ByLion
IN THIS ISSUE, APRIL 20, 2020

Summer Online launched
Mask Up and Make a Difference
Yuan named to executive committee
Student wins speed selling competition

The Lion's Roar recognized
Channel named Best in Nation
Sales Team succeeds online
Forever Hang Tag offered in fall

Coronavirus Updates
Southeastern in the News
Professional Activities

BYLION STORIES

Summer Online

Southeastern launches summer online to meet student needs 
In response to the urgent needs of both current and new students during a financially difficult time for many, Southeastern is launching “Summer Online” for the upcoming semester at a reduced cost. The average cost for most students, including out of state students taking up to six hours, will be $325 or less per credit hour and is inclusive of all typical student fees.
     Southeastern is also now extending a tuition reduction to graduate students and hopes they will take advantage of the online semester offerings as well.
     “Summer Online will provide students with the opportunity to select from hundreds of fully online courses for the summer 2020 semester. With courses lasting either four or eight weeks, credit can be earned in as little as a month at this highly reduced cost,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tena L. Golding.
     For those who are not currently students, Southeastern is providing yet another incentive to try Summer Online. Throughout the month of April, all application fees will be waived for students who apply for entry to Southeastern during the summer or fall semesters.
     “Along with the financial cost reduction, the online instruction and wide availability of offerings allow students to more rapidly advance their degree progress while addressing COVID-19 concerns over in-person contact, helping students to better focus on their studies while also helping ensure their health and safety,” Golding said.
     By providing the flexibility that online courses offer, more students are able to take courses at Southeastern during the summer semester, Golding explained. When offered in the past, the format has been embraced by both traditional and non-traditional students alike. High school students and students from other universities, who may live too far away to commute, are likewise encouraged to take advantage of the program to advance toward their degree.
     “This innovative new Summer Online initiative is part of Southeastern’s ongoing commitment to remaining one of the best values among four-year colleges in the region—providing an affordable, high-quality, and supportive education centered around the needs of today’s students,” Golding said.
     For more information on Southeastern’s summer sessions, visit southeastern.edu/summeronline or contact the Office of the Registrar at records@southeastern.edu.

Southeastern to ‘Mask Up and Make a Difference’ for health care providers
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the Southeastern Foundation are working to help supplement the low inventory of masks for health care providers through a project called “Mask Up and Make a Difference.”
     “We want to make sure that all of our nursing graduates have masks and are ready to immediately help with this crisis,” said Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Ann Carruth. “Please help us provide SLU Lion masks to our healthcare providers and front line workers caring for our Lion Nation community by supporting the ‘Mask Up’ Project. We have supplies and several easy patterns. The masks you make will be donated to those in need.”
     Carruth said volunteers are needed to sew partially or completely finished masks or teach family or community members to do so. Those who cannot sew can help the cause by making a donation to the “Mask Up” project for the purchase of additional supplies via the Southeastern Foundation.
     “Charlotte Humphries, Kinesiology and Health Studies retiree, and Michelle Reed of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences have worked to create the logistics of reaching out to our community,” Carruth said. “For example, the Hammond Art Guild and other community members have stepped up to help the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Mask-Up our healthcare partners.”
     The masks will first go to current and future Southeastern alumni and then to the regional medical population after the need is filled, Carruth said.
     “The Foundation is grateful for this partnership in support of the university and its alumni,” said Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale. “During this time of great need, we are eager to lend our hand by helping coordinate in this effort.”
     Contact cnhs@southeastern.edu to request materials or deliver partially or completed masks. Masks can also be dropped off in the collection box under the breezeway at 400 Mane St. at the Kinesiology and Health Sciences Building. 

