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Campus Review
January 31, 2014
Page 4
Ann Cramer Empowers Clayton State
Students at the Jim Wood Speaker Series
by John Shiffert
Clayton State
University
is
known for pro-
viding its stu-
dents
with
e m p o w e r i n g
experiences. As
a
place
of
empowerment,
the University
provides stu-
dents with, not
just an excellent education, but also with
the relevant skills they need to position
themselves in their forthcoming profes-
sions.
Empowerment at Clayton State has a lot
of facets, with one notable recent example
being the opening speaker of the College
of Business’ Spring 2014 Jim Wood
Speaker Series. A long-running opportu-
nity for Clayton State students to hear
from and learn from the best and brightest
in their respective fields, the series is
funded by one of the original members of
the Clayton State University Foundation,
long-time local journalist Jim Wood.
Over the years, the Wood Speaker Series
has brought numerous and diverse speak-
ers to campus, ranging from AJC Editor
Julia Wallace to another Clayton State
Foundation member, Honorary Consul of
Hungary John Parkerson.
The opening speaker for the Spring 2014
Series was no stranger to Clayton State.
Ann Wilson Cramer, a senior consultant
for Coxe Curry & Associates, had previ-
ously captured Clayton State audiences
with her enthusiastic style at the Clayton
State Women’s Forum, and as a speaker at
the May 2011 Commencement cere-
monies.
At the May 2011 Commencement (when,
fittingly enough, Wood was awarded an
honorary doctorate) Cramer spoke on “the
power of you,” and stated the Clayton
State graduates are part of a smart world,
and tasked them to know how to be a col-
laborative player in what she referred to
as, “the decade of smart.”
“You are to whom we look to be smart.
The future of our community is in your
hands,” she said at that time.
In January 2014, Cramer returned to
Clayton State to speak to another rapt
audience, mostly, though not entirely,
made up of students from the University’s
business classes. Speaking on her own
career development, she focused on
vision and passion – traits that will stand
her audience well in the future. And, there
can be no doubt that the audience was lis-
tening, notably junior supply chain man-
agement major Kai Spear.
“Ann Cramer’s presentation was exciting
to be a part of. There was a true joy she
possessed as she spoke passionately about
Huckaby: “We are Making the
Right Decisions for Students and the State”
The need to
help more stu-
dents afford and
earn a degree is
driving key and
f u n d ame n t a l
changes in the
U n i v e r s i t y
System
of
Georgia, said
C h a n c e l l o r
Hank Huckaby
to the Georgia General Assembly’s Joint
Appropriations Committee.
Citing the need to restructure public high-
er education to work more effectively and
efficiently, Hucakby told the legislators:
“It is hypocritical to talk about the “new
normal” for public higher education, yet
continue to do everything the same old
way while expecting different results.”
Consequently, Huckaby’s tenure has been
driven by a frank assessment and key
changes in how the state’s 31 public col-
leges and universities are structured and
operate as he works to make the
University System more student-centered.
Driving the need to change is a global
reality – labor surveys indicate that in the
near future, two-thirds of the working age
population will need some level of post-
secondary credential to compete for jobs.
Georgia’s education agencies are engaged
in a collaborative effort to increase col-
lege completion rates from the current
level of 42 percent of the population to 60
percent.
“We are making some decisions that are
not easy or comfortable, but they are the
right decisions for our students and the
State of Georgia,” Huckaby said.
Huckaby detailed some of these decisions
and changes that are either complete or in
progress, including institutional consoli-
dation, a study of how facilities are used
and proposed, and an assessment of the
effectiveness of degree programs that
could lead to the termination of unproduc-
tive programs.
Other measures include the use of online
education, a tougher and more rigorous
approach to K-12 teacher preparation, an
increased focus on supporting economic
development and greater outreach to mili-
tary personnel.
Huckaby, cont’d., p. 10
Huckaby
Cramer
Cramer, cont’d., p. 9