ByLion--January 18

IN THIS ISSUE ... 

Southeastern produces video

Cowser receives national award

Nursing revamps grad program

Study Abroad apps now accepted

Agosta President of State Board

SGA develops "Super Network"

KSLU aids Hammond's Clark Park

Communications students help RPCC

Chefs Evening restaurant of the week

Human Resources news

Southeastern in the news

Extended Studies news

Student Excellence news

This week in athletics

Professional activities


Southeastern produces new recruiting video   
A new 15-minute video entitled “Southeastern Louisiana University: Strength, Endurance, Tradition,” has been launched to promote the north shore’s only regional four-year institution.
     Developed by a recruitment marketing team and produced by the university’s Southeastern Channel, the video is appearing on Southeastern’s Web site at www.selu.edu and its “Hot Spots” page; it will also air on the Southeastern Channel, along with placement on the channel’s Web site, www.selu.edu/tv. The piece can also be viewed on YouTube and the university’s Facebook page.
     The video includes interviews with President John Crain, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tammy Bourg and a variety of students and faculty who discuss the quality of academic offerings, vibrant campus life, and the advantages of attending a large university with the warm atmosphere and intimate feel of a small college.
     Designed to appeal to a wide variety of audiences and focusing on the theme that Southeastern provides students with “Growth That Lasts a Lifetime,” the video offers an historical perspective of the university’s growth from its start as a junior college in 1925 to its current status as the third largest university in Louisiana with more than 15,000 students.
     “Our goal is to tell the story of Southeastern in a brief, informative and eye-catching manner,” said Enrollment Services Director Lori Fairburn. “We’ve used it with area high school counselors who gave it high marks. We believe it will be very effective with prospective students and in our orientation programs.”
Read more


Cowser recognized with national award for governmental engagement    Erin Moore Cowser
Erin Moore Cowser, executive director of public and governmental affairs, has been recognized with a national award for leadership in state relations and institutional advocacy.
     Cowser, a member of the executive staff since 2007, received the Edwin Crawford Award for innovations in governmental advocacy at the recent Higher Education Government Relations Conference in Austin, Tex. The award is administered by the American Association of Community Colleges, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
     In his letter nominating Cowser for the award, President John L. Crain noted her successful efforts to rejuvenate Southeastern’s governmental relations by recruiting alumni and community partners to serve as vocal advocates in support of the university.
     “Having worked to foster collaborations spanning the entire north shore, reaching across Lake Pontchartrain to the south shore and stretching to Baton Rouge and beyond, Erin has earned the trust and respect of both business and community leaders,” Crain said. “She is a leader who can forge relationships across many varied realms.”
Read more


Graduate nursing concentration to be offered online   
Southeastern’s graduate nursing program will initiate a family nurse practitioner concentration beginning in the fall 2011 semester.
     The program is offered as part of the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN), a partnership involving Southeastern, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and McNeese State University in Lake Charles.
     Nurses enrolled in the program access courses online and taught by faculty at all three institutions. The model allows curricula, faculty and other resources to be shared, reducing the overall cost of the program.
     With this move, the ICMSN will drop its adult nurse practitioner concentration in 2012. The decision to make the change came after a careful assessment of the workforce needs in south Louisiana, said Barbara Moffett, interim dean of Southeastern’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
     “The family nurse practitioner concentration is a nice fit for our program, and the online format is a convenient way that will help meet the graduate educational needs of nurses in our region, most of whom are already working full time.” Moffett said. “Graduates of this program will be able to seek employment as primary health care providers for individuals of all ages, helping to address the need for cost-efficient healthcare in shortage areas or in medical offices and clinics.”
     Moffett said nurse practitioners are licensed to help diagnose and manage patients with common medical conditions, including chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. As registered nurses with advanced education and training, nurse practitioners participate in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions and chronic illnesses while maintaining close working relationships with physicians.
     “Nurse practitioners have become an increasingly important member of the healthcare team,” she added, “especially as we see more individuals gain access to health care. The changes we are making to this program will have an impact on the healthcare workforce in Louisiana.”
     The ICMSN and its member institutions are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The consortium also offers master’s degrees with concentrations in adult psychiatric/mental health nurse practice, nursing education, and nurse executive.
     Southeastern has one of the largest nursing programs in the state and has been recognized three times in the last several years with the Nightingale Award as the program of the year by Louisiana Nurses Foundation.


