Smith named Young Alumnus of Year

SLU students have least debt in La.

Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night set

CSE hosts freshman seminar
Farmers Market set Sept. 19
Student newsletter now available

Southeastern in the News

This Week in Athletics
Professional Activities

Southeastern students have least debt in Louisiana 
Southeastern students have the least student loan debt out of all the universities in the state, according to statistics recently released by LendEDU. The average debt per borrower for Southeastern’s graduating class of 2017 was ranked No. 1 for least debt and No. 46 lowest debt nationwide.
     In Louisiana, the average debt per student borrower is $26,808, the 19th lowest in the nation. Forty-eight percent of Louisiana students graduated with debt.
     Southeastern graduates reported the average borrower taking out $20,164, 14 percent less than the previous year.
     “For over 90 years now, Southeastern has been dedicated to one thing – our students’ success,” said Southeastern President John L. Crain. “Part of that focus on student success is sensitivity to college affordability. Southeastern has always represented a great value and we have a long-standing tradition of programs and initiatives that save students money.”
     He pointed to two examples: the Southeastern Promise with its four-year path to approved degree completion that comes with a fixed net tuition guarantee for participants and the university’s textbook rental program, which saves students thousands of dollars while attaining their degrees.
     The statistics stem from a voluntary survey conducted annually by Peterson’s College Data. The complete study can be found online at https://lendedu.com/blog/average-student-loan-debt-statistics#LA.

Southeastern students sponsor Farmers Market September 19
The Southeastern student organization Reconnect will sponsor a farmers market in front of the Student Union on Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     The only student-run farmers market on a college campus in the state, the event features food sales from area farmers, food samples, arts and crafts, homemade soaps, and much more. 
     Vendors include Deb’s Designs’ all-natural bath and body products and Mrs. Francis Chauvin’s homemade pies and shoe sole pastries. In addition to fresh produce, other items available for purchase include jams and jellies, beef jerky, tea cakes, hummus, farm-fresh eggs, breads, and popsicles. 
     “The Reconnect Farmers Market is an event where you can interact with local farmers and vendors, eat a healthy and fresh lunch, or pick up some homemade jewelry or bath products from your fellow students. It’s a way to shop locally and support healthy food choices without having to leave campus,” said Diana Taj, public relations coordinator for Reconnect.
     A student environmental club, Reconnect participates in the Real Food Challenge, a national effort among college students to promote the use of locally grown, healthy and sustainable food products.

New student newsletter available
This past spring, students were introduced to a unique way of discovering information about the activities and programs happening on campus. What’s UP@Southeastern debuted in March of 2018 as the new student newsletter that is delivered to the email inbox of all currently enrolled students.
     Faculty and staff can access the newsletter by clicking the yellow icon at the bottom right hand corner of the ByLion. The newsletter is delivered biweekly and covers events for approximately 2 - 3 weeks.
     If any department would like a submission to be considered for What’s UP, they can email whatsup@southeastern.edu or click here  for submission guidelines.

Athletics to supply free tickets to Faculty/Staff for Appreciation Night
Southeastern Athletics is pleased to announce that our Lions first home game of the season is also Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night! Join us in Strawberry Stadium on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. as your Southeastern Lions take on Central Arkansas. 
     With a Southeastern faculty/staff ID, receive two (2) complimentary tickets. Tickets may be picked up on game day at the ticket booths in Friendship Circle or Strawberry Stadium. However, to avoid ticket window lines, we encourage you to come by our office prior to game day to collect your tickets.
     Office hours are Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lion Up!

Center for Student Excellence hosts Cool, Calm and Connected Freshman Seminar
The Center for Student Excellence (CSE) hosted their second annual Cool, Calm, and Connected seminar Aug. 29-30. This is the first freshman seminar in a series created when the Southeastern 101: Freshman Success course was overhauled in Fall 2017. 
     The Class of 2022 attended by SE 101 class time over a two-day period with approximately 2,800 students attending and browsing the 56 student organizations that participated. 
     “We have always struggled to get students to attend after-hour programming, so I thought it would be a good idea to center these seminars around their regularly scheduled SE 101 time,” said CSE Director Dr. Lorett Swank. “The purpose of the series is to promote first to second year retention, and since academically and socially engaged college students are more likely to persist and graduate, we developed this particular seminar to give our freshman the opportunity to browse and join Southeastern’s many student organizations.” 
     The Class of 2022 enjoyed a student led presentation that focused on the importance of getting involved in college followed by an ice-breaker that encouraged students to mingle and meet others. After the introductory session, students were given a passport and instructions to visit and talk with at least four organizations. 
     “It really helped me to know about all of the awesome groups SLU has to offer, and I was the last student in the ballroom,” said student Katherine Schepker. “It was super fun! I loved reconnecting with some people I have already met.”
     Many students joined organizations right then and there and all organizations reported significant increases in interest and membership. Katie Phillips, a sophomore kinesiology major and Elite Women organization member reported that 105 students signed-up to be new members. Prior to the seminar, Elite Women had a membership of about 35. 
     “This was a great event! The students were very engaged and it was a wonderful opportunity to tell them about our organization and to recruit new members,” said Phillips. “I am glad that the CSE is doing this. I’m pretty sure that other colleges aren’t doing this for their freshman.”
     The next freshman seminar is the Major/Minor Fair that will be held in the Student Union Ballroom Sept. 17 and 18. 
     The Center for Student Excellence is home to the Southeastern 101: Freshman Success Course and offers freshman advising and coaching, as well as tutoring for all Southeastern students.

