MIGHTY LION NEWSLETTER

(1)

MIGHTY LION NEWSLETTER

Official Newsletter of the Division of Student Affairs

Letter from the Provost

Dear Mighty Lions!

Fall 2019 is ending with a mighty roar! Congratulations to Cohort 15 of the Entry Level Master in Nursing (ELM) for completing their program with a 100% passing rate on the Board (NCLEX) examination! The Cohort has begun the tradition that we want CDU to be known for: 100% pass rate on all our board examinations. In addition, we want to be known for 100% retention rate and 100% graduation rate! For post baccalaureate and pre-medical students, 100% admission rate into medical school (to either offshore or inshore medical schools). In short, if you are fortunate to be admitted to CDU, we will make it extremely difficult for you to fail and with your cooperation, almost impossible to fail. CDU’s student success will be

defined solely by our fulfillment of students educational dreams and progress toward our institutional mission, "...cultivating diverse health professional leaders who are dedicated to social justice and health equity for the underserved communities…”

Other roaring accomplishments include the launching of a new undergraduate program, the Bachelor of Science in Psychology, in the College of Science and Health (COSH). In

addition, you may have also heard that Fall 2019 had record level student enrollment— the University is expanding at a rate of more than 10% every semester! Thanks to the Enrollment Management Services staff for their excellent work.

Congratulations to the not so newly elected leaders of the CDU Student Government (CDUSG): Lewis Williams (President), Cielo Sanchez (Vice President), Gabriela Gomez (Secretary), Aracely Marin (Treasurer), and to all the newly elected senators. We are proud of the quality of leadership coming from the CDUSG as they continue to ensure that the

voices and perspectives of our students are reflected in major campus decisions. Bravo to our School of Nursing that successfully went through CCNE accreditation site visit for the RN-BSN program and BRN reaccreditation site visit for our pre-licensure program (ELM). Although, we are still waiting for the official letters, their exit interviews with the President and the Provost were laudatory. The College of Medicine is on off to a great start with the planning for our future independent medical school—yes, a new medical school at CDU in 2023!

Another mighty roar was in celebration of new members to the CDU family. In the Provost Office, we are happy to welcome Debbie Lopez, the new Executive Assistant to the Provost. Chief among our hiring successes in fall 2019 is the recruitment of the new Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Syreeta Greene who came to us with over 17 years of experience in higher education from her last position as the Director of MOSAIC Cross-Cultural Center at Midwestern State University (TX). Dr. Greene is charged with leading CDU toward a mid-size, student-centered institution of excellence. COSH is celebrating the arrival of its newly appointed Director of the Physician Assistant Program, Dr. Lucy Kibe. Dr. Kibe comes to CDU from Virginia with years of experience as an educator, a clinician, and a chief quality control officer. Also, in COSH, we welcome Samrah Abbasi, Program Assistant and Dr.

Martha Bob-Manuel, PA Teaching Assistant. In the Financial Aid Office, we have Andrea Caveness-Jones, Financial Aid Counselor and Bridgette Taylor, Financial Aid Coordinator

Written by Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, Steve O. Michael, Ph.D.

(3)

Letter from the Provost

FINANCE

INFORMATION

Effective immediately!

The following on-line services are available to you through your myCDU student account under the Finance and eBill tabs:

Make Payment

Conveniently make your tuition payments online

eRefund Enroll in direct deposit for financial aid credit balance checks

Installment Payment Plans

Enroll in 3 monthly tuition payments

Questions? [email protected] or (323) 563-5824.

who recently joined the campus. Also, our new members to the Enrollment Management Services team are Nina Bolton, Enrollment Specialist, Tilo Lopez, Outreach Specialist,

Genesis Granados, Records and Data Specialist, and Daquan Bass, Receptionist. Working

with students and staff at the School of Nursing are our new Program Coordinator, Ashley

Fletcher and Student Affairs Administrative Secretary, Nevine Milad.

