Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

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Professor Frank Presson takes time to answer a question after class from student Hahatunde Obayan. Academics at Northwestern is more than just studying a particular subject; teachers and students are striving for a more Academic life at many col- leges and universities around the country is an often ignored and unemphasized area. Never- theless, academics remains the backbone of our institutions and should be the main reason students choose a university. At Northwestern, academics has played an important role in the lives of students who spend much time devoted to their education. Dr. Ed Graham, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, says that students should take a breadth of courses. Core cur- riculum and more personal, in- depth student advising are em- ployed to try to give students a more well-rounded education. We may never be a large in- stitution, Graham said, but we can certainly be an out- standing small institution. Academics is highly empha- sized by Dr. Mildred Bailey, dean of the Graduate School. She says, Give the proper amount of time, effort and seri- ousness to your studies ... it pays off! Northwestern ' s student population is excellent, ac- cording to Dr. Bennie Barron, dean of the College of Basic Studies. Barron emphasizes that students should be sure they have a solid educational foundation to build on, spend time studying and be willing to work ... We have redesigned and made strong points to insure that our students leave North- western as well-educated per- sons, states Dr. Frederick Gies, dean of the College of Educa- tion and Behavioral Sciences. Our program is a very good step in this education, said Gies. The area of nursing was at one time not a commonly ac- cepted college subject, acording to Dr. Peggy Ledbetter, dean of the College of Nursing. But nursing at Northwestern has long been an asset to the aca- demic focus of the university. NSU has a strong tradition of national visibility in nursing which is pretty exciting, Dr. Ledbetter says. Often the academic side of college life is outside of the (leaning lab equipment, Paul liergcron spends much time with experiments in the microbiology lab. Only the name ' s the same

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David and Goliath Edwards orders LSU system to study ' transfer ' of Northwestern The beginning of the end or a new beginning? That was a major question in the minds of Northwestern students, staff, and sup- porters as the Louisiana State University system studied the feasibility of absorbing NSU. In May, Governor Edwin Edwards ordered the state ' s Board of Regents to study the feasibility of the transfer of NSU governance from the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities to LSU. Ed- wards gave the Regents until December 20 to report their findings to both him and the LSG system. The Regents had seen enough by late September, and promptly released their report, which stated that they could find no legal, educational, or economic im- pediments to transferring management. The LSU Board of Supervisors then began their lengthy research as to Nor- thwestern ' s potential role in the Louisiana State University system, the state ' s largest. Major reasons cited by Edwards and other state officials for his executive order concerning the transfer include: LSU has long sought the highly suc- cessful NSU College of Nursing in Shreveport. If Northwestern becomes an LSU-system school, then there could be greater cooperation between the two universities, area hospitals, and the LSU Medical Center. The A. A. Fredericks Center is considered one of the finest creative and performing arts centers in the country. NSU could become a highly attractive campus if a music conservatory or dramatic arts center were located in the building. LSU -Alexandria is a two-year institution which offers third and fourth year classes only because professors drive or fly the 120 miles each way from the Baton Rouge campus. If Northwestern were a part of the LSU system, then NSU professors could drive 60 miles each way. It would be much more efficient from the point of view of the taxpayer, said William Arceneaux, commissioner of higher education. Most members of the Northwestern community have adopted a wait and see attitude regarding the transfer. Quite frankly, we need to know exact- ly what is going to take place, said Kathy Cochran,, assistant professor of home economics, before we can make any deci- sions. We can ' t get hot under the collar before we know anything. Fraser Snowden, associate professor of philosophy, agrees. ...I think the basic problem is that we just don ' t know, he said. What will we lose or gain? If this could give us strength, and inject new blood into the organism, then I ' m all for it. But if we are simply to become an appendage of LSU. ..then I would be con- cerned. This attitude also exists in the Nat- chitoches community, where local senator Don Kelly is reserving comment. At this point, I am not advocating NSU ' s becom- ing a part of the LSU system, nor am I defending NSU, he said following a September public hearing held on campus by the Board of Regents. Kelly com- mented that regardless of which board the University is under, there must be some curriculum changes. NSU has got to expand into other areas except teacher education, he said. We ' ve got to have some programs at Nor- thwestern that are unique and no other in- stitution has. The Regents report which recommend- ed the transfer also stated that no matter who runs NSU, they must deal with the in- stitution ' s fiscal uncertainties. The report said that NSU has been under four boards in it ' s 101 -year history, and that there is, therefore, a precedent for transfer of governance as need or reason dictates. Need or reason, in the eyes of the Regents, has arisen in the forms of economics, enrollment, and other statistics. Only 58 percent of NSU ' s 6,000 students attend class on the Natchitoches campus, and 51 percent of Northwestern students are part-time. Both figures are the highest in the state in their respective categories. NSU ' s 15:1 student-faculty ratio proves that the faculty is clearly underutilized, said the report. Also, the University spends only 51 percent of its budget on instruc- tion. This is the lowest of any Louisiana public institution. Only five of the ten dorms at NSU are occupied, and those five have a 57 percent occupancy rate. In order for NSU to become a part of a new system a constitutional amendment would be necessary, requiring a 2 3 vote of the state legislature. A large crowd of several hundred people packed the Recital Hall of the A. A. Fredericks Center for the Board of Regents ' hearing in September. NSU president Dr. Joseph Orze and several members of the Board spoke at the meeting. Photos by Gary Hardamon LSU NSC! transfer

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classroom as much as inside. Dr. Barry Smiley, dean of the College of Business and Ap- plied Sciences, says that stu- dents should explore and con- centrate on the basic preparato- ry areas in the university core. Studying, writing papers, go- ing to class, working in the li- brary and reading chapters are all part of the academic life. Making education more well- rounded with diverse class of- ferings and many different col- leges and majors to choose from is what Northwestern is striv- ing to bring its students. Academics is not just the re- sult of years of college study, but rather the means and op- portunities by which students are educated. Students make good use of the library in preparing for classes, researching for presentations or writing papers. Jean Maricelli and Dr. Barry Smiley go over paperwork and make plans for the College of Business and Applied Sciences. Many students do last minute cramming in the hallways, like Lynn Kstes, checking over a map for geography. Craig Scott, editor Academics