Mask Up

The Lion’s Roar recognized in national front page effort
Newspapers around the country were recently encouraged to run a prominent headline with a localized news story to remind readers how local newspapers, like Southeastern Louisiana University’s student-run weekly newspaper The Lion’s Roar, and their staffs share in the difficult circumstances and other impacts of coronavirus and COVID-19.
     The Lion’s Roar chose to participate with a noticeable headline and story to include in the March 31 issue of The Lion’s Roar. Several Louisiana newspapers submitted their customized messages and designs to the Louisiana Press Association, the official trade organization for Louisiana news publishers. The Lion’s Roar was the only college newspaper in the state recognized by the LPA for their participation in the initiative.
     “The editorial staff and I were thrilled to be a part of this initiative, keeping the community up to date on the most recent news regarding the pandemic,” said Editor-in-Chief Jacob Summerville, a junior political science major from Greenwell Springs. “We have had several stories concerning COVID-19 thus far, but this layout was great to include because of the unity among other news organizations in the state. Being one of the most heavily impacted states in the country, this was the best decision to include our contribution in providing a local twist on an international crisis.”
     The Lion’s Roar staff have been working to produce original content to include in both the digital version of the weekly newspaper, along with content shared through the publication’s web and social media presence.
     “This is a hard time for everyone in the community,” said Assistant Editor Prakriti Adhikari, a junior accounting major from Hammond. “There are many uncertainties and people are scared, but there are good things happening as well. Through our participation with the Louisiana Press Association to make a unified front page, we wanted to spread a message to the community that we are still together. We want our readers to know that The Lion’s Roar will continue to serve its readers.”
     The Lion’s Roar is continuing with its weekly production efforts despite staff working remotely. Readers can access content produced by student staff reporters through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @lionsroarnews, and via the newspaper’s website, lionsroarnews.com.

Sales Team succeeds online in national role-play competition 

India WilliamsKennesaw State’s Center for Professional Selling hosted the 22nd Annual National Collegiate Sales Competition March 27-30. More than 75 universities and more than 40 corporations participated. The NCSC is a university sales role-play competition that includes a two-day sales career fair and various networking activities allowing organizations seeking high-quality sales candidates to recruit and engage more than 400 of the top university sales talent along with college sales professors during the 3-day event.
     This year, the competition shifted from in-person to online in two weeks so students had to pivot their training and strategies.      Southeastern’s Sales Team had two role-play competitors participate in NCSC. India Williams of Baton Rouge, who won the Fall 2019 Internal Competition, and Conner Brian of Greenwell Springs, won the Spring 2020 Internal Competition, were chosen to represent Southeastern this year.
     In the wild-card round, Williams, pictured above, won first place in her room and Brian won second place in his room. Williams was able to move on to the quarterfinals. Overall, Southeastern was the runner-up for Top Rookie School, as this was the first time to participate, giving the team an automatic bid to next year’s competition.

 

Transportation Services offers Southeastern Forever Hang Tag in the fall 
When the 2021 parking hang tags go on sale on Aug. 3, Transportation Services will offer a new and exciting option for full-time faculty and staff members – The Southeastern Forever Tag.
     Those that elect to enroll in the payroll deduction option will be provided with our new Southeastern Forever hang tag. This new tag will not expire as long as the employee remains on payroll deduction.    Keeping the same tag year after year will eliminate the need for annual visits to the Office of Transportation Services for hang tag renewal.
     For the employees who have already enrolled in payroll deduction, they will automatically receive the Southeastern Forever tag this fall. Employees looking to enroll in payroll deduction can do this in person at the Office of Transportation Services between Aug. 3 and Oct. 1. Enrolling in payroll deduction will automatically qualify employees to receive the Southeastern Forever tag.
     At the beginning of the spring semester we moved to an online registration system for our employees. Online registration, along with our new hang tag option, will simplify and expedite the hang tag purchasing process. All employees must complete the new online registration process before picking up the 2021 tag in August. More instructions about the new Southeastern Forever hang tag and this process will be provided later in the summer.

 

Safety Specialist named to National Accreditation Commission Executive Committee

Lu Yuan

Lu Yuan, professor of occupational, safety, health, and environment, has been appointed as an ExCom member (member-at-large) for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission, one of the nation’s foremost academic accrediting bodies. Yuan, a certified safety professional, will serve on the 2020-2021 commission executive committee.
     ABET is a non-profit, private accrediting agency for programs such as computer science, applied and natural science, including safety and health, engineering and engineering technology, and is recognized as a leading accrediting agency to assure confidence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
     As a member-at-large, Yuan will assist with the statement editing process, serve as team chair for one visit to an institution seeking accreditation or re-accreditation during the cycle, and attend scheduled commission meetings of the executive committee.
     “The appointment recognizes the quality of Southeastern’s occupational safety, health, and environment program, housed in the College of Science and Technology, and also demonstrates the excellent reputation the program has earned over recent years,” said Yuan.
     Accreditation is a voluntary process and assures a program meets the quality standards of the professions accredited. Southeastern’s bachelor’s program in occupational safety, health and environment – the only one of its kind in the state – has been accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. since 2008.

