African-American Affairs Dean Maurice Apprey discussed black history and the progress in terms of increasing diversity and acceptance that the University and its community has made since last year during the annual State of the Office of African-American Affairs address last night.
Apprey began his speech by discussing the importance of the election of President Barack Obama. Apprey described the “celebration, ecstasy and tears of joy” felt by some around the world as they watched the inauguration of the first black president of the United States. Apprey then noted the legacies and dreams of other historical black leaders, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Ben Carson, and said those within and outside the University community should look to those leaders as examples.
“We must borrow strength from all of these people,” Apprey said, “but at some point it’s in your hands.”
The OAAA, which was established in 1976, “is charged with the responsibility of assisting academic and non-academic units in meeting the challenges of service delivery to African-American students,” Apprey said, and has worked hard since then to place the strength these leaders espoused into the hands of black students at the University. That mission remained the same during the past year, and Apprey added that some progress has been made toward achieving that goal — even if there is still much work to be done.
One of the most critical elements Apprey addressed during his speech was the significant increase seen in the average grade point averages among black University students since 2005.
“2006 was better than 2005, 2007 was better than 2005 and 2008 was much better than 2005,” Apprey said, noting that he hopes such growth continues this year and beyond.
Apprey said he believes the increasing average GPA is because the OAAA is “working better as a team” to address relevant issues in the University community. In the past, Apprey said he felt that many students were trying to tackle too difficult schedules and that “the advice that went with these difficult subjects was problematic.”
To help students and improve grades across the board, Apprey and the other deans within OAAA “started aggressively working on all of their students” by contacting both parents and students.
“We are fundamentally a service center for students,” Apprey said, “and we strive to be more like student advocates than gatekeepers.”
One of the main goals of the OAAA, Apprey said, is to make University students more competitive for professional and graduate schools, and to improve their GPAs “so everything else improves.”
Third-year College student Ashley Lewis described the OAAA as a friendly and supportive place.
“I think the OAAA has been successful because of its programs and the support the deans have offered students,” Lewis said, citing black students’ increasing grade point averages as proof of the office’s success.
Through a combination of mentoring programs, enhanced collaboration between faculty and students and better advising, “the state of the OAAA is on solid ground” moving forward, Apprey said.
Read More
Students have federal internship offers rescinded due to hiring freeze
By Nina Broderick | YesterdayUntil July 15, no presently vacant federal civilian positions may be filled, and no new positions may be created.
Man dies from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the Rotunda
By Ford McCracken | 2 days agoThe investigation is ongoing, and additional details are not available at this time.
Virginia primary elections feature contested race for Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate
By Nicolas Biernacki | 2 days agoEligible voters can find more information about early voting by consulting the City Department of Voter Registration & Elections website or the County Department of Elections website.
