While respectable programs
may be one way to attract po
tential incoming students, the
sight of new advanced build
ings can certainly help.
# "J am pleased to say"
that all these issues were
addressed successfully/'
"^Anderson "said.