'Problem solver' Martin ready to lead
Monday, June 8, 2009
By Joe Killian
Staff WriterGREENSBORO — When Harold Martin was named N.C. A&T’s chancellor last month, the job came with an almost messianic level of hype. Students, staff, faculty and alumni so praised the A&T graduate, a former professor and administrator at the school, that he took time in his acceptance speech to remind them he doesn’t walk on water.
Many Aggies say Martin is just what the school needs — one of its own whose experience outside the school as chancellor at Winston-Salem State and chief academic officer for the UNC system will now serve his alma mater in its time of need.
But as Martin begins his job today, he says it’s time to look past the hype and get down to work. Sitting for an interview just days before taking charge at A&T, Martin talked openly and extensively about the campus’ problems. Nearly every sentence began or ended with “quite frankly” or “quite honestly,” the new chancellor making it clear that though he has plenty of Aggie pride, it hasn’t blinded him to what needs to be done.
“As an engineer, I’m a problem solver,” Martin says. “We know what our issues are. We should set in motion to absolutely address those concerns.”
Engaging students
Martin said he wants to tackle one of A&T’s biggest problems — academic performance and student retention — from the ground up. He said outgoing Chancellor Stanley Battle did good work in raising the school’s basic admissions standards, something the school badly needed. Just two years ago 25 percent of A&T students — one in four — were on academic probation. Battle managed to whittle that down to 12 percent — and the new wave of students coming in with higher standards are doing well.
“But once we admit those students we must also ensure we have well-defined, intensive engagement of those students,” Martin said.
“Typically, the freshman and sophomore year experiences — if those are high experiences, quality engagement of our students — if they get through those first two years they tend to go on and graduate in a more timely fashion and in a larger percentage.”
Building on campus life
Martin said he’ll be spending a lot of time with students in his first few months — talking to them about what they need to be successful. Not just in formal student forums but by going to student events, eating in the cafeteria, being “on the yard,” as students say.
Being part of a vibrant on-campus culture is a big part of student success, Martin said. That’s why he wants to encourage students to live on campus, though none are currently required to. He has also considered restricting cars on campus for underclassmen.
“I think living on campus creates an environment where students learn and engage and debate,” Martin said. “One of the concerns I’ve had since I arrived and have been driving around the campus is the explosion of houses around the periphery.”
When 22-year-old A&T senior Dennis Hale was shot to death outside his apartment on Homeland Avenue in January, it rocked the entire Aggie community.
Discussion focused on the large number of students living just off campus in increasingly dangerous student neighborhoods whose prime selling points seem to be little attention from university officials or campus police.
Martin said the school needs to form stronger relationships with landlords and rental companies to make sure off-campus students are living in safe, academically supportive environments.
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www.news-record.com/content/2009/06/07/article/problem_solver_martin_ready_to_lead