IN THIS ISSUE ... 

Fall convocation scheduled

Fontenot named dean

Fall hours begin Aug. 11

Wetlands to benefit from lawsuit

New parking tags available

Bank co-sponsors FE-Lions event

CMS registration now open

Camp explores robotics

OSRP sponsors open house

 

Athletes of the Year named

Non-credit courses scheduled

Southeastern in the news

Professional activities



Fall convocation scheduled
Southeastern will launch the 2014-2015 academic year with its annual fall convocation and picnic for faculty and staff on Friday, August 15, at 11 a.m., at the new Student Union Grand Ballroom.
     The convocation will include presentation of the President's Awards for Excellence, the university's highest faculty and staff honors, as well as presentation of service awards to faculty and staff who have been with the university for 25, 30, 35, 40 and 50 years. Also to be recognized are new faculty and staff, faculty tenure and promotions, and donors who have established newly endowed professorships.

     This year, items will be collected at convocation for the Food Pantry for those who wish to donate.
     The annual Alumni Association-sponsored picnic will immediately follow the morning's ceremonies.

 


Fontenot named Southeastern Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Karen FontenotKaren Fontenot, a professor of communication who has served as interim dean of Southeastern's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences since 2009, was appointed dean of the college, the university announced.
     The appointment follows a nationwide search and has been approved by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, Southeastern's managing body.
     "Dr. Fontenot's experience as a professor, department head and service as interim dean of the college make her highly qualified for this position," said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tammy Bourg. "The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is Southeastern's largest college in terms of student enrollment, number of faculty and number of academic programs. It is also one of the most diverse in terms of degree programs."
     A resident of Hammond, Fontenot is a specialist in the field of interpersonal, intercultural and business communication and is an author or co-author of nearly 70 articles published in professional journals. She holds her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism and a doctorate in communication theory from LSU Baton Rouge.
     Fontenot has been a member of the Southeastern faculty since 1992. Previously she held several positions at LSU in the Department of Speech Communication and the College of Business Administration.

 


Fall semester hours begin Monday, August 11
Southeastern will return to a four and a half day work week for the fall beginning Monday, August 11. During this period, Southeastern will operate Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Employees will have a 45-minute lunch break each day. Friday hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
     Classes for the fall session begin August 20.

 


Southeastern's Cypress Restoration Project to benefit from lawsuit settlement
Cypress seedlings are preparedWetlands scientists and students at Southeastern this fall will be using a recent settlement of a civil lawsuit to continue reforestation efforts in area wetlands.
     A $33,000 fine and settlement was approved earlier this month in Baton Rouge by U.S. District Judge James Brady following a suit filed against a Tennessee businessman by the Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper and the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, two Louisiana environmental groups. The suit alleged the landowner harvested cypress trees around Lake Maurepas without a permit, cutting trees that were more than 100 years old, causing damage to the hydrology of the land, adding pollutants to the waterways, and inviting invasive species that have negatively affected the area's ecology.
     "Both environmental groups are well aware of the research and reforestation work we have been doing in south Louisiana and suggested those funds go to us," said Gary Shaffer, professor of biology and a member of the board of the Atchafalya Basinkeeper.
     Shaffer, who is director of Southeastern's Wetland Restoration Lab, said the funds will pay for the cultivation and planting of 3,300 bald cypress and water tupelo saplings. The plants will be adequately nutria-proofed, he explained, as the invasive and prolific rodents are a major nuisance in attempts to replant cypress saplings.
     Shaffer and his team of undergraduate and graduate students are currently cultivating seedlings for planting, which will begin in the fall.
     In order to ensure a high rate of survival, we will plant the seedlings in areas that we know will receive reliable sources of nutrient-rich fresh water, such as the Hammond, Mandeville and Central Wetlands assimilation wetlands, as well as some areas where the illegal clear cut occurred," he said.
     The Southeastern team plans to plant nearly 20,000 cypress and tupelo trees over the next two years as a part of a 20-year effort to restore the Manchac and Maurepas swamps.

