2011-2102 Year in Review

 
During the last year Southern University has faced some challenges and celebrated some triumphs. The Southern Digest has been there along for the ride. From the changes in administrations to the current state of financial exigency, Southern University looks to rebuild and progress, 132 years after establishment Southern seeks to thrive for the underserved and it’s community.
These are the top ten recurring themes of the 2011-2012 academic year.
10. Improvements. Southern University at Baton Rouge, Southern University at New Orleans, Southern University Shreveport, Southern University Ag Center and Southern University Law Center have moved to make improvements to campus infrastructure physically this year. Between the Fall 2011 and the Spring 2012, Southern University at Baton Rouge has continued the theme of building a new Southern. From the re-roofing of established buildings to the extension of Harris hall and the student health services building. In 2011, the school began renovating a five-mile, building-to-building central heating ventilation and air conditioning piping system that should be complete by May 2012. John B. Cade library and E.N. Mayberry dining hall are being re-roofed. While these improvements have been good, there have been some malfunctions around campus. In January, T.H. Harris Hall, Rodney G. Higgins Hall, and the John B. Cade Library experienced a campus wide blackout in the first week of school.
At the Baton Rouge campus, The campus has seen an influx in projects thanks to Capital Outlay and acquired funding; from the re-roofing of established locations (John B. Cade and Mayberry) to the development of new buildings. (Intramural Complex, T.H. Harris extension and Student Health extension)
9. System Updates SUSLA has been busy acquiring new resources to offer its students. Amidst the budgetary cuts, they have had to terminate some programs but, have offered students more in the meantime. SUSLA seeks to offer a new nursing program in the Fall of 2012. Southern University’s Baton Rouge campus, isn’t the only one in the system that been updating its campus. Last February SUNO and SUSLA initiated the Honoré Center for Undergraduate Student Achievement pilot program. The program allows students who don’t meet the standard requirements of Southern University-New Orleans to enroll as Southern University-Shreveport students while completing the necessary remedial and basic/core courses that are required for their admission into SUNO.SUNO and SUSLA’s partnership to create the Honoré center looks to offer more options for students interested in SUNO without the ability to meet the admission standards while keeping them in the SU system. SULC picked up awards and accolades this year, Chancellor Pitcher was named in the Dean’s section of “On Being a Black Lawyer” and SULC is among the top law schools for a multi-cultural student body and financial value.
8. SU Community It’s sometimes said that Southern University has lost that “Ole Southern Spirit,” because of the recent problem build-ups like the declaration of financial exigency and the rising cost of tuition and on top of all of these issues the football team hasn’t defeated it’s arch rival in the Bayou Classic since the 2007. Southern has long been a premiere university that provides students a high quality global educational experience to engage students in scholarly, research and creative activities. Improvements have been made to further improve the mission that SU believes in like improving the light fixtures on campus, the fountain removal project, and the upgrades to the art department. The SU community has had it’s ups and downs among financial exigency, SUNO merger, House Bill 927 and more with Louisiana’s education reform. The SU community has banded together to fight against the forces that look to dismantle and hinder Southern University.
7. SU administration addresses issues Llorens was appointed to the position of Chancellor at the SUBR campus after a search following the resignation of former Chancellor Kofi Lomotey. In transition as well was the staff that was brought in with Chancellor Lomotey. Dr. Shujaa former provost was moved to the position of Dean of SU Graduate School. Dr. Janet Rami from the Nursing school was brought in to replace Shujaa in the Spring 2012. As the administration transitioned out of one transition period of new appointment it transitioned into another one of exigency. Over the past year administrators and students differ on beliefs of the current state of the Southern University administration. Despite declaring financial exigency in 2011, many changes have been made with administration including James Llorens’ appointment as the new chancellor, but students still don’t feel that administration are focusing on the right problems on campus. After Llorens declaration of financial exigency he was amidst another fight, one that would involve the faculty, students, and SU community; the fight to save SU. The administration has received criticism for decisions to fire and lay off faculty with and without tenure during the exigency process. The administration among financial issues has found itself in academic ones as well; from, the decisions to cut and consolidate programs to the plans to enhance and renew others. Among these, decisions there is still a decline in enrollment, retention and graduation.
6. SU athletics bringing back spirit Men’s basketball head coach Roman Banks, hired last Thursday, says he’ll begin to move into his new office next week. While Banks moved into office in the Spring, his new era officially began with a speech at the Hall of Fame festival.
The Hall of Fame enshrinement festival last Saturday at Northwestern State, which included speeches by the inductees, turned out to be something special. One speech, presented by first-year Southern head coach Roman Banks, was misplaced.
Although Banks begin with a misplaced speech, head coach Stump Mitchell’s future was in disarray as rumors were rampant about coaching status.
Southern started spring drills Wednesday with several questions – most of them pointed in the direction of head coach Stump Mitchell. With head coach Stump Mitchell’s future uncertain, a replacement of Athletic Director Greg Lafleur is soon to be named.
