Mason proposes retooling SUNO mission

Southern University System President Ron Mason is proposing a restructuring of Southern University at New Orleans in order to stave off a merger with the University of New Orleans. The Times-Picayune says Mason wants to create a new center at SUNO that would attempt to raise the university’s 8% graduation rate by focusing on the educational needs of black males. The center would be named after Gen. Russel Honore and would provide tutoring and mentoring to students, along with providing a place on campus in which 200 students could live. Mason is also proposing an Institute for Parents and Grandparents at SUNO that would concern itself with children’s prenatal care and early childhood education, in order to reduce the need for students to take remedial courses when they enroll in college. Mason told The Times-Picayune he implemented a similar program while he was president of Jackson State University and that the school saw its graduation rate jump from 27% to 47%. See the full story here.