 

CYPRESS CULTIVATION -- Southeastern undergraduate biology student Lauren Upton of Baton Rouge and graduate student Zachary Leggett of Zachary work on cypress seedlings in a university greenhouse. A Southeastern team of researchers and students will soon begin replanting depleted area wetlands with bald cypress trees.

 


2015 Faculty/Staff Hangtags available

Today, August 4, the Parking Department will begin issuing the 2015 Faculty/Staff Hangtags at its office in Pride Hall. The cost for the entire academic year is $45.00. Faculty/Staff also have the option to purchase a hangtag for the fall semester only for $15.00.
     The Parking Department can only accept checks or cash and we ask you to bring exact change as there are limited funds available. You will need to fill out a white registration card that is available at our office and present your Faculty/Staff ID. Please write your W# on your check.
     On Wednesday, August 6, the Parking Department will visit several buildings on campus to assist Faculty/Staff in obtaining their hangtags. The following are the location and times the staff will be issuing hangtags:

 

Mims Hall 8 to 9:30 a.m. Conference Room
Dyson Hall 10 to 11:30 a.m. File Room
Physical Plant 1 to 2:15 p.m. Conference Room
Financial Aid Building 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. Next to Cashier's Office

 

     Visit the Parking Department web page http://www.southeastern.edu/admin/parking_old to review information concerning parking on campus.
     Call the Parking Department with any questions at 549-5695.

 


First Guaranty Bank co-sponsors FE Lions event
FELions receive supportThe Southeastern Alumni Association's athletic support organization, the FE-Lions, will welcome back student athletes this fall through their Salute the Lions project with aid from First Guaranty Bank.
     From left, FE-Lions members Peggy Hoover, Alumni Association Director Kathy L. Pittman, Dorothy Vicknair, and President Libby Covington accept a check from Bernadette Kemp with First Guaranty Bank. The bank is a co-sponsor of the FE-Lions' Salute the Lions project, where they welcome back and feed the athletes from all sports.

 


Registration open for Community Music School
Registration is underway for the fall session of Southeastern's Community Music School (CMS), which begins Tuesday, Sept. 2.
     Registration is free through Aug. 20. A registration fee of $20 will be charged starting Aug. 21. Registration for the fall session will remain open throughout the semester.
     Students of all ages may participate in private lessons on various instruments and voice. Opportunities for group instruction and chamber ensemble formation are also available.
     "In addition to providing music instruction, CMS is planning participation with musical instrument presentations and small concerts in various university and community events as well as regular performances at the farmers market in downtown Hammond," said CMS Director Jivka Jeleva. "Due to the generous sponsorship of First Guaranty Bank, the CMS will offer discounted tuition to students who are on reduced or free lunch at their schools this academic year."
     For more information about these and all CMS programs and general registration, call 549-5502, or visit the CMS website at www.southeastern.edu/cms.

 


Area middle, high schoolers gain exposure to robotics at Southeastern camp
Robotics CampNearly 50 area middle and high school students from the northshore region received first-hand exposure and hands-on experience in robotics and other computer-related technologies while getting a bit of physical activity by participating in Southeastern's RoboFit Summer Camp last week (July 21-25)
     Sponsored by the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology with financial support from university business partner Dow Chemical, the camp was operated in two sections, one for a 12-14 age group and the other for ages 15 and above.
     Included among the activities were building robots to perform a variety of functions, such as cleaning up trash and navigating corridors; observation of robotic technologies in action, including demonstrations by the Louisiana State Police of one of their bomb squad robots; operating various helicopter drones and – for the younger campers – an afternoon of swimming and physical activity.
     "These camps are an important way of getting kids interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers from an early age, while stressing the importance in math in these disciplines," said Sebastian van Delden, head of the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology. "Unfortunately, many youngsters don't understand the importance of math in any engineering or computer science field, and once they enter college, it is difficult to build the pre-requisite math foundation they need to be successful."
     He said the RoboFit Camp featured a health and fitness component for the younger team with the assistance of faculty from the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies to stress the importance of balance in one's life.
Camp participant Michael Kraemar, a student at the Silliman Institute in Clinton, said he had been looking forward to the camp.
     "My interests are in engineering and robotics, and I wanted to get a little experience and learn more about robotics," he said. "The camp was a perfect fit for me."
     Several Southeastern students assisted as camp counselors during the week and benefitted themselves from the experience.
     Computer science senior Myriah Duraso of Sulphur said she was able to gain experience guiding the students to a solution and helping them with technical questions. The best part of the camp, she noted, was how interested and excited the students were and how effectively they completed the challenges they were presented.
     "The primary reason for my interest, however, was to share my love for computer science and technology, she said. "It's important that children are exposed to new technologies at a young age. I'm very passionate about my field of study, and I hope the younger generation will become more involved."
     The camp concluded with a tour of Intralox, a Laitram-owned conveyor belt manufacturing facility in Hammond and an awards presentation. Overall winner was 13-year-old Vivian Saterlee of Madisonville, who was awarded the top prize, a new multicopter.

