CHARLOTTE, NC/August 13, 2026 - Johnson C. Smith University began another school year with a full house in Truist Auditorium in the New Science Center, welcoming both new and old faces back to campus as we begin a new academic year.
Alumni from the Charlotte Chapter of the Alumni Association welcomed staff into the auditorium, handing out snack bags as a measure of support as the University kicks off another school year.
“We hope to strengthen that relationship and continue this effort year after year,” explained Derrick Dillard ’00, president of the Charlotte Alumni Chapter. “We want our faculty and staff to know that they mean a great deal to the University and to us as alumni. We truly appreciate them.”
The conference kicked off with Provost and Chief Academic and Research Officer Dr. Patrick Martin, whose office organizes the event, welcoming everyone back.
“Demand excellence for your students. When they leave these nurtured grounds here at 100 Beatties Ford Road, they walk out of this protected area. Excellence is demanded of them. It is expected of them. So, we need to start that practice here in a safe environment,” said Martin.
Martin introduced new faces and reviewed many of the accomplishments from the past academic year.
Individually, the selection of Bianca Miller, Director of the Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence, as a fellow for the Advising Success Network Holistic Advising Fellows and Ambassador Program and the selection of Marlin Hicks into the inaugural Harvard Strategic Data Project for Minority Serving Institutions cohort were called out as examples of success.
The University also celebrated larger achievements like a 98% Senior Exit Survey and a marked increase in the number of end-of-course evaluation surveys. The number of new reports and dashboards built nearly tripled the goal, so administrators have more information available to make decisions.
One of our biggest achievements was the unqualified audit last semester, meaning external auditors found no issues in our financial records. Additionally, the Financial Aid department and payroll were brought into the Division of Finance, allowing for greater efficiency and oversight over the University’s finances, an important factor in getting the University off probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the University’s accrediting body.
The University’s Ethics Team won the North Carolina Independent College and University’s Ethics Bowl Championship, the first-ever HBCU to do so, and the Sean Carter Foundation accepted the University into their financial literacy program as well, on the academic side.
Athletics had an outstanding year, of course, with the University’s first CIAA championship win since 1969 and the team’s first NCAA Division II playoff game. That team also had 12 football student-athletes earn all-CIAA honors and two receiving All-American recognition. Men’s Outdoor Track finished as a CIAA runner-up, and eight students, four men and four women, earned 2026 NCAA Division II outdoor track all-regional honors.
The University generated $3.2 million last fiscal year, and alumni contributions exceeded $1 million for the eighth year in a row, just $23,000 short of $2 million. Government Sponsored Programs (GSPAR) generated over $1 million in grants in the past fiscal year. Both Institutional Advancement and GSPAR have also undergone personnel changes to allow for even greater success this year.
Additionally, the University has made strides in facility operations. The Greenfield residence hall has been brought back online for incoming freshman students, and new leadership is in place for facilities. The University also completed a comprehensive deferred maintenance plan that has established a framework for addressing the institution’s long-term facility needs.
HR has successfully onboarded several strong candidates into new roles at the University and transitioned to a new recruiting platform to continue finding qualified candidates.
The University also successfully launched the CBI University on campus to help contractors looking to work with the City of Charlotte access the knowledge and resources they need. Martin also highlighted a partnership with Commonwealth Charlotte, Ally Bank and JCSU to bring greater financial literacy to our students.
“Excellence is probably always a chase. I think if you ask some of the most successful people in the world, they’re always chasing excellence and not perfection.’ Explained Martin. “And once they attain it, they move the bar.”
Dr. Valorie Kinloch, 15th President of JCSU, gave the inspirational keynote speech.
“This is the year that we don’t just continue to talk about transformation, and we don’t continue to just talk about excellence. This has to be the year that we demonstrate it,” she explained.
Kinloch explained this is a pivotal year for the institution and emphasized that this would be the year that we move beyond discussing transformation and move to measurable action.
“It’s not what I think we need to do. It is what we will do. It is not what I believe we can accomplish. It’s what we will accomplish,” she explained.
President Kinloch also identified that sustainability and compliance were critical priorities this year. She pointed out the strides that the University had already made in compliance, like achieving a clean financial audit, strengthening internal controls and adopting 19 new policies.
“I’m going just to say that sustainability is the word for the whole year,” she explained.
She went on to explain that the focus must be on sustaining that effort so the University will come off SACSCOC probation and ensure we have a stable base from which to operate that will prevent probation in the future.
“On the other side of hard is beautiful. And I want you to know this. On the other side of hard and challenging, the things that I might never see in your lives, and you might never see in my life because we show up the way we show up every day to do this work,” Kinloch said.
Kinloch also discussed the beginnings of a new strategic plan that will focus on inspiring academic excellence, fostering student success, creating an environment of belonging and well-being, creating and maintaining strategic partnerships and continuing to advance operational excellence and effectiveness.
She said that this year, the plan would go to working groups throughout the University community to gather feedback so we can create a new roadmap for the University’s future.
Kinloch also emphasized a need for investment in faculty and staff, student career readiness, data-informed decision-making, strategic enrollment growth, fundraising and philanthropy and infrastructure improvements, all to support JCSU’s role as an anchor institution in Charlotte’s Historic West End.
“The University is the light because we are the light. And we need to understand that and believe that,” said Kinloch. “Even as we engage in trials and tribulations, even when we have some of our hardest times, our challenging moments, we always have to remember our core.”
The president also spoke about the physical transformation of campus, including the demolition of the A&P on campus and Liston Hall. She stressed that redevelopment will respect our history but also create opportunities for the University’s future.
The afternoon included teaching sessions with faculty and staff, with a deep dive to better understand how to use the resources provided by Government Sponsored Programs and the University’s strengthened Business and Finance Policies. This was to further all employees’ knowledge of those policies so that, as an institution, we can ensure compliance.
Lunch was also provided on the block by several food trucks, providing faculty and staff a moment to fellowship and eat with one another.
Student move-in into the residence halls will happen over the weekend. Wednesday, August 19 will mark the first day of classes for all traditional students.
