In an effort to improve the learning experience, Saint Augustine’s University (91�ֿ�) has switched to Brightspace as its Learning Management System (LMS) for academic courses. From the educational technology company Desire2Learn, Brightspace is an online tool that allows students to view details on assignments, submit their work, engage in discussions, see their grades, and get feedback from instructors.

Brightspace replaces Blackboard as Saint Augustine’s LMS. Campus leaders said that the change should benefit students, teachers, administrators, and administrators.

“This new learning management system is more modern and will better help students keep track of academic success,” said Dr. Marcus H. Burgess, Interim President of Saint Augustine’s University. Dr. Burgess added that the new LMS is one of many improvements that have already been instituted or are in the works. “It’s all part of an effort to help students have an excellent on-campus experience.”

Valerie Evans, Director of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Technology, explained that Brightspace “has some cool features that Blackboard does not have. There will be a dramatic difference for students – they’ll have easier access to courses, grades, and a calendar. It will be a more intuitive experience for students.”

Improvements include audio and video options embedded throughout the system for students and instructors, an integrated early warning tool in the grade center, better graphics and a better dashboard all in a mobile-friendly environment, Ms. Evans said.

She said Brightspace offers robust student progress analytics for instructors. It even has advantages for administrators; Brightspace offers more macro-level analytics, allowing campus leaders to see department-level trends to determine where resources are most needed.

Dr. Janelle Jennings-Alexander, Ph.D., the Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs & Student Experience added: “Brightspace is going to allow us to improve the way we serve students, from how we identify their needs for academic support to how we access how effective we are as educators. We are also really excited about how we can measure and improve our learning outcomes through this system.”

Ms. Evans said Brightspace will continue one feature of Blackboard: free access to Cengage textbooks seamlessly through the learning management system.

Universities that have switched to Brightspace have concluded that it is easier to use than other LMS tools. In June 2024, a survey released by G2, a company involved in business software and service reviews, found that Brightspace was voted the easiest-to-use LMS.

Ms. Evans has led the campuswide effort to prepare students and faculty to use Brightspace. She is confident that 91�ֿ� will be ready for classes to begin on Sept. 3. Faculty members underwent training in the new system over the summer and will continue professional development in Brightspace tools throughout the semester. Student support comes from multiple sources, including a self-paced orientation right in the Brightspace system and demonstrations from faculty.

This new partnership with Brightspace is just one way Saint Augustine’s University is evolving to meet the needs of its students and faculty.

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The King Korner Community Gaming Lounge is made possible through the generous support of the BCGA’s partners, who have donated various resources to ensure an exceptional gaming experience for the students. The sponsors and their contributions are as follows:

• Sony PlayStation: Consoles, controllers, TVs & Projector
• GameStop: E-giftcard
• HyperX: Peripherals
• 2k Sports: Game codes
• EA Sports: Game codes

The BCGA’s mission is to empower black and women of color college students to enter the gaming industry, not only as consumers but also as creators and professionals. The King Korner Community Gaming Lounge will be a hub for students interested in gaming and esports, providing opportunities to network, learn, and grow in the industry. To celebrate the soft opening, Saint Augustine’s University IT department will be hosting a series of game tournaments.

The Spring Grand Opening will be held in January 2024. At this opening, we will have the following:��

• Panel Discussions: Industry professionals will share their insights and experiences, offering valuable advice to aspiring students.
• Networking Opportunities: Students will have the chance to connect with representatives from the BCGA’s partner organizations, potentially opening doors for future collaborations and internships.

Saint Augustine’s University BCGA would like to thank the BCGA for their support in making the King Korner Community Gaming Lounge a reality. The university’s commitment to fostering innovation and providing cutting-edge resources for its students has been instrumental in bringing this project to life.

For more information about the Black Collegiate Gaming Association and its initiatives, please visit their website at .

About the Black Collegiate Gaming Association (BCGA)

The BCGA is a leading organization dedicated to empowering black and women of color college students in the gaming industry. Through partnerships with various companies and educational institutions, the BCGA provides resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help students succeed in this rapidly growing field.

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Saint Augustine’s University (91�ֿ�) joins the prestigious University Innovation Fellows (UIF) program sponsored by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design ().

The UIF program teaches students about innovation and design-centered thinking while empowering them to become change agents for their respective universities. Design thinking is a way to define and solve problems with a focus on empathy and having the end-user mind when designing and executing solutions.

