This week, the university community will take time to reflect on the 143-year history of Howard with its customary convocation and gala. As usual, members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, students, staff and friends of Howard will gather for the formal celebration. The university will also honor seven distinguished alumni for their accomplishments in their various careers. With all that said, my only question is, “Is that all?”
Yes, we should pause in celebration of our university’s chartering and honor those who contribute to its legacy with their careers. Yes, we should gather everyone in the community together in Cramton for the pomp and circumstance. Yes, we should all get dressed up to network and fellowship at the exclusive black-tie gala. Yet despite all of that, the fact remains that we should do WAY more.
There are few times when a university can get everyone under the same roof each year. This occasion should provide an opportunity to use that synergy for more than just ceremony. So many people travel great distances to be here. Why relegate their participation to convocation and a gala?
Each year, the university grants honorary degrees to distinguished alumni or professionals.
At the Opening Convocation, Charter Day, and Commencement, degrees are given out with much rhetoric and reflection. Instead of just seeing these leaders during that one day when they are given the degree, why not truly adopt them actively back into the community? Imagine the strength of our student body if they could tap into the expertise of these honorees year after year at programs and events on campus. Consider the fundraising potential if we humbly requested that each of these honorees host a university fundraiser every few years.
While we have everyone from the students of MS2 to the Board of Trustees together for a few days, why not discuss the future of our university interactively? Conversations about the direction of our institution should not be limited to the boardroom; why not gather key stakeholders from each part of the university for a roundtable or forum?
These questions are not meant to call out any one particular entity in the university. In fact, every entity could do better to capitalize on this occasion. Student government should reach out to some of the distinguished leaders here for informative programming. The Board of Trustees should plan an open event for members to interact with the rest of us.
The administration should set a standard of commitment from these honorees with the same level of passion that they use to honor them.
We all need to increase the thoughtfulness and purpose of our efforts to take this university well into the future. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. There is nothing more insane than performing the same celebration for 143 years and expecting an increasing level of support or benefit from it. Let us all have fun in celebration this week, but let us also come together to plan a more effective week for next year.
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