Recipients of Tubman University’s GOOS Scholarship

5 employees of William V.S. Tub-

man University were on Friday,

November 30 awarded scholarships

to pursue their Masters Degrees at

the University of Ibadan in Lagos,

Nigeria, as part of Tubman Univer-

sity’s Grow Our Own Scholarship

Program (GOOSP).

The recipients of the scholarship were: Mr. J. Philip Augustus The-oway (Guidance & Counseling), Mr. Alexander B. Scere (Electrical Engineering), Mrs. Christina Miller (Early Childhood Development), Mr. Stephen Browne (Library Sci-ence) and Mrs. Jennifer Dioh (Library Science). The announcement was made dur-ing Tubman University’s general staff meeting on Nov. 30, 2012. Applicants for the GOOSP were drawn from across the university during a rigorous process, and in the end 5 applicants were successful based on their interest and commit-ment to higher education; under-standing of the Vision of Tubman University, evidence of need in the subject matter area of interest to the applicant; and demonstration of potential to contribute in achieving the University’s mission among others. During the awarding process, Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell, who handed the recipients their scholar-ship packages, including their Let-ters of Admission, told the audi-ence that, Tubman University’s

“Grow -Our-Own Scholarship Program (GOOSP)”, was estab-lished to allow deserving employ-ees to attain their educational goals, meet their professional development objectives, and suc-ceed in their careers. Additionally, she pointed out that GOOSP seeks to enable employees to take advantage of opportunities for continuing professional develop-ment, and to serve as a tool to improve recruitment and subse-quent retention of qualified fac-ulty and professional staff. Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Mr. Stephen Browne applauded the administration of Tubman University for the ges-ture. He noted that the greatest threat posed to any institution is

the lack of quality manpower. Mr. Browne concluded that he sees this effort by the university as an opportunity to strengthen his career path and upon his return to contribute meaningfully to the development and growth of the institution. This group of recipients is the second batch benefitting from the GOOSP. The first batch of four employees are currently benefiting from the GOOS Pro-gram at universities in Uganda and Liberia, and it is expected that upon their return another batch of employees will be dis-patched.

Going the extra mile in volunteerism….

Inside This Issue

Recipients of TU’s

Grow-Our–Own Schol-

arship

International Day

Visiting Professors at

TU

William V.S.Tubman

Remembered

TU inducts Faculty

Senate

Forty (40) days Engi-

neering Training

Academic Support

services Donates to

East Harper High

School

Volume II, Issue 3

Transformation for Worthy Service

L-R, Mr. Alex Scere, Mrs. Christina Miller, Mr. Stephen

Browne and Mr. J. Philip Augustus Theoway.

Page 2

No twenty-first century higher education institution can effectively produce competent students without preparing them to successfully navigate the global community and conveying to them quality educational experiences from other cultures and societies. Thus it was that on Thursday, February 14, 2013, William V. S. Tubman University held its International Day celebration with the Theme, Celebrating Oneness: Honoring Differences.

The program was graced with the presence of Hon. Nazarene Brewer-Tubman, Superintendent of Maryland County, District Commissioner Al-fred T. Thompson, Chiefs and Elders of surrounding towns and villages, and community based groups.

With the celebration of diversity a key focus, Tubman University, has estab-lished a new deanship to lead the process of internationalizing the Univer-sity, while its diverse faculty individually bring their rich cultural and profes-sional backgrounds to the campus.

According to Ms. Barbara Simmons, Dean for International Education at Tubman University, International Education is defined in many ways but several elements are considered essential aspects of it. Among these are: 1)

knowledge of other world regions and cultures; 2) familiarity with international and global issues; 3) skills in working effectively in global or cross-cultural environments, and in using information from different sources around the world; 4) ability to communi-cate in multiple languages; and 5) disposition towards respect and concern for other cultures and peoples.