“91�ֿ� applied for the UIF program in spring 2022,” explained Terry T. Kidd, Ph.D., Vice President of Strategic Planning, Research, Technology and Innovation, and champion for the UIF program. “This is a tremendous honor, opportunity, and turning point for 91�ֿ�. For the first time in our history, 91�ֿ� and our students will be connected to students from around the nation, learning how to unleash the power of creativity and innovation to solve pressing challenges in our institution. UIF will be instrumental as we transform our organizational culture and student experience through innovation and technology. It’s all about preparing our students for the 21st century and equipping them with tangible skills for ultimate success.”

The University Innovation Fellows program is a student-led initiative through which students will have an opportunity to showcase their innovative and entrepreneurial skills. A centerpiece of the program allows students to attend an in-person UIF Silicon Valley Meetup conference at Stanford University and Google in March. Here, fellows from across the nation will meet to network and discuss their projects. Faculty champions will also be on hand to support their students and strategize over ways to better assist them.

“Our students will join a global community of students leading change in higher education,” said 91�ֿ� President Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail. “This opportunity represents our leadership team’s commitment to finding innovative and powerful ways to reimagine our wildly important goal of student success and university sustainability.”

UIF program leaders will train candidate fellows during an intensive six-week period to conduct in-depth analyses of their campus ecosystems and provide them with tools and resources. They explore frameworks, including Design Thinking and Lean Startup, and use their new knowledge to develop unique projects that address needs at their schools.

After training, the fellows receive year-round mentorship, connect digitally, and attend national conferences and events. This global network of like-minded students helps our fellows learn from one another and create multi-institution collaborations.

“This diverse group of student leader-scholars will be able to use their experiences with the UIF program to build on what they have learned at 91�ֿ� to become the innovative, creative, and change-oriented future leaders our world needs,” said Dr. Janelle Jennings-Alexander, Assistant Professor of English and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. “I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to work with and learn from them.”

As a result of new funding, Stanford can now offer historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) an opportunity to participate in the University Innovation Fellows program. In addition, through the generosity of a UIF donor, all program fees and associated participation expenses were covered.

“With this opportunity, 91�ֿ� students are well on their way to bringing creative and innovative solutions to life,” said Veronica Creech, Vice President of Economic Development and External Engagement.

This exciting venture was led by Vice President Terry Kidd, Ph.D., and Vice President Veronica Creech, along with Dr. Janelle Jennings Alexander, Associate Provost of Academic Affairs, and Professor Marci Jiles, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science.

About the University Innovation Fellows Program

The University Innovation Fellows program empowers students to become agents of change at their schools. The fellows are a global community leading a movement to ensure that all students gain the attitudes, skills, and knowledge required to navigate a complex world. These student leaders from schools around the world create opportunities to help their peers build the creative confidence, agency, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to address global challenges and to build a better future.

Fellows create student innovation spaces, start entrepreneurship organizations, facilitate experiential workshops, work with faculty and administrators to develop new courses, and much more. They serve as advocates for lasting institutional change with academic leaders, lending the much-needed student voice to the conversations about the future of higher education.

In addition to the student program, the University Innovation Fellows team offers a faculty workshop: the . This in-person experience helps higher education teachers and administrators use design thinking to create student-centric learning experiences.

The University Innovation Fellows is a program of Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (). The program was created as part of the National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation (), a five-year National Science Foundation grant.

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This partnership and program build upon (ISC)²’s leadership in delivering solutions to our global cybersecurity workforce challenges. Research suggests that organizations that focus on recruiting and developing entry-level cybersecurity staff – including those with little or no technical experience- accelerate the invaluable hands-on training the next generation of professionals need to start a successful cybersecurity career.��

“This partnership is a critical step forward in reimagining the core competencies of an 91�ֿ� graduate in the areas of Science, Technology, Research, Arts, and Mathematics,” said 91�ֿ� President Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail. “We are now positioned to meet the diversity, equity, and inclusion needs of a rapidly growing cybersecurity workforce.”��

91�ֿ� students can receive any (ISC)² certification to diversify the talent pipeline of cybersecurity professionals and the skill and validation needed for the field.��������

Students who earn (ISC)² certifications will also demonstrate to employers that they have the foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for an entry-level cybersecurity role.��

“According to��(ISC)²’s 2021 Cybersecurity Workforce Study,��the Cybersecurity Workforce Estimate and Cybersecurity Workforce Gap suggest the global cybersecurity workforce needs to grow 65% to effectively defend organizations’ critical assets. Saint Augustine’s University is uniquely positioned to train today’s talent for today’s cybersecurity workforce. Our leadership is honored to be blazing a trail in closing these gaps in partnership with��(ISC)²,” said Veronica Creech, Vice President for Economic Development & External Engagement at 91�ֿ�.