The last mighty roar about to explode on campus is the opening of the new Student Center: a One-Stop Shop for student services. Yes, the rain will stop, contractors will complete the finishing touches, the ribbon will be cut, and the Center will be open in not too distant future. Hurray! This is my last communication with you via the Student Newsletter in 2019—a year that began with a roar and now concluding with mighty roars! Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, Happy Hanukkah, Happy whatever you celebrate, and a Happy New Year in advance. May the successes of 2020 be by far greater than those of 2019 for CDU, you, and your families! Your Very Proud Provost

(4)

FINANCIAL AID

INFORMATION

As the fall 2019 term comes to a close, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships would like to ensure that you are financially prepared for the spring 2020 term and onward. Therefore, if you plan to enroll at CDU for fall 2020, we highly encourage all students to get a “jump start” on their 2020-2021 FAFSA. In some cases, filing later can reduce your chances of receiving certain types of financial aid, including state grants. Therefore, to ensure priority consideration

for fall 2020 funding, please complete your 2020-2021 FAFSA today!

Below are some topics we would like to address as we approach the Spring 2020 semester.

SUMMER 2020 PACKAGING/AWARDING 2020 - 2021 FAFSA NOW OPEN

MANAGING AND REPAYING YOUR STUDENT LOANS 2020 - 2021 CAL GRANT

• Summer 2020 financial aid awarding will occur during Spring Term

• Summer financial aid application available in

March 2020

• Deadline to submit summer financial aid application is April 15

• More information availble in March

• Complete your 2020-2021 FAFSA

TODAY!

• Application available at

FAFSA.ED.GOV

• CDU school code is 013653

• Monitor your email closely for any required actions to complete

Attention Undergraduate Students:

• Don't forget to apply for 2020-2021 CAL Grant! • Deadline: March 2, 2020

• Must apply to FAFSA or California Dream Act Application to meet eligibility requirements for CAL Grant

• Monitor your email closely for any required actions to complete from CA State Aid Commission

• For more infor: www.csac.ca.gov/cal-grants Attention Grads:

• Ensure to complete Exit Counseling (required by Department of Education and graduation clearence)

• For loan debt assistance visit studentaid.ed.gov

• Track your debt: Visit NSLDS.ed.gov and select "Financial Aid Review" • Be cognizant of your debt

• Remember: Federal student loans are REAL loans - they must be repayed like car loans

and mortgages

• Stay in contact with your loan servicer to ensure timely, smooth loan repayment process 3

(5)

RECORDS AND REGISTRATION

INFORMATION

CLASSES BEGIN January 4, 2020 LATE REGISTRATION January 4, 2020 - January 17, 2020 $50 Late Fee ADD/DROP PERIOD January 4, 2020 - January 17, 2020 by 5:00pm WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE Tuesday, March 17, 2020 by 5:00pm REQUEST TRANSCRIPT VA STUDENTS

If you are interested in using VA Benefits, contact the Registrars

office today! [email protected]

Order Official Transcripts Online At

www.cdrewu.edu/registrar

Click the “Order Official Transcripts” link

ADMISSIONS

INFORMATION

RECRUITMENT The Recruitment season is long from over! If you are

interested in assisting us with giving tours, hosting a visit or

joining us on the road, feel free to reach out to our office at

admissonsinfo@ cdrewu.edu.

UPCOMING BLACK COLLEGE EXPO'S BCE Los Angeles, CA Feb 1, 2020

BCE Oakland, CA Feb 8, 2020 BCE Dallas, TX Feb 29, 2020 BCE DC/Maryland March 2020 BCE Atlanta, GA March 28, 2020

For the first time ever, CDU will be a hosting site for the Southern CA, NCRF Caravan Tour,

on January 28, 2019

DISCOVER CDU

SPRING 2020 INCOMING STUDENTS

On behalf of the Office of Enrollment, we officially welcome the new incoming students of Spring 2020 into the CDU Family! We are elated you have chosen CDU to be a part of your educational journey! Our office is here to support you through the matriculation process. We encourage you to take advantage of the programs and services CDU has to offer. Join clubs and converse with other students who share your interest. Remember faculty & staff are here to support you by providing an avenue for your success! We look forward to seeing you all on campus in January 2020!