Dean Simmons said that it is her hope that TU will increasingly become a university which is immersed in providing its students, faculty, staff and surrounding community with the knowledge, experiences and skills to be effective global citizens with the aim of creating a process which causes students, faculty, staff, and the larger community to understand and experience global perspectives. This, she continued will provide entrepreneurial innovations through interdisciplinary programs that result in their being compe-tent global citizens as well as producing an internationalized campus and neighboring community.

Speaking during the program, Hon. Nazarene Brewer-Tubman, Supt. of Maryland County urged Marylanders to focus more on togetherness and also on common goals while appreciating the differences of their individual sub-groups.

Hon. Alfred T. Thompson, District Commissioner of Harper City, for his part hoped that the essence and spirit of the celebration transcends the celebration of just another day and should have far reaching consequences for the development of the county and nation.

Many inspirational speakers spoke during the ceremony, but one speaker will be well remembered for conveying the true picture of the meaning of celebrating oneness. Dr. Anthony G. Dioh, TU’s Vice President for Students Affairs, in his presentation of the Allegory of the Colors symbolized the day to day individual and cultural struggle for supremacy and stressed how true supremacy only comes about by the celebration of diversity and the honoring of differences.

Making her remarks at the close of the ceremony, Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell cautioned Liberians to look at adaptation in order to be able to live in harmonious existence. Dr. Davis-Russell said that it is her hope that Liberians move forward toward an intel-lectual and emotional engagement in understanding who they are, and how they deal with one another. She further urged every-one to respect other perspectives even though they may disagree with those perspectives.

The International Celebration Committee had its first campus-wide activity which was a contest to select a theme for the interna-tional celebrations. Students, faculty, staff and administrators participated in the contest. The ICC selected the top three vote getters from the anonymous list of suggestions. The winners were: third place, Satta Gankpala (student); second place, Kayibanda Doe (faculty); and first place, Barbara A. Simmons (administrator).

Internationalization Comes to Tubman University

Dean Barbara Simmons, J.D

Dean for International Education

Visiting Professor, Dr. Syrulwa

Somah, Associate Professor at

North Carolina Agricultural and

Technology State University

(NCAT), delivered a dynamic

presentation on “Environmental

Protection and Safety” on Thurs-

day, 17 January 2013, that pro-

pelled participants to sign up for

the 18 scholastic slots allotted by

NCA&T for an upcoming course.

Participants had never heard such

elucidating information on the

earth and the effects of man’s use

of the earth and its resources as

they heard.

As a visiting professor to TU, Dr.

Somah’s task is to begin laying the

foundation for North Carolina

A&T University’s strong presence

in Liberia, including conducting

an assessment to determine how

NCA&T Sate University fits into

TU instructional structures. Addi-

tionally, he is to review TU’s envi-

ronmental curriculum and other

programs; establish a study abroad

program, Distance Learning Pilot

Program, and help TU take the

lead in a possible Liberian Gov-

ernment funded Occupational &

Safety Curriculum for workforce

training for the mining and petro-

leum industries in Liberia. Future

projects between NCA&T State

University and Tubman Univer-

sity, is to include holding of joint

international conferences to en-

able both universities faculty to

present their research; co-

publications of textbooks and

grant proposals.

While Dr. Somah’s initial trip is

a fact finding trip, he is expected

to return in May of 2013.

Another Visiting Professor, Dr. Natalie Porter, Professor at Alliant University, arrived in January 2013. Dr. Porter held a seminar on “Violence, Trauma and Peace-building on February 20, 2013 and also facilitated a Research Colloquium with faculty on Feb-ruary 22, 2013.

Dr. Somah and Dr. Porter’s visit to Tubman University (TU) repre-sents the third in a series of Visit-ing Professors at Tubman Univer-sity. In February 2012, Dr. T. Edwin Freeman, Sr. Scientist from the Coca Cola Corporation, lec-tured on “Reduce, Reuse, Recy-cle” of plastics and byproducts, in the context of TU’s Rubber Sci-ence and Technology Institute that is scheduled to begin pro-grams later in the year.

