What's New

Black Issues in Higher Education, Sept 2, 1999

Programs, Accreditations, & Initiatives

California State University-Fullerton, in partnership with the state of California, has begun operating the California Corporate Board Registry to expand minority and women representation statewide on boards of directors. CSU-Fullerton was named to oversee the registry by the Office of Secretary of State Bill Jones.

Stemming from legislation passed in 1993 and 1998, the registry will maintain information on participants' educational, professional, community service. and corporate governance background. Once established, the database can be used to match applicants with corporations. When an individual becomes matched with a corporation, the applicant's transcripts are forwarded to the organization for possible interviews and appointments.

The registry's future plans include sponsoring annual conferences. networking with similar programs, publishing a client newsletter, and offering courses on the responsibilities and expectations of being a corporate board member.

But the registry comes with a price. Individual applicants may be enrolled for two years in the registry's database for a $200 fee. Corporations can become members for a one-time fee of $500.

For more information, call (714)278-4614. The registry can also be reached on the Internet at <www.fullerton.edu/calregistry>, or by e-mail at <calregistry@fullerton.edu>.

The Fund for Theological Education, Inc., located in Atlanta, has received grants from a group of U.S. foundations to begin a number of new initiatives. These include doctoral and dissertation fellowship programs, known collectively as the Expanding Horizons Partnership.

A limited number of fellowship stipends will be awarded on a competitive basis to African American students interested in pursing graduate degrees leading toward the Ph.D. or Th.D. in religion and theology. Stipends of up to $1.5,000-based on financial need-will be awarded for the 1999-00 academic year.

For more information, contact the Fund at (404) 727-1450.

Florida International University's School of Architecture has received full accreditation for its entire program from the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The board's approval was based on the curriculum, rapid growth, and evolution over FIU's 15-year history.

"No other school has moved as quickly toward accreditation as FIU," says William McMinn, dean of architecture at the Hispanic-serving institution. "Now it is time to mature and continue to work to give our students the best education possible."

FIU becomes one of 120 schools nationwide that are accredited by the board.

Youngstown State University has adopted a new tuition fee structure designed to promote student access and stimulate degree completion.

The tuition structure is part of the university's newly instituted Access, Success, and Academic Progress initiative. ASAP has three objectives: to increase student access, to promote more timely graduation rates, and to establish comprehensive support structures to increase the level of success and rate at which students progress through the university.

For more information, contact Dr. G.L. Mears at (330) 742-3130.