Southern University at Shreveport may be a community college but it’s a major foundation for SUSLA students and a stable in the Shreveport community.
SUSLA has a contract with St. Martin Brown & Assoc. to facilitate the “SUSLA Master Plan”.
St. Martin Brown & Associates is a design, planning, and project management consulting firm that will help the college improve through cutting edge computer aided design technologies.
“We want to create a safe and innovative campus that connects between the SUSLA campus and the adjacent neighborhoods,” said Chancellor of SUSLA Ray Belton who is also on the Master Plan Design Team.
SMB has put together surveys specific to the SUSLA campus, collecting information from student, faculty, and staff.
Along with improving its infrastructure, the school is also enhancing its academic programs as well.
In accordance with SUSLA’s mission to provide short-term technical training to students who want to move rapidly into the workface, SUSLA’s Curriculum Committee and Academic Council has endorsed intent to establish a Licensed Practical Nursing Program.
SUSLA received approval for the program from the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners this month.
“Some students aren’t quite ready for the Registered Nursing Program. This program will give them the entry level skills required to get into it,” said Dean of Nursing, Sandra Tucker.
This program will offer a Technical Diploma that will increase the chances of practical nurses getting into starter level positions in any setting providing health care.
“The program starts in August 2012, plus it will help us to increase enrollment. We are really exited,” said Tucker.
Although some programs are getting enhanced, some programs are being terminated.
SUSLA’s Science and Technology Division requested that there Electronics Technology program to be terminated.
“The Board of Regents has mandated a certain graduation rate for the program that we just haven’t been able to meet, on top of the death of the program director last spring,” said Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Orella Brazile.
Despite recent budget cuts, the college has been able to uplift itself along with people in the community through the United States Housing and Urban Development’s Historically Black colleges and Universities grant program.
“There was a mid year reduction that took place right before the end of the year that impacted southern’s institutions of 2.9 million dollars,” said SU system Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs, Kevin Appleton.
With funding from a grant through this program, the university looks to help the entrepreneurial part of the community with its Small Business Development Program.
As a result SUSLA will be awarding $27,000 in small business assistance grants.
“Twenty-four businesses will receive up to $2,500 to assist them in purchasing
needed equipment in order to build their capacity as a viable business,” said Director of Communications & Public Relations at SUSLA, Bill Strother.
Community colleges elevate students to the next level and SUSLA is ranked 56th nationally among 1200 community colleges in the production of associate degrees for African Americans.
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SUSLA looking to create innovation
March 1, 2012
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