In May 2012, Dr. Christine Sundberg, Professor at the Univer-sity of Denver, taught a course on “Africa in Novel and Film” which resulted in the participating stu-dents’ published book, “When Elephants Fight”.

The Visiting Professors program highlights the University’s com-mitment to providing quality educational experiences that trans-form lives for worthy service.

Page 3

Volume II, Issue 3

Visiting Professors at Tubman University

Dr. Syrulwah Somah (second from left) in a discussion with Deans and Directors of Tubman University

Dr . Somah presenting a lecture on environmental friendliness

Dr. Natalie Porter

Professor at Alliant University

The Visiting Profes-sors program high-lights the University’s commitment to pro-viding quality educa-tional experiences that transform lives for worthy service.

Page 4

Associate Justices: Alfred K. Tarblah,

Josiah Nagbe, O. Stompee Willie and

Bobby Zlahn (Committee on Students

Judicial Affairs) and Mr. Cassius B.

Cooper (Internal Auditor).

Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to

forward to the office of the President

the list of those confirmed or denied.

Appointments are still being made in

the SGA. The senate is expected to

hold additional confirmation on Wed.

February 20, 2013.

The Senate of Tubman Univer-

sity Student Government Associa-

tion (SGA), held its confirmation

hearing of appointed officers of

government on Friday February

15, 2013.

The confirmation hearing is part

of the duties and responsibilities

of the Student Senate. The con-

firmation was held in an open

forum at the Students palaver

hut, with a cross-section of stu-

dents in attendance. The session,

according to the Speaker of the

student senate, was a special one,

basically to confirm or deny ap-

pointed officers based on their

“qualifications; track records and

their willingness to work”.

Officials that appeared before

the Senate for confirmation were:

Mr. Emmanuel O. Hanson

( Secretary General)

Mr. James Wheder ( Financial

Secretary)

Mr. John Kollie ( Chairman;

committee on Technical Services)

Mr. Henry Howe (Chairman;

committee on Intellectual Dis-

course)

Mr. Ben K. Collins (Chairman;

committee on Planning)

Mr. Jonathan F. Kaydee

(Chairman; Committee on Ways

Means and Finance)

Mr. Karcee Kesselly & Mr. Maya

Kaikai (Chair & Co-chair; Com-

mittee on Sports and Athletics)

Going the extra mile in volunteerism The Tubman University Vol-unteer Movement has em-barked on a bench project on the campus of Tubman Uni-versity.

According to the Chairman, Mr. Stephen Karly, Jr., “the project is intended to bring up the spirit of volunteerism in students, thereby creating outdoor seating opportunities for students and employees of Tubman University during

their lunch break. Mr. Steven Karly Jr. also underscored the need for commitment to ser-vice .

Meanwhile, Dr. Davis-Russell lauded the effort of the volun-teers on Saturday February 16, 2013 when she stopped by to assess the initiative undertaken by the student volunteers.

The benches are being built around strategic trees on cam-

at the cost of $US 75.00 per Tree.

The bench project is the first in a series of projects lined up to be undertaken by the Tubman Uni-versity Volunteer Movement (TUVM).

From left to right: Hon Harris D.

Sarweah (Speaker of the Sen-

ate), Hon. Scearis Doe (Deputy

Speaker), Hon. Emmanuel I.

Kiawu (Dormitory Representa-

Special points of

interest:

“ OFFICERS WILL BE CON-

FIRMED OR DENIED BASED ON

THEIR QUALIFICATION; TRACK

RECORDS AND THEIR WILLING-

NESS TO WORK”.

“THE PROJECT IS INTENDED TO

BRING UP THE SPIRIT OF

VOLUNTEERISM IN STUDENTS,

THEREBY CREATING OUTDOOR

SEATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR

STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES

DURING THEIR LEISURE TIME”.

I N S I D E T H E S T U D E N T G O V E R N M E N T B Y : P R I N C E J . C . M O R R I S

Student Senate Holds Confirmation. What Next?

