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Southeastern graduate biology program cited as third best in the nation by education
group
The graduate program in biological sciences at Southeastern was ranked third in the
nation by SR Education Group, an education research publisher based in Kirkland, Wash.
The 2016 Top Graduate Program rankings were selected from graduate schools and
programs across the nation and are based on student reviews. Southeastern was the
only Louisiana institution listed in the top 30 colleges and universities.
The full report is available at http://www.graduateprograms.com/school-rankings.
Southeastern’s program was ranked 4.36 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the
highest by students who submitted responses to a survey. The university was ranked
high in campus safety, career advising, quality of instruction, student diversity,
financial services and degree satisfaction.
“We are pleased that our students appreciate the quality of our program,” said
Chris Beachy, head of the Department of Biological Sciences. “Our graduate faculty
are all accomplished researchers and active in their professional specialty organizations.
They are also excellent instructors with a dedication to providing our students with
numerous real-world educational opportunities.”
A sample of student comments from the Southeastern review included:
-- “Some pros of this program are how invested the majority of the faculty is
in the progress of the graduate students.”
-- “I took a lot of valuable lessons with me to my professional career; I feel
I am greatly prepared for my current job.”
-- “The faculty members are usually wonderful and willing to help.”
Last year, the biological sciences graduate program was ranked sixth in the nation
by a separate rating service, graduateprograms.com. The department offers students
specialization opportunities in the areas of ecology and environmental biology, evolutionary
biology, genetics, cellular and molecular biology, microbiology and anatomy and physiology.
BIOLOGY PROGRAM RANKED – Kyle Piller, professor of biological sciences at Southeastern, and graduate student
Kimberly Foster select specimens from the department’s Vertebrate Museum, a collection
of more than 80,000 specimens. The Southeastern graduate program in biological sciences
was ranked No. 3 in the nation by SR Education Group.
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Southeastern Lion's Roar editor earns top award
The editor of Southeastern’s student newspaper, The Lion’s Roar, was recently honored with a first place award in the College News Bureau category
by the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Media Editors Conference.
Megan Ferrando, a senior English Education major from Mandeville, was recognized
for her coverage of the earthquakes that struck the nation of Nepal in April 2015.
Her reporting focused on the effects the disaster had on the Nepalese student population
at Southeastern, one of the largest groups of foreign students enrolled at the university.
“As soon as word of the earthquake in Nepal spread, Southeastern became closer
than ever, as students and staff joined together to raise money,” she said. “I talked
to many Southeastern students from Nepal to learn about their response after hearing
of the earthquake and how the Southeastern community helped raise funds. I was reminded
of what a family the Southeastern community is.”
While currently serving as editor in chief at The Lion’s Roar, she will be leaving the position in the fall when she begins her student teaching
in Mandeville.
“One of Megan’s greatest abilities as a journalist is in presenting stories that
connect with people on a human level,” said Lee E. Lind, director of Student Publications.
“It has been a privilege to aid her in growing as a journalist and student leader.”
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Southeastern, NTCC agree to share faculty-staff development opportunities
Faculty and staff at Southeastern and Northshore Technical Community College will
now be able to take courses and programs at each institution at reduced costs, according
to a new agreement signed by both institutions.
Under the arrangement, faculty and staff at both institutions can take advantage
of the unique educational strengths and resources that exist at each institution.
The agreement is designed to help expand academic credentials in order to meet expectations
set by programmatic and regional and national accrediting agencies. In addition, Southeastern
faculty and staff may benefit from expertise offered by NTCC, especially in certain
applied technology fields.
“Southeastern has a close relationship with NTCC because of our shared educational
focus and our missions to serve the residents of our region,” said Southeastern President
John L. Crain. “In this period of tight budgetary restrictions, it’s appropriate for
us to share our educational resources whenever we have the occasion. This kind of
cooperation will enhance the knowledge and skills of faculty and staff at both institutions.”
"A solid foundation of continuous comprehensive faculty and staff development
is central to the quality of student learning and responsiveness to markets,” said
NTCC Chancellor William S. Wainwright. “This mutually beneficial and progressive agreement
between Northshore Technical Community College and Southeastern Louisiana University
will ensure sustainable growth while strengthening our institutions, therefore enhancing
our services to students and stakeholders."
Under terms of the agreement, Southeastern and NTCC will share information about
existing educational and professional development programs and determine opportunities
to provide access for faculty and staff at each other’s institution to participate
in selected programming on a free or reduced-cost basis.
The two institutions will also seek other partnership opportunities in which
information, knowledge and expertise can be shared, including training opportunities
in areas such as safety, security, counseling and learning management system training.
The two institutions have a history of cooperation. Most recently, Southeastern
and NTCC began offering Connect to Success in which NTCC students can take various
courses at Southeastern as well as use the university’s facilities such as the library,
Student Union and Pennington Student Activity Center. More than 500 NTCC students
are enrolled in the program.
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Location: Florida Parishes Arena – Amite – 1301 NW Central Ave.