(6)

ACADEMIC SERVICES

PROVIDED BY LEARNING SPECIALIST, RHONDA JONES

[email protected] | (323) 563 - 4806

Welcome to the end of the semester! As a reminder, the Learning Specialist is available to assist students with study skills and test taking strategies while throughout the academc year. Also, we offer tutors each term who are ready to assist you, as well. The spring 2020 Tutoring

Schedule will be available at the beginning of the term.

1. Meet with your Instructor, Learning Specialist or Tutor for additional assistance 2. Stay healthy! Please make sure you sleep, eat well and limit caffeine

3. Create mnemonic devices, such as acrostics, rhymes or acronyms, to help youremember information.

4. Review study guides, old tests and other notes from your course

5. Clarify the content and format of your exam (multiple choice, short answer or essay) 6. Create time, space, and a plan to actually study and avoid cramming

7. Study with a group and discuss your answers to ensure you are not confused by similar answers

8. Identify examples or illustrations that embody the concept and demonstrate ways you will utilize the information

9. Create flashcards and quiz yourself in your spare time

10. Reduce distractions, take breaks, and reward yourself in small ways to increase your

(7)

CAREER SERVICES

PROVIDED BY CAREER ADVISOR, KAITLIN JACKSON-FERRIOT

[email protected] | (323) 357 - 3631

WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMMING

Josie’s Story Sorrel King shared her personal story of her child, who passed away due to the hospital’s lack of communication. She has created a foundation and patient safety movement from her experience. Sorrel did a book signing with the students, which was incredibly personable. PA student, Nicole Mueske, recommended Sorrel King

to Student Affairs as she was moved by her story and wanted to share the experiences and knowledge with her fellow CDU classmates.

International Career Panel

In conjunction with Dr. Lejeune Locket, Director of International Affairs, an International Career Panel was held during International Education Week! The panel feature representative from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Federal Bureau of Investigating (FBI), and the Peace Corps. Students learned about unique career opportunities to begin thinking outside of the box. Working in the medical field can lead to different paths; this international career panel provided an exploratory way to talk about those alternative paths.

2nd Annual Professional Development Conference

Our 2nd Annual Professional Development Conference on September 7, 2019. The conference was highlighted by five dynamic speakers, a job fair, and lunch was sponsored by Wells Fargo. Students, faculty and staff were able to build new relationships, learn how to advance your career in different ways, find out about new job opportunities, and learn something new to help with the next stages of your life.

The speakers included: Kristena Deyon Hatcher on Salary Negotiation; Kristy Sherrer, M.S. on Leveraging your strengths and weaknesses; Alumni, Belinda Addo, FNP, MSN in Entrepreneurship in Healthcare; Alumni, Adrienne Martinez, Ph.D. in Finding and Becoming a Mentor; Natalie Gouche, Professional Branding Using Social Media.

Graduate students were exclusively selected to participate in Emotional Intelligence with Tieko Nejon. Nejon shared that, “Emotional Intelligence is not a basis for being 'emotional' but our ability to effectively identify and manage our emotions and the emotions of others as a means to favorable outcomes.” Nejon also provided students with individual assessments on their emotional intelligence, teaching them the Emotional Intelligence Model of self-perception, self-expression, interpersonal, decision-making, and stress management.

(8)

National First Gen Day

What does “first-generation college student” mean?

A first-generation college student is defined as a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have not completed a

bachelor's degree. This means that you are the first in your family to attend a four-year college or university to attain a bachelor's degree. Being first-generation is a very proud accomplishment.

November 8 was Annual National First-Generation College Day to honor the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

In conjunction with Brittney Miller, Alumni Relations, CDU hosted its first National First Gen Day on campus. There was a panel discussion featuring VP Angela Minniefield, Dean Syreeta Greene, Ed.D., Rasheed Ivy, M.D., and alumnus & Professor Harold Abramowitz.

Student, Gabby Gomez, and Learning Specialist, Rhonda Jones, facilitated the panel discussion. The panel shared their challenges and success as first-generation students concerning, as well as shared advice for current first-generation students. The event was

motivating and inspiring; taking note that students are not alone in their journey and that CDU is here to support them and can relate to their experiences as first-gen students.