Members of TUVM with Dr. Davis Russell

Partial view of the students confirmation

Page 5

Volume II, Issue 3

William V.S. Tubman University inducts Faculty Senate

Officers of the faculty Senate of William V.S. Tubman Uni-

versity were inducted to a 2 year term of office on November

27, 2012 in the academic complex of the university. Officers

inducted were Dr. Nathaniel Gbessagee, President; Mr. Mel-

ville Harding, Vice President and Mr. Kayibanda Doe (K.

Doe), as General Secretary respectively. The 25 member’s fac-

ulty senate representing each college of the university is to act

as advocate and arbiter of faculty concerns as well as working

alongside the university administration on the issue of shared

governance.

Dr. Gbessagee, in his induction speech thanked the faculty for

the support and maturity exhibited during the elections of

officers of the faculty senate. He also thanked the Faculty senate steering committee for chairing the

state of affairs prior to the election. He promised the faculty that he will work hard to address their

concerns in relation to academic, curriculum, course content and other issues with the university ad-

ministration. He also called on the administration to open its arms to the faculty senate since indeed

the university is all about shared governance with the faculty senate in every aspect of the university

activities. He outlined the below listed items to be top priority on his leadership agenda:

Faculty lounge that will house recreation facility, offices, reading room etc.

Reviewing & establishing faculty standing committees

Faculty survey to address faculty concerns

Developing a standardized academic curriculum, course content, faculty hiring process

Reviewing university budget

textbooks, preparatory courses,

university policies & procedures among others.

In her remarks while inducting the officers-elect into office, the President of Tubman University,

Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell called on the elected officers to work alongside the administration in

developing and recommending continuous improvement ideas that will move the university for-

ward. She mentioned that she was happy that the faculty senate was structured for the very first

time and as such she called on the leadership to put in place those working committees that are

vital to the smooth operations of the university. She also mentioned that the leadership should

think about including women on the leadership team as well as on other working committees of

the faculty senate. She also thanked the faculty senate steering committee for working hard to

bring a new leadership team into office.

Dr. Nat Gbessagee

President of the Faculty Senate

Page 6

I firstly want to express exceptional

thanks and appreciation to Dr. Eliza-

beth Davis-Russell and her dynamic

team for their efforts in making Tub-

man University a Center of Quality

and Excellence.

I must first commend the administra-

tion for the level of competent faculty

base in the six colleges of the univer-

sity, most especially the colleges of

Health Sciences and Technology.

However, I wish to call on the univer-

sity to organize student-based pro-

grams so that students from the col-

leges of Health Sciences and

Technology will be able to perform prac-

tical before their internships.

Furthermore, it is my wish that the uni-

versity allows political, social and reli-

gious debates on campus so as to pre-

pare students who are interested in that

area. This ,I believe ,will also encourage

students to exchange ideas on the inner

workings of government and the chal-

lenges in the Liberian political environ-

ment.

Finally, I want the university to increase

the computers in the computer lab to

ensure that students have access to them

for research and other purposes.

Students Say-So

Name: Omega Allison

Major: Economics

Ambition: Economist

The College of Health Sciences on February

15, 2013 celebrated Dental Health Awareness

Day. The awareness event began with a pres-

entation on the importance of dental health

and dental screening facilitated by Major Dr.

Muhammad Abzal, PAKMEDs Chief Dental

Surgeon.

According to Professor Iona Thomas-Connor,

the central idea of the day was to raise

and tooth decay.

A total of 87 participants including

faculty, staff and students participated

in the Dental Screening exercise with 26

being forwarded to the PAKMED Level 2

Hospital in Harper for Dental treatment.

awareness about the importance of oral health.

During his presentation, Dr. Muhammad Abzal told participants that developing good dental habits and scheduling regu-lar dental visits help individuals get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. He also added that by adopt-ing healthy dental habits, individuals can fight plaque and prevent gum disease

College of Health Sciences Celebrates Dental Health Awareness Day

Dr. Abzal delivering a presentation on Dental Health Dental Screening being performed on a participant

Page 7

Volume II, Issue 3

In an effort to strengthen Paki-

stan-Liberia friendship, Engi-

neers of UNMIL Pakistani

Battalion (PAKBATT-17) as-

signed in Harper, extended

their support to Tubman Uni-

versity through a forty (40) days

seminar in various aspects of

Field Placement & Experiential

Learning.