(ISC)² has designated 91�ֿ� as the premier institution to advance cybersecurity education, training, and research as a precursor for relaunching the 91�ֿ� Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Students will have an opportunity to focus their degree in four key areas: Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Simulation and Game Design.��

“Cybersecurity is national security,” said Dr. Terry Kidd, Vice President of Strategic Planning, Research, Technology and Innovation. “With this synergistic partnership, 91�ֿ� will equip students with the knowledge, research, and skills needed not only for their careers, but for making a lasting impact on the nation’s security across industries and organizations. We, at 91�ֿ�, are proud to announce this initiative alongside so many others who share a strong commitment to addressing our cybersecurity workforce challenges. We look forward to building more public-private partnerships needed to accomplish this shared goal.”��

About (ISC)²:��

(ISC)²��is an international, nonprofit membership association for information security leaders and professionals. With more than 168,000 certified members strong, (ISC)²’s��goal is to empower professionals who touch every aspect of information security.��(ISC)² created the Certified in Cybersecurity entry-level certification program as part of a broad strategy to support and nurture a new generation of cybersecurity professionals entering the field.��

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Saint Augustine’s University (91�ֿ�) takes a step forward in reimagining its efforts to expand diversity, equity, and inclusion in television broadcasting. WAUG-LD, the nation’s oldest HBCU-owned commercial television station, was granted a renewal of its license by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the next eight years. The renewal results from WAUG-LD’s operation in the public interest and its return to the air earlier this year for the first time since 2018. As a result, WAUG-LD intends to expand its local broadcast programming offerings in the near term.

The FCC required television stations nationwide to “repack” the television spectrum band to make room for new uses of the spectrum, including wireless. As a result of the repack process, WAUG-LD was��“displaced” from its long-time broadcast channel and required by the FCC to move from channel 8 to channel 4. The move was a significant financial, technical, and logistical challenge. 91�ֿ� underwent a��$500,000 year-long upgrade of WAUG-LD’s technical operations and equipment necessary for operations on new channel 4, including repairs to its tower and a new antenna and transmitter. The federal government reimbursed the necessary upgrades through a nationwide fund for this purpose. The station became operational on channel 4 on December 30, 2021.

The recent grant of WAUG-LD’s license renewal application by the FCC now ensures the station will have the authority to continue operating and serving the Raleigh community through December 1, 2028.

“I am elated for our university community and stakeholders,” says Demarcus Williams, 91�ֿ� associate vice president for global marketing and communications. “The return of WAUG-LD provides a much needed space for diversity in television broadcasting on many levels.”

The return of WAUG-LD will include the local, regional, and global airing of university events, original student content, and athletics, along with the reviving of 91�ֿ�’s ability to generate revenue in the��community through advertising and broadcasting services. In addition, WAUG-LD will also provide a state-of-the-art facility that delivers hands-on, co-curricular instruction for students majoring in broadcast communications and film.

“The reimagining of our television station is critical to the strategic communication of our university initiatives,” said 91�ֿ� President Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail. “The time to tell our story is now.”

91�ֿ� is also investing $1 million in upgrades to its master control room and television studio. This project is being paid through the repurposed FCC reimbursements, Title III, and institutional funding. The renovations are underway and are estimated to be complete by the fall.

Click to watch a video about the reimagining of the WAUG Network.
Click here to learn more about the WAUG Network.

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RALEIGH, NC — The President of Saint Augustine’s University (91�ֿ�) Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail is pleased to announce that Terry T. Kidd, Ph.D. has joined 91�ֿ� as the Vice President of Strategic Planning, Research, Technology & Innovation. Dr. Kidd comes to the University after leading the Office of Academic Affairs and the innovation portfolio at Southern University in Shreveport Louisiana, where he served as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Professor of Computer & Information Systems, with a joint appointment as Professor of Education.

As Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Dr. Kidd and his team were instrumental in elevating the academic enterprise through technology, analytics, and innovation. His work with the Southern University system led to the creation and implementation of ten new academic programs, established the first and only Center of Critical Race Studies in the state of Louisiana and implemented the academic innovation department. Additionally, Dr. Kidd worked with a team to secure more than $5.6M in grant funds to support STEM education and student success, forged new partnerships with business and industry that generated over $2M in student scholarships and established several innovation hubs throughout the campus.

