ByLion--May 9

IN THIS ISSUE ... 

Southeastern Total Mobile Access

Pilot program expands college access

Students to conduct research in Japan

Ballard recognized for service

Students work for clean energy

Rape crisis program presented

Top grant recipients recognized

Students help family with sick child

Military recruiting videos studied

Native plants topic of summer course

Extended Studies news

Southeastern in the news

This week in Athletics

Professional activities


Southeastern to introduce Total Mobile Access   Super app released
Abundant and easy access to Southeastern Louisiana University’s online resources and services are now at students’ fingertips.
     Want to check on grades? Need to know where your financial aid stands? Looking to map out next semester’s classes? These things and much more are now available through the university’s new total mobile access service.
     The groundbreaking concept is designed for use with iPhones, Androids, iPads and any other kind of “smart” device. There will no longer be the need to fire up the laptop or find a computer in order to maneuver through the university’s online data systems.
     “It’s not an app; it’s so much more than an app,” said Chief Information Officer Mike Asoodeh.
     He explained the service uses a different type of technology than traditional phone “Apps,” and does not require an App download. Users can simply go to Web site www.selu.edu/m for portal access.
     In the initial launch this week, students are now able to access the status of their financial aid and other financials, grades and term details, class schedules and class details, a course catalog, and their individual planners. In addition, faculty will be able to look up student information, review class rosters, teaching schedules, and grades.
     “We anticipate registration will be in place in time for the fall semester,” Asoodeh said.
     The mobile access technology is something “few universities are doing right now,” Asoodeh said. “In fact, other universities are looking at what we’re doing because this is truly innovative.”
     HighPoint Consulting is working with Southeastern to allow integration of its PeopleSoft Campus Solutions student system into user-friendly formats that will be immediately accessible via mobile devices. Asoodeh said “the technology employed by HighPoint is made for PeopleSoft.” 
     “There is a growing demand for this kind of service,” he said. “Our students and future students are the ‘Net Generation.’ They have grown up on video games and the Web, and they expect to be able to transact business and communicate via their mobile phones and other Web-linked devices. This is the number one technology project for the university as we move into enterprise document and content management.”
     “We had several students testing the system over the last several weeks, and they love it,” said Enrollment Services Director Lori Fairburn. “All the information they need about their course work, class and exam schedules and anything about Southeastern is immediately available to them.”
     “This is great,” said sophomore Sarah Boyett of Metairie, who tried out the piloted edition. “It’s user-friendly and everything you need is at the push of a button.”
     Sophomore Kayla Pittman of Angie, who uses an iPhone 3g, said the service will be especially useful during the first few weeks of a semester because it allows her to view her class times and locations. “It’s easy to use and gives me the ability to instantly review my grades and gpa,” she said.
     Asoodeh said Southeastern’s current iPhone App, developed last month, will remain available in its pure App form, however all its features will also be folded into the new system.
     The complete structure is expected to be fully operational before the start of the fall semester, Asoodeh said.


Southeastern, Northshore Technical College partner in pilot program to expand college access   
Southeastern and Northshore Technical College are piloting a program this semester in an attempt to expand student access to post-secondary education and workforce training on the northshore.
     Through the partnership, students who did not meet the new higher admission standards at Southeastern are enrolled with Northshore Technical College (NTC) in developmental math and English courses. The students can also work toward industry-based certifications, participate in workforce training opportunities and obtain career counseling. NTC is teaching the courses on the Southeastern campus, using the university’s established curricula and faculty who meet the necessary qualifications required by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools so that the course credits will be readily transferrable to Southeastern or other post-secondary education institutions.
     “The GRAD Act legislation enacted last year encourages universities to raise admission standards and collaborate more closely with community and technical colleges,” said Southeastern President John L. Crain. “We hope this program, as it grows and evolves, will help ensure access to post-secondary education for students who do not meet our increased admissions criteria and who do not have convenient access to community college services in their particular communities. By partnering closely with Northshore Technical College, the program also allows us to share resources so students can be served more efficiently.”
     William Wainwright, Northshore dean and regional director, said the pilot project emerged from a rapid response opportunity which identified demand occupations in the region to include training in green technology and computer information technology.
     “Working closely with Southeastern’s administration, we identified students who didn’t meet the university’s admission requirements. We wanted to be able to provide them with the opportunity to meet those entrance requirements while also being engaged in a relevant technical training program leading to employment opportunities within the region,” Wainwright said.
     He said a long-standing cooperative relationship with Southeastern made the partnership on the pilot program easy to implement.
     “We both have the best interests of the students at heart,” he added. “These students will be able to continue at NTC, transfer to Southeastern or pursue some other work readiness program. The effort is designed to promote job readiness, expand student access, and create opportunities for students that will enhance career planning and increase workforce participation.”
Read more


