CU’s Greatness, Innovation, Integrity Plan Takes off -University’s President Recounts Success Stories

MONROVIA – Since the global community graduated from the valley of antiquity and the analog era to the amiable plain of ICT, information and communication technology, there has been spiraled competition amongst regions and countries and institutions to innovate and revolutionize very spere of life and to lead others in those domains. The epicenters of the competition have been learning centers—mainly colleges and universities of the competing forces. Truth is, while many are far advanced, others are creeping behind. That’s why, apparently, one of the Liberia’s premier centers of knowledge, the Cuttington University, be its undergraduate and post-graduate programs, has mainstreamed innovation and modernization towards greatness and integrity. At its 62^nd Convocation held Saturday, June 15, the President of the University declared the takeoff of its flagship strategic program called Greatness, Innovation and Integrity or GII Plan which has since been producing impactful results. The Analyst reports.

The Cuttington University (CU) is pretty in midair of greatness and innovation as its academic programs, powered by its strategic plan, has since taken off in earnest.

It can be recalled that two years ago, during its 60^th Diamond Jubilee Commencement, CU’s president, Romelle A. Horton, laid out a novel vision for the development and growth of the University towards Lighting, Feeding and Growing CU, as reflection of determination to occupy the highest tier in Liberian higher education.

At that time, the EU prexy divulged that the vision emphasized three critical interconnected spheres—student success, service and research—to form the foundation for the university’s future, and the goal was to inspire each component of the university to greatness, with a meaningful impact on society that ranges from each individual student to the large public.

Three years later, Dr. Horton joyously reported that the Scorpion Kingdom’s overarching plan, tagged “Greatness, Innovation and Integrity (GII) Plan”, has since taken off and producing verifiable results.

“We continue to make history in our nation, Liberia,” she said in a special statement delivered at the 62^nd held at the Samuel Ferguson Hall on the Suakoko main campus. We launched the first doctoral program in the nation’s history and the first Dental Program,” said, adding: “Today, I am pleased to recognize, Dr. Simon Stretton-Downes, his lovely wife Grace, Ms. Angie and all who brought this vision to reality. And most proud to announce that today we are graduating our first batch of Dental Therapist in the Republic of Liberia. These remarkable seven Dental Therapists, Dr. Horton disclosed, were expected to be deployed in various communities across Liberia.

Still recounting the GII accomplishments, the CU boss noted: “Today, we are also pleased to announce our first batch of graduates from our partnership with the USAID-TESTS program that is Transforming the Education System for Teachers and Students.

Seventeen teachers, six in Early Childhood Education and eleven in Primary Education will be stepping out in the world to transform the education of our children for the better.  In the same vein, I’m happy to announce the expansion of our partnership with the TESTS program.”

According to her, USAID-TESTS has committed to an additional 120 scholarships; 100 students at our Kakata Campus, Cuttington Junior College, and 20 students at our Suakoko campus – bringing us to a total of 217 scholarships to train teachers.

She urged aspiring teachers to seize their opportunity and apply for these scholarships, adding: “Our sincere thanks to Lisa Deyo, who began this process with us and has now left it into the capable and visionary hands of Liana Gertsch and Dr. Mator Kpangbai. From the Scorpion Kingdom – we say thank you USAID TESTS.”

Dr. Horton further boasted that the GII Plan of Greatness, Innovation and Integrity was moving, “and we are not done yet”.

“This year our College of Nursing, at both the Junior College and Suakoko campus, scored the highest marks in CU’s history for reaccreditation, 93 out of a 100-point for the Physician Assistant Program, the only BSC program in the country and 92.5 for the Nursing Program – Congratulations Scorpions.”

Charging Of Graduates

As a tradition, Dr. Horton on behalf of the Board and faculty, administered a charge to the graduates whom she fondly called “my precious diamonds”.

She declared: “I offer my most sincere congratulations to each of you. My special congratulations extend, also, to your parents, guardians, families, and friends. They share in your achievement. And likewise, I congratulate our Diamond Shiners, the faculty and staff who gave you knowledge and support, leading you on the road to this great moment.

“Graduates, in taking on the rigorous demands of a Cuttington education, and in succeeding, you have accomplished something difficult, but worthwhile, that will stand you in good stead throughout your lives.

“Today, however, I want to focus on a different kind of challenge: Know Yourselves. Do not be too easily swayed by the noise in the market or by what someone says or does. “There is in you something that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine, the greatness, in yourself. Nobody like you has ever been born and no one like you will ever be born again. You are the only you that have ever lived; and if you cannot hear the sound of the genuine, the greatness in you, you will spend all your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls – Cultivate the discipline of listening to the sound of the genuine in yourself.”

Continuing the charge to the graduates, she emphasized. “When the stakes are extremely high, when you must rise to the occasion, do so with discipline and integrity. Your legacies may be determined by mere moments in time. These moments may take the form of a crisis, or a window of opportunity that opens unexpectedly, inviting you down a new path with greater responsibilities if you have the courage to choose it. Many years of preparation, hard work, and experience can be tested in an instant. Think before you react – this is leadership. This is greatness.”

The CU President reminded the graduates with the words of William Shakespeare who once said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,” and she added: “It does not matter how you arrive at those moments, all of us face such moments in our lives—don’t let pride and wanting to show off, define your moment – think before you react.

“As you leave us for wonderful careers and lives, I hope that you continue to develop the character that will allow you to act with great honor and discipline always but especially in a crisis – And if, in such a moment, you worry that you may not be able to live up to what is expected of you, or what you expect of yourself—I hope you remember that greatness is in you – be great! You all have grown—in multiple dimensions and like the alumni who preceded you, it is now your turn to take your education and use it to serve humanity, your community and your nation. Do not ever forget where you came from – Cuttington and the community from which you came.  Give back.”

Then she concluded: “You are more than ready for life—Be confident. Be compassionate. And most of all, THINK BEFORE YOU REACT – cause your reaction, will show the breadth of your character. Now is the time to dream, to think big, and to imagine and pursue what YOU want to become. What you are now, is God’s gift to you – what you become is your gift to God, Yourself, Cuttington, Liberia and the world.”