Imagine a place where the learning environment is deeply
rooted in American history, yet thrives on award-winning 21st
century technology.
Now, imagine a campus where Michelle Obama
gives your commencement speech.
That's awesome.
And the marching band is so good, it's in the
NCAA Hall of Fame.
Wow!
For thousands of students, it's not
a dream, it's actually a reality.
And, it's called Jackson State University JSU
President, Dr. Carolyn Meyers is here with all the details and
she's bringing a little bit of southern charm this morning.
Good morning doctor.
Thank you - good morning!
So humbled to have you here, thank you.
Oh I'm so excited about being here.
And, I'm excited to have you.
I also wanted to talk to you.
I was reading this right now doctor.
There are 107 historical black colleges and universities in the
U.S. and Jackson State is one of them.
Exactly!
You must be so proud.
I am very proud.
Tell me about it.
We were founded, as were many, HBCU's with ties to a
religious organization, American Baptist Mission Society.
Love that.
Primarily to educate teachers and preachers for
people who didn't have access, like African Americans, to the
American dream in 1877.
Wow!
And, we were in Natchez then and then we moved to Jackson,
Mississippi, became Jackson State College, and now Jackson
State University.
We've gone from 20 students in 1877 to over
10,000 today.
It's a special and wonderful place.
And, not only just a special and wonderful
place, with such great tradition and values, and history.
But, you've even kept up with the
times.
It's really technologically savvy, and so
are you.
Well, these are the times in which we live now.
So, this is a chance for us to
embrace the new knowledge that we have.
Not only how the mind works, how people learn, and all
of the information that's available anywhere, anytime on
any device.
And, I know you're really big on that doctor.
Yes.
Because digital textbooks are making such a big difference.
But, it's so important for students today because they're
very expensive and the digital textbooks make such a big
difference.
Oh, they do, and they help people learn in many
ways.
In a digital textbook, for instance, you can insert a
video.
And, some people are visual learners.
Most importantly, in today's world
the pace of change is so fast for a print textbook it's almost
2 years.
By then, the information can be obsolete.
Digital books can be updated instantly and most importantly
for our students is that the cost is $10 a book.
And to level the playing field, we have our
iPad project we give every incoming freshman an iPad, and
that's why we're an Apple distinguished school.
What this does is give everybody the same
technology and it's preloaded with the core freshman courses.
Also something to tout here about Jackson State, really
diverse, and outstanding academic achievements.
Tell me about those.
Well, we are very diverse.
We have students from over 60 countries that come to
our university to study.
We have the award-winning Passport to
the World program, which allows students in different
disciplines to go to a foreign country, take courses, come
back, get credit.
And, you know, experience a different culture
because their playground will be the whole world.
And, you have an AMAZING, and I'm gonna say it
again, AMAZING marching band.
Ohhhhhh!
That's the best part I think.
The sonic boom of the south is awesome.
And, it lights up the dream of college.
You had one very knowledgeable,
fantastic speaker.
First time in our history we have ever had a
sitting First Lady.
Wow, that must have been great.
That was thrilling, and she is brilliant
and poised and warm.
Everyone just fell in love.
We wanted to keep her.
I keep on noticing the necklace and the tiger.
We are the Tigers.
And, you're very proud of that.
Very proud of that.
Truly a pleasure having you.
Thank you for what you do, and the passion you bring.
I see it in your eyes, you're glowing
when you talk about Jackson State.
For our viewers out there who'd like more information
doctor, where can they go?
JSUMS.edu, and you've got us.
Thank you so much, a pleasure to have you.
Thank you.
You can also log on to our website, and
that's thebalancingact.com for more information about JSU.