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Howard Communications Adviser Resigns After a Month

By Amie McLain
Black College Wire

After only one month as assistant academic adviser in Howard University�s School of Communication, Michael Andrews has resigned.

Andrews was hired shortly before fall registration to replace the assistant adviser, Trevor Leiba, who resigned in July.

In an interview with the student newspaper The Hilltop prior to his resignation, Andrews complained of the university's lack of organization.

"It would be very frustrating, as I would send students to the Administration building and employees there would send them elsewhere," Andrews said. "Students would come back upset; it often would seem as though I did not know what I was doing."

Efforts to contact Andrews after his resignation were unsuccessful.

The dean of the School of Communications confirmed that Andrews resigned because he was frustrated.

"It is my understanding he felt overwhelmed." Jannette Dates said. "He came on board just before registration and he had not worked in such an environment."

Dates also said Andrews did not receive help from his predecessor, Leiba, because Andrews had come on board too late.

"He had to hit the ground running and proceed with registration with very little training," Dates said.

Some students and staff members who did not want to be named said Andrews departure could partially be due to a personality conflict with his direct supervisor, Caroline Cramer, senior adviser.

However, Cramer denied that.

"Mr. Andrews was very happy and we got along very well," Cramer said. "He is about to get married and may have decided to explore other options elsewhere."

Veronica Jordan, a sophomore student worker in the School of Communications, has witnessed first hand frustration among administrators.

"I have realized that most workers that stay for a short while often complain that the departments they've worked for are unorganized and unprofessional," Jordan said. "They often leave due to frustration."

Clintandra Thompson, a senior television production major, said she could understand why Andrews would resign.

"It is unfair to dump a new administrator into a new job during 'peak season' with very little instruction about [his] responsibilities," Thompson said. "It is also unfair to students to have administrators who do not know how to do their job."

Andrews was hired a day before registration. In a Sept. 13 Hilltop 13 article, Andrews spoke of the lack of transitional assistance.

"It's been hectic, especially with little preparation and guidance from the University," Andrews said. "I was really on my own but the help of students and faculty has made a difference."

Eugena Smith, a sophomore film major, believes the inability for the administration to keep a consistent academic adviser illustrates a hidden problem within the School of Communications.

"With two advisers resigning in less two months, it makes you wonder what's really going on behind closed doors of the School of Communication." Smith said.

Andrews is a graduate of James Madison University, where he received a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in education.

Before coming to Howard, Andrews worked with the D.C. College Access program, which prepares high school students for college.

Cramer said until a replacement is hired, she will serve as the adviser for the more than 900 students in the School of Communications until a replacement is hired.

Dates assured students that a replacement has been found and said she will fill that position soon.

"We have hired a new person for the position," Dates said. " She is coming from a university in the Midwest and has experience in academic counseling and may not be as overwhelmed as Mr. Andrews." The new adviser could assume the job as early as the first week of October.

Amie McLain is a Howard University student who writes for The Hilltop.