Alumni Mentorship Program

CDU is proud to announce the kick-off of its first Alumni Mentorship Program with 22 students and 18 alumni mentors. This program is an application-based program for alumni and students, inclusive of goal planning, and participation activities. Mentees were matched with the mentors based on shared careers interests and goals.

The program kicked off with a Mentor & Mentee Reveal and continued with a Mentor & Mentee retreat that incorporated team building, speakers, and goal setting strategies. This program is a new way to connect are alumni with students and allow them to create lasting relations that assist with their future endeavors.

(9)

RESEARCH SERVICES

PROVIDED BY STUDENT RESEARCH COORDINATOR,

NANCY JUAREZ FUERTES

[email protected] | (323) 563 - 4891

Conducting research as an undergraduate is an excellent way to build on your

academic and professional skills and experiences. You can explore your areas of interest and expand your education outside of the classroom. If you are interested in graduate studies, research can also better prepare you for the rigors of graduate school. It will amplify your competiveness for high level employment and admission to professional schools.

Graduate research may already be incorporated in the programs for graduate students at CDU. However, students' passions and interests in conducting research may surpass what they do in the classroom. Students can search for opportunities that may be of particular interest and be a part of research projects with internal CDU faculty or an external organization.

SEE BELOW SOME INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SUMMER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES!

Where do I start?

- Start your search early.

- Explore opportunities. Have specific interests? Need help searching for student opportunites? Assistance applying? Make an appointment with me for any assistance during your search.

- Apply to opportunities that match your goals and interests. Assistance to creating a successfull resume, cover letter, CV is available in Student Affairs.

(10)

STUDENT HEALTH & WELLNESS

PROVIDED BY ROBERT MARZIO, Ph.D.

[email protected] | (323) 568 - 3343

STUDENT HEALTH & WELLNESS SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE AT CDU!

CDU is expanding and will soon offer counseling services for students as part of its Student Health & Wellness Program. We are glad to welcome Robert Marzio, Ph.D., a licensed

psychologist, to support our students and the broader campus community. Beginning in spring 2020, Dr. Marzio will be available to see students for individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, as well as offer a variety of mental health and wellness-related workshops and trainings for students and staff. More details about services and instructions on how to make an appointment are forthcoming. Stay tuned for further announcements as we get closer to our launch date.

Robert Marzio is a licensed psychologist who specializes in

working with diverse student populations in higher education. He holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology and a BA in applied developmental psychology from UCLA. Prior to taking on the task of establishing mental health and counseling services at CDU, he created a program to provide mental health services at Compton College, providing individual and group counseling for students, campus outreach activities, staff training, and crisis intervention. His

approach to providing support to students focuses on understanding the individual person and the unique challenges they face, and

helping them develop the tools they need to succeed in school and

Mighty lion HOT TOPIC

CDU Hosts Kansai NUrsing College

Written by Josephine Akingbulu, MPH Student

Representatives from the Kansai Nursing College in

Japan, visited Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine

and Science on August 26, 2019. Vice President and Director, Naomi Okuda gave a presentation to CDU nursing students on the topic of severely disabled children. She was accompanied by Ms. Yoko Kato, Kanako Shindo, Mutsuko Ueno, and Aya Okamotow who also serve as administrators at their nursing college in Japan. They plan to arrange another visit to our

(11)

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CDUSG

VICE PRESIDENT

CDUSG

Although young, the Charles R. Drew University Student Government has already been tasked with the needs of a rapidly evolving campus. In order to cater to the needs of our growing university and to properly fulfill the roles of liaison between students, staff, and faculty, CDUSG is glad to immerse ourselves in learning Student Government trends, ideas, and tips.

Thanks to the wonderful work of Dr. Syreeta Greene, Ed. D, Dean of Student Affairs, I, Cielo Sanchez, Vice President of CDUSG along with Gabriela Gomez (Secretary), Aracely Marin (Treasurer), and Nancy Juarez Fuertes (Staff Advisor) were able to represent CDU at the American Student Government Associations' (ASGA) Los Angeles 2019 Conference, which took place Saturday November 16th, 2019. The 2019-2020 cabinet is proud to have officially

become the first CDU cabinet to do so, and looks forward to fundraising for future ASGA events.