Southeastern students to conduct summer research in JapanPatrick Flowers, left, and Katelyn Dreux   
Two Southeastern chemistry students will spend seven weeks this summer in Toyko where they will be performing specialized experimental materials research.
     Katelyn Dreux, a senior from Slidell, and Patrick Flowers, a junior from Ponchatoula will be working at Tokyo Denki University to study and characterize the bonding strength of various thin films on different materials. Flowers will perform experimental work using a laser interferometer, and Dreux will conduct computer simulations to interpret the data.
     Their trip is sponsored by a National Science Foundation grant awarded to Southeastern physics Professor Sanichiro Yoshida. The grant is designed to encourage student experimental research in physics. Southeastern maintains a collaborative agreement with TDU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.
     Yoshida and his students have been studying and characterizing the mechanical properties of materials, demonstrating that areas of weakness can be detected through the use of a laser interferometer. Yoshida holds two patents for his work using the laser interferometer to identify weakness in materials.
     Yoshida said the students will be a safe distance from any of the contaminated areas of the country that resulted from the tsunami that struck northern Japan in March. He said he checks regularly with colleagues in Tokyo on the conditions in the area.
     “If there were any concerns for our students’ safety, we would not be making this trip,” said Yoshida, who will accompany the students to his homeland.
     Both students are looking forward to the trip.
     “I’m very excited about this opportunity,” said Dreux, who is focusing on getting into graduate school. “The research is interesting, and getting to visit another country is a bonus. It’s going to be a lot of work, but a lot of fun as well.”
     “This is a priceless opportunity to do research, collaborate with Japanese scientists and learn about Japanese culture,” added Flowers.


Ballard recognized for service by international counseling groupMary Ballard   
Mary Ballard, interim assistant dean of the Southeastern College of Education and Human Development, has been honored with the Outstanding Leadership Award from the International Association of Marriage and Family Counseling.
     A division of the American Counseling Association, the IAMFC serves clinicians, counselor educators and students from around the world who have an interest in the issues surrounding counseling couples and families.
     A resident of Mandeville, Ballard served on the IAMFC Board of Directors  for over eight years, including two years as president. She was instrumental in expanding the organization’s presence in Europe through its sponsored Northampton Summer Institute in Northampton, England. She also served on the planning committee for the IAMFC’s first annual conference which brought together world renowned speakers for its program in New Orleans in 2004.
     The award has only been presented on four previous occasions and recognizes those individuals whose service to the organization has gone above and beyond the prescribed duties. Ballard will continue to serve on the executive board as past president until her service ends July 1.


Reconnect students work for clean energy in Washington D.C.Hope Johnson, left, and Allegra Weldon   
In April, several Southeastern students attended Powershift 2011, a clean energy and environmental awareness conference held every two years in Washington D.C. Ten thousand students from across the U.S. attended. 
     Students and Reconnect, an environmental and social justice awareness club, members Bonnie May (M.S. Sociology), Hope Johnson (General Studies/Sociology), Allegra Weldon (Communications) and Johnathan Reynolds (Communications) attended and participated in several workshops focused on moving the nation further toward clean energy. 
     Among the keynote speakers at the conference this year were Al Gore and Van Jones. On the last day of the conference, thousands of Powershifters came together and marched through downtown Washington to Capitol Hill and the Chamber of Commerce.  Team leaders were able to speak to senators and representatives of their respective states about the Powershift movement and environmental issues that it wishes to heal through community and local economic development.
     Reconnect was also able to attend and be involved in the Real Food Challenge workshop, which is a current Reconnect project to put locally grown, sustainably produced food in the Caymen Cafeteria.