“Dr. Kidd brings with him a compelling vision for strategic planning, research, and innovation that is defined by three distinct influences: his scholarship, commitment to higher education, and love for the mission of HBCUs,” said Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail, President of Saint Augustine’s University. “I have confidence that Terry is the right person to lead the university’s planning, research, and innovation division.”

Dr. Kidd has over two decades of experience in higher education including faculty, Coordinator, Associate Dean, and Dean. A native Houstonian with deep roots in social justice, he is an advocate for transformative change that enriches the lives of the underserved.

“I am excited to join the Saint Augustine’s University family as we advance the vision of the President,” Dr. Kidd said. “I welcome the opportunity to work with faculty, students, staff, and the

entire ecosystem to support 91�ֿ�’s historical mission, its continued success, and to envision how technology and data can be used to elevate and expand the educative experience at Saint Augustine’s University.”

As an accomplished academician, Kidd has published 15 peer-reviewed papers in tier one research journals and 10 books related to technology management, informatics, online learning, and instructional technology.

“Dr. Kidd’s years of service in higher education have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and innovation throughout his career,” Dr. McPhail said. “His experience and education will be a great asset to 91�ֿ� as we continue to build our re-imagining efforts to advance the mission of the university.”

Dr. Kidd is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and is the recipient of multiple awards including the Distinguish Service Award from Alpha Sigma Lambda, Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40, the Outstanding Alumni Early Career Award from Texas A&M University, Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, Top 50 Black Professional & Entrepreneurs of Texas, COGIC 40 Under 40 and Induction into Epsilon Pi Tau International Honor Society for Technology.

Dr. Kidd holds a bachelor and master’s degree in Information Systems Technology from the University of Houston, a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, and postgraduate education certificates from the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University. He is also a candidate for the master’s degree in Technology and Innovation from Harvard University and holds national certifications in change management, program evaluation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and conflict resolution and mediation.

��

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“The mission of Apogee is to help colleges and universities respond to the myriad challenges they face today by transforming with technology,” said Scott Drossos, CEO of Apogee in a statement. “We are honored to welcome this distinguished school to our established HBCU partnerships, which now includes six institutions. HBCUs play a crucial role in ensuring that African Americans – and students of all races – receive a quality education in a supportive atmosphere and community. We are excited to support 91�ֿ� to enhance the student experience and increase its community and regional economic impact.”

As a result of this new partnership, 91�ֿ� students will experience an upgrade in their Wi-Fi services across all residence halls and two campus hubs – the Falkcrest Clubhouse and Prezell R. Robinson Library – ensuring reliable, blazing-fast connectivity for on-campus residents and commuter students alike.

Students can connect up to seven devices to fast 100 Mbps Wi-Fi and use Personal Area Network (PAN) capabilities for an at home-like experience, where a student’s many devices can seamlessly communicate with each other. Students can print papers or documents wirelessly, use Apple AirPlay, listen to music on wireless speakers, and more. This approach allows students to smoothly connect and use multiple devices for study, research, entertainment, creativity, and socialization.

“We knew that Wi-Fi was critical to the student experience – and consequently to enrollment and retention – so we decided to act quickly,” said Farooq Agha, Chief Information Officer at 91�ֿ� in a statement. “We contacted Apogee in June 2021, and the company delivered a comprehensive proposal tailored to our needs with an accelerated deployment timeline that aligned with the start of the 91�ֿ� semester in August 2021. 91�ֿ� could not have built and managed such a robust project in-house on such a constrained timeline, much less with classes already in session and residence halls already occupied. It was impressive to see Apogee act so swiftly, with our students top of mind every step of the way.”

With Apogee guaranteeing reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi and providing 24/7/365 technical support directly to students, 91�ֿ�’s IT department is now freed up to focus on innovation efforts rather than fielding student support calls or upgrading the network in increments.

To read the full article from Apogee,��

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Google announced on Thursday, January 28 that 91�ֿ� is one of the latest HBCUs to join the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program.

“Employment is a key driver to economic mobility,” said Dr. Maria A. Lumpkin, 91�ֿ�’s Interim President. “Being prepared with the technical acumen is a key enabler needed to enter today’s marketplace. We are excited about the opportunities that the Grow with Google’s (GwG) HBCU Career Readiness Program partnership will afford Saint Augustine’s University as we endeavor to be productionists of workforce ready graduates and leaders.”

