Transformation at JCSU
The Office of Transformation Initiatives (OOTI) was established at JCSU in 2021 to propel Johnson C. Smith University into becoming a top-tier HBCU. OOTI leads transformation activities within the institution ensuring that JSCU continues to innovate to meet the needs of our students while maintaining our legacy of impact within our community.
The mission of the Office of Transformation Initiatives is to support the expansion of our institutional capacity for sustainability and resilience. OOTI provides support and resources for transformative efforts at Johnson C. Smith University to create tangible solutions to institutional challenges in an ever-evolving Higher Education landscape. We collaborate with faculty, staff, students, administration, and external partners to enhance the quality of the JCSU experience through continuous improvement while amplifying the success stories of our campus community.
Focused on the opportunity to achieve racial equity, social justice, economic opportunity, and upward mobility—Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, launched an initiative for transformational public-private partnerships.
The initiative is focused on solutions-driven, measurable strategies that produce equitable access, opportunities, and outcomes for Charlotte’s communities of color, including bridging the digital divide, investing in six neighborhood corridors of opportunity, catalyzing employer commitment, and transforming Johnson C. Smith University for the future.
The $80M commitment to transforming Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) for the future is set to position JCSU as a top-tier HBCU by growing the university’s academic offerings, recruiting top talent through career-oriented incentives, and appointing a transformation leader who will champion positive change. JCSU’s transformation will build on its legacy of expanding educational and economic equity for increasingly diverse groups of students and position it as a leader in the talent development pipeline for the Charlotte metro region.
United Negro College Fund