Nearly one year after the arrest of former Athletic Director Greg LaFleur and a focused search for a full-time replacement, the Southern University Board of Supervisors Athletic Committee today seek to appoint an athletics director for Southern University at Baton Rouge. Southern University’s Board of Supervisors Athletic Committee is announcing its selection for its year long vacancy at the position of Athletic Director. The Southern Board of Supervisors Athletics Committee will hold a 3:30 p.m. meeting today to possibly name former Centenary College athletic director William Broussard, a Northwestern State University graduate, who has strong experience in fund raising which is a big need for the athletic department, but the search process for the new Athletic Director was not a smooth one.
While the Southern Board of Supervisor Athletics Committee filled the gap of Athletic Director, basketball coach banks looks to fill in gaps on the team. Around this time last year the Southern University Board of Supervisors approved Roman Banks to become the new head coach of a basketball program that needed to be revived. Jaguar fans, the coaching staff and even some of the players probably didn’t expect to have the season they had, finishing second in the SWAC and earning their first wining season since 2005.
As coach Banks and the basketball program continue to fight the APR issues the Women’s Tennis program is being rewarded with new courts. With all the APR issues looming Southern University Athletics programs, the program that isn’t being punished but instead is being rightfully rewarded is Women’s Tennis. The SU Athletic Department held a dedication opening the newly resurfaced University Courts Tuesday
Women’s Tennis was rewarded with upgraded courts and the entire program is finally rewarded with a new Athletic Director William Broussard.  With the Southern University Board of Supervisors approval of William Broussard as the new Athletics Director, Broussard has high hopes to bring Southern University back to prominence.
5. Building a new SU During difficult times at Southern University key figures on campus make resolutions for change towards the new Southern University.
Key figures including the Southern University at Baton Rouge Chancellor, SU System President, Board of Supervisors Chairman and the Faculty Senate President made resolutions for their respective offices.
“I plan to commit myself personally to have a total commitment to the university and the students. I want to be able to fully commit myself to what I have to do,” SUBR Chancellor James Llorens said.
While Chancellor Llorens’ resolution is a personal one SU System President Ronald Mason’s is a collective effort.”My new year’s wish is that the family continues to come together. The Southern Nation is a beautiful thing but has recently gone through some very trying times both from the inside and the outside,” Mason said.
Mason continued discussing the abilities of the Jaguar Nation, “The outside battles I think we can manage as long as we are not fighting inside battles. Nobody can win a two-front war and a house divided can never stand. I wish that the family will continue to come together with a common vision and a common cause,” Mason said.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Darren Mire hopes that the Board of Supervisors will create a new, stronger and more competitive Southern University system.​
“I want to work with the Board of Supervisors together to grow our Southern University system into a system unlike any in the country. We are always classified as the only HBCU system in the country,” Mire said.​”And at some point in time we have to take that HBCU brand and make it a global brand, we have to stay true to our mission at the same time in order to survive this world of higher education you have to change your frame of mind and change your culture.”​
Resolutions proposed to improve student services, university effectiveness, enrollment and recruitment, and promote financial growth are achievable and measurable. James Llorens, SUBR Chancellor understands the challenges and is willing to get the ball rolling to address them.
“We know the challenges we have faced for many years. Information technology structure, customer friendly experiences, financial aid, and registration,” Llorens said. We are making significant progress, as we have implemented we have identified new problem areas and are moving to correct them.”After the Board of Supervisors declaration of Financial Exigency, this year will be significant to the recovery and growth process. “I look forward to the next academic year coming out of exigency. Our progress will be measured through heightened enrollment rates, measures of efficiency including the smoothness of the registration process. Placement rates and retention rates will be important as well,” Llorens said.
Llorens placed and emphasis on student educational attainment and satisfaction.
“The bottom line will be a student’s ability to enjoy their experience, realize their learning and education, and graduates who are satisfied with the education they have received,” Llorens said. Southern University System President Ronald Mason hoped to see a stronger and closer Jaguar Nation.
Key figures discuss the advantages and disadvantages to Southern and how offices are going to move forward to the new Southern. Chancellor Llorens discussed the progress of the reorganization and retrenchment plan. “This is the first semester and (interim provost) Dr. (Janet) Rami and I are working with the deans to collapse and consolidate schools and they will be aligned with the new organizational structure,” Llorens said. Llorens is striving to protect the core mission of the university and deal with budgetary shortfalls.
“We plan to protect out core academic mission. The reality of the fiscal situation is we cannot continue as we are facing the challenges of a severely reduced budget,” Llorens said. Llorens understood some of the decisions he will face during exigency. “I realize I’m in a position where this is not going to be positive for everyone. If there were other options I’m all for it. We realize it’s all about creating a better SU,” Llorens said.
Southern University System President Ronald Mason hopes that The Southern Strategy Plan will help build academic excellence and prominence.
