NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
5/12/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - Fourteen participants in the Continuum for All Louisiana Learners (CALL) Initiative at Northwestern State University accomplished long-term personal goals by receiving a college degree at NSU’s Spring Commencement Exercises.
CALL is a joint initiative of the Louisiana Board of Regents and the Southern Regional Education Board. Partners for the pilot program included Northwestern, Bossier Parish Community College and the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology of North Louisiana. The program is designed for adults who started but did not complete a college degree. CALL helps working adults take online courses in an accelerated or “fast track” model at their own convenience and even provides college credit for prior education, work and life experiences.
Natchitoches Parish Police Jury Parish Administrator Catherine Hamilton was among those who completed her degree through CALL. Hamilton saw an advertisement for CALL in a newspaper and decided to finish a degree after being out of college for 28 years.
“I had always encouraged my children to go to college and complete their degree, then one of them reminded me I didn’t finish. I decided to practice what I preached,” said Hamilton, who is from Natchitoches.
The program is set up to accommodate the schedules of working adults who cannot take college classes on a traditional schedule.
“With my job schedule, there’s no way I could have gotten off work to come to campus and finish my degree,” said Perry Lowe of Robeline, an employee at RoyOMartin Company. “I encourage people to take a look at the program and go back.”
Hamilton had to leave school when she was expecting her first child. After being out of school for so long, she was a little worried about starting again.
“It took me a little while to get used to taking online classes, but once I got used to them, I was able to get my work done,” said Hamilton. “Everyone involved with the program was very helpful and I didn’t have any problems.”
Lowe had been out of college for four years doing contract work overseas including doing jobs in Afghanistan.
“I only needed two semesters to finish and while I was overseas I decided to finish,” he said. “My dad heard about this program and told me about it. I looked into it and it was wonderful. Having a college degree will give me options.”
The CALL Initiative is being expanded to four additional institutions this fall. Students can earn a Bachelor of General Studies at Northwestern, an Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration, an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems or an Associate of Science in General Studies with a concentration in Business Administration at Bossier Parish Community College.
Also available this fall through CALL are an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice at Louisiana State University at Eunice, a Bachelor of Science at McNeese State University, a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Southeastern Louisiana University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies with Healthcare Management/Marketing Option at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
For more information on CALL, go to http://www.yourcallla.org.
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