Above, right, Hope Johnson (left) and Allegra Weldon (right), at Powershift 2011.


Southeastern assists in rape crisis program for high school freshmenSafe dates program presented   
A Southeastern instructor and graduate students in the counseling program facilitated “Safe Dates,” part of the District Attorney’s Tri-Parish Rape Crisis Program at Springfield High School in April.
     “The purpose of the program was to teach high school students about healthy relationships,” says Lorett Swank, Southeastern instructor and rape crisis coordinator for District Attorney’s office. “The students are starting to figure out what works in relationships and what doesn’t; we wanted to teach them the skills to identify good and bad relationships and what to do about them.”
     Safe Dates is an evidence-based curriculum designed to raise students’ awareness of what constitutes healthy and abusive dating relationships. It also equips students with the skills and resources to help themselves or friends in abusive dating relationships
     Swank, along with graduate counseling students, Erin Rode, Samonica Brown, Cheryl Jones and Laura Miller, presented the program to the freshmen class and aided the discussion with scenarios, activities and handouts.
     The presenters also helped students examine the differences between emotional, psychological, and physical abuse in relationship.
     “We found that the students were very concerned, interested and honest,” said Swank. “A lot of the students said they had already been in violent relationships by ninth grade.”
     She noted the following facts and statistics:
About 12 percent of U.S. students report having been physically victimized by a dating partner in the previous year.
About one in four students report having been psychologically abused by a dating partner in the previous year.
Dating abuse begins as early as sixth grade
Young women between the ages of 14 and 17 represent 38 percent of those victimized by acquaintance rape.

Above: General Studies Instructor Lorett Swank, far right, worked with several graduate counseling students to produce the program “Safe Dates” presented last month at Springfield High School. With her, from left, are students Erin Rode, Cheryl Jones, Samonica Brown, and Laura Miller.


Top grant recipients recognizedTop grant recipients honored   
Southeastern’s top grant award recipients were recognized by the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs at a reception last week. Pictured are, front row, from left, OSRP Director Cheryl E. Hall, Bonnie Lewis of the Southeastern Social Science Research Center (SSRC); June Taylor, TRIO programs; and Camille Yates, Department of Teaching and Learning; back row, from left, Willa Steward, School of Nursing; William Joubert, director, Southeast Louisiana Business Center; Erin Matheny, SSRC; Colleen Klein-Ezell, Department of Teaching and Learning; and Kyle Piller, Department of Biological Sciences.


Southeastern students rally around family with sick baby   
When Southeastern senior Chase Lawson heard the story of a Ponchatoula baby who suffers from a rare, life-threatening skin condition, he recruited several classmates to raise funds to ease the financial burdens on the family.
     And when he learned the baby is the son of former Southeastern baseball player Randy Roth, Lawson and his colleagues were even more motivated to help someone in their extended Southeastern family.
     Now the four students – Lawson, Ross Barbier, and members of the Lions baseball team Cody Gougler and Torin Lucas – are combining their efforts to stage the Tripp Roth fund raising event to be held in conjunction with the Southeastern Lions’ baseball game Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m. against conference foe Stephen F. Austin. The date is especially appropriate as it is the young honoree’s second birthday.
     The students are enlisting area businesses to pledge money based on attendance at the game, and they are accepting straight donations from businesses and individuals as well. The event will also include a cash-only silent auction.
     “The area businesses are responding,” said Lawson, a sport management senior from Covington. “Some are making pledges, some are offering items for the silent auction, and others are making cash donations.”
     Lawson said Southeastern’s students are also getting involved.
     “The players are making donations, Delta Tau Delta fraternity contributed more than $800 they recently raised, and the Sport Management Association has donated money raised in 3-on-3 basketball tournaments,” he said. “It’s encouraging to see that kind of support.”
     Tripp Roth suffers from the genetic skin condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa, or E.B. Since the slightest touch or friction can cause severe skin reactions and blisters, Tripp is continuously covered in ointment and wrapped in thick bandages. He requires oxygen and a feeding tube, and while insurance covers much of his medical costs, significant expenses mount up on over-the-counter medications, special fleece-lined diapers and other supplies.
     “Chase Lawson and Ross Barbier are both in my sport marketing course this semester, but this project is something that is completely voluntary on their behalf,” said their instructor Ashley Bowers in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies. “They, along with fellow sport management students, are extremely passionate about community service. When they heard a family in our community was in need, they jumped on board to organize this event. They are real honor students – not just because they earn high grades in their courses, but more importantly because of their selflessness and willingness to serve the community.”
     For more information about the event or to contribute to the cause, contact Lawson at Chase.Lawson@selu.edu or at 985-502-1389.
     Tickets for the game at Southeastern’s Alumni Field are available at the gate or through the Web site Lionsports.net.


