Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) announced plans to deploy "jCmail," a new student e-mail solution that will utilize the power of Google™ to give JCSU students the ability to work with more freedom and flexibility than ever before.

Beginning in the 2010 fall semester, all students will receive new e-mail addresses that will allow them to log into a specially designed version of Google's e-mail, calendar management, instant messaging and word processing tools. This will allow JCSU students to easily access their e-mail from anywhere they have an Internet connection by using their e-mail address and University password.

Students also will enjoy a big boost to their inboxes, as the new system allows for more than 140 times the space of their old inboxes.

"Over the last few semesters students have been asking us for more space for e-mail, but it is a never-ending cycle of us adding more servers and coming up short of students' requests for more space," said John Norris, director of information technology for JCSU. "The process is expensive and time-consuming for our staff. Through this partnership with Google, we can give students the space they want, and we can get out of that rat race."

Through Google, students will also get access to collaboration tools that will allow them to connect in ways never before possible. "Really it is a win-win. We can focus on what we need to focus on - serving our student customers - and we let Google do what it does best by providing storage and cloud-based technology," said Norris.

The University has partnered with Google for this service by signing up for Google Apps Education Edition™, a program that allows the University to provide Google's Internet-based connectivity and collaboration services for free. All services are hosted by Google and are available to users via any Internet-connected computer and many mobile devices. The Google Apps™ service includes the following tools:

• Gmail™ - provides gigabytes of e-mail storage, highly effective spam filtering and powerful search
• Google Calendar™ - allows easy coordination of work or class schedules, meetings and events online
• Google Talk™ - supports free PC-to-PC voice calls and instant messaging
• Google Docs™ - allows users to create and collaborate on documents and spreadsheets in real-time

Johnson C. Smith University will host two College Summit camps July 22 - July 25 and July 29 - August 1. 

Jennifer Leaks, College Summit Workshop Director said, "Today, College Summit provides school districts with proven strategy and tools to increase their college enrollment rate school-and district-wide. It continues to provide training and tools to better-than-their-number students at the workshop, so they can strengthen the college-going cultures of their schools when they return in the fall, while also training teachers to manage the seniors' college application processes during the year. In addition, College Summit provides school leaders with data and accountability tools to manage improved student outcomes and equips to manage the overall effort of increasing their schools' college enrollment rates."

One of the main goals of College Summit is to focus on transition during the postsecondary planning. Participants are bright, low-income students who, with the right support during the transition from high school to college, could propel their lives and their communities in a positive direction.

Through innovative school partnerships, College Summit provides educators and students with the right tools, resources and experiences to better navigate the transition to college. College Summit works with 150 high schools in 10 states through partnerships with school districts.

JCSU is the only school partner in North Carolina to participate in the program.  This is the first year that Johnson C. Smith University has served as a college partner and hosted the workshops. Approximately 70 students are expected to attend each workshop.

For more information, please visit collegesummit.org.

"In my conversations with Mr. Shell, I have been impressed with his approach to mentoring young people spiritually," said Johnson C. Smith President Dr. Ronald L. Carter. "I have asked him to develop a similar mentoring program on campus."

As a player with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Shell won four Super Bowls, and retired as the National Football League's strong safety career leader in interceptions with 51. He was selected to the Steelers All-Time Team, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the NFL Silver Anniversary Super Bowl Team. He also is a five-time pro Bowler.

As a spiritual mentor to young adults, he was both on the receiving and giving end with other players by leading Bible study sessions and helping younger players balance new found fame and their personal lives. He also worked as the director of player development with the Carolina Panthers where he continued his role as a mentor from 1994-2009.

The Center for Spiritual Life will play a critical role in the life of the campus, serving to facilitate spiritual and religious dialogue on campus. Shell will develop and implement programming to enrich the religious, spiritual, and intellectual life of students and represents the college in its relations with the surrounding religious community. In addition to helping with the development of a new Center for Spiritual Life, his consulting firm will assist the University with the development of the director's responsibilities.

