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October 29, 2004
Luke Chappel '65
President
DSU Alumni Association
P.O. Box 33
Smyrna, DE 19977
Dear Mr. Chappel:
I would like to acknowledge your September 28 letter in which you enclosed a copy of a paper presented and discussed at your September 11 Executive Board meeting. I believe this is the same paper that has been widely circulated for several months and addressed by me at a forum held in August at your request.
It is important for alumni to understand that my vision for Delaware State University has been misrepresented in this document and by its authors.
It is my vision that we not only continue to celebrate the great legacy of this historically black institution, but that we build significantly on its past successes to ensure its future - a future that will reflect increased excellence and prominence among the nationwide community of colleges and universities. This University's status as a land grant HBCU is assured permanency during my tenure here, as I am sure it will for subsequent institutional presidential tenures. We are now engaged in making improvements in academics, research, community outreach and infrastructure that will make us a cutting edge university.
To reach that goal, our critical financial needs must include investments for new programs, facility upgrades, faculty and staff salaries, scholarships, technology, matching monies for research, building maintenance, and athletics.
The sources for increased operating revenues must come from student tuition and fees, research grants and contracts, and fund-raising. Although the University is a state-assisted institution, it is unlikely that state funding will increase; current trends indicate that it is highly probable that state financial support will proportionally decrease. Because of those dwindling dollars, we cannot remain too reliant on the state as a primary source of revenue. We do not want to continually raise tuition and fees to meet our needs. Hence, our plans are designed to grow enrollment.
We are continuing to make considerable progress in our research portfolio. We have grown from $8 million to $17.4 million in sponsored programs over the past year, and have other research proposals in the grant-request pipeline. We need to work on fund-raising, especially to raise the much needed scholarship monies. To do this, we need to assist the Alumni Association in growing its active membership. We know how important alumni contributions are to the lifeblood of our University and hope that the alumni will match the giving of their counterparts at other universities.
Among other topics to clarify:
- The current model in which 85 percent of our students are dependent on financial aid is not sustainable. We are short at least $3 million in meeting our students' unmet financial needs. Thus, it is our goal to increase the number of enrolled students who can pay for their education without financial aid support. Our emphasis will become stronger in working to attract more adult learners - most of whom work full-time, and many of whom are reimbursed by their employers when they take undergraduate or graduate classes. We intend to increase the enrollment of working adults so we can continue to offer financial support to the needy undergraduates. Similarly, increasing the number of full-paying international students can also help in this area.
- There is no truth to the rumors that there are plans to change the University's name, alma mater, colors, or mascot. For recruiting purposes, we are working on an umbrella logo design and theme to better position the University in today's marketplace. This is just good marketing practice, one already in place by our competitors both in and out of state. Our theme for recruiting tends to change every two years or so, and we want something with a more lasting impact that will consistently tell the Delaware State University story and lift its many positive qualities and differentials.
- This year, after many fruitful discussions, the University has joined in a partnership with the Delaware Civic Center Corporation to pursue the construction of a new Delaware Sports and Entertainment Complex on our campus. This newest collaboration, we believe, offers a superior opportunity to the previous sports and wellness complex proposal. Not only would this state-of-the-art arena provide quality programming for our students and serve as a powerful recruiting tool, but it also helps the University in serving the state-one of our land grant missions. The complex would stimulate Delaware's economy and strengthen Delaware's attractiveness as a tourist destination. The University would have first priority to hold all of its sporting and other school-related events at the proposed facility. This proposal has been discussed openly in many public settings, before numerous stakeholders throughout the state, as well as with the Board of Trustees and the Legislature's Bond Bill Committee. Independent feasibility studies are extremely positive. We are currently waiting for feedback from state offices pending their further review of these studies.
Because this collaboration on the Delaware Sports and Entertainment Complex project is proving to be a lengthy process, the University has decided to press ahead with the construction of a Wellness Center on campus while it continues to work toward the complex. A 72,500-square foot Wellness Center has been designed to be built at a site to-be-determined on campus, pending the completion of University's Master Plan by the end of 2004. To complete the Wellness Center project, we will be requesting state funds during the next and subsequent fiscal years.
- No deep cuts have been mandated for Project Success and other similar academic enhancement programs. However, the programs are being evaluated to determine their effectiveness as compared to the cost of operating them.
• In our administrative discussions, some questions were raised concerning the School of Management's (SOM's) progress in increasing enrollment and whether our success in that area justified continued pursuit of the AACSB accreditation. After some discussion, both the administrators of the SOM and the University agreed to commit to the dual goals of increased enrollment and accreditation.
• The Doctoral Program in Applied Mathematics has been completely supported by a $4 million, five-year grant from the U. S. Department of Defense. Instead of being a drain on the University's operating budget, the grant provides resources in the form of reimbursement for indirect costs (such as utilities). It is a source of pride for faculty, students and alumni to have this program.
• There is no ban on the Black National Anthem. I did specify, however, that "Lift Every Voice and Sing" should never be sung or performed as a substitute for The Star Spangled Banner.
- Due to budget constraints, in addition to academic positions, many key administrative positions have also been held vacant. The practice of balancing the budget by not filling many budgeted positions predates this presidency by many years. We are working hard to end this practice. A newly formed Budget Planning Committee, which meets weekly, carefully reviews each vacant position to determine which positions are necessary for health, safety, welfare and education of students.
As I have expressed several times, changes must occur at Delaware State University in order for us to continue to elevate our institution higher in the excellence rankings and continue to offer students quality degree programs.
It is difficult to fully answer in a few paragraphs some of these issues. For that reason, I have been making myself available both on campus and off for open discussions. As you will recall, at your request, I held an open discussion meeting with the Alumni Association Executive Committee members and others on Aug. 31 to discuss issues of concern and also to reiterate the goals I outlined when I first became president. I appreciated that many took that time to attend and ask questions, share ideas and give me the opportunity to clear up any misperceptions. At that meeting, the group suggested that I hold more of these forums and I readily agreed to do so upon invitation from chapters or groups. Thus far, several chapters have requested such discussions and I am fulfilling those requests both in and out of state. I also have offered to hold more such open discussions here on campus if alumni groups request them and find that more convenient, or we could consider conference calls.
Many positive developments have been unfolding at Delaware State University, from accreditation affirmations by the departments of Nursing, Education and Social Work, to developing niches in community health, environmental health, pharmacy, public health and mental health, to great strides in securing research grants and international partnerships. It is our hope that alumni can be our greatest ambassadors. Please let me know if there are more discussion meetings we can arrange or suggestions for improved communications.
Sincerely,
Allen L. Sessoms
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