Military recruiting videos create misconceptions about real war, research suggestsAnn O'Connor   
War-based video games create misleading conceptions of real war scenarios and conditions for military recruits, a research study conducted by a Southeastern Louisiana University graduate student suggests.
     Ann O’Connor, a graduate student in the university’s Organization Communication program, said video games used by the military to attract young recruits are designed to show a “slice of military life.”
     “But enlistees are finding a different setting wherein new training strategies are teaching soldiers restraint and not impulse shooting,” O’Connor said.
     Her research – which included a critical analysis of over 20 psychology, communication and military journals as well as content analysis of military gaming sites – suggests that using violent video games to attract new recruits is engraining behaviors that are not engendered in typical military training, but instead are more aggressive, impulsive and free of consequences. The study was sponsored by a Marine Corps University Fellowship.
     “There seems to be contradicting messages in the recruiting video games and actual military service protocol. This excessive exposure to violent gaming may pre-condition new recruits in a manner that is counterproductive to the organization’s mission,” said O’Connor, who lived and worked in the Middle East for more than 10 years. She frequently shares her insight into the Middle East culture with groups of soldiers bound for deployment.
     O’Connor’s study included an analysis of military recruitment tactics over the years, ranging from initial advertising efforts in the mid-1980s by the U.S. Army that focused on reasons for joining such as self-improvement, funds for college and service to country to the use of video arcades in 2008 in urban recruitment centers. The multi-million dollar centers offer teens free access to unique full-scale simulators in helicopters and armed Humvees. The centers garnered significant criticism in the news media for distorting reality and in some cases glamorizing conflict.
     “The reality is that video gaming is a big selling tool to young adults,” she said. “But there is a preponderance of evidence suggesting there is a long-term cognitive bias toward aggressive behavior in individuals who routinely play violent video games.
     “Enlistees recruited from video gaming centers and deployed to combat situations may have difficulty defining what proper military protocols to utilize during situations where soldiers are required to interact with non-combatant nationals,” she added.
     O’Connor said the military is starting to come to terms with this conflict by recognizing that modern day warfare and culture can come to a middle ground, where once complex cultural problems were perceived as aggressive actions. The Army is now employing video simulation games designed to teach communication skills that help soldiers develop relationships with tribal leaders. The cultural element, she said, is being recognized as an equal to the military element.
     O’Connor expects that more improved gaming strategies will be developed to include social interaction as a key component to success in missions, and the ability to choose “win-win” outcomes can be added to more accurately portray the average soldier’s role.


