ByLion--December 3

IN THIS ISSUE ...

Southeastern, Northshore Technical Community College formalize 'Connect to Success' partnership
NTCC, Southeastern signing Southeastern and Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday (Nov. 29) that formalized and enhanced the two institutions' ongoing partnership.
     Titled Connect to Success, the program, based on a model that has already been successfully implemented, is designed to enhance both the efficiency and effectiveness of students seeking post-secondary education in southeast Louisiana, particularly in Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Washington, St. Helena and Livingston Parishes.
     "Providing this entry into post-secondary education is particularly important, as Southeastern continues to raise its admission standards over time," said Southeastern President John L. Crain. "That increases the likelihood that some prospective students will not achieve admission status to Southeastern after high school, and we want to ensure their access to post- secondary education."
     Officials said the program will expand access and preparation of NTCC students seeking to transfer into a four-year degree program at Southeastern.
     "Connect to Success will ease the transfer of credits and increase efficiency by sharing of resources between Southeastern and NTCC," Crain added. "It's about providing education for students whether at NTCC or Southeastern."
     The program provides enrolled NTCC students with a systematic outline to successfully complete a baccalaureate or associate degree. NTCC Chancellor William Wainwright said under the agreement, NTCC students will take developmental and other general education courses at Southeastern's campus in Hammond and at its St. Tammany Center in Mandeville. Southeastern will certify faculty credentials for the courses to ensure they are transferrable.
     "Northshore Technical Community College and Southeastern Louisiana University are committed to providing students successful paths to graduation and employment in high demand careers," Wainwright said. "This collaboration strengthens our commitment and provides seamless transition for students. The success of this partnership will strengthen our LA Grad Act efforts and provide students expanded access to college and university programming, comprehensive student and enrollment services, and engagement in relevant workforce preparation."
     As part of the partnership, NTCC has a presence on Southeastern's main campus, where the university is providing them access to dedicated offices, computer lab and classroom space.
     Students enrolled in Connect to Success will also be entitled to use Southeastern's Textbook Rentals, which allows them to rent rather than purchase textbooks for their courses. They will also have access to the university's computer labs, Student Union, food vendors and other services.
     "This partnership ensures that our institutions are being responsive to recent action by the Louisiana Legislature, especially provisions of the GRAD Act that encourage cooperative ventures between university and area community colleges," Crain said. "Under this plan, students will benefit from a joint admissions and registration process, and academic and career counseling throughout their enrollment."
     Both officials agreed the partnership will work to enhance the workforce development of the region.

Above: Southeastern and Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday (Nov. 29) that formalized and enhanced the two institutions' ongoing partnership. On hand to celebrate the agreement were, standing from left, Rep. Chris Broadwater, Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster, Rep. Steve Pugh, Sen. Ben Nevers, Mickey Murphy, chairman of the Louisiana Community Technical College System Board of Supervisors, Helen Carter, LCTCS board member, Rep. John Bel Edwards, and Ponchatoula Mayor Bob Zabbia. Seated from left are NTCC Chancellor William Wainwright and Southeastern President John L. Crain.

Annual Faculty and Staff Holiday Open House
Presidence residence Please mark your calendar and plan to drop by the annual Faculty and Staff Holiday Open House at the President's Residence on Wednesday, December 5, between 3:30 and 5 p.m.

Southeastern to present 'Shining Stars' concert
Southeastern's Community Music School will present the Shining Stars concert on Monday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. in Pottle Music Building Auditorium. Admission is free.
     The concert will feature the Community Music School students who are recipients of the First Guaranty Bank scholarship. The soloists will be accompanied by Southeastern's graduate string trio and Liliia Oliinyk, an award winning pianist and a senior piano major at Southeastern.
     "This is the second consecutive year that First Guaranty Bank has sponsored the Community Music School," said Jivka Jeleva, director of the Community Music School. "Their support has given us the opportunity to award the talent and dedication of our students and to offer music instruction to students who may not otherwise be able to afford it. The young musicians who are featured in this concert pour their hearts and souls into their music daily and deserve every encouragement to continue pursuing excellence in their endeavor."
     Students participating in this concert include Meredith Faulkner, bassoon; Ashley Johansen, violin; Rachael Knaps, voice; Umika Kuroda, violin; Elise Strain, violin; Griffin Wiemelt, violin; and Riley Wiemelt, violin.
     Founded in 1996, Southeastern's Community Music School offers children and adults private and group music lessons taught by Southeastern faculty members, graduate students and community professionals. Spring 2013 registration is underway. Lessons begin on Jan. 28, 2013.
     For more information, visit www.southeastern.edu/cms or call 549-5502.

