Teachers participating in Project Lead the Way training at Northwestern State University agree that one of the most rewarding aspects of the program is helping youngsters discover career paths they may have never been aware of.  

    “Last semester I had two girls in the class who were looking at veterinary science,” said Natchitoches Central High School science teacher Dianne Chatelain.  “After going through the Project Lead the Way course and researching careers in engineering, they discovered the environmental and biomedical side of engineering and that engineering could apply to zoology. It’s more than building bridges. [Read More...]

     The Northwestern State University Writing Project will host the 2010 state Literacy Lagniappe Conference Saturday, Aug. 7 in the Friedman Student Union.

     The keynote speaker is Donalyn Miller, author of the Book Whisperer blog at www.edweek. [Read More...]

     Northwestern State University has received a grant of $21,325 from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission to assist in funding a campus alcohol awareness campaign, according to Dean of Students and Assistant Provost Dr. Chris Maggio.

     This is the second year Northwestern has received this grant. Last year, NSU sponsored programs including a Safe Spring Break Campaign that brought nationally recognized speakers on alcohol awareness to campus and set up displays including a drunk driving simulator. [Read More...]

     Janell Bourgeois has made sure some Northwestern Theatre and Dance productions run smoothly, but she will have a more visible role in “Marriage Can Be Murder,” which will be performed by The Northwestern Summer Dinner Theatre July 22-24, 29-31 and Aug. 5-7 on the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium Stage. [Read More...]

     Northwestern State University’s Cultural Resource Office has received a grant of $41,000 from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) to conduct an archeological survey of Deloach’s Bluff Battlefield in Rapides Parish. 

     The main project objective is to identify the location of subsurface resources and to determine the geographic extent of the historic battlefield through investigative fieldwork including GIS/GPS work, remote sensing methods such as magnetometer and soil resistivity surveys and archaeological testing, according to principal investigator W. Ryan Smith of the Cultural Resource Office. He said final reports will include cultural landscape and military terrain regression models illustrated through the use of 3-D laser scanning, GIS and low-altitude aerial imagery technologies. [Read More...]

     Northwestern State University plans to seek a 10 percent tuition increase this fall as NSU takes part in a new state program allowing Louisiana colleges and universities to raise tuition in exchange for improving performance.

     Under the Louisiana Granting Resources and Autonomy for Diplomas (GRAD) Act passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal, individual colleges and universities can raise their tuition up to 10 percent each year until they reach the average tuition of their peer institutions in exchange for improving performance measures including graduation rates, research productivity and admissions standards.

     State colleges and universities are working with the Board of Regents on an agreement for campuses wishing to participate in the program, as well as operational definitions and specifications for data and information that will be used to measure success. [Read More...]

     The Northwestern Summer Dinner Theatre will present the mystery “Marriage Can Be Murder” July 22-24, 29-31 and Aug. 5-7 on the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium Stage. [Read More...]

The Office of Alumni and Development at Northwestern State University will host the annual Winnfield area alumni gathering and Don Purser Memorial Golf Scramble on Monday, July 26 at the Pine Ridge Country Club in Winnfield.

The event will begin with the golf scramble at 1:30 p.m., followed by a prime rib dinner at 6:30 p. [Read More...]

     Eddie Higginbotham IV of Jennings, a senior health and exercise science major at Northwestern State University, has been named the recipient of the 2010 Reginald E.F. Colley Award presented by Theta Chi Fraternity. The award, which is given to the top undergraduate member of Theta Chi in the nation, was presented at the Fraternity’s annual National Convention in Orlando. [Read More...]

     The Orville J. Hanchey Gallery at Northwestern State University in conjunction with the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will exhibit “Triumph Over Tragedy,” the Shreveport Regional Arts Council/EYE-20 CREATIVE CORRIDOR commemoration of the people, places and events of the Great Depression / New Deal Era in North Louisiana.

     This photographic exhibition recognizes and remembers the struggles, sacrifices and successes of those who lived during this time of tragedy, tenacity and triumph. The exhibition will open at Hanchey Gallery on Saturday, July 17 in collaboration with the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival. [Read More...]

     Some former Northwestern State University students may soon be in for a surprise. They may learn they have earned a college degree without knowing it.

     Northwestern is among three University of Louisiana System institutions taking part in Project Win-Win, a subset of the national Access to Success Initiative led jointly by the National Association of System Heads and The Education Trust.  McNeese State University and Nicholls State University are also part of the program. [Read More...]

     The Northwestern Summer Theatre will present the children’s play “Mother Goose Mysteries” July 7-10 and 14-17 at 1 p.m. in Theatre West. Tickets are $4. [Read More...]

     Bids for Northwestern State University’s New Student Services Center will be opened on Tuesday, July 27 in Baton Rouge. A pre-bid conference will be held on Tuesday, July 15 in Natchitoches.

     The Student Services Center will be on the site of the former West Caspari Hall and will provide Northwestern with a comprehensive enrollment center and student financial services in the same facility.

