IN THIS ISSUE ... 

"WellSpot" designation sought

Spring music programs begin

Spring non-credit courses

Fluency Conference scheduled

Non-Credit Program news

Southeastern in the news

This Week in Athletics

Professional activities



Southeastern seeks 'WellSpot' designation by state
Southeastern will launch a campaign later this spring to educate its faculty and staff on healthy lifestyles, while seeking designation as a "Louisiana WellSpot."
     Ralph Wood, assistant dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and chair of the university's Employee Wellness Committee, said the program will use the guidelines from the Well-Ahead Louisiana initiative, which was started by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Well-Ahead Louisiana promotes and recognizes healthy choices in places where people live and work every day.
     WellSpots include schools and universities, hospitals, restaurants, and worksites.
     "By law, we are a tobacco-free campus, and this is the first step in becoming certified as a Louisiana WellSpot," Wood said. "Our next approaches will be to assist individuals on campus who want to quit smoking and to promote healthy dietary guidelines."
     The committee will alert the campus community of the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline, a free 24-hour a day service that assists individuals looking to quit smoking. The Quitline can be found through an Internet search or by calling 1-866-228-4327.
     The university also offers professional smoking cessation programs for its staff and students through the Pennington Student Activity Center and the University Counseling Center.
     "We are so excited that Southeastern's administration, faculty and students are committing to making healthier choices and are working towards a WellSpot designation," said J.T. Lane, Public Health assistant secretary for the Department of Health and Hospitals. "The campus is such a big part of everyday life for thousands of Louisiana residents in the Hammond area so making wellness-based choices easier on campus is so important. The university is setting a great example for other colleges and universities throughout the state."
     In addition, Wood said the committee will focus on promotion of DHH's 5-2-1-0 Dietary Guidelines.
     "Louisiana has a high rate of obesity and the diseases associated with it, including diabetes and heart disease," he explained.
     Wood said the 5-2-1-0 program is a proactive approach that encourages people to eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day; spending two or less hours per day on recreational screen time by limiting television and computer viewing; spending one or more hours on physical activity, and looking for healthy alternatives to drinking soda and sweetened drinks, such as water and low fat milk."
     Once the university reaches certain benchmarks, it will be designated as a Level 2 WellSpot, working toward a Level 1 designation.
     Additional information on the program can be obtained from Wood at 549-2131.

 


Southeastern launches spring music program with Kristen Marchiafava and the Loadbang Ensemble
Kristen MarchiafavaSoutheastern's Department of Fine and Performing Arts presents is launching its spring season with two free performances – a faculty recital by Kristen Marchiafava on Feb. 12 and a performance by the New York-based Loadbang Ensemble on Feb. 13.
     Both concerts are at 7:30 p.m. in the Pottle Music Auditorium and are free and open to the public.
     Marchiafava, who teaches applied voice and English/Italian diction at Southeastern, is an acclaimed performer. She made her professional debut in the title role in the Nevada Opera premiere production of Samuel Barber's Pulitzer-Prize-winning opera "Vanessa."
     Marchiafava holds a doctor of musical arts degree from Louisiana State University, a master of music in vocal performance from the Mannes College of Music, and a bachelor's in music from Loyola University New Orleans.
     The Loadbang Ensemble will be kicking off the Guest Artist Recital Series in its February 13 concert. The Loadbang Ensemble is a quartet on a mission to compose contemporary works and develop a "unique language of improvisation." The group's blend of rich sounds and jazzy influences has led them to receive considerable praise and notoriety.
    Loadbang Ensemble Ensemble members Adrian Sandi (bass clarinet), Andy Kozar (trumpet), Jeffery Gavett (baritone voice), and William Lang (trombone) have premiered more than 200 works, including many of their original works.
     The group shares a passion for giving back to the next generation. The ensemble has worked with a wide array of students, including elementary school children in the New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers program and college students at numerous universities.
     For more information, contact the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at 549-2184.

CONCERTS OPEN SPRING SEASON - Southeastern's Department of Fine and Performing Arts launches its spring season with two free performances – a faculty recital by Kristen Marchiafava on Feb. 12 and a performance by the New York-based Loadbang Ensemble on Feb. 13. Both concerts are at 7:30 p.m. in Pottle Music Auditorium. Members of Loadbang are, from left, Adrian Sandi (bass clarinet), Andy Kozar (trumpet), Jeffrey Gavett (baritone voice), and William Lang (trombone).

