SMART Power - Miles hosts National Security ColloquiumFairfield, Alabama, - Washington D.C. will converge on the campus of Miles College as The Miles College Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence (CAE), will host its first National Security colloquium beginning October 14th - 15th. The colloquium theme is Smart Power: Political and Policy Engagement in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Several Intelligence agencies operating under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) will be on site to participate in the Miles CAE colloquium to include: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); Department of Homeland Security; The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and ODNI. Distinguished faculty, graduate students, and researchers will provide the back drop for panel discussions on relevant research, policies, and emerging trends relating to the United States and its engagement abroad with key regions in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Members from the Intelligence Community will provide the keynote address, along with guest speakers culminating all topics on International studies and public policy. Other attendees will include Miles College students, faculty, administrators, high school students, and college students from the Birmingham Area Consortium of Higher Education (BACHE),
Miles College was awarded the Center of Academic Excellence designation by ODNI last year to prepare students for careers within the 16 member agencies of The Intelligence Community. Further, is one of 17 Colleges and Universities nationally recognized with having this distinction.
Miles College Hosts And Establishes Parntership With Ravenshaw University, A University Located In India!FAIRFIELD, AL.- For the next 48 hours Miles College will host the President of Ravenshaw University, Vice Chancellor Devdas Chhotray which is located in Orissa, India, to discuss the partnership between Miles College and Ravenshaw University. This agreement will connect the two institutions of higher learning to expand its reach, strengthen ties, educate and expose faculty members and students to different cultures and ways of thinking and learning.
Today, Wednesday, June 23rd and Thursday, June 24th Dr. George T. French, Jr., President of Miles College will tour Vice Chancellor Devdas Chhotray around the campus of Miles College and the wonderful city of Birmingham. Plus, the two will meet and discuss the actualization of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is simply the official document outlying the terms of the partnership between Miles College and Ravenshaw University.
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More on Ravenshaw University:
Ravenshaw College was established in 1868 and became Ravenshaw University in 2006. Ravenshaw is one of the oldest and largest colleges in India. The University has 27 departments of which 20 are post-graduate departments. Ravenshaw has approximately a total enrollment of 7,000 students in both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Miles College President, Member of Regions Financial Diversity Advisory CouncilBIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- June 8, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- As part of the company’s ongoing efforts to engage associates, customers and communities, Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) today announced that the following distinguished individuals have agreed to serve on the inaugural Regions Diversity Advisory Council:
Dr. George T. French, Jr., President of Miles College in Fairfield, Ala. Dr. French previously served as Director of Institutional Planning and Development, directed the offices of Alumni Affairs, Federal Contracts and Grants, Title III, Institutional Research and Effectiveness, and Congressional Relations and Public Relations.
John Hudson, Vice President of Public Relations for Alabama Power. Hudson serves as Vice Chairman of the Jefferson County, Ala. Economic and Industrial Development Authority; and is a member of the Alabama State Bar (ASB) as well as a member of ASB’s Diversity in the Practice Committee. Hudson previously managed Corporate Diversity and Public Affairs for Regions and will chair the Regions Diversity Advisory Council.
Dr. Bernice King, President-elect of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Dr. King is an ordained minister at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga.; a member of the Georgia State Bar; and founder of Be A King.
Lamell McMorris, founder and CEO of Perennial Strategy Group in Washington, D.C. McMorris is former Executive Director and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and a NAACP Special Contribution Fund Trustee.
Isabel Rubio, Executive Director and founder of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. Rubio is a member of the National Council of La Raza Executive Committee; and is a member of the Alabama ARISE and Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham boards of directors.
“At Regions we are fortunate to operate in some of the most culturally diverse markets in the United States and we have built a team of talented associates representing many different backgrounds,” said Grayson Hall, president and chief executive officer. “To create value for customers we must continue to engage all of the communities we serve and the quality of our council membership reflects the strength of our commitment to all diversity efforts.”
The Regions Diversity Advisory Council was established in May 2010 to support and inform the company’s overall diversity efforts. Council members will meet regularly with Regions’ executives to discuss the strategic direction of the bank’s diversity initiatives and programs and to provide objective expertise and guidance.
Lajuana Bradford, head of Corporate Diversity and Public Affairs for Regions Financial, will oversee the Regions Diversity Advisory Council. Bradford manages the company’s enterprise-wide diversity strategy and coordinates Regions’ cross-functional Diversity Network, which supports the bank’s customer relationship, employee engagement and supplier diversity priorities.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation, with $137 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 100 Index and one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, trust, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers in 16 states across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,800 banking offices and 2,200 ATMs. Its investment and securities brokerage division, Morgan Keegan & Company Inc., provides services from over 300 offices. Additional information about
Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.