Southeastern Study Abroad program accepting applications, scholarships available   
Applications are now being accepted for Southeastern’s study abroad program, which covers a wide range of academic subjects in a variety of countries.
     The short-term programs, all of which offer academic credit, are open not only to Southeastern students but to students from other universities, as well as the general public, said Kent Neuerburg, professor of mathematics and director of the university’s International Initiatives and Honors programs.
     The study abroad programs include:
Language programs in Spain and Germany;
Biology programs in the Galapagos Islands;
Business programs in China, Panama,Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands;
Humanities programs – including history, political science, philosophy, theater, and communication – in England, Scotland, Ireland and Italy.
     Deadline to apply for the programs is Feb. 25, 2011; spots can be reserved with a study abroad application and a $100 non-refundable deposit.
     “The earlier they sign up the better, since limited numbers can be accepted into each program,” he added.
     Neuerburg said a number of scholarships are available through Southeastern, as well as various other organizations, such as the Southeastern Student Government Association (SGA). The International Initiatives Office can provide interested students with information on applying for these scholarships, he said.
     “There are 40 SGA scholarships of $1,000 available to assist students in funding the study abroad programs,” said David Cavell, SGA president. “A student wanting to file an application for an SGA scholarship must have a 2.5 cumulative and semester grade point average and be free of any academic and/or disciplinary probation and/or suspension during the semester the application is submitted. Additionally, the student must have already been accepted into the Study Abroad Program, as well as maintain a passing grade for the courses offered through their respective program.”
     Cavell said that if a student drops and/or fails to complete the course, the scholarship will be forfeited, and the student will be required to refund the monies allocated by SGA. Scholarship applications are due to the study abroad office on Feb. 1, 2011 no later than 4:30 p.m.
     “Study abroad has become very affordable, since students can apply regular financial aid to the expenses,” Neuerburg said. “And students who participate in the program frequently cite the trips as ‘life-changing experiences.’”
     For more information about the study abroad program, contact the study abroad office in McGehee Hall, room 122, at 985-549-2135, or go online to www.selu.edu/studyabroad. For more information about SGA scholarships, contact the Student Government Association office at 549-2296.


Agosta elected president of state nursing board    Lucie J. Agosta
Lucie J. Agosta of Baton Rouge, assistant professor of nursing at Southeastern, has been elected president of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
     The 11-member board is charged with ensuring that individuals practicing as registered nurses and advanced practice nurses meet specific training requirements and licensure.
     Agosta coordinates the adult health nurse practitioner specialty concentration in Southeastern’s School of Nursing graduate program. The program is operated in consortium with the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and McNeese State University in Lake Charles and offers training in areas such as nurse education, administration and nurse practitioner.
     In 2008, Agosta received a Nightingale Award from the Louisiana Nursing Foundation as Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year and the entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners. She has also received the State Award of Excellence from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners for excellence in practice, research, education or community affairs.
     Agosta received her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern in 1983 and later earned a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston and a doctorate in human resource education from LSU. She has also earned a post-master’s nurse practitioner certification from Southeastern and a post-master’s certification as a family nurse practitioner from Northern Kentucky University.


Student Government Association develops ‘Super Network’   
In response to concerns over future budget cuts to higher education, the Student Government Association (SGA) has launched an initiative to address questions and concerns of the campus community.
     The Students United in Pursuit of Educational Respect (SUPER) network answers specific questions and provides information on the current budget status and the SGA’s plan of action. Questions were developed by the staff of the university’s student newspaper “The Lion’s Roar” with answers provided by Southeastern President John L. Crain.
     The network was recently launched on Facebook and is now available on the site under “Southeastern SUPER Network.”
     “We want to make sure we’re getting the facts to the students,” said SGA President David Cavell. “There were concerns over false rumors being spread in this budget situation and that was a major influence in our developing the SUPER Network.”
     The site – which will be updated frequently – is intended to lay rumors to rest, he added.
     Erin Cowser, executive director of public and governmental affairs, was involved in helping SGA get the network up and running. She said the primary goals include educating the student body about current and upcoming budget issues, as well as encouraging students to take a more active role in university issues at university and state levels.
     “SUPER provides factual and straightforward information about the budget,” Cowser said. “When students know the facts about the budget situation, they can be more effective advocates for their university.”
Read more


KSLU team gives TLC to Hammond’s Clark Park    KSLU helps cleanup Clark Park
Challenged by General Manager Todd Delaney to give back to the community during the holidays, the staff at Southeastern’s KSLU 90.9 FM radio station ventured to Hammond’s Clark Park to give it a little facelift.
     “We really didn’t know where to start,” said Chad Pierce, who handles underwriting and development for the north shore’s only public radio station. “I sought out Terry Lynn Smith with the Hammond Downtown Development District who told me that Clark Park could use a little TLC. We then partnered with the City of Hammond, which supplied us with everything we needed for the project.”
     The staff assembled a team of six student volunteers who came armed with clean up equipment and supplies, sandpaper and paint to give the park a minor sprucing up before the holidays. The plan is to return in the spring semester for a second phase of painting.
     “I’m very proud, especially of our students, who spent some of their free time during the holiday break to give something back to the community,” said Delaney. “It says a lot about the character of these young people.”


