OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) creates, supports, and enhances a student-centered academic environment which supports Philander Smith College’s mission and vision to “graduate academically accomplished students who are grounded as advocates for social justice, determined to intentionally change the world for the better.” It is the administrative center which drives the academic environment at PSC. The VPAA oversees curricula within five academic divisions, enforces academic standards, and maintains academic records.
The VPAA is responsible for overseeing the accreditation and re-accreditation of academic programs, representing the college at various conferences and meetings dealing with academic and higher education issues relevant to the college, overseeing the operations of the library, research and assessment, and the Academic Success Program (Developmental Studies and Retention).
The philosophy of the VPAA is to operate on “what is best for the students and what is best for the institution.” Responsible to the president of the college, the VPAA has four primary roles:
Leading: The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, working with academic division chairs and faculty, articulates an academic vision for the college, sets the overall academic direction of the college, and establishes the academic agenda for the future.
Facilitating: The VPAA facilitates the accomplishment of the college’s mission and its academic goals through the development and maintenance of academic programs, procedures, and standards; in the selection, evaluation, and development of faculty and staff; in the review of academic programs; in the allocation of funds; and in the provision of information to the college community.
Collaborating: The VPAA collaborates with Division Chairs who make recommendations to him for appointments of new faculty members and their support staff. The VPAA collaborates with the President for final approval of new faculty members and their support staff.
Coordinating: The VPAA maintains a broad and coherent college perspective to meet the needs of the college community; the needs and character of the academic programs; and offers a quality learning environment for the college’s various academic divisions, programs, and services.
Dr. Frank A. James
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Myer L. Titus Building
Suite E
Office – 501.370.5276
Fax – 501.370.5399
fjames@philander.edu
fjames1868@comcast.net
Dr. Frank James was named Vice President for Academic Affairs in January 2007. In his nearly 30-year-career at PSC, Dr. James has served in various capacities, including Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs (October 2006-January 2007); Chairman of Mathematics and Computer Science (1988-2006); and Director of Computer Information Services, Professor of Mathematics (1999-Present).
He is now responsible for the day-to-day operations of the college's Academic Affairs Division, a team of professors and professionals who offer curricula that lead to more than 15 degree programs in six academic areas: Academic Success Program, Academic Advising, the Donald W. Reynolds Library & Technology Center, Institutional Research and Assessment, as well as accreditation, sponsored programs and grants.
Dr. James earned his B.A. in mathematics from Philander Smith College in 1961. He holds a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Arkansas, and a Ph.D. in mathematics from New York University. He joined the Philander Smith faculty in 1999 after serving as director of graduate studies and professor of mathematics at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (1985-1999). His other professional experiences include having served as a lecturer at Queens College in Flushing, New York (1970-1971) and assistant professor of mathematics at Grambling University (1965-1970).
Every day, Dr. James looks forward to serving students. All his efforts reinforce his goal—to work with his colleagues in providing PSC students with a quality education, critical thinking skills, and current technology so that they can develop their own leadership abilities as social justice advocates and contributing members of society.
Dr. Annie Winkler Williams (1967)
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Accreditation Director
Associate Professor of Business (Tenured)
B.A., Philander Smith College
M.S., University of Wisconsin at Madison
Ed.D., University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Office - 501.975.8506
Office - 501.370.5311
Fax - 501.370.5399
Email - amwilliams@philander.edu
Within the Office of Academic Affairs, her current duties are as follows:
Scheduling Academic Appeals
Reinstatements
Change of Grades
Transient Forms
Curriculum Issues
Withdrawals
Catalog
Accreditation Issues/Reports
Academic Calendar
Tia Hickman
Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Office - 501.370.5212
Fax - 501.370.5399
Email - chickman@philander.edu
Des’Ree Ellison
Administrative Assistant
Office - 501.370.5216
Fax - 501.370.5399
Email - dmcferguson@philander.edu
Accreditation
Philander Smith College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate degrees. The organization can be reached at www.higherlearningcommission.org.
Philander Smith College is approved by:
§ Arkansas Department of Education
http://arkedu.state.ar.us
§ University Senate of the United Methodist Church
www.gbhem.org/gbhem/senate.html
Philander Smith College has programmatic accreditation for the following academic programs through the following organizations:
§ Division of Business and Economics:
www.acbsp.org
§ Division of Education:
www.ncate.org
§ Division of Social Sciences, Social Work Department:
www.cswe.org
Students at the International Welcome Reception
August 2009
The international student population at Philander Smith is on rise once more after suffering setbacks following the tragic events of 9/11. With an aggressive recruiting campaign in the Bahamas and as a member of the Rwanda Presidential Scholars Program, more than 20 students on F1 visas from foreign countries are studying with us during the 09/10 academic year. Enrolled are 17 students from the Bahamas – one senior, one junior, five sophomores, and 10 freshmen; four from Rwanda – two sophomores and two freshmen; and one senior from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition we have students and faculty and staff who have origins in foreign countries including China, Haiti, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and Spain, Jamaica, Nigeria, Cameroon, Trinidad-Tobago, Palestine and South Korea.
The Rwanda Presidential Scholars Program was started by President Paul Kagame in 2006. The concept is that Rwanda would identify its best and brightest students in the sciences and arrange to have those students educated abroad in other countries. These students would be offered scholarships, earn a degree in the U.S. and then return home to help rebuild their country, which lost many of its leading minds in the genocide. The scholarships are sponsored by the Rwandan Government in agreement with several Arkansas and other U.S. colleges and universities. Through this Rwanda Presidential Scholars Consortium, 81 gifted and talented Rwandan students are now studying at 12 colleges and universities in five states. An important second phase is to allow a small group of students from these 12 higher education institutions to study, work, and engage in Rwanda and the region. Philander Smith has two students participating in the Rwanda and Uganda Study Abroad and Internship Program during the spring 2010 semester.
The International Student Advisor is Ms. Beverly Richardson.
FORMS
Absence Request Form.pdf
Academic Appeal Checklist.pdf
Academic Appeal Form.pdf
Adjunct Contact Form.pdf
Adjunct Leave Form.pdf
Adjunct Recommendation for Hire.pdf
Faculty Contact Form.pdf
Faculty Exit Interview.pdf
Faculty Leave Form.pdf
Faculty Recommendation for Hire.pdf
HBCU-UP Recommendation for Hire.pdf
New Course-Program flow chart.pdf
Outside Employment Verification Form.pdf
Student Absence Form.pdf
Vacation Request Form.pdf