Jurist Summer 2007.qxd - Howard University School of Law

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MY ROLE AS ASSOCIATE DEAN FORSTUDENT AFFAIRSThe Office of Student Affairs (OSA) encompassesstudent affairs, records, and financialaid. The OSA is the primary advocate andadministrative liaison for HUSL students. Thegoal of the OSA is to enhance the quality ofstudent life through academic, financial, andpersonal support and counseling. In additionto working with individual students, the OSAprovides support for student organizationsof the School of Law.We are a small, friendly, and confidentialoffice, but our influence on thelives of students is enormous. Someareas in which the OSA providesassistance or guidance includeaccommodations for students withdisabilities, certificates for state bars,counseling referrals, assistance withethical issues, family emergencies andpersonal problems, leaves of absence,withdrawal and readmission, certificatesof enrollment and letters ofgood standing, class rank and honorsdesignations, study abroad programs,and transfer and visiting student status.Additionally, the office managesfinancial aid, scholarships, and loans.During my first few months in my newrole as associate dean, I have had the opportunityto interact with, talk to, and work one-ononewith student leaders and a large percentageof the student body. I have found that studentsoften hesitate to approach the correctpeople about their issues and that this reluctance,in turn, leads to misinformation amongstudents.My first goal as the newly appointed associatedean is to improve the level and the qualityof communications between the administrationand the students. To that end, the OSAplans to increase student awareness of itsservices through systematic programmingand communications. New programs will bedeveloped to educate students about theresources available to them through the OSA,the university, and external organizations.Additionally, my office will continue to workwith the student leaders. We will bring backthe “Chat in the Rhatt.” During these monthlysessions, I will be available in the studentlounge to converse with the students in amore casual setting. I hope students will takeadvantage of such opportunities to discusstheir concerns and to ask questions.The technological advancements and theincreased level of programming have resultedin a substantial increase in the pace of theactivities at the School of Law. More communicationis conducted by email and electronicmonitors, rather than face-to-face. TheseAssociate Dean Duckett leading the Class of 2010at the August pinning ceremony.advances have improved our ability to communicatemore quickly and on a larger scale;however, the decrease in face-to-face communicationmay very well be contributing to thestudents’ feelings of disconnectedness and tosome of the miscommunications.I believe that improved communicationswill lead to increased understanding amongthe students and administrators, therebyenabling us to better serve our students’needs. Better service will, in turn, lead to abetter overall student experience at HUSL. Iview my primary role as that of an advocatefor the students, and I am committed to ensuringthat the student affairs, financial aid, andrecords offices provide effective, efficient,quality service to the students.Now that I have come home to Howard, Ihope to be able to contribute to the School ofLaw’s continued growth and advancement. Iam very honored to have been selected to succeedDenise Spriggs (formerly Purdie) as theassociate dean.24 THE JURIST
TNBA Update:he City of Atlanta, Georgia, provided a warm welcome for the 82ndAnnual National Bar Association Convention and the AnnualAlumni Meeting and Breakfast hosted by the Howard UniversitySchool of Law National Alumni Association. The breakfast was held onWednesday, August 1, 2007, and was attended by over 100 alumni fromacross the country, representing classes from the 1950s to the 2000s.Dean Schmoke shared the latest developments at the law school andretired HUSL Professor Henry “Hank” Jones ’56, was presented withthe 2007 Outstanding Alumni Award for his 39 years of service to thelaw school. Many thanks go to alumnus T.J. Cunningham ’57, for hisinspiring call-to-action and to all of our alumni who answered his callwith enthusiasm. There was an outpouring of support, with gifts andpledges totaling $33,946, exceeding fundraising totals from previousyears. The funds raised will support the Dean’s Discretionary Fund, aprimary resource for scholarships, student services, and operationalneeds. Funds will also be used to support the new law library. Thebreakfast was coordinated under the leadership of Tara PetersonHammons, Esq. ’02, president of the HUSL National AlumniAssociation.We thank all the alumni who attended the breakfast and the officers ofthe HUSL National Alumni Association for a great time of networkingwith old and new friends!
Page 4 and 5: OLIVER W. HILL DIESNEWS & INFORMATI
Page 7 and 8: BARRY SCHECKC. CLYDE FERGUSON LECTU
Page 9 and 10: Photos by James K. PleasantHouston
Page 13 and 14: Happy Birthday Mr. Hill!Oliver W. H
Page 15 and 16: The three attorneys, who have been
Page 17 and 18: Achievements of the Environmental L
Page 19 and 20: “I intend to be a big player on f
Page 21 and 22: Judge, District of Columbia Court o
Page 23 and 24: H OWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAWCON
Page 25: T H E L A S T W O R DOn August 10,

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