The purpose of the seminar,

according to Mr. Alexander B.

Scere, Field Placement & Ser-

vice Learning Officer of the

College of Engineering &

Technology, is to make partici-

pants to understand the practi-

cal manifestation of engineer-

ing applications in present day

environment and to get a

glimpse of the future in the

fields of telecommunications

and mechanical engineering.

Speaking further, Mr. Scere said that it is anticipated that the seminar will help to broaden the students engi-neering horizons that they me be transformed and be able to avail themselves for worthy service once they step in their professional careers

The facilitators of the semi-nar are: Major Khurran Waqar and Major Imran Khattak.

Major Khurran presented on the basic principles of auto-motive vehicles and best workshop practices, while Major khattak will be dis-cussing topics in telecommu-nications, Engineering and volunteerism.

The engineering seminar is the second in a series of training sponsored by the Pakistani Battalion at Tub-man University.

It can be recalled that in November 2011, twenty em-ployees of Tubman Univer-sity participated in a one-day training in Cardio Pulmo-nary Resuscitation (CPR) sponsored by Dr. Assad Khan, Medical Specialist at the Pakistani Level II Hospi-tal in Harper.

The engineering seminar is part of the Field Placement and Service Learning Pro-gram at Tubman University and is organized and coordi-nated by Mr. Alexander Blotey Scere.

Forty (40) Days Field Placement Seminar for Students of the College of Engineering & Technology

Students performing their practical during the training Major Khurran delivering a lecture at the seminar

“The engineering

seminar is part of

the Field Place-

ment and Service

Learning Program

at Tubman Univer-

sity”

Page 8

The Department of Academic Support Services, one of the divisions of the William VS Tubman University, on De-cember 7 2012 donated seven (7) desks, with seating capacity of three pupils each, to the East Harper Elemen-tary and Junior high School as a Christmas Gift.

According to the Administra-tive Assistant to the Associate Vice President for Academic Support Services, Mr. Stephen S. Browne, the deci-sion was reached at a regular staff meeting. According to him, each staff member of the division, which com-prised the offices of the AVP for Academic Support Ser-vices, Academic Computing, Admissions, Office of the Registrar, etc., made a per-sonal contribution towards this enterprise.

Mr. Browne said the dona-tion was in line with the Uni-versity’s Core Values which among other things call for service to the community.

During the presentation Dr. Beaumont told the jubilant students that it was her Divi-sion’s way of sharing Christ-mas with them. She decried the appalling conditions stu-dents are going through to acquire basic primary educa-tion. Dr. Beaumont prom-ised the students that her division will continue to identify with them and other schools with similar needs.

It has been observed that many of the elementary schools in Harper and its environs are poorly attended with some students sitting on the bare floor and even oth-ers taking along stools from

home to sit on due to low seat-ing capacity.

Dr. Beaumont called on politi-cians and policy makers not to abandon the needs of the stu-dents who are expected to be-come future leaders of Liberia.

For his part, Mr. Ambrose Nol-len, Principal of the East Harper Elementary & Junior High School, thanked Dr. Beaumont and her team for their gesture and called on other well meaning Liberians, government officials and NGO’s to emulate this exam-ple.

Academic Support Services Donates to East Harper School

The College of Arts & Sciences of the William V. S. Tubman Univer-sity is proud to introduce the pro-totype of the multi-purpose locally made liquid soap, TU SPARKLE. TU Sparkle is conceived out of the need to provide numerous users of soap with locally made quality liquid soap that can wash deep, sparkle clean and leave behind a sweet fragrance.

Mrs. Olusola Dawodu, Lab. Technologist said that it has been observed that most soap used in every day wash and laundry in and around Harper and most especially the Tub-man University campus lacks the ability to wash deep, thor-oughly and sparkling clean.