Louisiana’s native plants topic of summer courseRick E. Miller   
The native plants of Louisiana will be the topic of a Southeastern course this summer session that is open to students and members of the community.
     “Our focus will be on learning about the exciting local Louisiana flora,” said Rick E. Miller, associate professor of biological sciences and instructor for the course. “The course will include frequent field trips to habitats in our area as well as lectures and lab activities.”
     The class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in the Biology Building from June 7 to July 26.
     “We meet early to beat the heat for our field trips,” Miller explained.
     Although an upper level biology course, he said the course may be taken as an elective by Southeastern students or for enjoyment by community members who can enroll through Southeastern’s Special Program for Adults. Louisiana residents 60 years of age and older can take up to three credit hours per semester tuition free.
     Application deadline for the summer session is June 1. For information on the process, contact the Office of Admissions at 985-549-5636 or 1-800-222-7358 or visit the Web site, selu.edu.
     “This is a very popular course and in the past we’ve attracted students with varying backgrounds,” Miller said. “We try to immerse them into our fascinating world of Louisiana’s native plants.”
     He said field trips involve learning the characteristics and names of 25 new plants on each excursion as he lectures on important plant families and an overview of flowering plant systematics. Labs cover the different parts of plants, especially flowers, use of herbarium specimens for identification and examining representative specimens of plant families.
     For additional information, contact Miller at 985-549-5556 or via email at rickmiller@selu.edu.


Extended Studies news   

Northshore Excellence in Teaching with Technology (NETT) 2011
Southeastern, Delgado Community College, and St. Tammany Parish Schools in conjunction with other local school boards, present an award winning technology conference designed to advance the skills of educators and encourage the use of emerging technologies in education, businesses and communities throughout the region. The conference qualifies for banking hours for STPSB teachers.
     This year’s theme is “Social Media: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.” The event is Thursday, June 16, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost to attend is $50 and includes breakfast and lunch. Door prizes will be given away, including an iPad. For more information, call 985-893-6251 or visit www.nettconference.org/home.php.

 

Mandeville
Small Business Recharge (May 17, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Attendees will be guided through a process from diagnosing their small business problems, to creating a strategy and beyond. At the conclusion of the course, the attendee will have completed a written strategic plan for growing their business. The cost is $395.

Grantsmanship: Basics and Beyond (May 17 and 19, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.)
Attendees will learn in-depth tips on grant research, how to collect, analyze and report grant data, where to find appropriate grant opportunities, and the principle steps of writing an exceptional grant. Effective grant budgeting, IRS tips, and evaluation information will also be provided within this course. 1 CEU credit will be provided.  The cost is $195.

Writing the Winning Grant (Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning June 21, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.)
This course provides the participant with a comprehensive understanding of when, how, and why a grant is appropriate for an organization. Participants will learn in-depth tips on grant research, how to collect, analyze and report data, where to find appropriate grant opportunities, and the principle steps of writing an exceptional grant. 1 CEU credit will be provided.  The cost is $245.

 

Walker
Grantsmanship: Basics and Beyond (June 7 and 9, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.)
Attendees will learn in-depth tips on grant research, how to collect, analyze and report grant data, where to find appropriate grant opportunities, and the principle steps of writing an exceptional grant. Effective grant budgeting, IRS tips, and evaluation information will also be provided within this course. 1 CEU credit will be provided.  The cost is $195.
The cost is $195.

Writing the Winning Grant (Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning July 12, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.)
This course provides the participant with a comprehensive understanding of when, how, and why a grant is appropriate for an organization. Participants will learn in-depth tips on grant research, how to collect, analyze and report data, where to find appropriate grant opportunities, and the principle steps of writing an exceptional grant. 1 CEU credit will be provided.  The cost is $245.

 

Zoom into Careers (June 20 to 23)
Career workshops for high school students. All workshops are June 20 to 23. An overnight option is available in Hammond.

Zoom into Culinary Arts (9 a.m.-4 p.m., White Hall; $280/$295)
Students can get a taste for a career in the culinary arts. With over 15 years of experience, chef Kevin Foil will organize participants into various positions needed to run a successful kitchen.
    
Zoom into Inventing (9 a.m.-4 p.m., Anzalone Hall; $280/$295)
Michael Beauvais, assistant professor of industrial technology, and other design professionals, will teach the fundamentals of sketching, and building parts and solid models using the modeling software AutoDesk Inventor.

 

Zoom into Photography (9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Tammany Center, $280/$295)
Led by certified professional photographer Chuck Billiot, students are taught the instructor’s “dare to be unique” approach to learning skills directly applicable to a career as a professional photographer.