     “This new, three-story facility will house many of our student-services offices in the heart of the campus,” said Northwestern State President Dr. [Read More...]

     More than 30 craftspeople have been invited to exhibit and sell traditional crafts at the 31st annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival July 16-17 in Prather Coliseum on the Northwestern State University campus.

     The Festival theme is “Traditional Remedies: Folklife During Times of Adversity.” The theme will focus on ingenious folk solutions people find when times are tough. From singing to putting tobacco on bee stings, Louisiana culture is rich with age-old folk remedies. [Read More...]

     Northwestern State University received approval Friday for an extensive academic reorganization from the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System to help curtail operating costs in the wake of substantial reductions in state funding.

     Under the proposal, Northwestern would eliminate eight bachelor’s degree programs, one master’s degree offering, 12 academic minors and five concentrations in baccalaureate degree programs.

     Northwestern President Dr. Randall J. [Read More...]

Northwestern State University will host Louisiana Boys State and Louisiana Girls State June 27-July 3. Louisiana Boys and Girls State is a summer leadership and citizenship program sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary for high school students between their junior and senior years.  The programs will be held concurrently on the NSU campus. 

Participants in each program are divided into group and elect mock municipal officials and representative to a mock state legislature. [Read More...]

     Northwestern State University submitted a proposal to the University of Louisiana System this week requesting approval for extensive academic reorganization to help curtail operating costs in the wake of substantial reductions in state funding.

     The full Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System will meet Friday to consider the plan.

     Under the proposal presented by NSU president Dr. Randall J. [Read More...]

Northwestern State University will offer non-credit classes in digital photography, Microsoft Publisher, floral design, beginning guitar and piano in July.  The courses are offered through the Office of Electronic and Continuing Education and are open to anyone interested. 

Beginning Digital Photography will teach the basics of taking good photographs with a digital camera. The class will address the use of available light, flash, memory cards, filter, lenses and composition as well as photography camps, magazines and seminars and where to take good photos. [Read More...]

A family with roots in northwest Louisiana has donated a Civil War diary and several letters of that era to the archives at Northwestern State University. The John Coleman Sibley Collection, presented to NSU’s Cammie G. Henry Research Center at Watson Library, details the experiences of Sibley, a 1st Sergeant and later 2nd Jr. Lieutenant of Co. [Read More...]

The Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will be held Saturday, July 17 at the 2010 Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival on the campus of Northwestern State University. Musicians from throughout the state will compete for awards, giving festival goers a chance to hear some of the best fiddle music Louisiana has to offer.

The Fiddle Championship from 8:30-11:30 a.m. [Read More...]

Northwestern State University’s Office of Service-Learning will host a training session workshop to provide community agencies with information about developing service projects with NSU students. The session will provide attendees with information about service-learning, examples of past projects and resources that will explain the step-by-step process of developing a service-learning project.  The workshop will be conducted by NSU’s Director of Service-Learning Steve Gruesbeck and Jim Hurley, Americorps VISTA volunteer. [Read More...]

     The life of Jesus will be presented in a contemporary way as the Northwestern Summer Dinner Theatre presents the high-energy musical “Cotton Patch Gospel” June 16-19 and 23-26 on the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium Stage. Doors open at 5:30 p. [Read More...]

     The 31st annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held July 16-17 in Prather Coliseum on the Northwestern State University campus.

     The Festival theme is “Traditional Remedies: Folklife During Times of Adversity.” The theme will focus on ingenious folk solutions people find when times are tough. From singing to putting tobacco on bee stings, Louisiana culture is rich with age-old folk remedies. [Read More...]

     If your bookshelf is getting a bit crowded or you have books that won’t be reread, you can donate them to Watson Library at Northwestern State University.

     “In this time of tight budgets, donations are greatly appreciated,” said Director of Libraries Abbie Landry. “We have been unable to purchase new books, so we hope that alumni and friends of Northwestern can assist us through a donation of books or a monetary donation.”

     Donors can drop books off at the Circulation Desk on the first floor and indicate the books are a donation. [Read More...]

     Northwestern State University has received $306,022 from the Board of Regents Support Fund for five projects to enhance classroom instruction.

    Receiving funding were Scott Burrell, “The Creation of a Theatre and Dance Performance Laboratory in the Northwestern State University Theatre and Dance Program,” $32,000; Michael Cundall, “Art History and Pedagogy,” $58,100; J. Mark Thompson, “Enhancement of Instrumental Course Offerings through the Acquisition of Musical Instruments,” $88,987; Daniel Withey, “Laboratory Equipment for BMET Concentration,” $86,925 and Zafer Hatahet, “DNA Bar coding of Plants in Louisiana,” $40,000.

     According to Priscilla Kilcrease, director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, eight of the nine proposals submitted by NSU faculty for this round of grants were “highly recommended” by out-of-state consultants who evaluated each proposal. [Read More...]