 In 1998, Howard made a personal effort to expand the Nurturing Initiative and Achievements (NIA) in Students Mentor Program at the College by offering a distance learning program at San José, Costa Rica.Howard went to Costa Rica in order to inaugurate a network that connects San Jose's Lincoln School with the College, as well as Clarence Central, Grover Cleveland, and City Honors high schools.Reported in a 1998 "Buffalo News" article was that Howard envisioned in 1995 that the Carriage House on the property of the President's Residence could be transformed into a guest house.