 

Zoom into Television (9 a.m.-4 p.m., Southeastern University Center; $280/$295)
Students attracted to careers in front of or behind the camera gain experience in producing news story packages at the Southeastern Channel. Workshops will be led by General Manager Rick Settoon and students will produce a two-minute news story segment that will be aired on the Southeastern Channel and Southeastern’s website.

 

Zoom into Theatre (9 a.m.-4 p.m., Vonnie Borden Theatre, D.Vickers; $280/$295)
Do you see yourself in lights? This workshop is a hands-on approach covering all aspects of theater. Students work with theatre professionals to give them a true taste of what goes into creating a live theatrical event. The workshop culminates with a short public performance.

 

To register, or for further details on these or other courses that are available please visit:
Hammond- www.selu.edu/edu   Mandeville- www.selu.edu/stc   Walker-www.selu.edu/livingston


Southeastern in the news

   

Students to conduct research in Japan
http://tangipahoa.wafb.com/news/arts-culture/southeastern-students-will-study-japan/48905

Traffic changes planned for commencement
http://tangipahoa.wafb.com/news/business/traffic-changes-planned-commencement/48874


This week in Athletics   
The Southeastern men’s and women’s track and field teams will compete in the Southland Conference Championships, while the Lion baseball team will close out its home schedule during this week in Southeastern Athletics.
     The Lions and Lady Lions will compete in the league outdoor meet this week. The competition runs Friday through Sunday in Natchitoches on the Northwestern State campus. Live results will be available via www.Southland.org.
     The Southeastern baseball team (32-18, 15-12 Southland) closes its home schedule this week, hosting Stephen F. Austin for a three-game Southland series. The series opens with a 6 p.m. contest on Friday and continues with a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday. Prior to Sunday’s 1 p.m. series finale, Southeastern will honor the accomplished senior class of Cass Hargis, Brandon Efferson, Jeff Harkensee, Josh Cryer, Tyler Watkins, Trey Martin, Joe Sparacino, Jacob Ott and Jared Ashford. The series will be broadcast in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net, where live stats will also be available.

Friday, May 13
Baseball, vs. Stephen F. Austin, Alumni Field, 6 p.m.
(KSLU)*
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, at Southland Conference Outdoor Championships, Natchitoches, All Day

Saturday, May 14
Baseball, vs. Stephen F. Austin, Alumni Field, 2 p.m. (KSLU)*
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, at Southland Conference Outdoor Championships, Natchitoches, All Day

Sunday, May 15
Baseball, vs. Stephen F. Austin (Senior Day), Alumni Field, 1 p.m. (KSLU)*
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, at Southland Conference Outdoor Championships, Natchitoches, All Day

Southeastern home events in bold
* - Southland Conference contest


Professional activities   
Dr. Molly McGraw (sociology & criminal justice) presented two research papers: “The Oiling of Louisiana: Great Sand Berm Controversy” (with MSAS student Shawana Mouton) and “Depositional Trends In The Colville River Delta: 1960-2010” (with H.J. Walker of LSU) at the annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers (in April, Seattle, WA). McGraw also gave an invited talk titled “Using Remote Sensing to Measure Climate Change in the Arctic” at the 27th Annual Louisiana Remote Sensing and GIS Workshop in New Orleans May 2-5. 
     Jackie Dale Thomas (leadership development/student activities) was recently the keynote speaker at the Honesty and Integrity Scholarship Banquet for the Bogalusa Masonic Lodge. Thomas also spoke at the chartering of the newest Gamma Beta Phi Chapter at River Parishes Community College in Sorrento, La. The chapter’s founder and advisor is a Southeastern Alumnus, Jared Eusea, who is a math instructor at RPCC. 
        
ByLion is published weekly online (bi-weekly during the summer session) for the faculty and staff of Southeastern Louisiana University. Send submissions to publicinfo@selu.edu, SLU 10880, fax 985-549-2061, or bring to Public Information Office in East Stadium. Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

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