The Talon Vol. 2 Issue 1 - Spring 2007 - Coppin State University ...

Coppin Continues to Reach Across
the Globe to Establish
International Partnerships
By Ursula V. Battle
Representing the Ministry of Education for
Barbados, Ambassador Michael I. King of Barbados
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
on Friday, September 22, 2006 to assist in the
establishment of the University College of Barbados
(UCB). Ambassador King signed the MOU during
Coppin’s Convocation ceremony.
Collaborative partnerships between Coppin
and UCB were also discussed during King’s visit to
Coppin. This partnership will be designed to facilitate
key initiatives between faculty and students
across varying disciplines in education. A team of
educators from Barbados also visited the campus to
facilitate the development.
Coppin also has an active collaborative partnership
with Helwan University in Cairo, Egypt.
In August 2005, faculty from Helwan visited
Coppin. During their four-day visit, the contingent
signed an MOU solidifying a five-year partnership
and established ties for the purpose of promoting
mutual academic, cultural, and scientific aspirations.
In January 2006, President Battle, along
with Coppin faculty and staff, visited the Egyptian
university.
“We hope one day that Coppin students will be
in Egypt earning a Coppin degree and vice-versa,”
said Dr. Battle.
The MOU -- signed by both Dr. Battle and
Helwan University President Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama
-- includes distinguished faculty
members and administrators
from both university visiting one
another’s campus. The partnership
between the two universities
will also include exchange
of publications and scientific
information, and exchange of
invitations to participate in international activities
and conferences.
Long-term projects include establishing a Rehabilitation
Center at Helwan University with a joint
M.S. in the field of special education, assistance in
establishing a degree in sports management, and
Geographic Information System (GIS).
“I see students from Helwan taking classes at
Coppin via Web-casting,” said Dr. Sadie Gregory,
Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs for
Coppin State University. “Helwan students would
be able to interact with Coppin professors from
thousands of miles away. I would also like to see
Coppin faculty and Helwan faculty doing collaborative
research. I think it’s a wonderful start to
our partnerships with other universities around the
world.”
Coppin took another step to bringing that to
fruition when a Beta Test of Video Conferencing
with Helwan University was successfully conducted
in December. According to Dr. Ahmed El-Haggan,
Presidents’ Amr Ezzat Salama and Stanley F. Battle exchange smiles while signing the MOU that
represents Coppin’s international partnership with Helwan University.
VP of IT, CIO, & Professor of Computer Science at
Coppin, the audio was crisp and the video was smooth.
“It was exciting and is amazing to be able to
have a ‘virtual face to face’ meeting with faculty
from Helwan University who are half the globe
away and with a time difference of 7 hours,” said
Dr. El-Haggan.
According to Dr. El-Haggan, the video conference
was conducted with Helwan University
faculty members Dr. Radwan Hassan, Dean of the
Engineering School; Dr. Amir Amin, Associate
Dean of the Engineering School; and, Dr. Sanaa
Hegazy, Director of the Library. According to Dr.
El-Haggan, the suggested next steps are to have an
official opening Video Conference meeting with
Helwan. Following the official opening, the faculty
of both Coppin and Helwan would be able to use
the video conference capability in an effort to familiarize
themselves with one another and collaborate
together. The same efforts can also be implemented
with University College of Barbados.
Coppin Hosts 3rd Annual Reading Explosion By Caron A. Brace
Coppin State University President Dr. Stanley
F. Battle and other campus officials hosted the 3rd
Annual “Reading Explosion” from 10 a.m. until
4 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2006. They welcomed
approximately 100 fourth and fifth graders
from neighboring Rosemont Elementary/Middle
School, Gwynns Falls Elementary School, Bentalou
Elementary School, and Matthew Henson Elementary
School for the event, which was held in the
Dining and Meeting Hall. Dr. Battle, other campus
officials, alumni, staff, students, faculty and campus
supporters read to the students. Students also read
to each other.
Other activities for the participants included
a special presentation of Black Masks, an annual
production of the Coppin Players and Dancers.
Created and developed by Coppin Theatre
Professor Amini Johari-Courts, the play consists of
monologues on contemporary and historical African
Americans. The performers conduct research
on inspiring historical figures and then emulate
these individuals on stage. Students were pleased to
provide the correct answer to the question of which
figure was being presented in each monologue.
Another activity for students was the opportunity
to design arts and crafts bookmarks
and door hangers, play educational games, and
participate in other mind-stimulating activities.
As a “wind-down” activity, participants viewed the
movie Akeelah and the Bee, starring KeKe Palmer,
Laurence Fishburne, and Angela Bassett.
The Reading Explosion, which was conceptualized
by Dr. Battle, is a continuation of a year-long
project designed to encourage literacy among
young people.“The Coppin State University Reading
Explosion is designed to excite, motivate, and
encourage children to achieve,” said Dr. Battle, who
spent hours reading to the participants.
Over 200 books were donated by Dr. Battle and
his wife Judith Lynn Rozie-Battle, Coppin administrators,
faculty, staff and supporters. In addition,
St. James Lodge #2 Prince Hall Masons made a
monetary donation that helped to provide lunch
and snacks for the participants. In addition to
lunch and snacks, each student participant received
the book, Akeelah and the Bee.
“We are fortunate that members of the Coppin
Family have fully embraced this initiative,” Dr.
Battle said. “Once again, we enjoyed working with
students in and around the Coppin community to
encourage literacy.”
CSU National Alumni Association President James Camphor has been an
annual participant at Coppin’s Reading Explosion.
PHOTO | HENRY HURST
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