Above: Steven Canatella, left, and Juan Gonzales, both Southeastern students and workers with KSLU 90.9 FM radio station paint one of the tables in Hammond’s Clark Park. Staff and students affiliated with the station took a day to clean up and paint portions of the park before the holidays with plans to return in the spring to complete the job.


RPCC gains communications help from Southeastern grad students   
When River Parishes Community College and Northshore Technical College-Ascension merged operations this year, RPCC Executive Vice Chancellor William Martin turned to a Southeastern professor for help in coordinating communications between the two campuses.
     Professional communication audits and related studies are expensive and not feasible for state institutions now experiencing significant budget tightening. That’s why he asked colleague Claire Procopio, assistant professor of communication at Southeastern, who had done some work with RPCC previously, to assist.
     The merger of the two institutions, he said, was approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents last spring and was seen as a win-win for both. RPCC offered only transfer degrees and had no career or technical courses to offer; NTC offered a process technology degree requiring 27 semester hours of general education credit.
     “The merger made sense for our region,” he said. “Now one institution can offer a comprehensive program in our service area. In addition, there are many efficiencies that can be created with the merger that make sense financially.”
     However, just because it made fiscal sense, there was no guarantee communications would flow smoothly during or after the merger.
     Developing appropriate and effective communications between staff and faculty was a high priority, said Procopio, who was teaching a graduate course in communication training, assessment and development. She charged six of her graduate students to act as consultants by participating in a service-learning project to facilitate more effective communication in the newly merged institution.
     Service-learning is becoming an increasingly popular teaching approach, wherein students tackle real-world situations and problems that relate directly to the content being taught in the class, she said
     “This was a real opportunity for the students to function as consultants, do the fundamental research necessary, then come up with potential solutions,” Procopio said. “They get the actual experience, while the ‘client’ – in this case RPCC/NTC – gains the result of their work at no charge.”  Procopio said the students provided the equivalent of $10,000 worth of billable hours to the community college.
Read more


Chefs Evening is Sunday, April 3   

Chefs Evening logo

 

Chef’s Evening restaurant of the week:

 

         Pier One Twelve

 

When dining choices take you away from home or work, please patronize this friend of Chefs Evening. While there, let the owner and chef know how much you appreciate their loyal support of the university by their participation in Chefs Evening year after year.

 


 

Human Resources news   

PPR Training for Supervisors
There will be a training program for supervisors required to conduct Performance Planning and Reviews (PPRs) on classified employees. A session, offered by the training section of the Human Resources office, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 19. Scheduled from 9:30 to 11 a.m., the program will be held in the Human Resources Office conference room. To register for this program, please email Jan Ortego at Jan.Ortego@selu.edu or phone extension 5771. Pre-registration is requested for this class.


Southeastern in the news   

Organizers say Christmas tree program needs more funding
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Organizers-say-Christmas-tree-restoration-program-needs-more-funding-113055704.html#

SLU program pays students for research
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/livingston_tangipahoa/113150949.html

All is well except funding, Crain says
http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2011/01/11/top_stories/education/5690.txt

Colleges still concerned over budget cuts
http://www.wwltv.com/video?id=113494854&sec=554607


Extended Studies news   

Hammond
Notarial Review
(15 Tuesdays, 6:30 – 9 p.m., beginning Feb. 8)

The course is designed to prepare students for the notary exam scheduled for June 4, 2011. Students are responsible for ordering their books prior to the beginning of class. Once registered, students will be sent information about ordering their books. The cost is $575, and the books required for the course cost an additional $270.

Beginning Guitar (6 Mondays, beginning Jan. 24, 7 – 8 p.m.)

Learn chords, strumming patterns, and note reading. For ages 13 and older. The cost is $50, and students should bring their own guitar.

Financial Strategies for Retirement (3 Tuesdays, 6 - 8 p.m., beginning Feb. 1.)
Topics for the class include how to reduce pressures on your retirement income, how to make appropriate health care decisions, especially who will provide care, where you will live and how you will pay for health care.

Mandeville

Professional Development (Jan. 20, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
The course will provide practical skills leading to the creation of a resume and the posting of that resume to Louisiana Workforce Commission, to www.expresspros.com and www.indeed.com, along with recommendations for additional online sites. The cost is $90.

Notarial Prep Course (15 Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 8, 6:30 – 9 p.m.)
The course is designed to prepare students for the notarial exam. The cost is $575, and the books required for the course will cost an additional $270.

 

Walker
Life and Health Insurance Pre-licensing
(Fridays & Saturdays, beginning Feb. 18, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
The class material is designed to prepare students for the state exam and to provide a good education for a career in insurance. The cost is $230, including materials.