“Students should focus on the positive and the policies and possibilities,” Mason said. Mason said politics and lack of monetary resources leave Southern disadvantaged. “We reflect the people we serve. We don’t have access to wealth,” Mason said. Although monetarily we have less wealth Mason mentioned we tend to do more with less. “Southern University at Shreveport has the second highest graduation rate in Louisiana, Southern University at New Orleans graduates more students than it takes in,” Mason said.
Southern University Board of Supervisors Chairman Darren Mire felt the university was disadvantaged because of legislative decisions made by the state.
“We don’t get to draw from the same pool. The Governor has put a priority on 2 year colleges. Our mission was to allow every individual gain a 4 year degree. Our mission is not the same as LSU,” Mire said. Mire saw having the only Historically Black College and University system as a advantage by itself.
​”With the only HBCU system we have something to sell. Our alumni are everywhere. Because we are in the capitol we stay abreast of what’s going on politically.”
Mire discussed the progress we have made with financial exigency.
“We have taken a negative and turned it into a positive. Financial exigency has turned to restructuring, rehiring, and combining schools. It’s easy to fight when you believe in something,” Mire said.
4. SU makes Program cuts SU looks to cut low completers and consolidate or terminate programs with low enrollment or low funding. Departments look to do more with less and seek outside funding to continue to offer quality of education.  The faculty senate is an elected body of faculty representing the senate. It gives representation to every college within the university. Every college should have at least one senate member.​
“We have meetings on a monthly basis throughout the semester. We always have an invited guest and/or a set agenda of issues that we feel we need to address based on the input that we are getting from our constituents,” said faculty senate Vice President Thomas Miller​
SU Invited two members of the national organization American Association of University Professors (AAUP) to speak to the faculty about re-initiating an AAUP chapter on campus.​ The AAUP’s purpose is to advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good.​ “There is a recommendation from the administration that we go from 44 departments on campus to 15 departments, we’re not talking about closing departments at all, we’re talking about putting multiple programs together under one department head,” said Miller.​ The administration as of yet has not given real clarity as to what the details of a university re organization will look like.​
“It’s rather late in the day for them to still not have told us which colleges exactly are going to be the colleges that represent in to which the university is organized. There’s a big question as to which departments are going to integrate,” said Miller​
The administration plays one role on campus and the faculty a somewhat different role.  The faculty is by definition largely self-governing and it should be. The faculty are the ones who should be making decisions regarding reorganizing,” said Miller “If you want to combine departments then it’s the faculty with those departments who should really have a say as how the reorganization should take place.”​
There are some conflicts among the faculty regarding the merging of departments. ​
“When reorganizing the academic unit you want faculty who are trained specifically in those areas to be making those decisions. The administration is certainly welcomed to make suggestions or maybe even urge faculty to move in certain directions but the faculty should ultimately have the say-so in weather or not these things would work,” said Miller.​
3. Budget cuts in Higher Education get to SU Chancellor Llorens met with the Board of Regents to present a prospective budget of $78.3 million, for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, which was deferred for 60 days until preapproval.  Plans for institutional restructuring to help balance SU’s abysmal budget are in the works as of the SUS Board of Supervisors’ unanimous vote for financial exigency.  Throughout the budget downfall at SU, little is known about the rest of system’s involvement in alleviating this problem.  Downgrades to faculty causes conflicts with courses due to devastating budget cuts at SU.  The SU Board of Supervisors met to discuss many key issues to help SU as a whole progress. Many of these issues would affect every part of SU.  Nearly two decades have passed since SU declared financial exigency in 1988, but former SUS President, Delores Spikes, recalls it like it happened yesterday.
2. State of SU programs in Exigency One of Southern University’s most prestigious programs, the College of Business has proven to be a top graduate program. The College is accredited by the accrediting body for colleges of business around the world, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business or AACSB international. Southern University School of Nursing is ranked number one among the best nursing schools in Louisiana after being awarded the Nightingale Award for the second time. The School of Nursing currently has three programs and starting Fall 2012 there will be a fourth degree program, a Doctorate in Nursing Practice.
1.State of SU 2012 From a Mexican standoff between faculty and administration to CATS tax passes and rebuilding a new SU. Southern has seen it’s share of challenges this academic year. In the State of SU 2012, focus is turned towards programs that were labeled for enhancement and premier and things happening in the community affecting SU. During exigency, improvements have been in the works, the budget has been adjusted and adjusted, and students were attending classes four days a week. The College of Business, Engineering program and nursing programs were labeled premier and top producers in their fields. Education, Urban Forestry, Criminal Justice, Computer Science and Rehabilitation Counseling looked to a brighter future as they expand and are enhanced. Conflicts have arisen as mergers, cuts and consolidations have begun to take shape. Mass Communications looks to the loss of their graduate program and as the students adjust they look to more changes in the Fall of 2012. In the community CATS tax passed, students get involved in service and alumni try to unite the Jaguar Nation.