News release
Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061
publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive

Contact:
Rene Abadie  (Southeastern – 985-549-2341)
Deborah A. Kohler  (Delgado – 504-483-4116)  
Donna Seale (River Parishes – 225-675-0307

Date: 6/24/05
 

SOUTHEASTERN SIGNS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH DELGADO, RIVER PARISHES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
       HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University on Thursday (June 23) signed three agreements – two with Delgado Community College of New Orleans and one with River Parishes Community College of Sorrento – that are designed to provide a seamless transition for certain students of these institutions who desire to obtain a baccalaureate degree from Southeastern.
       With representatives of the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and the University of Louisiana System attending the event in Baton Rouge, Southeastern President Randy Moffett, Delgado Chancellor Alex Johnson and River Parishes Chancellor Joe Ben Welch signed their respective cooperative agreements. 
       A similar ceremony was held in April 2003 when Southeastern initiated a cooperative agreement with Baton Rouge Community College, one of the first such arrangements in the state.
       “This is an important manifestation of the growing cooperation among Louisiana’s higher education institutions,” said Southeastern President Randy Moffett. “These agreements will enhance the ability of college students to make steady progress toward a baccalaureate degree. They also enable students to gain the education and relevant expertise they need to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment.”
       One Southeastern-Delgado agreement ensures two-year business administration graduates from Delgado who have enrolled under a specific course of study that their courses will automatically transfer into a baccalaureate business degree program at Southeastern. Program participants, who would enter Southeastern’s College of Business as juniors, would be admitted to the university without having to pay an application fee. Southeastern also will provide a scholarship each year to a successful participating student enrolling in the university’s College of Business.
       “This articulation agreement is an excellent example of the cooperation between state institutions in helping students to realize their educational goals in a timely manner,” said Johnson.
       Southeastern’s Dean of the College of Business Randy Settoon credited former Dean Michael Budden for his work with Delgado in developing the agreement and expressed his strong support for the program. "This is an excellent example of how Southeastern is actively seeking to identify new and innovative ways to provide students with opportunities to receive a baccalaureate degree in a timely manner,” he added.  “These agreements provide a "win-win" situation for all, opening doors for students and easing the transition to four-year degree granting institutions."
       The College of Business at Southeastern is one of its largest academic units with more than 3,000 students. The College offers undergraduate degree programs in general business, management, marketing, accounting and finance and a master of business administration degree.
       The other agreement with Delgado, and a similar one with River Parishes Community College, 
will allow students who apply to Southeastern but who do not meet the university’s admission criteria to initiate their higher education at the community college. By virtue of their application to Southeastern, they will automatically be admitted to either Delgado or River Parishes without the need to submit any additional forms. 
       “These students will be admissible at Southeastern once they complete any developmental courses and 12 or more hours of additional coursework and attain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average with good academic standing,” explained Southeastern’s Dean of Enrollment Management Stephen Soutullo. “Courses taken at Delgado or River Parishes will be transferred to Southeastern at that time. Admissions counselors at these community colleges and Southeastern will work cooperatively with the students to help facilitate the transfers.”  
       “This agreement is yet another example of higher education systems in the state working together to benefit one of our most precious assets, Louisiana students,” Welch said. “I’m proud to be a part of this endeavor and to sign this agreement.”
       "These agreements are the culmination of hard work between the staffs of all institutions involved,” said University of Louisiana System President Sally Clausen. “Southeastern, Delgado, and River Parishes have laid the groundwork to ensure that Louisiana students have access to higher education and are placed in the right environment for success. It's a win for students and a win for higher education in this state."  
       "A student's ability to transfer college credit easily from one Louisiana institution to another, whether between four-year campuses or from a community college to a university, is fundamental to increasing our state's population of college graduates and, as a result, improving workforce readiness,” said Commissioner of Higher Education E. Joseph Savoie. “And now with agreements like this one involving Southeastern, Delgado and River Parishes, we're facilitating the transferability of entire degree programs. That's great news for our students and our state."
       Delgado is a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and has an enrollment of more than 16,000 students. River Parishes Community College, also a member of the LTCC System, began holding classes in 1999 with 100 students, and by 2004, 1,059 students were enrolled. 
       Southeastern is a member of the University of Louisiana System and instituted a selective admissions policy five years ago. Southeastern maintains an enrollment of more than 15,000 students in numerous undergraduate and graduate programs.