SALISBURY – Excited freshmen brought life onto the campus of Livingstone College Friday as they moved into their new homes for the next nine weeks. It’s been five months since the college hosted students in person due to the global pandemic and the energy was contagious. A deejay at the hospitality tent gave rhythm to the cadence of activity as more than 100 students facilitated a streamlined five-step registration process. “The process has been smooth,” said Dr. Tony A. Baldwin, enrollment manager and associate vice president for the operations of Student Affairs. “We have not heard one complaint from parents. In fact, they have said we are doing a great job in moving students in and out.” In addition to a fast-track registration process, students and their parents were allowed only 30 minutes to unload luggage and other belongings into the residence halls to minimize public contact and social gathering. Donning their own masks, students were also presented Livingstone branded COVID-19 kits, which contained five reusable masks, hand sanitizer and an ID badge. And in accordance with the school’s screening protocol, everyone who entered campus received a temperature check by an officer of public safety. “I feel like you guys have over prepared,” said parent Theresa Tudor, whose daughter Ronee is a student-athlete on the track team. “You all probably won’t run into the issues these other schools have had that went back in August, so I feel very confident that she’ll be fine.” Parent Karen DeLoatch, whose daughter is …
Campus reopens with COVID testing
SALISBURY – Livingstone College officially reopened its campus Thursday with staff members reporting to their offices for a virtual opening session followed by COVID-19 testing. The virtual opening session began at 10:30 a.m. with opening remarks by Livingstone President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., who highlighted events during the past five months in which the campus was closed due to the global pandemic. The world was attacked by an invisible enemy and like many other college campuses, Livingstone shut down its in-person learning in March and transitioned to distance learning. “It seemed surreal for all of us – more like a nightmare,” Jenkins said. “This enemy has taken away a major part of our DNA. We are social beings, but we now have to learn to curtail socialization. It is disturbing, but it is what it is. We have to follow the protocols so we can survive this pandemic.” Jenkins commended his senior staff members and faculty for adjusting efficiently to the new normal in organizing distance learning and maintaining their engagement with students over the past few months. Jenkins also commended the college’s Reopening Task Force, led by Dr. Anthony J. Davis, senior vice president of Institutional Advancement and chief operating officer, which developed eight protocols to safely reassume campus operations. Davis outlined those protocols in a series of short videos played during the virtual opening session, where staff members participated in from their respective offices. The protocols range from screening, security, protection and prevention, and space utilization to …
Chris Paul reps LC
Chris Paul On Supporting HBCUs and Fighting for Social Justice
Earn $4K freshman grant
SALISBURY – Livingstone College is offering a special incentive for students who live within a 50-mile radius of its campus. Qualified freshmen attending Livingstone College already receive a $3,000 incentive grant, but for the 2020 fall semester, the college is adding an additional $1,000 to the award for a total savings of $4,000. Additionally, the college is waiving the requirement that freshmen must live on campus in order to qualify for the grant. “This pandemic has caused economic hardships on families, and students are considering not pursuing their educational plans due to financial and health reasons,” said Livingstone President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. “As a local option for higher learning, we’re announcing incentives that could make the choice easier for students to not defer their undergraduate studies and consider staying close to home.” “We realize that local students prefer to attend college out of town – and we get that,” said Kimberly Harrington, director of public relations for Livingstone College. “But these are uncertain times where normal might not be ideal or even possible. Rather than delay college, Livingstone is making it more affordable and convenient to attend college a stone’s (pun intended) throw away from home.” By waiving the freshmen housing requirement, students can opt to stay at home or live on campus. The choice is theirs. Registration is currently under way at Livingstone now through September, as classes are expected to begin Sept. 10. There are also early-bird incentives for registration as well. Visit www.livingstone.edu to register …
Early-bird incentive for registration
Open letter to students from President Jenkins July 2, 2020 Dear Blue Bear Nation: Recently, I shared that Livingstone College will resume on-campus operations for the Fall Semester on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. The Reopen LC Task Force has developed and are deploying eight critical protocols that will enable the college to execute our mission safely in the “New Normal” – fostering a safe living and learning environment. As we are excited about reassuming in-person campus operations and your return, we are engaged in thoughtful planning and execution, preparing the campus for your arrival. However, in order for us to adequately prepare for your arrival, we need for you to register as soon as possible. Livingstone College has moved to online registration. By registering online, we will reduce face-to-face interaction on our campus while automating the registration process. Online registration opened on July 1, 2020. Students who fully register, complete their 2020/2021 FASFA, and pay their room deposits by July 15, 2020, will receive an early-bird incentive grant between $500 and $1,000. This incentive grant may be applied to your student account thus reducing your preexisting balance or your tuition and fees for the Fall 2020 Academic Semester. Our goal is to provide an economic stimulus for our students and their families during these critical economic times. Please note: The funds are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. On behalf of the entire Livingstone College family, we are looking forward to seeing you in the …
NEA awards $15K grant
SALISBURY – Livingstone College was awarded a $15,000 grant to host the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read in Rowan County. Livingstone was one of 84 nonprofit organizations selected to receive an NEA Big Read grant to support a community reading program between September 2020 and June 2021. The NEA Big Read is an Arts Endowment initiative in partnership with Arts Midwest. Its purpose is to broaden the understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. The NEA Big Read in Rowan County will focus on Adrian Matejka’s, “The Big Smoke.” Activities will take place April 2-May 7, 2021. “Our text is an exquisite collection of poetry that depicts the heavyweight champion Jack Johnson as a social phenomenon through a literary lens,” said Dr. Da’Tarvia Parrish, program director and history and African-American studies professor at Livingstone College. “As literature allows the imagination to exist where often perceptions can be reconstructed and redefined, I’m eager to unfold how this communal lesson can increase the complexities of self-awareness and acquire new perspectives.” Livingstone College will host shared activities with several community partners to include the Rowan Public Library, Families and Communities Together (F.A.C.T.) and Hornets’ Nest Girl Scouts Troop 454. “For over 140 years, Livingstone College has provided leadership to the global society whereas our effort in the Big Read is simply another way the college does its best to serve,” said Livingstone President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. “We are thankful …