Shell also will play a large role in developing an appropriate campus response to on-and off-campus crises as well as world tragedies. Once established, the Center for Spiritual Life will support activities and initiate programs that provide occasions for reflecting on personal and community values; provide support for spiritual exploration and appreciation within the overall academic and developmental mission of the University; and promote an understanding and appreciation of the variety of religious and spiritual experiences in human life. 

"We envision that the programming of the new center will serve as a catalyst for our students to strengthen their spiritual base," Carter said.  "I want our students to have the opportunity to understand and appreciate the variety of religious experiences that are prevalent on our campus. Through their participation, students will have various opportunities to delve deeper into their own personal convictions."

After Shell has made recommendations, the University will review suggestions and implement those they feel are needed to start the Center in Fall 2010.

"I am really excited about this opportunity," Shell said. "Helping young people is one of my best assets and passions, and I am sure that the new center at JCSU will help them to have a more positive experience as they make important decisions for their lives."

For more information, call JCSU Public Relations Director Benny Smith at 704-378-1032.

We need your help in successfully naming our new Miss JCSU 2010-2011 Shakirah Ilyass-Randolph as the top HBCU Campus Queen for Ebony Magazine.

The process is simple. Click here to view Shakirah's profile, which includes a short video as she gives a self-introduction and a brief history of the University.

Results will be tallied and featured in a future publication of Ebony Magazine. We appreciate your participation!

Leadership Charlotte, an organization focused on building future Charlotte community leaders, announced the recipients of its 2010 Legacy Awards which honor Charlotte leaders who are creating lasting change and measurable difference in their communities.

Dr. Ronald L. Carter was named "Newcomer of the Year."  The recipient of this award has lived in Charlotte five years or less and has actively sought opportunities to improve the quality of life in our community.

Since Dr. Carter, the 13th president of Johnson C. Smith University, arrived in Charlotte two years ago, he has sought to improve educational and leadership opportunities through the community using his more than 30 years of experience serving students and universities.

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The Legacy Awards will be presented and celebrated at Spirit Square's McGlohon Theatre on Nov. 6, 2010. The Legacy Awards presentation begins at 7:15 p.m., with doors opening at 6:45 p.m. For ticket information, please call 704 688-2888 ext 3.

Founded in 1978, Leadership Charlotte is focused on building the next generation of Charlotte community leaders through inclusive leadership development. The organization is the area's longest-running program of its kind with approximately 50 Charlotte professionals from the corporate, non-profit and community sectors chosen to participate each year. For more information, visit www.LeadershipCharlotte.org

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Source: Courtesy of Leadership Charlotte

Johnson C. Smith University and Livingstone College held a press conference on Wednesday, June 9th at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce to announce their plan to expand the Commemorative Classic. The second annual Commemorative Classic will be played on Saturday, November 6, 2010 with a 1:00 pm kickoff, but in addition to the contest, a two-day symposium on the Black and Minority Male Crisis will take place on November 4th-5th.

J.C. Smith and Livingstone will join with the leadership of an interdenominational coalition in North and South Carolina to host the symposium. The theme of the symposium is: Black and Minority Males Taking Flight through Personal Development, Knowledge Sharing and Commitment to Community.

The goal of the symposium is to define corrective strategies employed on a regional basis that aid in preparation for manhood and engaged citizenship thus mediating the local crises among Black and other minority males.

Dr. Ronald Carter, JCSU President, also announced that in addition to the two-day symposium for this year's classic that both institutions are planning for a two-year collaborative research project on The Black/Minority Males in America: Identification, Impact, Diversion, and Redirection. "We plan to engage noted researchers from around the country such as The CollegeBoard Advocacy and Policy Center as well as our own institutions," stated Carter. "Results and specific actionable items will be presented at the 2012 Commemorative Classic Black and Minority Male Institute, as we celebrate the 120th game between Johnson C. Smith and Livingstone College."