 

Student wins national Virtual Speed Selling Competition

Brielle RiccaDisplaying world-class agility, the Southeastern Sales Team recently honed new skills to compete virtually in the National Collegiate Sales Competition, which was originally planned to be hosted in Atlanta the week of March 23.
     The NCSC staff, corporate judges, and student competitors quickly pivoted from their semester-long preparation to compete in-person to an online format within a two-week time frame. The Virtual Speed Selling Competition was judged by 16 corporate sponsors.
     Representing Southeastern were marketing majors and professional sales program students Brielle Ricca, pictured above, Paxton Page, and Ashley Murphy who delivered 90-second elevator pitches live via web conference to the corporate judges.
     Ricca won the top honors out of over 360 competitors by being selected the Top Speed-Seller by more companies than any other student in the competition.
     “We are proud of our student competitors for transitioning quickly to an online competition format,” said April Kemp, student sales coach. “Our students worked hard, and the outcome showed Southeastern was a fierce competitor."
     For more information about the Professional Sales Program, contact Kemp at sales@southeastern.edu or visit southeastern.edu/sales.

Southeastern Channel named Best in the Nation
For the seventh time the Southeastern Channel has won first place in the nation.
     The Southeastern Channel, Southeastern’s cable television station, won national first-place awards for “Best Live Television Sports Broadcast” and “Best Television Hard News Reporting” as selected by College Broadcasters, Inc. at its 2019 National Student Production Awards presented at the National Student Electronic Media Convention.
     In addition, the Southeastern Channel’s student newscast, “Northshore News,” won second place in the nation for “Best Television Newscast.” There were over 1,200 entries from colleges and universities across the nation.
     Winning for “Best Live Television Sports Broadcast” was the Southeastern Channel’s multi-camera production and live broadcast of the Southeastern vs. Abilene Christian football game on October 20, 2018. Student Dylan Domangue of Houma was the play-by-play announcer, while Richie Solares of New Orleans was the color analyst and Schuylar Ramsey of Springfield was the sideline reporter.
     Other crew members were Taylor Sharp of Walker, John Williams of Denham Springs, Jeremy Gaines of New Orleans, Tyler Guidroz of Ponchatoula, Lily Gayle of Greensburg, and Tyler Rogers and Gabrielle Cox of Hammond. The game broadcast was produced by an entirely student crew.
     “I know the hard work and preparation that we put into each of our broadcasts, and to have that come full circle and pay off with us winning first place in the nation is truly special,” Domangue said.
     A student director of the Southeastern Channel’s live sports broadcasts, Domangue did play-by-play announcing for the first time on the winning broadcast. He said that the Southeastern Channel student crew members expect the best from each other, whether they are announcers, directors, replay operators, graphics, audio mixers, or camera operators.
     “What separates the Southeastern Channel from everyone else in the country regarding game broadcasts is the fact that we are all student run, and when it comes to our broadcast, we have a student at every position on the crew,” Domangue said. “This serves as an educational experience for us as we learn each position with the hopes of doing this professionally one day.”
     “I know when we started out most of us were inexperienced in broadcasting sporting events, and now we are producing games at such a high level that we are not only nominated, but we are winning first in the nation for them. That is truly special,” Domangue explained.

Read more
John Sartori and Dylan DomangueFIRST IN THE NATION - The Southeastern Channel recently won first place in the nation honors for a pair of student productions at the National Student Production Awards given by College Broadcasters, Inc. Channel students won for “Best Live Television Game Broadcast” with its October 20, 2018 broadcast of the Southeastern vs. Abilene Christian football game, and for “Best Television Hard News Story” for a story on the “Pearl River Dam” produced by Amanda Kitch of Covington for the student newscast, “Northshore News,” which also won second place in the country for “Best College Television Newscast.” Pictured from left are students John Sartori of Mandeville and Dylan Domangue of Houma. Not pictured is Kitch.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
Good News Southeastern

