Students and Faculty Shine During CSU's Day of Service

I am so very proud of our Columbus State University family for the fantastic turnout at the 6th Annual Day of Service. Led by colleague Anne Vogler Brown (enthusiastically joined by her husband, Kevin), more than 500 students, faculty and staff worked across the region at 22 non-profits in Georgia and Alabama reinforcing Columbus State's core value of true servant leadership.

There was a wonderful turnout from our student-athletes in softball, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, golf, baseball, cheer, our Mascot Cody, and their coaches. Also, our VP for Business and Finance, Tom Helton; our VP for Student Affairs, Gina Sheeks; our AVP for University Relations, John Lester; our incoming Managing Director of the Cunningham Center, Ed Helton; our Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Todd Reeser; and many, many others participated in the event.

My wife Lauren and I joined Columbus State's Director of Financial Literacy, Ginny Rae Turner, and her husband Brad at a battered women's shelter in Phenix City, Alabama. The center must open by October, and our students worked wonders preparing rooms for occupancy.

Later in the day, we all joined in a terrific cookout and shared stories of the day's adventures and fellowship. Special thanks to Potiphar Alexander, Director of Transportation, for assuring all ended up in the right place and eventually back on campus. This event has matured greatly over the years, and the involvement by our entire campus community is reflective of a caring culture.

Smooth Move on CSU Move-In Day

Kudos to Residential Life staff led by Jonathan Lucia, Steve Morse and team in Logistics, and so many others for a smooth early a.m. start to move-in day at our stunning River Park housing complex. It was nice to see Dean Richard and Tammy Baxter volunteering, and Professors John Finley and Kim Gill (right, with Cody), our faculty-in-residence on hand as well. 

This can be a stressful day for students and their families, but no institution handles this better than Columbus State University.

Preparing for Accreditation Visit Helps Us Focus on Progress

Our regional accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, recently held its summer meeting. I was proud to join a team of Columbus State University colleagues as we prepare for our 10-year maintenance of accreditation visit.

Additionally, and as importantly, the university team is working across the institution in the development of our new Quality Enhancement Plan. The QEP, linked to our mission and strategic plan serves to galvanize the focus of our institution and give us an overriding theme that will thread through thousands of courses, student activities, staff engagement and campus life for the foreseeable future.

While I have the opportunity to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of SACSCOC, I learn a great deal from these meetings. I do so appreciate the work of our team and look forward to reporting on our progress over the next two years.

Trombone Concert Brings Top Artists to Columbus State Stage

Saturday night, Lauren and I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Southeast Trombone Symposium Professors Choir under the direction of Professor Bradley Palmer from CSU's Schwob School of Music.

Trombone faculty from across the country were joined by artists from the New York Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, Atlanta Symphony and National Symphony, treating an enthusiastic audience to some wonderful music.

Pieces ranging from Classical Gas to the world premiere of Awakening (Anthony Barfield) reflected once again the pivotal role great faculty and great facilities can play in building reputation. We were honored to have these faculty and many of their students at our RiverPark campus and look forward to hosting the group again in the future.

CSU Connects with Students at Atlanta-Area Receptions

Over the last two nights, a great team from CSU — recruiters, financial aid and other student affairs professionals, as well as our crack logistics experts — helped deliver two very special open houses: one in Alpharetta and the other in south Fulton County for admitted and prospective students.

I was proud of our colleagues, who work so hard in communicating our "first choice" agenda with prospective students and their parents. Special thanks go to Richard Holmes, a CSU Foundation trustee and distinguished alumus, for attending the south Fulton reception. The event reflected the progress and so many great initiatives taking place at our university.

Commencement Offers Fitting Farewell to 2013-2014

It was wonderful to see the Columbus Civic Center packed Monday night for our spring 2014 commencement.

And it was the greatest of honors to have Gov. Nathan Deal deliver the commencement address. We also recognized Phil Tomlinson, chairman and CEO of TSYS, with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Recognizing our graduates, from those receiving associate degrees to those donning doctoral hoods, is always an incredibly special and moving event — indeed, my favorite night of the year. We hope to see many of these graduates back on campus in the years to come.

Celebration Highlights CSU's Servant Leadership Commitment

I had the great opportunity today to join Mr. Bill Turner, Mr. John Turner and Dr. Ron King at a luncheon with close to 200 students, community agencies and friends of our renowned Servant Leadership Program.

Dr. Stuart Rayfield, CSU's Frank Brown Distinguished Chair in Servant Leadership, emceed this marvelous event, where graduates of our Servant Leadership senior class shared with the audience their insights and observations related to experiences in the program. Of special note was this year's partnership with The Literacy Alliance and the creation of a CSU chapter of the International Justice Mission to combat human trafficking.

Kudos go to these exceptional young men and women and their passion for service. I was so very proud of their individual and group accomplishments. They truly epitomize all that is so very impressive with today's Columbus State University graduates.