Livingstone secures second $500,000 grant for library
SALISBURY – In under two years, Livingstone College has been awarded a total $1 million to rehabilitate the historic Andrew Carnegie Library, located on its Salisbury campus. The National Park Service announced the first award in August 2018. The second grant award was made this spring, a welcomed announcement during the coronavirus pandemic. The award was made possible through the Historically Black Colleges and Universities grant program, funded by the Historic Preservation Fund, and administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior. It is part of $7.7 million in grants to 18 projects in 12 states for the preservation of historic structures on campuses of HBCUs. The first grant award was designated for Phase I, which included the engineering architectural survey, water infiltration work to stabilize the foundation, and roof repairs/replacement. “We were able to complete the engineering and architectural survey of the condition of the building before the coronavirus pre-empted further work,” said Dr. Carolyn Duncan, Livingstone’s grant writer. “We expect work to proceed again in June.” The recent grant will be used to complete Phase II, which includes installing an HVAC system to adequately heat and cool the building, keeping the climate at a temperature that will help extend the life of paper documents, which consists of historical African-American archives and memorabilia; replacing outdated electrical wiring and increasing electrical outlets throughout the building; replacing obsolete light fixtures throughout and providing adequate lighting; situating Ethernet portals and internet charging stations for students and patrons; and repairing plaster and painting …
$500,000 grant to preserve Monroe Street School
SALISBURY – Livingstone College has been awarded a $500,000 grant to preserve its historic Monroe Street School property. The award, announced and administered by the National Park Service, is part of $14 million in African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation Fund grants that will finance 51 projects across 20 states and the District of Columbia to preserve sites and history related to the African-American struggle for equality in the 20th Century. Monroe Street School, located at 1100 West Monroe Street across from Livingstone College, was the first high school – J.C. Price High School – constructed for African Americans in Salisbury. It was a high school from 1923 until 1938 when a larger high school was built due to overcrowding. The new facility on Bank Street became J.C. Price High School and the former school on Monroe Street was renamed Monroe Street Elementary School, serving as a public school in some capacity until the 1980’s when it was sold to Livingstone College. It’s currently named the S.E. Duncan Education Center, in honor of the fifth president of Livingstone College, Dr. Samuel Edward Duncan. In 2003, the property met the historic designation for both education and ethnic heritage and was designated an historical site by the U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service. The building, last used as the West End Head Start Center and Livingstone’s Education Department, has been vacant for approximately 15 years due to unabated asbestos. Dr. Carolyn Duncan, Livingstone College director of grants, student scholarships and special projects, said …
LC to host virtual open house
SALISBURY – Livingstone College will host a virtual Open House May 21 via its official YouTube page. The college’s spring Open House in April was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The virtual Open House is from 1-3 p.m. May 21 and will feature opening remarks by President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., as well as information from financial aid, residence life, student activities, health services, athletics, band and Summer Bridge Program representatives. The speakers will accept questions via YouTube’s chat on the day of the event, or students and parents can submit questions in advance by emailing them to admissions@livingstone.edu. While the on-campus Open House affords students an up close and personal experience of Livingstone College, this abbreviated virtual event is designed to offer a snapshot of campus life, provide important information regarding the fall semester, and answer parents and students’ questions, said Dr. Tony Baldwin, enrollment manager and associate vice president for the operations of student affairs. “Our Office of Communications has created an immersive virtual tour for students and parents that allows them to feel as if they are on campus in lieu of onsite visits,” Baldwin said. “We have to adapt to the times and today, virtual meetings and tours are the safest way to conduct business due to social distance practices.” The virtual tour can be found here: Livingstone Admissions. No registration is required for the Open House. Students and parents can simply tune in at 1 p.m. May 21 on Livingstone’s official YouTube page …
Kinard heads up national park sites
ATLANTA — National Park Service (NPS) South Atlantic-Gulf Regional Director Robert Vogel announced the selection of Dr. Joy G. Kinard as the new superintendent of Alabama’s Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site and Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, effective March 31. “Joy’s knowledge of U.S. and African-American history, coupled with her experience, enthusiasm and Alabama roots make her ideal for this role,” Vogel said. “Joy offers a refreshing approach to park management that will position her for success through innovation and meaningful collaboration.” Kinard’s 20-year NPS career reflects an abiding interest in the preservation and advancement of stories pertinent to African-American and American heritage. She has held multiple leadership roles, including her current four-year tenure as the first superintendent of Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument; a term as National Capital Parks-East Central district manager, where she managed the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site; National Archives for Black Women’s History; and Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, among other units. Among her assignments are acting chief of interpretation, education, and cultural resource manager at the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site and Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. She also served as a park ranger at various sites in Virginia and Maryland, educating visitors on the stories of prominent figures in American history, including George Washington, Frederick Douglass and Robert E. Lee. A scholar of African-American history and culture, Kinard contributed to the seminal African-American National Biography Encyclopedia …