 

Career Enrichment program openings 
Safety (Scholarships are available)
Feb. 9 and 16 or March 17 and 24
Location open

 

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


Student Excellence news   

The Center for Student Excellence Spring 2011 Academic Success Workshops will offer a series of academic success workshops during the Spring semester. Workshop topics will include:

How to Excel in Online Classes (Jan. 18)
Time Management (Jan. 25)
Study Skills and Learning Styles (Feb. 1)
Note-Taking (Feb. 8)
Test Taking (Feb. 15)
Career Exploration (Feb. 22)
Mid-Term Help (March 1)

Each workshop is 50 minutes long and will take place from 12:30-1:20 p.m. in McClimans Hall, room 216. Students are welcome to bring a bag lunch or a snack.
     For more information contact Mindy Notariano in Center for Student Excellence at 549-3789 or e-mail Mindy.Notariano@selu.edu. You can also register online and view the workshop schedule at www.selu.edu/cse_workshops. Workshops are free, but space is limited so sign up soon.


This week in athletics   

The Southeastern men’s and women’s basketball teams will continue Southland Conference play during this week in Southeastern Athletics.

     The Lions (7-7, 1-1 Southland) will open their week on Wednesday, hosting McNeese State at 7 p.m. in the University Center. Southeastern will be back on the road on Saturday, heading to Nicholls for a 2 p.m. contest in Thibodaux.

     The Lady Lions (9-5, 1-1 Southland) heads to Lake Charles for a 7 p.m. contest on Wednesday at McNeese State. On Saturday, Southeastern hosts Nicholls at 3 p.m. in the University Center.

     The Southeastern Campus Activities Board and Student Government Association will sponsor “Jam the Jungle” in conjunction with Wednesday’s game. Students will have an opportunity to compete in the “$10,000 Shoot Out” sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs and Auxiliary Services. In addition, free food and t-shirts will also be given out to students.

     On Saturday, Southeastern junior Amber Crenshaw and freshman Aarika Reyna will be the Spotlight Players of the Game. The first 100 fans will receive trading cards featuring the two players courtesy of the Southeastern PRIDE.

     Wednesday’s men’s basketball game will be streamed live by the Southeastern Channel and will air on a tape-delayed basis starting Thursday on the Southeastern Channel (Charter Channel 18). Wednesday’s women’s game and Saturday’s men’s game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net, while the men’s game on Wednesday and the women’s game on Saturday will be broadcast on the Internet only.

Wednesday, January 19
Men’s Basketball, vs. McNeese State (Jam the Jungle), University Center, 7 p.m. (SE Channel)*
Women’s Basketball, at McNeese State, Lake Charles, 7 p.m. (KSLU)*

Saturday, January 22
Women’s Basketball, vs. Nicholls (Amber Crenshaw/Aarika Reyna Trading Card Day), University Center, 3 p.m.*
Men’s Basketball, at Nicholls, Thibodaux, 2 p.m. (KSLU)*

Southeastern home events in bold
* - Southland Conference event


Professional activities   

Connie Budden (Management) and Michael Budden (Marketing) had their article, “It is a Small World After All: Teaching Ethics in a Global Environment,” accepted for  publication in the American Journal of Business Education.
     MBA students Amanda Lemoine, Alexandra Mayer, Arletta Gordon and Melanie Johnson, and their professor Michael Budden (Marketing) authored “The Role of Higher Education in Personal Relationships,” which has been accepted for publication in Current Issues in Education Research Journal.
     Magdy Noguera (Finance), Michael Budden (Marketing) and Alberto Silva (recent Southeastern MBA) had their article, “Assessing Usage and Maximizing Finance Lab Impact,” accepted for publication in the American Journal of Business Education.
     Drs. Yu Hsing (Economics), Susan Zee and Robert Cope (Supply Chain Management) and Michael Budden (Marketing) had their article, “Impacts of the Aggregate Economic and Financial Conditions on Output in An Emerging Economy” accepted for presentation at the International Applied Business Research Conference.
     Dr. Anna Kleiner (Sociology and Criminal Justice) has published an article titled “Did H1N1 Influenza Prevention Messages Reach the Vulnerable Population Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast?” in the Journal of Public Health Management Practice with Freiman, Montgomery, Green, Thomas, and Boulton.
     Dr. Sharon Hoffman (Educational Leadership and Technology) presented “In the Eyes of the Follower - Credible Leadership and Theory Development” at the 12th annual International Leadership Association Global Conference in Boston Oct. 27-30. Hoffman also served as a judge in the Student Case Study Competition for graduate students in leadership.
     Dr. Sanichiro Yoshida (Chemistry and Physics) recently reviewed five journal papers, two submitted to Optics Letters, two submitted to Applied Optics, and one submitted to The American Institute of Physics.


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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