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

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College ol Sciences Department ot Aerospace Studies When the cancellation of the Air Force ROTC program was announced on cam- pus, Nicholls lost several members of its Aerospace Studies Department faculty. Even with the loss, a new aeronautical science degree was approved and will be ready for the 1976 fall semester. The program will enable a student in two years to obtain a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. Three members of the department, Air Force ROTC staff, received awards for outstanding performance and service. Sgt. Ronald Williams was presented the Joint Service Commendation Medal for service as administrative specialist while stationed at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. Helping measure out chemicals for an experiment, Dr. Jack Fields, head of the Chemistry Department, works with lab students in breaking down com- pounds. Ken Stall pauses to discuss a program with Dr. Olen Gary, head of the Computer Science Department and the Computer Center. 52 College of Sciences ,, 'Ln I

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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

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Chemistry Department Students majoring in chemistry are expected to wear long coats, live among a group of glass beakers and watch bub- bling brew. Students enrolled in the chemistry cur- riculum go on to study in medicine, den- Capt. E. George Beckwith and Capt. Roy Manibusan were awarded the Meri- torious Service Medal tor outstanding service while stationed at San Vito, Italy and Athens, Greece respectively. The awards were made by Col. Gregg Nolen, commandant of the south-central area AFFROTC. The recognition given the faculty is a small indication of the amount and quality of work of the department. Capt, lvfanibusan also serves as advi- sor to the Arnold Air Society and Angel Flight, and the International Students Club. Manibusan also works as a Pre-Cana counselor and is a member ofthe gradu- ate faculty for sociology. A delegation from the department attended both the area and National Con- clave of the Arnold Air Society, an AFROTC honorary group. Head of the Aerospace Studies Depart- ment is Lt. Col. Gary Little. . aa- ,422 tistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and optometry. Head of the department is Dr. Jack Field. Dr. Frank Avonda, professor of chem- istry chaired a committee which put together a brochure on the college. The brochure is in its second printing. - 4 Bud Charitat enters a Grumman American airplane as one of the first students to enroll in courses offered under the new aviation technology degree. Chemistry Club: Front row: Brian Picou, Kyle Zeringue, Wanda Smith, Karen Dantin, Beth Bour- geois and Jules Parr. Back row: Gerry Murtagh. Richard Lasseigne, Richard Chiasson, Nelson Babin, Judy Chauvin and Andy LeBlanc. College ot Sciences 253