 


Southeastern announces spring 2015 non-credit courses
Southeastern's Non-Credit Programs is offering non-credit courses for career and personal enrichment for adults and young people, and registration is now underway.
     Spring 2015 non-credit career enrichment courses offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in new career topics, including "Fluid Power Systems," a revised "Court Reporting" class, and, for businesses, a revised "Program for Supervisors and Team Leaders" and "Boosting Your Bottom Line."
     Personal and teacher enrichment credits can be earned for new courses in "Monster Movies," "So You Want to Write a Novel," "The Novel: Critique, Revision and Publishing," "American Sign Language," and "Blues Guitar."
     Director of Non-Credit Programs Charlotte Collins said that although no college credits are earned for these programs, students do have the opportunity to earn CEUs, Professional Development Units (PDUs) or other certificates for career enrichment courses. These are short term classes with no enrollment requirements and are open to the public.
     "Our career enrichment courses underscore the value of continuing education, especially for top demand occupations in Louisiana," Collins added. "By providing continuing education units (CEU's), Southeastern's non-credit courses assist participants with their personal career portfolio and organizations with a nationally recognized standard for training. It can help your resume stand out from the crowd."
     Collins said workforce and professional development continues to be a focus for 2015 course offerings.
     "Our courses are designed to build participants' resumes and to assist organizations with professional development through customized training for groups of five or more," she added. Teachers, in particular, are required to continue their learning, and we have many options beyond the new offerings listed above."
     Southeastern offers a wide variety of non-credit courses taught by Southeastern faculty and qualified professional instructors. For youth "ACT Test Prep" classes and "Acting for Kids Confidence" are offered in the fall and spring. A variety of academic and recreational camps are also offered during the summer, including Zoom into Careers, Art Workshop, and Summer Music Camps within the Community Music School.
     Collins said that returning, popular non-credit courses such as "QuickBooks Test Preparation," "SHRM Essentials of HR Management," "Notary Test Prep," "Project Management," "Financial Strategies for Successful Retirement," "Investment Fundamentals and Strategies," "How Money Works on a Teacher's Salary," "Utilizing the Stock Market Game," "Adobe Photoshop for Photography," and "Introduction to Screenwriting," to name a few, are still offered. In addition, the popular Excel series, computer introduction to computers, Internet, and social media marketing classes will be continued at the Madisonville Branch Library.
     Classes are offered at Southeastern's main campus in Hammond, the Livingston Literacy and Technology Center in Walker, and the St. Tammany Center in Mandeville, as well as the computer classes held at the Madisonville Branch Library. Classes can also be customized for groups of five or more at a location of choice, Collins said.
     For further information and a complete list of courses, or contact Collins at noncredit@southeastern.edu or 549-2301.

 


Southeastern to host Fluency Conference
Kristin Chmela will be the featured speaker at Southeastern's 2015 Campbell Conference scheduled on campus Friday, Feb. 27.
Chmela, who specializes in working with children who stutter, will address students and professionals at the day-long conference. Sponsored by Southeastern's Communication Sciences and Disorders program, the conference is titled "Differential Fluency Treatment For School-Age Children And Teens."
     Chmela has almost 30 years of experience and is known both nationally and internationally as an author and lecturer. She owns and operates Chmela Fluency Center in the Chicago area, is co-founder and co-director of Camp Shout Out, and is current chair of the American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders.
     The conference is open to students and professionals. Early bird registration will be accepted up to Feb. 13 with fees of $85 for professionals and $25 for students with university ID. On-site registration, pending seat availability, is $160 for professionals and $45 for students with university ID. Payments can only be made by check.
     For more information, please email campbell.conference@southeastern.edu.

 


Non-Credit Programs

Elizabeth I of England & Mary Queen of Scots
William Robison, February 24 - March 31, 2015

This course will explore the rivalry between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots through period art and music, historical films, and readings in contemporary sources and modern history and historical fiction. At each two-hour session the presenter will offer introductory remarks, but emphasis will be on discussion of what art, film, music, and readings reveal about the period, as well as the times when the works were produced.

 

Winning through Customer Service
James Gilmore, Dates vary depending upon location.

Winning Through Customer Service trains sales, service, and administrative personnel to demonstrate professionalism, communicate effectively, assess customer behaviors, use a structured customer service transaction model, as well as handle difficult customer service situations. Participants will prepare for a nationally accredited certification test in customer service.

 

Utilizing the Stock Market Game
David Faerber, February 24, 2015

In this course, the presenter will share with participants ready-to-use lessons that incorporate the Stock Market Game into classroom lesson plans. Participants will learn how to use this innovative learning tool to teach financial literacy to their students, as well as gain a greater understanding of personal finance practices themselves. Topics covered will include: basic stock market vocabulary, how to read a stock table, and where to find "tips" to help students find and follow stocks. The presenter will share over 20 years of classroom experience participating in the Stock Market Game.

