News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 8/15/03   CONVOCATION, TEC RIBBON CUTTING, PICNIC TO KICK OFF SOUTHEASTERN’S 2003-2004 ACADEMIC YEAR       HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University President Randy Moffett will begin the new academic year with the annual Fall Faculty/Staff Convocation at 10 a.m., Friday, August 22, in the Charles E. Cate Teacher Education Center Kiva.       Moffett and Provost John Crain will recognize the recipients of the President’s Awards for Excellence, the university’s highest faculty and staff honor; new emeritus faculty; and 25-, 30-, 35- and 40-year service award recipients.       Special guests will include Commissioner of Higher Education E. Joseph Savoie, who will present two new endowed professorships.       Following Convocation, the university will cut a ribbon to officially open the $6.8 million expansion of the Charles E. Cate Teacher Education Center. The addition adds approximately 40,000 square feet to the complex, including new classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, conference rooms and a lecture hall. Extensive renovations have been made to more than 13,000 square feet of the original building to better accommodate student and faculty needs.        The renovated TEC will house two departments, the office of the dean of the College of Education and Human Development, and the Southeastern Laboratory School. Holly and Smith Architects designed the building and renovations, with construction by Brunt Construction of Independence.       Originally built in 1973 at a cost of approximately $2.5 million, the TEC, with its innovative “open” architectural concept, was hailed by Southeastern administrators as  “possibly the most unique and advanced education center in the South.” An additional unique feature of the building was the Kiva, the second-story, all-purpose meeting room, whose name is derived from an Indian word for circular gathering place. Designed by architects Harold Burns and Desmond-Miremont-Burk, AIA, of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Hammond and constructed by Ragusa Brothers of Hammond, the new facility placed the Southeastern Laboratory School and the College of Education faculty under one roof.       In 1985, the Teacher Education Center was renamed for Charles E. Cate, an early Hammond settler, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and leading supporter of public education following the Civil War.        Following convocation and the TEC ribbon cutting, the Southeastern Alumni Association and Hammond Chamber of Commerce will co-sponsor a picnic from noon-1 p.m. at the University Center.       The picnic is free for Southeastern employees showing their university I.D., and $5 for community members.       For more information about the picnic, contact the Alumni Association at 985-549-2150 or 1-800-SLU-ALUM.  Return to News Releases