 

ROBOTIC ROCK DROP – Mason Delahoussaye of Madisonville prepares to catch a rock being carried by a Louisiana State Police bomb squad robot at Southeastern's RoboFit Summer Camp held on campus last week. Members of the bomb squad put the robot through various exercises to demonstrate to the campers its capabilities and flexibility. More than 50 area middle and high school students from throughout the region participated in the camp.

 


Sponsored Research and Programs to host Open House
The Office of Sponsored Research and Programs will host an open house on Wednesday, August 13, from 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 212 East Strawberry Stadium. Meet the staff, other faculty and learn how to get involved in research, creative and scholarly activities at Southeastern.
     Register for door prizes. Refreshments will be available.
     For more information, contact us via email at osrc@southeastern.edu or at 549-5312. 

 


Southeastern Names Bennett, Sabadash, Villarreal 2013-14 Athletes of the Year
Two student-athletes who led their teams to Southland Conference championships and NCAA Championship appearances, plus another who excelled both athletically and academically, were named the 2013-14 Southeastern Athletes of the Year.
     Earning Male Athlete of the Year honors was junior quarterback Bryan Bennett. Freshman goalkeeper Hope Sabadash and sophomore women's tennis player Renee Villarreal shared Female Athlete of the Year honors.
     Since 1990-91, Southeastern has honored its top male and female student-athletes. Each season, two student-athletes are selected from voting by members of the Southeastern Athletic Department.
     Bennett is the second Southeastern football player to earn the honor in as many years, joining 2012-13 honoree Robert Alford. The 2013 Southland Conference Player of the Year led the Lions to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA FCS playoffs, an 11-3 overall record and the program's first conference title since 1961.
     In his first season at SLU, Bennett was also named the Louisiana Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Year. The Granada Hills, Calif. native threw for 3,165 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,046 yards and a single-season school record 16 touchdowns.
     Sabadash had an immediate impact in her first season in goal with the Lady Lions, earning first team NSCAA All-Region, All-Southland and All-Louisiana honors. The Mississauga, Ontario, Canada native finished the season with a 0.67 goals against average and nine shutouts.
     Her game reached a new level in the postseason, as she led Southeastern to shootout wins over Oral Roberts and Stephen F. Austin in the final two matches of the Southland Conference Tournament. The Southland Tournament MVP led the Lady Lions to the third tournament title and the second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. Sabadash is the seventh women's soccer player to earn Athlete of the Year honors.
     Rounding out the honorees was Villarreal, who was a first team All-Southland and All-Louisiana choice for the Lions. In her first season playing on the No. 1 singles court, she finished 16-3 overall. In her first two seasons at SLU, the Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico native has a 38-4 career singles record.
     Villarreal also excelled in the classroom, maintaining a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. A member of the Southeastern Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, she was named Academic All-District VI honors and Southland Conference All-Academic teams. Villarreal is the fifth member of the women's tennis program to earn Athlete of the Year accolades.
     Since the award was established, 16 winners have been inducted into the Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame. Two more former Athletes of the Year – Wade Miley and Emilija Arnaudovska – will be inducted in 2014.