Adapting to Change: Dr. William B. Robison

Bill RobisonThe COVID-19 situation has permeated the world, but instead of succumbing to it, Americans have been banding together to overcome the threat it poses to both health and our way of life. This has been particularly evident within our Southeastern community, with faculty, staff, and students all working together and demonstrating their commitment to offering or pursuing a quality education.
     Dr. William B. Robison, professor of history and department head of the Department of History and Political Sciences (HIPS), is one of the hundreds of faculty members who has adapted quickly to the situation in order to continue to meet students’ academic needs.
     “Although I would much prefer to teach my classes in person, particularly because they were very good classes this semester, adapting to online instruction and work from home has gone smoothly,” he said. “As Department Head of the Department of History and Political Science, I am very fortunate that most faculty in the department have taught online classes and that the few who have not done so were quick to seek assistance from the Center for Faculty Excellence or tech-savvy graduate students.”
     In transitioning to fully remote instruction, William has been recording lectures using voiceover with Keynote slides and uploading them to YouTube along with posting their URLs in Moodle, hosting forum discussions on Moodle, and conducting meetings through GoogleMeet and Zoom. He also plans to begin occasionally incorporating GoogleMeet into his courses.
     For William, who commented on the high level of participation in class discussion he had been able to enjoy until going remote, the lack of human contact has been his biggest obstacle to overcome. To help stay connected as best as possible, he has been keeping in touch with students and faculty by using email, messaging, the department’s Facebook page, and telephone.
     Online courses may not be what students originally signed up, but William has noticed only strength, integrity, and dedication from students.
     “Contrary to the infuriating and inaccurate stereotype of contemporary university students as entitled ‘snowflakes,’ my students all have taken the situation in stride,” he said. “Of course they are not thrilled at the threat COVID-19 poses, and most of my students have told me they miss the face-to-face contact, but they have not complained or neglected their work.”
     William also discussed how fellow faculty have been meeting this difficult time head-on.
     “The COVID-19 crisis has been a challenging mixture of devastation and uncertainty, but faculty are doing their jobs. We take a lot of pride in doing it right,” he said.
     Reflecting on the situation, William said that “Nothing much has surprised me. Our administration, faculty, staff, and students have responded well, as I would have expected. What I have learned is that we are a pretty resilient group of people. The experience has also reconfirmed for me that when the chips are down, Americans for the most part put aside their many divisions, political and otherwise, and do what needs to be done to survive and help others. That has been a great source of encouragement for me during this tough time.”

Recent Coronavirus Communications

Thank You to Our Healthcare Heroes

From President John  L. Crain

 

SOUTHEASTERN IN THE NEWS

Acadiana Advocate
Southeastern Louisiana University's Columbia Theatre hosting virtual talent contest

Hammond Daily Star

SLU makes masks for medical workers

Lions player serves on NCAA COVID-19 advisory panel

Student helps decision-makers

Livingston Parish News

Southeastern’s Small Business Development Center to offer SBA loan webinars

Southeastern’s Columbia Theatre to host online talent contest

New Orleans Advocate

Summer Online

Cornavirus on the Northshore

Tiger TV
Summer savings at Southeastern
WAFB
There are still options for students to receive financial aid during COVID-19 crisis

WBRZ
Graduating seniors facing tough job market, services available to help

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Dr. Luanne Billingsley (School of Nursing) recently collaborated with Jeanie Donovan, MPA, MPH, Policy Director, Office of the Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health to publish “Together We Can Eliminate Hepatitis C in Louisiana,” in The Pelican News ( April 2020). The State of Louisiana has recognized the hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a significant public health threat. Building on the improved efficacy of medications that treat HCV with few side effects, the Louisiana Department of Health has developed a comprehensive plan to eliminate HCV in the state by 2024. The cornerstone of the plan is an innovative drug pricing model that gives the state unrestricted access to the costly medication. The article also addressed the vital role of nurses caring for high-risk populations and patients who test positive for HCV. To obtain more information about the state’s efforts to eliminate HCV, track the progress of the program, find a testing center, or read more about the cure, click here
     John Zaffuto (Southeastern Channel) will have a book published in May tiled “Essential Knowledge for the Aspiring Media Professional.” The book provides readers with the skillset needed to produce professional, high-quality video content in today’s competitive media landscape.
     

     Kathy Campbell (Educational Leadership & Technology) received an award for Best Paper presentation, virtually, at the International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral Research Conference in New Orleans recently. Her paper was titled “What School Leaders Do to Retain New Teachers.”     

     Anne Babson (English) had her poems “April Bunker,” “May Bunker,” and “July Bunker” appear in the latest edition of the South Korean literary magazine Foreign Journal.
     Dr. Rhett Allain (Chemistry and Physics) published a paper in the April issue of Physics World, the membership magazine of the Institute of Physics. The title of the article was "Physics on ice." 
     Sam Hyde (History and Political Science / Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies) was recently interviewed by John Pastorek concerning the coronavirus pandemic. The two discussed Louisiana’s history of dealing with epidemics with special emphasis on the cycle of yellow fever, influenza, and measles epidemics that confronted the state in the past. Vintage photos housed in the Center were used to emphasize state efforts to control the epidemic. The segment appeared April 19 in a special edition of WBRZ Channel 2 in Baton Rouge’s Sunday Journal program hosted by Pastorek.

 

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