Southeastern launches Completer Scholarship Aid Program

Southeastern is launching a scholarship aid program designed to assist students in finishing degree programs after their financial aid and/or scholarship eligibility runs out.
     With an initial $10,000 donation from Whitney National Bank, the university announced the initiative to raise scholarship support for students who are in their fifth or sixth year of study and/or are within one year of graduation.
     "It is vitally important to both our students and the university that we continue to grow our graduation rates," said President John L. Crain. "We want our students to know that if they make academic progress, they can afford to complete their degrees, and that their efforts will set them on a path to success."
     Whitney Bank, a long-time supporter of the university, was one of the first to support the initiative, donating $10,000 as the inaugural gift toward the completer scholarship program. Whitney Retail Market President Cindy Shelton of Hammond said she inquired what the university needed most.
     "Dr. Crain told me the university's greatest need at this time is scholarship aid for students in their fifth and sixth years of study or within one year of completing their degrees," Shelton said. "These are students who are motivated to complete their programs and graduate, but they need more time and support due to their life circumstances."
     Over 80 percent of Southeastern students receive some form of financial aid, explained Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale. After four years or eight semesters, those students lose their eligibility for TOPS and scholarships offered through the Southeastern Foundation.
     "The reality is many of today's university students take longer than the traditional four-year plan to complete requirements for a degree," Lauderdale said. "We're hoping this initiative will help some of these students attain their higher education goals, allowing them the potential to be more successful in their careers and the workforce."
     She said research indicates most students take longer to attain an undergraduate degree for a variety of reasons: more than two-thirds of students are holding down jobs and approximately one-third are working more than 30 hours per week while attending college. Twenty percent are married, and 22 percent have young children for whom they are responsible. In addition, many of these students commute 30 or more miles to campus to attend classes.
     "The need for this program is especially critical, as tuition and fees at Southeastern and other state institutions have risen due to decreasing state support of higher education," Lauderdale said.
     The initiative will be funded through support from private, foundation and corporate philanthropic gifts.
     For more information, contact the Southeastern Advancement Office at 549-2239.

Above: Whitney Bank presented a $10,000 check to the Southeastern Foundation to help start an initiative designed to help fifth and sixth year students graduate from Southeastern. Present at the ceremony were, from left, John Vaughan, vice president, commercial banker; Southeastern President John L. Crain; Cindy Shelton, Whitney retail market president, Hammond Metro Division; Vice President/Branch Manager Daryl Ferrara; Southeastern Vice President of University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale; and Director of Corporate Development Lynn Horgan.

Southeastern to present Northlake Community Band concert
Southeastern's Community Music School will present the Northlake Community Band concert on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Pottle Music Building Auditorium.
     Entitled "Lola and the Walking Frog," the concert is free and will feature "Bombasto March" by Orin R. Farrar; "The Walking Frog" by King, Arr. by Robert E. Foster; "Espana Rhapsody" by Emmanuel Chabrier; "Light Cavalry Overture" by Franz Von Suppe; and "Damn Yankees" by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.
     "The Northlake Community Band started in 2009 and has since been an inseparable part of the Community Music School. It has continuously grown and currently numbers nearly 35 members in the fall and spring sessions and close to 50 members during the summer session," said Jivka Jeleva, director of the Community Music School.
     "The band unites musicians from different career fields and different walks of life, who come together simply for the joy of making music. We are very thankful for Dr. Jerry Voorhees's vision in creating this ensemble and for volunteering his time to make the Northlake Community Band such a great asset to our community's music life."
     Jeleva said the Northlake Community Band is always welcoming new members. For more information, contact the Community Music School at cms@southeastern.edu or call 549-5502.

Communication Sciences and Disorders news

At the recent American Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention in Atlanta, Ga., Southeastern's chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) won first place for a video created by CSD graduate students Anna Pate and Brittany LaBarre. The winning video may be viewed at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNSYzkgQOQs.
In addition, the chapter won second place in a t-shirt design contest and brought home bragging rights and a cash prize of $1,200.
Also, five CSD graduate students participated in the Knowledge Bowl at convention. Southeastern's team was one of only 10 teams in the country chosen to participate in this event, and they represented Region 8 (Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri).

Left: Pictured from left are Cliff Gomez, Crystal Boihem, Courtney Montreuil, Keri Ann Gaspard, and Garrett Sterling.

Associate professor, graduate student attend meeting
Erin Horzelski

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Erin Watson Horzelski, left, and her Graduate Assistant Danielle Levron of Cut Off, La., recently attended the Louisiana Association of Forensic Scientists' fall 2012 meeting.
People in attendance represented crime laboratories from around the state, including local cities and parishes.
Horzelski spoke for about two hours, providing training and crime scene collection techniques for insect evidence collected at crime scenes. She also spoke about forensic entomology research conducted in her lab at Southeastern, and Levron spoke about her master's research project.