"We are very proud of our football teams and the competitiveness that exists between us and other teams that we play; however, the establishment of the Commemorative Classic is about a clarion call to our students, other HBCUs, and the public-at-large, serving notice that our ultimate responsibility is to be communiversities, address the needs of our communities, creating agents of change and being the places where the ills of society are being resolved and that society can look to us as repositories of truth, and we all know that it is the truth that will set us free," said Dr. Jimmy Jenkins, President of Livingstone College.

Topics to be covered include health and wellness, relationship development, leadership development, gang and violence recognition/prevention, and others. Appearances include nationally-recognized speakers, noted Black athletes, music groups, and others. Activities include workshops, panel discussions, break-out sessions, team building exercises and more.

Pittsburgh Steelers great and the guest speaker of the inaugural Commemorative Classic Donnie Shell was on hand for the press conference, along with former Dallas Cowboy and JCSU Alum Pettis Norman (who teleconferenced in).

The classic this year is scheduled to be played at Charlotte Memorial Stadium on Saturday, November 6th at 1:00 pm. JCSU won the inaugural classic last season (30-15) in Salisbury, NC. This match-up dates back to December 27, 1892 when both schools played in the snows of Salisbury, NC. The Golden Bulls earned the historic first victory (5-0) and the rivalry continues.

Johnson C. Smith University junior student-athletes Shermaine Williams and Leford Green were named Atlantic Region Female and Male Track Athlete of the Year, respectively by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Both received their honors during the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships Banquet held at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Williams, a native of St. Andrew, Jamaica, entered the NCAA DII Championships with second-best 100-meter hurdle time of the season in Division II (13.16) and as the sixth seed in the 100 meters (11.67). Williams also entered as part of Johnson C. Smith's 4x100 and 4x400 squads. Williams clocked a national top-10 time in the 200 meters this season (23.98). Williams won CIAA titles in the 100 meters and 100-meter hurdles.

In the finals, Williams won a second-straight NCAA championship in the 100-meter hurdles, clutching victory over Adams State's Indira Spence by an eyelash in a 13.14 to 13.15 photo finish.

Williams was named USTFCCCA Regional Track Athlete of the Year in 2008.

Green, a native of St. Catherine, Jamaica, was the nation's leader in three events heading into the NCAA DII Championships. Green clocked 20.68 over 200 meters, 45.88 over 400 meters and 49.46 in the 400-meter hurdles. Green has also anchored the Johnson C. Smith team to the second-best mark among 4x400-meter relay squads. Green was the CIAA champ in the 400-meter hurdles earlier this season.

Green finished in second place with a time of 45.68 seconds, behind defending national champion Joshua Scott (St. Augustine's) with a time of 45.11. Green did win the 400-meter hurdles in a blazing time of 48.67. Only Olympic medalist Bershawn Jackson has run faster at an NCAA Division II Championship (48.50). 

Former Executive Assistant to the President for Administration Cathy Hurd has been promoted to the position of Associate Dean of the Metropolitan College. She brings to the position a registrar and Human Resource manager background. Her primary responsibility in the new position will be to build its academic program, assist and hire staff with the college, recruit students, maintain student records, and coordinate registration and other engaging adult learner activities. Hurd has worked with the university since January 2009.

Former FDY Inc., Business Development and Training Director Rixon Campbell will replace Hurd as the Executive Assistant to the President for Administration. Campbell has worked most of his career in the hospitality/food service industry in leading positions with FDY, Inc., Livingstone College, and Darden Restaurants. He also served as a hotel & restaurant management instructor at Katherine Gibbs College in New York. Campbell obtained his bachelor's of science degree from Bethune Cookman University. He received his Masters of Science in Organizational Management from St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, N.Y. He is completing his Doctor of Business Administration from Argosy University in Atlanta, Ga. Campbell's experience in hospitality management will strengthen the University's goal of providing optimal customer service.

 "Both employees have shown exemplary performance in their work and bring the needed experience to the positions," said Johnson C. Smith University President Dr. Ronald L. Carter. "I believe that having them in these positions demonstrate the University's continued commitment to operational excellence.