Although Criminal Justice has a high enrollment the Board of Supervisors listed the department as one in need of enhancement in the Retrenchment plan. Students in this particular program can expect to see some help soon.
Administration, faculty, and students had different views as well as different understandings of how the term enhancements apply to their department.
“Well, I think it’s a good idea because we have so few teachers and sometimes some people can not take classes,” said Darrius Davis, a senior criminal justice major from Lafayette, La.
He also spoke about how he recently could not get into a certain class because the teacher could not teach the class be of other schedule conflicts.
Other students compared the program to other in terms of why it needed to be enhanced.
“I think our program being labeled as an ‘enhancement’ program would be correct in that many of the newer courses are geared toward giving a clear picture of the current status of the criminal justice system here in Baton Rouge and United States wide” said Meiko Robinson, senior criminal justice major from Atlanta.
He continued stating how the professors he had were real actors in the system who just happened to teach.
This announcement was brought with reactions on each side of the spectrum.
“We appreciate the university and board recognizes the criminal justice program they could enhance, and I am also happy our program has been contributing to the goals as well as mission of the university,” said chair of criminal justice Allison Anadi.
He also mentioned how the enrollment has been continuously high in undergrad and graduate programs with numbers over 500 students.
While the term enhancement can be defined differently, faculty and staff both had a few positive sentiments.
“Well, not really mixed feelings, expected during this financial crisis we will have a chance to identify certain programs and right now that program one our dynamic fast growing programs” said Dean of the Nelson Mandela School William Arp III. Lastly, he mentioned how it services a lot of students as well as having a strong masters program attached to it and how it soon will be launching an online program to service students nationwide.
The criminal justice program while tagged as a program for enhancement students and faculty did speak about how it stands out.
“We fill the role in the Southern University system by having a quality program that compares with others in Louisiana,” said Anadi.
Anadi also mentioned how they are the only programs with a concentration in criminal investigation presently.
Students and faculty shared beliefs on improvements that would make the program stronger.
Davis vehemently spoke about the lack of known information by staff.
“I have questions about a class I must go to this person, and then get sent to another person which feels similar to the financial aid process,” said Davis.
The echoes of more full time faculty were common words throughout the interviews.
“In terms of need I would like us to hire more faculty. Over 500 students and only five full time professors which is a one to one hundred ratio” said Anadi.
He then spoke on how they should be responding to the needs of students and current competitors by developing more online courses and an online executive masters’ criminal justice administration degree in which a proposal has already been submitted.
New improvements needed, but Anadi was able to also speak on achievements by the criminal justice program.
“A lot of our students have gone on to master degree programs, law schools, and careers in major criminal justice agencies,” said Anadi.
Anadi also discussed his future plans for the program.
“It is my hope that sooner than later we will be the first to offer a Ph.D. program in Louisiana because the demand is there and the need is there,” said Anadi.
For more information people can visit Higgins hall and the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs.
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Criminal justice looks to offer students more
March 14, 2012
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