NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

10/20/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Northwestern State University and Bossier Parish Community College have signed an agreement to allow students to take classes through BPCC on NSU's Natchitoches campus. The agreement will take effect in the fall 2005 semester.

"A large number of our students and alumni began successful college careers at BPCC. We regard Bossier Parish Community College along with its faculty and staff highly," said NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb. "We think this is a marvelous opportunity to form a partnership that should pay handsome dividends for both institutions."

NSU and BPCC were both governed by the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities for a number of years until BPCC was placed under the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Both institutions are members of the Consortium for Education, Research, and Technology of North Louisiana (CERT). BPCC Chancellor Tom Carleton is president of CERT and Webb is immediate past president.

"This agreement between BPCC and NSU is just another example of the close working relationship between the two institutions," said Carleton. "College students are the winners here because two higher education institutions chose to be proactive in regard to the master plan."

Under the agreement, Northwestern will work with BPCC to schedule classes and register students for specific sections at the Natchitoches location. Classroom space will be provided along with office space needed to advise students. Students attending BPCC under the agreement will also have access to Northwestern computer labs.

Beginning next fall, BPCC will employ and provide qualified faculty members to teach a designated number of sections of developmental mathematics, developmental English and mutually agreed upon core courses on the Natchitoches site. The remainder of the core courses required for completion of an associate degree or certificate will be taught via the Internet or at BPCC's Bossier City location.

Bossier Parish Community College students enrolled at the Natchitoches location will pay BPCC tuition and fees as well as select University fees.

"This agreement will allow both institutions to provide access to higher education for all types of students, both traditional and non-traditional," said NSU Director of Enrollment Management Dr. Mary Edith Stacy. "Both Bossier Parish Community College and Northwestern are student-oriented institutions, so we will work together to create the best possible environment for students."

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