Still time to register for 'Toys from the Heart', donations needed
There's still time for families to register for Southeastern's annual "Toys from the Heart" holiday toy drive.
     Southeastern's Greek organizations Kappa Alpha Psi Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Inc., along with the Recreational Sports and Wellness department, the Office of Multicultural and Student Affairs (MISA), and the Student Athletic Advisory Committee have teamed up to collect toys for underprivileged local children.
     "We have about 70 registered families to date," said Eric Summers, assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. "This total is below the limit that we can serve, and we hope to have more families sign up to help us bring joy to children's lives."
     Families interested in receiving toys may register for the drive by calling the MISA office at 549-3850 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday until registration is full. Requests are filled on a first come, first served basis.
     Those registering children must speak with a person; no messages will be taken. Toys will be given to registered families Dec. 7 from 1-5 p.m. at the Pennington Student Activity Center.
     New, unwrapped toys may be delivered to donation boxes located in the Student Union Mall Dec. 3-6. Donation boxes will also be located at the MISA office in the Student Union, room 206, and inside the Pennington Student Activity Center, located at the corner of University Avenue and General Pershing Avenue. Those interested in participating may also make a monetary donation for the purchase of new toys.
     For more information about "Toys from the Heart," contact the MISA office at 549-3850.

Southeastern student recognized for research
Suraj K. Ayer, a sophomore majoring in chemistry, won the third prize in Organic Chemistry at the Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Baton Rouge, where he presented his research work.
     Ayer is originally from Nepal and has been involved in research since his freshmen year, working under the supervision of Dr. Fotie (Chemistry and Physics). His research project focused on the synthesis of small molecules with potential anti-protozoan activities.
     "It is amazing to see research work I have been part of receiving such a nice recognition," he said.
     Ayer's future plan is to obtain a PhD degree in organic chemistry.

Student appreciation event to be held during finals week
With the help of faculty, staff and administrator servers, Southeastern's Auxiliary Services and food service provider Aramark will host Late Night Breakfast during finals week on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
     What has become an end-of-semester tradition on campus, Late Night Breakfast is scheduled from 9 – 11 p.m. in Cayman Café. The student appreciation event provides a free breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, grits, sausage, biscuits, hash browns, cereal, fruit, juice and coffee for students who purchased meal plans this semester. Those without meal plans are still welcome to attend at the door price of $6.95 plus tax. All students are required to present their Southeastern student ID.
     "Students are invited to wear their pajamas and join us for a study break," said Robin Parker, director of marketing and strategic initiatives for Auxiliary Services. "The students seem to enjoy the break and are really appreciative of the faculty and staff who volunteer their time to serve the students. It also gives the faculty and staff an opportunity to wish the students well on their finals."
     For more information or to volunteer, contact Auxiliary Services at 549-2094.

Extended Studies news

Hammond

ACT Preparation Course (Mondays, Jan. 7 – Feb. 4, 5 to 7 p.m.)
This course is designed to assist high school students to develop the skills to improve their ACT scores, emphasizing mathematics and English. The cost is $250 and includes all materials.

Mandeville

ACT Preparation Course (Thursdays, Jan. 10 – Feb. 7, 5 to 7 p.m.)
This course is designed to assist high school students to develop the skills to improve their ACT scores, emphasizing mathematics and English. The cost is $275, which includes the textbook.

Walker

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

Students and faculty attend convention in Atlanta
Anna Pate Ten current and former faculty from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, along with 12 current and former Southeastern undergraduate and graduate students, presented research at the national convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in Atlanta, Ga., Nov. 15-17.

The papers presented were as follows:

Adams, A., Montelepre J., Usey H. "Video Feedback II: Promoting Behavior Change for Adolescents with AS."
Davis, R., Adams, A., Stoehr, R., Perry, K., Boihem, C., Denman, N., Holmes, A., "Student Clinician Perceptions of Incorporating Animal-Assisted Therapy into Clinical Practice."
Montreuil, C., Adams, A., Pate, A., Bass, H., "iPad: Finding a Voice for the Nonverbal, Illiterate Aphasic Individual."
Davis, R., Adams, A., Perry, K., "Pet Project: Setting up an Animal-Assisted Therapy Program."
Stiegler, L., "Case Study: Teen with ASD Blends Echolalic and Generative Utterances."
Bettagere, R., Coenen, L., "Nasalance Norms for Adult Female Speakers with Southern Dialect."
Stoehr, R., Lynch, K., Arceneaux, S., Holmes, A., Buquoi, B., Boyd, A., "Turned on to Reading Again: Literacy Intervention for Clients with Aphasia."
Guendouzi, J., "SLP Students' Attitudes Toward Stuttering: Results from Four Universities."
Guendouzi, J., Coenen, L., "Non-Novel Language Use in Interactions with People with Dementia."
Guendouzi, J., "Measuring Public Attitudes Toward Stuttering: POSHA-S and BAS Comparisons."
Lynch, K., "Interpreting Change Over Time in Children's Reading Eye Movement Patterns."
Lynch, K., "Eye Tracking Behaviors Over Time During Novice Clinicians' Interpretations of VFSS."
Shembre, L., Donovan, N., Savage, M., "Conversational Efficiency Differences Between Two Aphasia Treatments: A Case Report."
Bass, H., Guitreau, E., Perry, K., "Training Speech Pathology Students in Team Effectiveness."
Billingsley, L., Currie, P., "3-D Multi-User Virtual Learning Environments to Increase Research Productivity."