Miles College President Invited to the White HouseFairfield, AL—Miles College President Dr. George T. French, Jr. will be among a select group of leaders from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) on next Friday as President Barack Obama signs an Executive Order authorizing new funding for his HBCU Initiative. President French, White House Initiative Executive Director John S. Wilson, Jr., and other presidents will gather at the White House to reinforce Obama’s support for the nation’s historically black colleges as he encourages them to continue to educate future leaders.
The meeting will be an opportunity for President Obama to recognize institutions such as Miles College that have experienced steady growth under the Obama administration, having received several million dollars for federally funded programs in the past year.
“The signing of this Executive Order is indicative of the Obama administration’s commitment to higher education, and speaks to the relevance of our nation’s historically black colleges.” said Dr. French. “Miles is deliberate in its current trajectory as a leader within higher education, and we look forward to visiting with President Obama in furtherance of this realization.”
Under the Obama Administration, Miles has been the recipient of several federal grants designed to stimulate the economy, create new green industries and impact education.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) competitively awarded Miles College a Center of Academic Excellence. The Center of Academic Excellence program provides grants to public and/or private institutions to assist in developing a cadre of professionals to carry out National Security imperatives over the long term. The initial award is for $1.5 million over two years with an optional three-year extension for a total of $3 million over five years. There are only 17 Centers of Academic Excellence nationwide, to include the University of Washington, California State University San Bernardino, University at Texas El Paso, Wayne State University, Virginia Tech and others.
• As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Miles College was awarded nearly $500,000 to create a summer youth employment program designed to serve low-income, high-potential youth in Alabama.
• Also as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Miles is collaborating with the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Career Centers to provide time-limited, paid employment to Family Assistance recipients to help them become self-supporting. Stimulus funds cover 80% of the cost of the program, including gross wages, uniforms, childcare and transportation expenses.
• Miles College received a $700,000 grant from Housing and Urban Development to aid the Miles College Community Development Corporation (CDC) to develop housing and commercial property in Fairfield, Alabama.
Additionally, Miles College, with other collegiate partners, proposes to secure $20 million in Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) funding to provide the outlying areas of Jefferson County with broadband access that will expand the region’s ability to provide economic development, job creation and a range of other services.
President French is a native Louisvillian, having graduated from Trinity High School and the University of Louisville before matriculating at the University of Richmond and Miles Law School for the Juris Doctorate and Jackson State University for the Ph.D. (ABD).
CBS News Chief National Correspondent Scheduled to Speak at Miles College for Black History MonthFAIRFIELD, AL. - Black History Month is celebrated for 28 days, but this year, Miles College is bringing you "someone" and "something" you can enjoy in just 60 Minutes. Monday, February 15, 2010 at 11:00a.m. on the historic campus of Miles College CBS News Chief National Correspondent and Contributing Correspondent for 60 Minutes Mr. Byron Pitts will be Miles College's featured guest speaker for Black History Month. This Emmy award winning journalist will engage us in a thought- provoking conversation and talk about his new book, "Step Out on Nothing." This event is free and open to the public.
To learn more about Mr. Bryon Pitts please visit
www.miles.edu/byronpitts.asp or
www.greatertalent.com/ByronPitts “Arrangements for the appearance of “Byron Pitts” made through Greater Talent Network, Inc., New York, NY”
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Miles College Announces Center of Academic Excellence by the Office of The Director of National IntelligenceFAIRFIELD, AL.- Miles College makes a major announcement about its new partnership with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Before representatives within the Intelligence community, the entire Fairfield City Police and Fire departments and the Miles College team, College President, Dr. George T. French, Jr. announces Miles College is now a member of the ODNI's Centers of Academic Excellence. The Centers of Academic Excellence gives Miles College the opportunity to develop a national security studies program. The purpose of this program is to teach undergraduate students skill sets that are critically needed by the nation's intelligence community. By Miles College having this center, ODNI will have a direct pipeline to a pool of graduates who will be prepared to work for one of the agencies within the Intelligence community.
MORE ABOUT THE CENTERS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PROGRAM:
ODNI's Centers of Academic Excellence grant has a duration of five years. One element of the program is a special overseas experience for intelligence community student scholars who take the national security courses. It involves a 10-to-14 day stay in a foreign country with an itinerary worked out by the scholar's home college.
ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE:
Central Intelligence Agency; Defense Intelligence Agency; Department of Energy (Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence); Department of Homeland Security (Office of Intelligence and Analysis); Department of State (Bureau of Intelligence and Analysis); Department of Treasury (Office of Intelligence and Analysis); Drug Enforcement Administration (Office of National Security Intelligence); Federal Bureau of Investigation (National Security Branch); National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; National Reconnaissance Office; National Security Agency/Central Security Service; US Air Force; US Army; US Coast Guard; US Marines; and, US Navy.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE VISIT:
http://www.dni.gov/index.html
Miles Marks Major Milestone with North Campus PrepMiles College marks a major milestone in its growth when contractors began the demolition of the former Lloyd Noland Hospital.
College President George French was on hand to operate a construction tractor that took out the first wall in the abandoned medical center during a special ceremony.
"The administration is pleased because this is the first opportunity in 100 years to build a planned community," French said of plans for the 41-acre site that doubled the size of the existing campus. The Lloyd Noland property is adjacent to Miles.
The college raised $30.6 million in the first phase of its Miles Ahead fundraising campaign. It's a comprehensive effort with a number of components, including acquisition of the Lloyd Noland property and site development.
The hospital was established in November 1919. Noland was a pioneering doctor of industrial medicine who came to Jefferson County to fight communicable diseases, such as malaria and typhoid, which were rampant among the iron and coal workers at the time.
College officials are still working on plans and logistics. Proposed facilities for the first phase include a health and wellness center with a child development center, and an international studies and public policy building.
Once demolition is completed - projected for this fall - it will take three to five years to construct these first buildings.
The health and wellness center would include a fitness center with an indoor track, auditorium, gymnasium and possibly an Olympic-sized swimming pool, French said.
The child development center, primarily for faculty, staff and students, would be more than a day care, French said. It would offer preschool programs for the children and student teaching opportunities for education majors.
"Miles College says graduation rate much higher than reported."From The Birmingham News:
Officials at Miles College have disputed an Associated Press report in Sunday's Birmingham News about the graduation rate of black students, and they are supported by an independent association of private colleges.
The six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students who enrolled at the Fairfield college in 2001 was 52 percent, said Paul Hankins, president of the Alabama Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. The AP report, which said the graduation rate was 11 percent, relied on erroneous data in a U.S. Department of Education database, Miles officials said.
The AP report found that many historically black colleges graduate black students at a rate lower than colleges in general.
Previous published reports and independent analyses consistently have placed Miles' graduation rate at more than 50 percent. Ricky Lee, Miles' director of college relations, said the methodology behind some analyses varies widely. Some include part-time and non-traditional students, and others do not, for example.
The most recent report by The Education Trust, a nonprofit, placed Miles' 2006 rate at 50 percent, highest among historically black colleges in Alabama and third-highest among all schools in the state for black students.
In 2007, Miles remained among the highest-ranked for percentage of first-time, full-time students graduating within six years, Hankins said.
"Miles is probably the best," he said.
Miles College Announces Launch Of New FM Radio Station In Demopolis, AlabamaFAIRFIELD, AL.- After ten years of negotiating and filling out applications, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)has given Miles College the green light to build a radio station in Demopolis, Alabama and broadcast. Monday, April 20, 2009 at 2:00p.m. on the campus of Miles College directly in front of Pearson Hall, Miles College's Academic Dean ,Dr. Kenneth Jones along side the Mayor of Demopolis,Alabama Mike Grayson will hold a Press Conference to air out the details about the build and launch of the radio station to the public.
Miles College's radio station will be named WMWI and will be aired on 88.7 FM. The programming format for WMWI will be diverse. It will include all genera's of music from hip-hop to gospel. The station will also include talk radio programs that will promote Miles College as well as service the Demopolis community. It is Miles College's hope WMWI will prove to be a great marketing and recruitment tool. This station will also be a great avenue for students interested in the radio.
Due to the unavailability of frequency's in the Birmingham designated market area (DMA)Miles College went with an available frequency in Demopolis, Alabama. Through internet links and signal relays, WMWI programming will be made available not only for those living in Demopolis, Alabama but in the Fairfield Community as well.
Miles to Aid Housing with $700,000 HUD GrantMiles College is among 13 historically black collegese and universities to receive a grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Miles grant is for $700,000. The school plans to use the grant through the Miles College Community Development Corporation to improve housing and commercial projects throughout the city but particularly in the downtown area near the campus.
