NEWS RELEASE

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

3/07/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Northwestern State University has received a reward of $120,000 from the State of Louisiana under the Exceptional Performance and Gainsharing Incentive Program. NSU was recognized for its accomplishments in distance education.

The Exceptional Performance and Gainsharing Incentive Program was established by the Louisiana Legislature last year to encourage state agencies to achieve maximum efficiency in their operations and maintain consistently high levels of performance.

"This recognition is a testimony to the leadership of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tom Burns and to the outstanding faculty and staff who support and participate in Northwestern's delivery of electronic programs and related student services and information," said NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb. "It also reflects admirably upon the technological literacy of our students, since so many of them
engage in online courses."

Webb also said Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Dr. Anthony Scheffler, Director of Research and Sponsored Programs Dr. Bill Hunt, Director of Information Systems Dr. Jim McCrory and Electronic Learning Systems Coordinator Darlene Williams were instrumental in helping earn the reward.

Northwestern has taken a leadership role among Louisiana universities in distance education. NSU offers more exclusively electronic classes, enrolls more students and has more degrees available on-line than any other university in the state. This semester, NSU is offering 107 electronic classes with an enrollment of 3,105.

"This is one more example of how Northwestern is leading the state in providing education any time, anywhere through distance learning," said University of Louisiana System President Dr. Sally Clausen. "Northwestern is reaching out and effectively expanding the reach of higher education."

Webb said NSU's goal "is to create a learning-centered environment at Northwestern that is responsive to the differing needs and learning styles of students here and around the world."

Northwestern began offering classes by compressed video in the mid-1990's and expanded into desktop video and Internet classes.

According to McCrory, the reward will be used to expand the current level of electronic services for students. The university is considering adding electronic services including on-line undergraduate and graduate catalogs with a search capability; financial aid applications and approvals; and residential housing applications and assignments.

The university must provide students with improved services from wherever they are whenever they want them and access to those services, information and communications to meet the increasing student demand for these capabilities in a convenient manner," said McCrory. "Implementation of these capabilities is essential in maintaining a competitive edge and stabilizing current enrollment levels. This is especially true as learning is rapidly becoming a life-long pursuit with an increased number of non-traditional students seeking learning environments that suit their needs."

McCrory said NSU is working to create a new portal that will make new and existing electronic services easier to access.

"An effective portal is perhaps the most pervasive application serving campus information needs. Fully implemented, a portal touches every person and data source within the university," said McCrory. The portal, when fully developed, will become a one-stop shop for services and information."

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