Morris College T2010 Fall Editionhe Update Breaking New Ground... Join Us At The 2010 Fall Harvest Rally Worship Service Preacher: Reverend Dr. Ronald Bobo, Sr. Senior Pastor West Side Missionary Baptist Church St. Louis, MO Saturday, November 20, 2010 Worship Service 10:30 AM Annual Parade 1:00 PM See Page 48 for Speaker’s Biography From Our President Morris College is literally breaking new ground. The college’s new Forensics Center, designed to strengthen its Criminal Justice program, is nearly completed and will be fully operational during the coming spring semester. This facility will expand opportunities for our students to be trained in the most current investigative techniques involving fingerprinting, ballistics, chemical testing, genetic testing and computer forensics. It will also render a service to the community for law enforcement agencies that may wish to have access to the center’s labs and classrooms. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has already expressed an interest. Other physical improvements already funded to begin include the construction of a new residence hall, an administrative building, a student health and wellness center, a wing to expand the Wilson-Booker Science Building, and ongoing pavement projects throughout the campus. Construction is already underway for a new physical plant building. All projects funded under the Solomon Jackson, Jr. magnanimous gift will be completed as soon as possible with a new residence hall being the most immediate priority. From accommodating increases in enrollment, to promoting lifelong healthy lifestyles, to impacting academic offerings, all of these improvements are a testament to the college’s dramatic response to new opportunities and goals that help enhance our image as a quality institution. Quality is the main reason why we are breaking new ground, because academic excellence is our chief objective. The caliber and quality of the programs we offer are designed to give students confidence in their ability to succeed and make a difference. Attributed to several innovative changes, the retention rate for the Fall 2009 freshman class has had a sharp increase to a record rate of 70%. The retention rate for the current year of all students returning is 72%. Both percentages are all-time record levels. Even the enrollment has risen to an all-time record. Substantially greater than last fall, the Fall 2010 enrollment stands at 1,085 students compared to 987 last fall. Also, 65% of our full-time teaching faculty hold earned doctorate degrees. As a quality institution, Morris College goes beyond what we say. The college will be visited by on-site review teams from two different accrediting agencies. During November 13-17 of this year, a team from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) will visit the campus to reaffirm accreditation of our Teacher Education Program. During September 19-21, 2011, a team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges will visit the campus to reaffirm our regional accreditation. As we experience the excitement of watching goals reached and dreams becoming a reality, we are grateful to you and those who join with you in supporting us. Thanks again to the Reverend Dr. Solomon Jackson, Jr. for having aided Morris College so generously and immeasurably. His noble acts of love and appreciation for the college has given all of us a reason to be thankful and proud. With all of us working together, Morris College will continue enlightening the minds of its students. Thank you and God bless you all. Luns C. Richardson President MORRISc COLLEGE: o THE UPDATE n FALL 2010 t e n t s 10 53 19 14 62 college news departments HUNDREDS OF FRESHMEN MOVE STUDENT NEWS P.49 INTO DORMS P.4 Morris College welcomes its 2010-2011 HORNET ATHLETICS P.53 Freshman Class and begins the orientation Coleman Competes Nationally experience. FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS P.54 2010 LIST OF GRADUATES P.6 special feature ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT P.24 ALUMNI NEWS P.62 THEY “DEPART TO SERVE” P.10 Listing of annual contributions from Several alumni are in leadership roles A pictorial glimpse at scenes from the 2010 Baptist churches and auxiliaries, faculty among Baptist conventions and auxiliaries. Commencement Convocation. and staff, student-body, alumni, and other contributors. CLASS NOTES P.64 COLLEGE BREAKS GROUND ON P.66 FORENSICS CENTER P.14 IN MEMORIAM COLLEGE PRESIDENT Dr. Luns C. Richardson EDITOR AND DESIGN NiCole Williams ‘99 Director of Public Relations MORRIS At A Glance EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Reverend Melvin Mack ESTABLISHED Director of Institutional Advancement/Church Relations 1908 Dr. Gerald R. Polinsky Management Specialist Dr. Leroy Staggers AFFILIATION Academic Dean Morris College is a private four-year historically Black, CONTRIBUTORS co-educational, liberal arts institution owned and op- Jay