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

6/16/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Dr. Anthony Scheffler has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northwestern State University effective July 1. His appointment has been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. He has served as acting provost and vice president for academic affairs since July 2003.

"Dr. Scheffler has done an outstanding job over the past year. I look forward to continuing our positive working relationship," said NSU president Dr. Randall J. Webb. "He shares the vision I have of making Northwestern an outstanding university that attracts top students and noted teachers and scholars. We want Northwestern to be the best at teaching and serving students."

Scheffler was appointed associate provost and dean of Graduate Studies, Research and Information Systems in 2002. He was appointed as dean of Graduate Studies, Research and Information Systems in 2000.

"I look forward to working with faculty, staff and students under Dr. Webb's leadership to advance the university operationally and academically," said Scheffler. "There are significant challenges in front of us in the months and years to come including budget issues, the impact of selective admissions in the fall 2005 semester and meeting the changing expectations of our changing student population."

NSU's new named provost and vice president for academic affairs would like to develop new ways to better meet student needs.

"I am hoping to kick off a comprehensive plan that involves all aspects of the university community to develop a living-learning environment on campus," said Scheffler. "This would take advantage of a variety of services which directly and indirectly support the academic experience and the quality of the academic experience."

Scheffler also wants to continue building partnerships between Northwestern and other institutions such as the state's community colleges and the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts. NSU and the Louisiana School recently signed an articulation agreement allowing LSMSA students to receive college credit for some of their courses at Northwestern.

Strengthening Northwestern's graduate program is also an objective. The university has received conditional approval for a master's program in heritage resources and is seeking to begin two other programs.

"We want to capitalize on the strengths that Northwestern has," said Scheffler.

Scheffler joined Northwestern's faculty in 1992. He was director of the Intensive Summer Graduate Program and an assistant professor in the College of Education from 1992 until 1997. Scheffler was promoted to associate professor of education in 1997. At Northwestern, Scheffler has taught graduate and upper level courses in research, instructional design, evaluation and reporting and statistics.

In 1993, he was named assistant dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Scheffler was also director of Academic Computing and Distance Education in 1997-98, and coordinator of the Educational Technology doctoral program in 1995-96.

Scheffler's accomplishments include developing the Intensive Summer Graduate Program, which brought a large number of graduate students to Northwestern from throughout the United States. He also reorganized the former Computer Center, now the Office of Information Systems, into a more efficient and expanded operation, emphasizing administrative, educational and support services.

For six years, Scheffler worked with student leaders to oversee the student technology fee which has generated more than $5 million to create computer labs across NSU campuses and provide funding for additional educational technology.

Scheffler has overseen the installation of fiber optic cabling in the majority of its academic buildings and is working with the Director of Telecommunications to complete the wiring process in the remaining buildings.

He has also worked to develop Northwestern's role as Louisiana's leader in the delivery of electronic classes. While he was dean of Graduate Studies, enrollment in the graduate school increased. Scheffler also collaborated with faculty and staff representatives to coordinate the development of Northwestern's student retention plan,

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