Facing what many deem as one of the toughest periods for the institution, having lost a significant percentage of the student population and coming under serious backlash publicly for the enforcement of governing rules, Northern Caribbean University (NCU) administrators say it is on the path to rebuilding.
With the current president, Dr Trevor Gardner's retirement to take effect in August, the board has elected a new president, Dr Lincoln Edwards.
The announcement was made at the Board of Governors Long Service Retiree Recognition and Service Excellence Awards banquet, held at the institution Mandeville campus on Sunday.
Edwards is an alumnus of the West Indies College a former chemistry teacher at Ardenne High School , a past lecturer at NCU, who later obtained a PhD in pharmacology at the Loma Linda University, and who became apart of the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the university. He later joined the dentistry faculty at the University of Texas.
Sitting on numerous boards internationally, some of which include accreditation-readiness boards, advisory bodies to national boards of health, and medical licensing boards, the incoming president is expected to capitalise on his years of experience to propel the institutional forward.
"I want NCU to become the premier institution of life learning in the Caribbean, where students are equipped to take their place in the world, ready to serve, creating their own business, and impacting the world positively," Edwards said, while addressing the past and present students at a candidate presentation question, and answer session recently.
Research
Having done his research, Edwards pointed out a number of shortcomings of the university and made a commitment to establishing a research council to increase the impact of the institution; digitise systems and lead with technology, forging agreements with international hospitals for nursing and medical technology students to secure internship opportunities; and liaise with international entities, churches, and Government to offer scholarship grants for each new student.
Chairman of the Board Pastor Everett Brown acknowledged that things would only get better if there was a willingness to change.
"Change is painful but is necessary for growth. It cannot and it will not be business as usual for the current board of NCU if we are going to survive, succeed, and move this institution to the next level. The best days are yet to come," said Brown.
Gardner and his wife, Patricia, headed the list of more than 280 awardees and were lauded for their efforts in signing important memoranda of understanding in science an business, seeking discretionary funding from the private sector and improving the health and wellness of faculty and students. Gardner has made a commitment to continuing the tradition of NCU and lending his assistance even after retirement.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner