Self-Study Design - Howard University, Graduate School

Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CETLA)
To enhance a culture of teaching and learning and to improve faculty development, Howard
created the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CETLA) dedicated to
fulfilling the University’s Mission with respect to faculty roles and responsibilities. CETLA
strives to build a community of faculty who are committed to scholarly teaching that is grounded
in theory and research. Through faculty training, instructional technology, interdisciplinary
collaboration, classroom assessment, and discussions of educational research, CETLA strives to
ensure that all students gain an educational experience of exceptional quality.
National Center for Atmospheric Sciences (NCAS)
In 2001, NOAA provided funding to Howard University to establish NCAS to conduct research
on critical issues related to the atmosphere and climate conditions in the United States and
globally. The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded a combined grant of $15 million to
Howard University, and four other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to establish the Center.
In 2006, the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Howard University an additional $12.5
million to continue its research and training efforts.
General Clinical Research Center (GCRC)
Through the GCRC program, the NIH’s National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) funds
a national network of approximately 78 centers that provide settings for medical investigators to
conduct safe, controlled, state-of-the-art, inpatient and outpatient studies of both children and
adults. The GCRC at Howard University is located in the 4-West wing of the Howard University
Hospital center. The GCRC’s resources include specialized research nurses, research dieticians,
biostatisticians, computer hardware and software systems for data management and analysis, and
sophisticated laboratories vital for both inpatient and outpatient research. In addition, Howard’s
GCRC has a strong record of recruiting African-American participants into clinical studies on
cardiovascular disease, lipid metabolism, hypertension, and mental health issues, among others.
GCRC also provides infrastructure and resources that support several career development
opportunities.
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program
Funded by the U.S. Department of State and managed by the Ralph J. Bunche International
Affairs Center at Howard University, the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate
Fellowship was established in 2002 to prepare students for careers in public service as Foreign
Service officers. The Rangel Fellows receive an annual tuition stipend, room, board, and other
related expenses for a 2-year master’s degree in international affairs or related topics. They also
participate in a Summer Enrichment Program and participate in internships at U.S. Embassies
overseas and on Capitol Hill. At the conclusion of 2 years of study, the Rangel Program expects
the fellows to obtain a degree in international affairs or another area of relevance to the work of
the Foreign Service, such as public administration, public policy, business administration,
foreign languages, economics, political science, and communications. Each fellow is committed
to a minimum of 3 years of service in an appointment as a Foreign Service Officer. The Rangel
Program encourages the involvement of members of minority groups and those with financial
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