Post by edcrane on Apr 19, 2013 12:44:25 GMT -6
Pogue highlights Grambling's accomplishments at event
www.thenewsstar.com/article/20130419/NEWS01/304190314/Pogue-highlights-Grambling-s-accomplishments-event
GRAMBLING — Grambling State University held its spring convocation Thursday to highlight the positive activities and achievements taking place at the university.
GSU President Frank G. Pogue and administrators discussed areas such as expanded program offerings, campus beautification efforts and the university's receiving a clean audit for the first time in recent history.
"Despite significant budget cuts, we are making sure that good things continue to happen at Grambling," Pogue said.
During the convocation, which was held at T.H. Harris Auditorium, various campus administrators highlighted some of the positive accomplishments that have occurred in their departments.
Connie Walton, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said it has been a productive year for academics.
"This year we made a conscious effort to increase the online courses and further opportunities for students," she said.
In the past three years, GSU increased the number of students enrolled in courses that are partially online from 37 students to 1,458 students, Walton said.
She said the number of students taking courses that are 100 percent online increased from 718 students to 2,606 students.
The university has also received approval to offer three new, completely online programs, she said, including a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership, a master's degree in criminal justice and graduate programs in developmental education.
The university is also seeking approval from the Board of Regents to offer a bachelor's degree in child development and early literacy.
Leon Sanders, vice president for finance and administration, said despite recent budget challenges, the university was able to receive its first clean audit in recent history with no findings, was removed from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' accreditation warning list, and opened the GSU West Campus.
Sanders also announced that Taco Bell would be added to the campus food court — news the students met with applause and cheers.
GSU is also planning campuswide beautification efforts to be completed in the coming months, said Ante' Britten, associate vice president of finance and administration at GSU.
Those efforts include new sidewalks, a new parking lot, new benches and trash cans and landscaping enhancements, Britten said.
Much of the new foliage will include plants and trees that produce gold-colored petals and leaves.
Additionally, the flagpole area is being demolished to make room for a new tiger statue that is expected to be unveiled at Homecoming 2013.
Stacey Duhon, vice president for student affairs, said students will have the opportunity to name the tiger as part of a project to be launched this summer.
GSU athletic teams have also been enhancing the academic profile of the university, said Percy Caldwell, GSU athletic director.
Caldwell said the vast majority of GSU athletic teams have academic progress rates that surpass the national benchmark.
Pogue said he was proud of all that the GSU community has achieved in the past year, including the GSU Tiger Marching Band's performance in President Barack Obama's inauguration in January.
The GSU band was the only marching band representing Louisiana and Historically Black Colleges and Universities in this year's parade, and the band was one of two that played in both of Obama's inaugural parades.
"Despite the economy, despite budget cuts, despite other challenges, we are moving forward together as a university," he said. "It's a real example of accomplishment."