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: 5/20/03   Click on image for publication quality photo CEREMONIAL SNIP OPENS TEC EXPANSION -- As Southeastern Louisiana University President Randy Moffett (far left), former President Clea Parker, far right, architects, area legislators, and other dignitaries look on, Martha Thornhill, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development, ceremonially snips the ribbon to open the expansion of the Charles E. Cate Teacher Education Center. RIBBON CUTTING OPENS EXPANSION OF SOUTHEASTERN’S TEACHER EDUCATION CENTER       HAMMOND -- Dignitaries and Southeastern Louisiana University officials gathered on the first floor of the university’s Charles E. Cate Teacher Education Center on August 22 to cut a ribbon officially opening the building’s $7 million expansion.       The expansion adds 40,000 square feet to the complex, which houses Southeastern’s College of Education and Human Development and the Southeastern Laboratory School. The new space includes classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, conference rooms and a lecture hall.        President Randy Moffett credited the region's legislative delegation for their efforts in helping to secure funding for the expansion and renovation, which is part of an $80 million in new construction on campus over the last several years.         Noting the importance of the expanded facility in helping to address a state and national shortage of highly qualified teachers, Moffett said Southeastern's education program is one of the largest in the state with more than 1,800 undergraduate and nearly 1,200 graduate students.        "Southeastern is known for the quality of our academic programs," he said. "We were the first to guarantee the quality of our education graduates, and last year our program was the first in the state to pass the demanding new performance-based standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. This year we were given a grade of 'A' by the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Institutional Report Card and recognized as a high performing program.”       Prior to the ribbon cutting, Martha Thornhill, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development, said the atmosphere of the new facility underscores the importance of the profession of education to all other professions.       The Teacher Education Center expansion was designed by Holly and Smith Architects of Hammond with construction by Brunt Construction, Inc. of Independence.       Built in 1973 for approximately $2.5 million, the Teacher Education Center was noted for its “open” architectural concept. One of the building’s unique features was the Kiva, the second-story, all-purpose meeting room, whose name is derived from an Indian word for circular gathering place. The original building was designed by architects Harold Burns and Desmond-Miremont-Burk, AIA, of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Hammond and constructed by Ragusa Brothers of Hammond. In 1985, the center was renamed for Charles E. Cate, an early Hammond settler, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and leading supporter of public education following the Civil War.  Return to News Releases