NEWS RELEASE

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

8/19/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Northwestern State University's faculty is playing a major role in the university's continued progress, according to President Dr. Randall J. Webb who spoke at the annual Fall Faculty Institute Tuesday in Magale Recital Hall.

NSU has had record numbers of students in recent years including last fall's enrollment of 10,159. The university also had record size freshman classes with increasing numbers of better-prepared students as well as record retention rates and graduating classes.

"Northwestern has developed top-quality academic degree programs, known far and wide to prospective students, their parents and the general public," said Webb, who is beginning his eighth year as president. "All of these marvelous occurrences are testimony to the outstanding faculty and staff at Northwestern, and to their dedication to students. They are evidence of our overall commitment to excellence ­ our desire continually to become better in all that we do, and thus become the best."

The quality of Northwestern's academic programs have been noticed by alumni and friends who have been willing to provide private funding to support the university. Over the past four years, NSU has raised more than $10 million from private sources. The NSU Foundation has received matching funds for the Erbon W. and Marie Wise Endowed Chair in Journalism, Northwestern's first endowed chair, and the C. Creighton Owen Endowed Professorship in Nursing and the Hopper-Curry Endowed Professorship in Business.

"We are indebted to the many alumni and friends of Northwestern who selflessly support our efforts to transform it into a university of distinction," said Webb.

Another sign of progress at Northwestern is improvements in the institution's physical plant. A $5 million renovation of Morrison Hall and the Family and Consumer Sciences Building has been completed. Work will also be done to the front of Fournet Hall and a courtyard will be created between the three buildings. The $6.8 million project to renovate and expand the Wellness, Recreation and Activity Center is under way and should be complete by next fall. Webb said the long awaited development of a fiber optics network is progressing. Plans are to have all academic buildings internally wired by next year and to have the Natchitoches campus completely wireless. The Shreveport and Leesville/Fort Polk campuses are already wireless.

University crews have also completed several sidewalk and parking lot projects along with street overlays. Work has also been done in Kyser Hall and South Hall.

"Our physical plant personnel have done an outstanding job on many projects on campus," said Webb. "Their work has improved the quality of life on campus. We want a first-rate environment for students, faculty and staff."

Webb told the faculty that he plans to ask the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors to approve pay raises for faculty at its August meeting. Over the past eight years, faculty have received an average raise of 43 percent.

"We hope to pay faculty salaries in excess of the SREB (Southern Regional Education Board average," said Webb. "We have made progress and will continue to work on that."

During the Faculty Institute, Webb also honored Professor of Pyschology Dr. Maureen McHale and Professor of French Dr. Elizabeth Rubino, who have members of Northwestern's faculty for 30 years.

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