Action News
Study: Southeastern students have least debt in Louisiana

Baton Rouge Advocate

SLU opera workshop picks cast for 'Into The Woods' production

SLU named a Forbes Top College

Hammond Daily Star
Season of Variety

Livingston Parish News

SLU’s Domiano, Saadeh to participate in ULS Management and Leadership Institute

Cast chosen for Southeastern Opera Workshop’s ‘Into the Woods’

Columbia Theatre announces 2018-19 season

WAFB TV

Southeastern students have least student loan debt in La.

Southeastern player will donate his hair at the end of the football season

WBRZ TV
Liger beer brings breweries, football communities together

The Southeastern football and soccer teams will host their respective Southland Conference openers, the volleyball team opens its regular season home schedule, while the golf and cross country teams will also be in action during this week in Southeastern Athletics.
     The Lions (0-2) will open their home and Southland Conference schedule on Saturday, hosting defending league champion Central Arkansas at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
     Saturday is Faculty and Staff, Family and Band Day in Hammond, America. Southeastern faculty and staff will receive two free tickets with the presentation of their University I.D. at the ticket office prior to game day or ticket booth on game day. Visit https://www2.southeastern.edu/external/event_registration/familyday for Family Day registration. 
     Local high school band and spirit members will be present for the Spirit of the Southland’s halftime show. Also, fans will have the opportunity to stop by Hammond’s Helm Paint location to get a free color-changing cup for free drinks all season.
     The SLU-UCA game will be televised on ESPN+ and via the WatchESPN.com app. The game can also be heard on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU-FM (90.9), Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and WFPR 1400 AM). Fans can also listen live at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Radio FX and TuneIn Radio apps.
     Fresh off a 6-0 shutout win at ULM in the non-conference finale, the SLU soccer team (3-2-1) will open Southland Conference play at home on Friday, hosting McNeese at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
     After a nine-match road swing to open the season, the SLU volleyball team (1-8) will host Tulane on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the University Center to begin its home slate. Tuesday will be Dig the Lions as the first 200 students will receive a free t-shirt and free food. LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream of this week’s home soccer and volleyball matches at www.LionSports.net/watch.
     The Southeastern men’s golf team will open the 2018 season this week at the Battle in the Big Easy at English Turn Golf Club. The tournament, hosted by UNO, is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in New Orleans.
     The men’s and women’s cross country teams will be back in action this week. On Saturday, the Lions and Lady Lions will compete in the LSU Cross Country Invitational in Baton Rouge.
     Inside Southeastern Football with Frank Scelfo will air on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network on Monday. Hosted by Scelfo and Allen Waddell, the hour-long show will air at 7 p.m. from Tope La Catering and will be streamed live on Facebook Watch at www.facebook.com/sluathletics.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Athletics, follow @SLUAthletics on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.

CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.

Southeastern home events in bold.
* - Southland Conference contest

Dr. Debra Jo Hailey and Dr. Stacy Garcia (Teaching and Learning) were joined by colleagues Dr. Michelle Fazio-Brunson (Northwestern State University) and Mrs. Patricia Alexander (Natchitoches Parish Schools) in presenting at the International Literacy Association Annual Conference in July. The title of their presentation was “Using the Language Experience Approach to Establish Shared Meanings as Teaching Dispositions are Developed.” During the ILA conference, Garcia presided over the Language Experience Special Interest Group meeting as the current president of that group.

David Armand (English) and William Robison (History and Political Science) participated along with several other area authors in the WYES-TV/PBS Great American Read Books and Brunch Event on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Mandeville Trailhead Depot Room.

Submit Your Story

ByLion is published weekly online (bi-weekly during the summer session) for the faculty and staff of Southeastern Louisiana University. Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Send Submissions to
Email: uccs@southeastern.edu
Mail to: SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
Fax: (985) 549-2061
Or bring to the University Marketing and Communications Office in East Stadium.