Mrs. Dawodu contended that end users complained that they are too gritty, hard, in-adequate foaming and so on; hence, it takes more energy, time and more quantity to get a clean wash. Moreover, it was noticeable that they are corro-sive, and harsh, non-lady friendly.

Tubman University as part of her corporate responsibility service to the community is therefore pleased to intro-duce TU SPARKLE. This soap is borne out of years of training and research. It is therefore both environmental and human friendly.

It protects your fingers; it is very foamy and washes deep. Hence, requires very little to wash more. It saves money, time and energy. It comes in two fragrances: lemon and strawberry that leaves a healthy fragrance behind long after use. It is carefully prepared bearing in mind TU’s foremost mission to be a “caring commu-nity”.

TU Sparkle (A brand new detergent Liquid Soap)

Mrs. Olusola Dawodu Lab. Technologist

Dr. Jennifer J. Beaumont

Associate Vice President for

Academic Support Services

Page 9

Volume II, Issue 3

1.

O TUBMAN UNIVERSITY,

LOFTY IDEALS YOU

PROCLAIM;

UNDENTED MORALS YOU

REQUIRE;

HIGH VIRTUES, VALUES-

INTEGRITY YOU

DEMAND; SCHOLARSHIP

YOU ESPOUSE;

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

YOUR IDEALS BE;

O TUBMAN UNIVERSITY.

2.

O TUBMAN UNIVERSITY,

AMIDST MARYLAND’S

ADORING GREENS;

UNDER WAVING PALMS

YOUR STATURE BEAMS;

SERENELY CAST BENEATH

CAPE PALMAS’ TIP;

THE CALM ATLANTIC

SOOTHES THOU

THOUGHTFUL BROW;

YOU SLUMBER NOT;

O TUBMAN UNIVERSITY

3.

O TUBMAN UNIVERSITY,

YOUR GATES NOW BECKON

TO ALL ALIKE;

IN SEARCH OF TRUTH; OF

KNOWLEDGE DEEP AN

EDUCATION UNSURPASSED;

OUR SOULS AND MINDS

THOU DOST AWAKE TO

ABLY STEER LIBERIA’S SHIP;

WE TOIL IN THESE THOU

WORTHY DEEDS, SO THAT

MANKIND AND OURSELVES

EXCEL;

O TUBMAN UNIVERSITY

4.

O TUBMAN UNIVERSITY

THOU NAME IN GOLD

WE SCRIPT;

OUR LOYALTY TO THEE

PROCLAIMED;

FOREVER BRILLIANT

BURNS YOUR FLAME;

ILLUMINATING CORRIDORS

OF IGNORANCE;

ALL HAIL!! ALL HAIL!!

O NOBLE SCHOOL;

WVSTU WE DO ACCLAIM.

Ode to Tubman University, By: William E. Harris

Transformation for Worthy Service William V.S. Tubman University History & Facts

Chartered: 14 September 2009

Vision: TU aspires to be a center of quality and excellence

Mission: Provide quality educational experiences that transform the lives

of individuals for worthy service

6 Colleges:

Agriculture & Food Sciences

Arts & Sciences

Education

Engineering &Technology

Health Sciences

Management & Public Administration

We’re on the web!

www.tubmanu.edu.lr

Upcoming Events:

TU Times Newsletter

For inquiries, comments or suggestions, please contact:

Rev. Rita Townsend, VPIA, or Mr. Ambrose T. Wreh

Division for Institutional Advancement

William V. S. Tubman University

Email: rtownsend@tubmanu.edu.lr

awreh@tubmanu.edu.lr

publicrelations@tubmanu.edu.lr

Disclaimer !!

TU Times is a quarterly Newsletter from the Division of Institutional Advancement of the William V. S. Tubman University.

If you wish to discontinue receiving emailed copies of this Newsletter, please email to: publicrelations@tubmanu.edu.lr or

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