Gross erated by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Con- Ms. Lauretta Hilton Jade Anderson, The Item vention of South Carolina. Ivy Moore, The Item Joe Perry, The Item LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY Morris College is located in the heart of downtown Black on White Creations of Atlanta, GA Charlie Mathis, Mathis Photography Studio Sumter, SC on 100 West College Street. Amber McCoy NiCole Williams ACCREDITATION PRINTER Morris College is accredited by the Southern Associa- PrintSouth Printing, Inc. - Richard Coulter tion of Colleges and Schools Commission of Colleges (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097; tele- BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Willie E. Givens, Jr., Chairman phone number 404-679-4501) to award baccalaureate Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr., Vice-Chair degrees. Dr. James B. Blassingame, Secretary Dr. Luns C. Richardson, College President MASCOT Dr. Charles G. Adams Dr. Ronald Barton Hornet Dr. Walter Butler Dr. Guy Campbell, Jr. Dr. James L. Carter MOTTO Dr. Bryant Cheek “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve” Dr. James H. Cokley Dr. Claudette C. Cureton Dr. Marc C. David, Faculty/Staff Representative ENROLLMENT Mr. Fletcher Evans 1, 085 (56% Women, 44% Men) Mr. Sam Foster Dr. Dill Gamble, Jr. Dr. Mack T. Hines TUITION Reverend Isaac Holt, Jr. $10, 290 (non-boarding) $14,787 (boarding) Dr. Solomon Jackson, Jr. Mrs. Debra Jordan Dr. Milton R. Key Attorney Thomas B. Levy Reverend James B. Lewis, Sr. Deacon Leroy Martin Dr. Rufus H. Mitchell ON THE COVER: Mr. David Montgomery Reverend Waymon Mumford The shovels from the groundbreaking cere- Dr. Samuel B. Neely mony of the newly constructed Forensic Cen- Dr. Marion Newton ter exemplifies a variety of “groundbreak- Dr. Ellie W. Palmer, Sr. Ms. Janiece A. Richardson, Student Representative ing” changes underway for the institution. Dr. William A. Salley Dr. Blakely N. Scott Dr. Benjamin D. Snoddy Mrs. Carolyn W. Woods, Alumni Representative Date Published: August 15, 2010 Hundreds of freshmen move into dorms on Morris College campus By JOE PERRY - Item Staff Writer Reprinted by permission from The Item “Enter to learn, depart to serve.” N.J., brought friend Brandon Davis, 17, a high freshmen. On Saturday, Brittany Graham exemplified school senior, to check out Morris College. Freshmen will also have the opportunity the first part of Morris College’s slogan, while Kenny said he’s majoring in computer science to meet Richardson on Tuesday during a DeSiree Edwards was on the cusp of fulfilling and his brother said he wants to study welcome reception and also have the chance the second half, and already serving her marketing and business. to meet and network with faculty and staff. fellow students. “It was a long ride,” Kenny said, and echoed Returning students come back Aug. 19, Graham, an 18-year-old incoming freshman his brother’s sentiment that they’re not register for classes on Aug. 20 and classes from Eutawville, was one of well over 200 nervous, but are excited to be independent start on Aug. 23, Williams said. students moving into on-campus housing at and on their own. “It’s going pretty good,” she said Saturday Morris College, and Edwards, a 21-year-old So what’s the first thing a freshmen does afternoon, as she had been busy since 8 a.m. graduating senior from Florence, was there to after getting settled in their dorm room? “We’re hanging in there.” provide advice and assistance. “Go to sleep,” Kyle said, as they’d traveled Graham said she was set to start her college nearly 10 hours to get to Sumter. Retention Rate career with a major in criminal justice and For Jerome Smith, Saturday was “just a figured one of the most important things to routine move-in day” for the Director of at Record High learn was time management so she can also Residential Life, now in his 21st year at Morris Recruit, enroll, and graduate - appears to log some hours playing for the basketball College. be a simple formula for providing educa- team. “A lot of excitement and a lot of anxiety,” he tional opportunities, but Morris College, as “Studying,” she said. “I’ve got to get used to said, explaining that he spends some time well as other institutions of higher learn- being on my own; start off from scratch and allaying the fears of worried moms and dads. ing, knows it’s more than the obvious. One make a life of my own.” “I try to assure parents - Hey, we’re gonna of many other key components is reten- Edwards, the student government president, take care of your child.” tion. According to Dr. Luns C. Richardson, will graduate in May with a degree in political Smith said there exists a large support President, Morris College; “Retention ef- science, and was serving as an orientation network for new students with many forts are an ‘across the board’ concept” and leader on Saturday. About noon, she was resources available on campus.