Through a $1 million investment in TMCF, the program provides digital skills workshops in HBCU career centers to help Black students prepare for the workforce. The investment is part of a $15 million commitment to upskilling Black workers. The initiative aims to help Black job seekers learn new skills in partnership with national workforce development organizations.

As a new partner school, 91�ֿ� will offer digital skills workshops aimed at helping students prepare for the future workforce.

“Through this partnership, our students will be exposed to various self-facilitated and trainer-supported digital tools, that when coupled with our career coaching and employment resources, will certainly better position them for the digital workforce,” said Dr. Trish Harleston, 91�ֿ�’s Interim Director of Career Exploration, Mentoring and Professional Development. “The 91�ֿ� Career Center is excited to participate in this Career Readiness program through Google and the TMCF, as we forge a new path in how we support and impact the future career opportunities for our students.”

Grow with Google started in 2017 and provides free training tools, and expertise to help small business owners, veterans and military families, job seekers and students, educators, startups, and developers.

Additional information on the Grow With Google HBCU Career Readiness Program can be found on the .

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Saint Augustine’s University (91�ֿ�) is proud to announce its partnership with Propel Center, a new global campus headquartered in Atlanta that will support innovative learning and development for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide. Saint Augustine’s University will collaborate with Propel Center and the entire HBCU community to bring leadership and career development programming to its students.��

Propel Center was imagined and designed by Ed Farm, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing education through technology — with Apple and Southern Company supporting the project as founding partners. The Propel Center is designed to connect HBCU students to technology curriculum, cultural thought leaders, entrepreneurship skills development, and accelerator programs, with a focus on social justice and equity.��������

The first-of-its-kind initiative will serve as a hub for all 100+ HBCUs, and is designed to connect students and faculty from across the community and provide them with the knowledge, skills, tools and resources necessary to transform our nation’s talent pipeline and workforce. Curriculum options will include AI and machine learning, agricultural technologies, social justice, entertainment arts, app development, augmented reality, design and creativity, career preparation, and entrepreneurship tracks.��������

“We are extremely excited about our new partnership with the Propel Center,” said Dr. Maria A. Lumpkin, 91�ֿ�’s Interim President. “As a liberal arts institution, Saint Augustine’s University is intentional about preparing the budding scholar not simply to enter the marketplace, but to reimagine a marketplace that is yet to be constructed. This partnership encapsulates the cultivation of our Blue Ocean Strategy to continuously seek out ways to differentiate ourselves as part of our approach to building sustainability well beyond the next century.”��

Students from participating schools will access Propel Center’s online digital learning platform from anywhere, and will also have access to the 50,000 square-foot Propel Center headquarters in Atlanta, equipped with state-of-the-art lecture halls, learning labs, and on-site living for a scholars-in-residence program.��

“The HBCU community is a tremendous engine of Black creativity, entrepreneurship, and inclusive opportunity,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “We are thrilled to join with partners and community stakeholders to support the Propel Center and be part of this groundbreaking new global hub for HBCU innovation and learning, devoted to helping faculty create best-in-class curriculum and ensuring students have access to cutting-edge skills.”������

“We know inequities exist in our society, and it’s up to each of us to be more intentional in our efforts to make a difference and bridge the gap,” said Tom A. Fanning, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company. “We know more must be done, and the establishment of the Propel Center is another important demonstration of Southern Company fulfilling our commitment to move our communities to a more equitable future. Partnering with Apple in this initiative is an exciting way to connect future leaders with these critical resources.”��

“These investments are critical as we begin to truly scale Black innovation ecosystems,” said Anthony Oni, chairman, Ed Farm. “By leveraging technology and partnerships to connect students with unique learning opportunities, we can lift up the talent that already exists at these institutions of higher learning and accelerate their development. In doing so, we will have a hand in shaping the workforce of the future — and the leaders of tomorrow.”��

Additional information on Propel Center can be found at��.����

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Computer Station in Delany Hall

Carlene J. Morgan, Nenfort Golit and Edmond Steele IV worked over the spring break to complete the following Academic Computing Projects:

a. Increased the number of desktops and carrels available in the lobby of Delany Hall for students to complete their financial aid forms and Saint Augustine’s University application.
b. Twenty four Dell desktops were purchased and deployed in the STEM Computer Classroom in Penick 211 with the following software: AutoCAD, Maple, Mathwork and Minitab loaded.

The desktops from the classroom will be distributed to Weston Hall and Latham Hall as part of the Residence Hall Upgrade Project.

Penick 211 Computer Lab

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