Success by degrees: Augusta's Paine College eyes more opportunities under new president
The Rev. Dr. Lester A. McCorn, Paine College's 18th president, emphasized five key principles for student success: faith, family, focus, fight, and fortitude.
McCorn highlighted the need for Paine College to align its academic programs with in-demand job markets such as healthcare, cybersecurity, and hospitality.
A transition team is working to revitalize Paine College and address past financial challenges that threatened its accreditation.
Paine College's new president on Wednesday issued five F's to the student body, and they couldn't have been happier.
Speaking at the school's annual Convocation, kicking off the historically Black college's 143rd year, the Rev. Dr. Lester A. McCorn stressed faith, family, focus, fight and fortitude as pillars on which graduates can build successful lives.
"This is an iconic institution that is steadily being reminded of its greatness," Paine's 18th president said. "You have my word that I will give the students and this instituton the very best I have because that is what you deserve."
Speaking after the convocation, McCorn stressed Paine's need to focus more of its academics toward "the demand of the marketplace" in fields such as health care, cybersecurity and hospitality. Each of those employment sectors figure strongly into Augusta's economy, and their employers can partner with the college to strengthen its academic offerings.
"Our degrees need to represent where the jobs are," he said, particularly since some cybersecurity positions can start new employees at six-figure salaries.
"That's a game-changer," McCorn said. "For students who are low-wealth, who come from challenging backgrounds, first-generation students, getting a good education at Paine College, and setting you up upon completion making over $100,000 a year? That's the value proposition of a Paine education."
Meet McCorn:Augusta's historically Black college selects a new president with a thick academic résumé
A transition team of about 30 people, led by new school Provost Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilkes have been meeting to flesh out a new vision for Paine. That forward movement hopes to leave behind Paine's financial difficulties that several years ago threatened the college's academic accreditation.
"We're being honest with ourselves about where Paine is," McCorn said. "We've talked about our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. We're beginning to lay the groundwork for the future vision of Paine College."
Perhaps the biggest threat to Paine's existence receded Wednesday. While the convocation continued in Augusta, the federal Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C., formally rescinded a memorandum from President Donald Trump that would have frozen all federal grants and loans.
At Paine, more than 95% of the small student body rely on federal financial aid to help pay tuition. Restricting access to those funds would have delivered a painful blow to the college.
Whatever the final outcome, McCorn said, Paine will be watching the issue closely and "we want it to be in our favor, as an institution that's dependent on federal aid. It's not just Paine College. It's not just HBCUs. All institutions of higher learning would be affected."
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