Nicholls State University - La Pirogue Yearbook (Thibodaux, LA)

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Giving students an awareness of the importance ofthe sci- ences and technology in today's world, the College of Sci- ences has continued to grow under the leadership of Dean Merlin M. Ohmer. The college concentrates on the natural sciences, mathe- matics and computer science, and provides continuing edu- cation to the community. In order to acquaint students with the departments and curricula of the college, a brochure was prepared during the fall semester. The booklet was written by members of each of the colleges departments. A second edition was printed in the spring. One of the features of the brochure is French and Spanish translations of messages by President Vernon F. Galliano and Dean Ohmer. Dr. Frank Avonda, professor of chemistry, was the chairman of the committee which produced the brochure. Citlltglt ill SUCIICCS Metric education begun, Aeronautical degree approved for 1976-77 r tfwi-'ATV rfltlistl 'iillltttf 'qw .,, X 0 iris.. N, A H.. -an 3' . . V -JI fag., ., iq.. M I -':x.z's, -' Assisting sugar cane growers with insect pest con- trol, Stanley Viator and his business partner, Calvin Viator, associate professor of biology, were featured in Agri-Fieldmanf' a national agriculture maga- zine. There are no fancy chemicals or formulas needed to power Dr. Frank Avonda's bike as pedal power gets the professor of chemistry started. ft College of Sciences Under a joint metric pilot program of Nicholls, Lafourche Parish and the State Board of Education, a Metric Education Center was opened in room 121 Peltier l-lall for use by stu- dents, faculty and area residents. The center contains reference materials, posters, charts and other equipment designed to make learning the metric system easier. Part of the 850,000 appropriated by the state legislature and approved by the State Board of Education were used to equip the center. Signs announcing the pilot program were placed at all the entrances to Lafourche Parish, and information about the metric system was given to parish teachers and students. In conjunction with the program, workshops for elementary and secondary school teachers were given. A new associate degree program was instituted in the spring. A two-year curriculum in aeronautical science now leads to an associate of science degree. i but 5 why- 'rv-63 5 ? E E

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junction with the LSU School of Nursing and the State Nurses Association. Guest speakers for the workshop were Hotel Dieu's chief therapist, JoAnn Mari- nell a RN. and Charlene Coco, RN., staff developer, Ochsner Medical Center, Q Student Nurse Family Night was a chance for all first-year students to find out what the policies of the profession and the curriculum were by attending with their families. Second-year students served as host- . ,Y..... ,'J-' fl F 4 esses. One of the highlights of the nurses' year came in March with the striping cer- emony. A total of 58 students were awarded their Nicholls University stripes to wear as part of their official student nurse uni- form. Dr. O. E. Lovell, vice president of aca- demic affairs, presented the stripes to the students in a public ceremony. Plans for the coming year include initi- f W Y,,v f f by ,YL 4 'Fl' D, X . . 4-.L 'J' A A ' ,, , K 7' ZA Vyv, ,.,..ri A fl .L - , msn, N' , Mm-if i---5 5, '4',, '.'-:1 2, tw A i ,g ' 1 H, A, '- '-41-12f 'V -W G. 2 . I gl? . - Y A hi! A' M ' ,iii 'Q 5 G - ' V 3 I , it ar' .fr It 'Nj S .,,, 4 fi ' ' 1' L.. A ' 1 ' 12 I fr , f 6 L 4 P 1 as 4 ating a revised, shortened curriculum. based upon recommendations made by an accrediting survey team for the National League of Nursing. Others on the nursing faculty include Eula Brinkley, Janice l-lartman, Ester Keyes, Edith Lynn and Velma Westbrook. Carey Flowers and Dean G G Varvaro, Ccenter and at rightb listen to a description of an oil rig inthe Gulf of Mexico. The petroleum technology program has allowed many people to attend Nicholls who might not have. College of Life Sciences 2 9

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The curriculum is funded by the state on the basis of stu- dent credit hours. Dean Ohmer and the faculty ofthe college researched and planned the project, and courses were offered in the spring of 1975 to determine student response. Dr. Philip Robichaux Jr., acting department head, visited other universities vvith similar courses, along with Dean Ohmer. 'The new curriculum includes courses in aircraft perform- ance, flight instruction, instrument flight and aviation weather. Flight training is made available to students at nearby airports. ln addition to the degree they obtain, students are also qualified to obtain the FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument Rating, and may obtain the Flight Instructor Rat- ing. Other degrees conferred by the college are bachelor of science degrees in chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics and physics and associate degrees in com- puter science and pre-professional programs in geography, dentistry, medicine and optometry, Through the department of military science, commissions as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army are available. The college's departments and their heads are the depart- ment of aerospace studies, Lieutenant Colonel Gary Little, department of chemistry, Dr. Jack Fields, department of computer science, Dr. Olen Gary, department of earth sci- ence, Dr. Jules Sachs, department of mathematics, Dr. Larry Haw, department of military science, Colonel Robert lvlar- shall and department of physics, Dr. Daniel Veith. In addition to the department heads, the college of sci- ences has 39 instructors. Seventeen of the instructors are members of the graduate faculty. Faculty members serve as advisers to various departmen- tal groups on campus. . Dr. Merlin Ohmer, dean of the College of Sciences is one of the major supporters of the metric system schools. plete vvork. and its education in elementary and secondary Pondering a computer program, Peggy Norton and Mike Palermo attempt to solve the hang-up. Stu- dents use the Computer Center at all hours to com- College of Sciences 251