“Academics Are Central” campus-wide movement continues this fall

Above all, Central State University is an institution of higher education, where the pursuit of intellectual advancement is the core reason why faculty and students have gathered here.

Academics Are Central

This fall “Academics Are Central,” a campus-wide movement, will spotlight and reinforce that principle.

“This theme reiterates the importance of education and scholarship within the campus community,” says CSU provost Dr. Juliette B. Bell. “Amid all the rest of the pursuits, from athletics to leadership activities, academics are the heart of Central State. We are committed to producing graduates highly qualified for their chosen profession or prepared to succeed in graduate or professional school.”

The “Academics Are Central” theme was a key part of the University Institute this fall, as professors and administrators discussed ways of challenging students to achieve higher academic excellence.

“Through a think tank and other working sessions, we devised actionable strategies to improve student outcome,” Dr. Bell states.

Other “Academics Are Central” programs and activities are planned, including forums centered on an intellectual topic. Throughout the year, learning and scholarship will be advanced, not only in the classrooms, but also in residence halls, dining halls and student centers.

The idea’s origin

President John W. Garland charged the Campus Climate Committee, chaired by Dr. Bell and Vice President of Administration and Finance Colette Pierce Burnette, to examine ways to strengthen CSU. Three sub- committees were formed to tackle the objective in-depth.

Assistant professor Dr. David Childs chairs the Intellectual Subcommittee. Its goals: to raise the University academic standards and to

increase the awareness of CSU as an environment of academic excellence.

It was Dr. Childs who created the “Academics Are Central” phrase to communicate these goals.

“Academics Are Central’ is a way

of uniting the campus community. We have a historic legacy of being an intellectually rigorous and scholarly institution,” Dr. Juliette Bell agrees. “Centralians, including students, want to see more of that today. It starts with all of us giving academic excellence the priority it deserves.”

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Department of Professional Education

Look for the “Academics Are

Central” street banners around campus this school year.

8 CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY

ACADEMICS ARE CENTRAL