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

10/02/2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Dr. Dan Seymour, vice president for student affairs at Northwestern State University, will take over as president of the Louisiana Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators (LACUSPA) at the group's annual conference Oct. 9-10. The annual conference will be held in Baton Rouge at the Holiday Inn South. The conference theme is "LACUSPA 2000: Foundations for the Future."

Seymour has been president-elect of LACUSPA and conference chair for the past year.

"I commend Dr. Seymour for taking on an important role in an organization that seeks to assist students in their development as they seek a college education," said NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb. "This honor emphasizes the leadership role Northwestern has taken in the area of student affairs especially through our graduate program in student personnel services which has trained professionals for service throughout the country."

NSU Director of Auxiliary Services Mary Edith Stacy has served as LACUSPA's interim secretary-treasurer, and Associate Professor of Education Frances Pearson has been faculty liaison and program chair. Director of New Student Programs Reatha Cox has been assistant conference chair and newsletter editor.

The conference will include approximately 150 student personnel administrators from throughout Louisiana. LACUSPA includes two-year and four-year public and private colleges and universities under the Louisiana Board of Regents as well as institutions which are part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

Keynote speakers for the conference will be Dr. Woody Schwitzer, assistant professor of educational leadership and counseling at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., and Dr. Kevin Kruger, associate executive director of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

Schwitzer is director of Old Dominion's human counseling service program. The program uses distance learning technology to deliver classes around Virginia, in partner states and to Navy ships. He is the author of the book, "Promoting Student Learning and Student Development at a Distance: Student Affairs Concepts and Practices for Televised Instruction and Other Forms of Distance Learning.

Kruger, a former faculty member at the University of Maryland, has published nationally on leadership development using technology in student affairs development and international education.

Several members of the student affairs staff at NSU will make presentations at the conference. NSU Director of Student Activities and Organizations Carl P. Henry III along with Edward Pratt of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will lead a session on student activities and Greek life. Pearson will lead a session on faculty and "Collaboration Between Student Affairs and Faculty: Benefits and Barriers."

Director of Student Services Frances Conine, Stacy and graduate student Brent Cockrell will make a presentation, "Tracking the Judicial Process." Seymour and Stacy will also make a presentation, "Jump Start an Assessment Program in Student Affairs." Pearson, Conine and NSU Director of Enrollment Services Ina Agnew will discuss "What do Entry-Level Practitioners Need to Know About Technology?"

LACUSPA is designed to discuss and study the most effective methods of assisting students in their intellectual, social, moral, and personal development, provide and stimulate leadership among persons engaged in the administration of student personnel programs and maintain and improve professional standards in the field of student personnel administration in the state. The association also works to serve as a central clearing agency for information pertinent to present and contemplated student personnel programs in Louisiana and to stimulate creative and experimental programs in the student personnel field.

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