Xavier University News October 2012 Xavier Chosen to Participate in National Initiative to Prepare Critical Faculty New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana has been chosen through a national competition sponsored by the Association of American Colleges and Universities to participate in Preparing Critical Faculty for the Future<http://www.aacu.org/pcff/index.cfm> (PCFF), a project that supports women of color faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines in becoming strong academic and administrative leaders, both on campus and within their respective disciplines. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities-Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP). The institutions selected over the three cohorts represent many different types - including two-year and four-year, public and private HBCUs. The 10 colleges and universities chosen to participate include Xavier, Alcorn State, Bowie State, Hampton, Howard, Jackson State, Lane College, Lincoln, Southern-New Orleans, and Tougaloo. Xavier chemistry professors Dr. Gloria Thomas and Dr. Florastina Payton-Stewart will participate in all phases of the project along with colleagues from the other participating institutions, including attending the AAC&U's Institute on Integrative Learning and The Departments in July 2013. The goals of the PCFF project are to provide professional and leadership development for women of color faculty in STEM disciplines, or in NSF natural and behavioral science disciplines; and to enhance undergraduate STEM education at HBCUs and beyond. This project provides participants with the opportunity and the financial support to engage in and influence the national dialogue on improving undergraduate STEM education. Project participants will both contribute to and gain from national efforts to develop and implement innovative STEM teaching and learning practices and effective curricular change strategies. This initiative is supported with a grant from the National Science Foundation. For additional information about the project, see: http://www.aacu.org/pcff. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.