The American Student Government Association is the only organization in the nation that solely focuses on Student Government training, research, and consulting. The 2019 Los Angeles Conference consisted of more than 20 training workshops and roundtables, with over 250 student leaders and advisors. The conference provided attendees with funny, and engaging presenters who provided private consulting appointments. Our cabinet was fortunate to be presented with solutions that we plan to implement immediately. We hope that you will enjoy reaping the benefits of our

attendance at the ASGALA 2019 conference as we begin to implement our newly found intitavies this upcoming Spring 2020 semester.

With Lion's Pride,

Cielo Sanchez

EMAIL

[email protected]

INSTAGRAM

@CDUSG

MEET YOUR 2019-2020 SENATORS

SON SON (all programs) Nicole Walker Jonathan Shaw Tanisha Ragland Patrice Campbell Cornelia Estell BS-PH BS-PH Nikesha Williams MS-PH MS-PH

Karen Kessington- Lewis

MS-BMS MS-BMS Daniella Salawu Sowgand Bashiri EPB EPB Milena Dragovic Jordan Robinson COM COM Courtney Brown PA PA Marcellus Esezobor RAD-TECH RAD-TECH Joshua De La Torre Ashton Tanner BS-BMS BS-BMS Shyann Cox Ty'Tianna Clark BS-Urban Comm BS-Urban Comm Jasmin Whitlow BS- Nutrition BS- Nutrition Noemi Gil

(12)

Letter from the Dean

I am excited to serve as the new Dean of Student

Affairs at CDU! As a Southern California native and Los

Angeles resident for over 20 years, I have heard great things about Charles R. Drew University and am enthusiastic to collaborate with students, staff and faculty to ensure CDU effectively serves, supports, nurtures and empowers students of color, first-generation students, and students from under-served and under-resourced communities.

As a first-generation college student from bachelor’s to doctorate and throughout my career journey, I understand first-hand the challenges that some students and professionals like myself face. However, we also embody rich social

and cultural capital in the areas of community networks, knowledge, skills and education, wherein the sum of our cultural experiences have value and do aid us in our formal

educational pursuits. Bottom line – our pasts do not define us, but can be useful if applied in effective ways!

I am excited to sustain, improve and implement new programs, services and activities that enhance your CDU experience. It is my hope to help CDU provide a transformational education experience academically and professionally, but, more importantly, personally. Together, let’s make CDU a premiere, student-centered, empowering institution of higher learning!

With Lion’s Pride,

Dr. Syreeta Greene

Dean of Student Affairs, Syreeta Greene, Ed. D.

JOIN STUDENT AFFAIRS AT THE UPCOMING SPRING 2020 WELCOME WEEK FESTIVITIES!

(13)

Letter from the Dean

UPCOMING EVENTS

2019 YEAR END CELEBRATION

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 11AM - 1PM

LSRNE LOBBY

LONG WHITE COAT CEREMONY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 1PM - 3:30PM

KECK LAWN

BOOK DONATION INITIATIVE

LAST DAY TO DONATE: DECEMBER 20TH

BOOK DROP-OFF: 1748 EAST 118TH ST, BUILDING M, LOS ANGELE, CA 90059

WELCOME WEEK 2020

MONDAY, JANUARY 6TH - THURSDAY, JANUARY 9TH CDU CAMPUS

1ST ANNUAL CDU PRE-MEDICAL CONFERENCE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2020 8AM - 6PM

JUNIOR WHITE COAT CEREMONY

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2020 11AM - 1PM

KING DREW MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL (GYMNASIUM) 1601 EAST 120TH ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90059

DISCOVER CDU

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2020 8AM - 11:30AM

CDU CAMPUS

URBAN HEALTH INSTITUTES 2ND ANNUAL STUDENT RESEARCH DAY

FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 10AM - 12PM CDU CAMPUS

MIGHTY LION NEWSLETTER