 


This Week in Athletics
The defending Southland Conference Tournament champion Southeastern baseball team will officially open the 2015 season to highlight this week in Southeastern Athletics.
     The Lions, who are coming off a season that resulted in its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994, will host Louisiana Tech for a three-game series at Alumni Field. The series opens with a 6 p.m. contest on Friday, continues with a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday and concludes with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday.
     The SLU men's basketball team (6-16, 3-6 Southland) will continue Southland Conference play this week. On Tuesday, the Lions will host Central Arkansas at 7 p.m. in the University Center. Tuesday will be Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day and SLU faculty and staff will receive free admission.
     Tuesday's contest will also be a Cane' Challenge game. If the Lions top 65 or more points, fans will be able to take their game ticket or student coupon to any local participating Raising Cane's by the end of business on Wednesday to receive a free combo with the purchase of another of equal or greater value. On Saturday, SLU heads to Nicholls for a 3:30 p.m. league contest.
     The women's basketball team (7-14, 3-7 Southland) has two league road contests on tap this week. The Lady Lions will travel to McNeese State for a 7 p.m. game on Thursday, before heading to Nicholls for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday.
     For the second consecutive week, the SLU softball team (2-2) will host a three-day tournament from Friday through Sunday, welcoming Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Houston Baptist and Southern Miss for the Lion Classic II at North Oak Park. On Saturday, Southeastern will face UAPB at 2 p.m. and Houston Baptist at 4 p.m. SLU takes on Southern Miss on Sunday at noon.
     All of this week's basketball games, as well as Friday and Sunday's baseball games will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net, where LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream of all of this week's baseball and softball action, as well as Tuesday's men's basketball game.

 

Tuesday, February 10
Men's Basketball, vs. Central Arkansas, University Center, 7 p.m. (KSLU) (LionVision)*
     - Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day
     - Cane's Challenge

 

Thursday, February 12
Women's Basketball, at McNeese State, Lake Charles, 7 p.m. (KSLU)*

 

Friday, February 13
Baseball, vs. Louisiana Tech, Alumni Field, 6 p.m. (KSLU) (LionVision)
Softball, Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Southern Miss (Lion Classic II), North Oak Park, 3 p.m. (Lion Vision)
Softball, Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Houston Baptist (Lion Classic II), North Oak Park, 5 p.m. (LionVision)

 

Saturday, February 14
Baseball, vs. Louisiana Tech, Alumni Field, 2 p.m. (LionVision)
Men's Basketball, at Nicholls, Thibodaux, 3:30 p.m. (KSLU)*
Women's Basketball, at Nicholls, Thibodaux, 1 p.m. (KSLU)*
Softball, Southern Miss vs. Houston Baptist (Lion Classic II), North Oak Park, 10 a.m. (Lion Vision)
Softball, Southern Miss vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Lion Classic II), North Oak Park, 12:00 p.m. (LionVision)
Softball, vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Lion Classic II), North Oak Park, 2 p.m. (LionVision)
Softball, vs. Houston Baptist (Lion Classic II), North Oak Park, 4 p.m. (LionVision)

 

Sunday, February 15
Baseball, vs. Louisiana Tech, Alumni Field, 1 p.m. (KSLU) (LionVision)
Softball, Houston Baptist vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Lion Classic II), North Oak Park, 10 a.m.(LionVision)
Softball, vs. Southern Miss (Lion Classic II), North Oak Park, 12 p.m. (LionVision)

 

Southeastern home events in bold
* - Southland Conference contest

 


Professional activities
Pierre Titard, James DeFranceschi, and Eric Knight (Accounting & Finance) published an article, "Using Online Homework to Improve Exam Scores," in the Fall 2014 issue of the Journal of Business and Educational Leadership.
     Dr. Hye-Young Kim (physics) represented the AAPT (American Association of Physics Teachers) at the CUWiP (Conference of Undergraduate Women in Physics) held at the University of Mississippi (Olemiss) in Oxford Jan. 16-18.
     Dr. Hye-Young Kim (physics) and a physics sophomore, Bijay Shrestha, gave a poster presentation at the LBRN (Louisiana Biomedical Research Network) 13th Annual Meeting at the Baton Rouge Marriott Jan. 30-Feb. 1, titled "Computer Simulation of Self-Assemblies of Novel Molecule, VECAR."

 


ByLion is published weekly online (bi-weekly during the summer session) for the faculty and staff of Southeastern Louisiana University. Send submissions to publicinfo@southeastern.edu, SLU 10880, fax 985-549-2061, or bring to University Marketing and Communications Office in East Stadium. Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

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