NEWS RELEASE

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

1/5/2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - There is a sweet sound coming from the music programs at Northwestern State University. NSU's music programs have been reaccredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Northwestern's music programs have been accredited since 1961. The university earned reaccreditation after a careful year-long review of faculty, students, facilities performance, alumni and other criteria. This reaccreditation places Northwestern in "good standing" for three degree programs: the Bachelor of Music in Performance, Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Music Education.

"Northwestern's outstanding music programs have set this university apart for decades. They contribute enormously to the quality of life at the university and in the region," said Northwestern President Dr. Randall J. Webb. "We plan to use this reaccreditation as a way to help us continue improving and bringing additional national prestige to Northwestern."

NASM is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of all music curricula. The organization provides a variety of services to member institutions and provides information to the general public about educational programs in music. NASM was founded in 1924 and has 578 institutional members.

"We are extremely pleased that the NASM has recognized the quality of the music program at Northwestern," said Bill Brent, head of the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear Department of Creative and Performing Arts at NSU. "The music faculty sets high performance standards for our students, and the students continue to impress me with the efforts to succeed both academically and musically."

Brent gave particular credit to faculty members Dr. William Mathis, Dr. Burt Allen and Dr. Dennette McDermott who as members of the "Self-Study Committee" gave many hours to writing the university's initial report examining its programs and for hosting a successful visit by the NASM team, Lyle C. Merriman from the Pennsylvania State University and David Herman of the University of Delaware.

"We have felt that the music program at Northwestern was an outstanding one," said Brent. "The continued membership in the NASM ensures that students who pursue a music degree at NSU will receive an education that is of the highest quality and that their degree will carry the added weight of being received from a nationally accredited music program."

Northwestern has gained national accreditation for 28 of its 32 eligible academic programs. The university plans to gain accreditation for all eligible programs by next year.

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