 


Non-credit courses scheduled

Court Reporting: Voice Writers
Susan Foil & Sharon LeRoy, Aug. 25, 2014 - May 7, 2015

This 90 hour program is designed to prepare students for the state licensing exam and for entry-level employment as a court reporter. Dictation, computer, and word processing skills are developed throughout the course. The course is a hands-on development plan with exposure to actual court reporting situations. Students will need a laptop computer with two GB capacity.

 

ACT Test Preparation
Dates vary

The ACT Review class is designed to help students prepare for the ACT college entrance exam. Students will review major concepts most commonly found on the ACT and will be provided test-taking tips and strategies. Class space is limited. Register early. Total hours equal 10 hours class time. Register today.

 

Notarial Test Preparation
Dates vary depending on location

This course is an introduction to and education for a Louisiana State Notary- Public. It is designed to help students successfully pass the statewide Louisiana Notarial Exam. However, it is also a great refresher course on Civil law basics and sound notarial practice for commissioned notaries and attorneys as well. Register now.

 

QuickBooks 2014, Introduction
Dates vary depending on location

Want to get an edge in the bookkeeping field? QuickBooks software is used by more than five million businesses in the U.S. You must have basic computer knowledge and some understanding of financial terms (checking accounts, revenues, expenses, etc.) Participants can receive up to 1.2 CEUs and can be combined with Levels II and III. Read more.

 


Southeastern in the news

Action News
Southeastern going tobacco free August 1
http://www.actionnews17.com/news/all/artmid/494/articleid/13902/southeastern-going-tobacco-free-beginning-aug-1

Fontenot named dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
http://www.actionnews17.com/news/all/artmid/494/articleid/13921/fontenot-named-southeastern-dean-of-arts-humanities-and-social-sciences

Southeastern to be tobacco-free August 1
http://www.tangilena.com/local-state-lifestyle-campus/southeastern-be-tobacco-free-august-1st

FGB co-sponsors FE-Lions' Salute the Lions project
http://www.actionnews17.com/news/all/artmid/494/articleid/13989/fgb-co-sponsors-fe-lions-salute-the-lions-project

 

BR Advocate
Time to rally support for SLU (Letter)
http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/9788830-123/time-to-rally-support-for

Southeastern campus set to go smoke-free
http://theadvocate.com/features/people/9796162-123/southeastern-campus-set-to-go

 

N.O. CityBusiness
Colleges compete for state funds, students
http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2014/07/23/colleges-compete-for-state-funds-students/

 

NO Times Picayune
Maurepas basin cypress restoration to receive $33K from lawsuit settlement
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/07/maurepas_basin_cypress_restora.html

Karen Fontenot named dean of SLU's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2014/07/karen_fontenot_named_dean_of_s.html

Lawsuit settlement to fuel SLU effort to plant 3,300 trees in area wetlands
https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/07/lawsuit_settlement_to_fuel_slu.html&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoTOTQ2NTkyMTg2MzIwNzk1Mzg3NjIaNzEzOGI1ZTc2NThmNTE1Nzpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AFQjCNHc_P5rLnrUcaUzvmFQU_RRr0RAjw

 


Professional activities
Dr. Luanne Billingsley and Dr. Laurie Kinchen (Nursing) have published a clinical update titled "Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Protection: Are We Using Best Practice?" in the Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing (August 2014). This article highlights examples of the latest innovative solutions that can improve peripheral intravenous catheter protection and stabilization.
     Dr. Marc Riedel (Sociology and Criminal Justice) attended the meeting of the International Sociological Association in Yokohama, Japan from July 12 - 19. Dr. Riedel presented a treasurer's report for United States component of the international society. At the termination of his current term in office, Dr. Riedel was elected to the Board of Directors.
     Dr. Rhett Allain (Chemistry and Physics) was recently invited to give a presentation at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica. The title of Dr. Allain's talk was "Estimations and Physics Models."

 


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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