Above: Anna Pate, a CSD graduate student, with her poster at the ASHA convention.

Chemistry student receives award
Bijay Bhattarai was selected to receive an "Outstanding Presentation" Award for his excellent presentation at the Rice University Undergraduate Symposium October 22. In honor of the award he will receive $100 and a certificate.
There were approximately 25 contestants in the chemistry division. The research talks were judged by Rice chemistry faculty. Contestants included students from the University of Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and other students from the region.
Bhattarai's presentation was entitled, "Suzuki coupling of N-alkoxyimidoyl iodides."

Southeastern in the news
Amite Tangi Digest
Southeastern's Erin Cowser named a CityBusiness Woman of the Year
http://www.tangilena.com/view/full_story/20943796/article-Southeastern-s-Erin-Cowser-named-a-CityBusiness-Woman-of-the-Year?instance=news_special_coverage_right_column

How Lions golf coach Tim Baldwin recruits internationally
http://www.amitetoday.com/view/full_story/20951762/article-How-Lions-golf-coach-Tim-Baldwin-recruits-globally-for-Southeastern?instance=lead_story_left_column

BR Advocate
SLU professor named president of SRCEA
http://theadvocate.com/news/livingston/4442709-123/slu-professor-namedpresident-of-srcea

Voter registration PSA wins statewide honor
http://theadvocate.com/news/livingston/4442773-123/voter-registration-psa-video-earns

Groups pledge to give toys to needy children
http://theadvocate.com/news/livingston/4474990-123/groups-pledge-to-give-toysto

SLU starts completer plan
http://theadvocate.com/news/4530152-123/slu-starts-completer-plan

St. Tammany News
Student Completer scholarships underway at SLU
http://www.thesttammanynews.com/news/article_6ac6c35a-38e4-11e2-9f7e-0019bb2963f4.html

Maritime Security
David Lalejini Receives Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award
http://maritimesecurity.asia/free-2/piracy-2/david-lalejini-receives-navy-meritorious-civilian-service-award/

This Week in Athletics
With Southeastern student-athletes concentrating on fall semester final examinations, there is only one game on the slate during this week in Southeastern Athletics.
The Southeastern women's basketball team (4-2) will play its third straight road game on Saturday. The Lady Lions will travel to Tallahassee, Fla. to face Florida A&M at 5 p.m. (CST).
Saturday's game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.

Saturday, December 8
Women's Basketball, at Florida A&M, 5 p.m. (CST), Tallahassee, Fla. (KSLU)

Professional activities
Dr. Joy Ratliff (Fine and Performing Arts) presented a paper at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Southern Region Fall Conference. The paper entitled "Trouser Roles in Opera for the Mezzo-soprano Voice" was presented on Nov. 9 at the LSU Baton Rouge campus.
     Drs. Bonnie Ahn, Lolita Boykin, Corie Hebert, and Heidi Kulkin (Counseling and Human Development) have published an article titled "Exploring Baccalaureate Social Work Students' Self-Efficacy: Did it Change over Time?," in the Journal of Teaching in Social Work, vol. 32, 487-501 (2012).
     Dr. David Burley (Sociology and Criminal Justice), along with students from his spring 2010 graduate seminar in Applied Environmental Sociology, have had their article, "Imagination Enviro-station: Students Connecting Students to Ecological Sustainability," published in a special issue on Community Based Research in the Journal of Rural Social Science.
     Dr. Jean Fotie (Chemistry & Physics) and his undergraduate research student Jessica L. Rhodus published an article titled "C-N Coupling of 1,2-Dihydro-2,2,4-trimethyquinoline Derivatives via a Silver(I)-Catalyzed Direct Functionalization of a C-H Bond" in Heteroatom Chemistry (2012), 23(6), 598-604, with collaborators from The Ohio State University.

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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