NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
7/2/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State President Dr. Randall J. Webb never knows what challenges will meet him when he walks into his office each day. But the enjoyment he gets from meeting those challenges is one reason he has remained at the helm of the university. Webb, who is beginning his 13th year as president, is now the second longest serving president in Northwestern’s 124-year history.
Webb’s tenure as president is surpassed only by Victor L. Roy, who was president from 1911 until 1929. The university’s administration building, Roy Hall, is named in his honor. Beverly C. Caldwell (1896-1908), John S. Kyser (1954-1966) and Arnold Kilpatrick (1966-1978) were each president for 12 years.
“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve this university as president for 12 years. It has been the highlight of my professional life,” said Webb. “I have been fortunate to work with a dedicated group of faculty, staff and students who are committed to making this university the best it can be.”
Webb is quick to point out his success would not have been possible without the support of his wife Brenda.
“Brenda has always been supportive of my work and has been there at all times. She has been an unwavering partner,” said Webb. “She works very hard to represent the university. She plays a major role in fundraising and is involved in activities with faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni, and other community members and friends of the University.”
Webb has steered the university through good times as well as trying times. His focus on excellence resulted Northwestern becoming the first public university in Louisiana to achieve 100 percent of eligible academic programs in 2001.
“The purpose was to demonstrate the overall quality of education at Northwestern,” said Webb. “You cannot have a nationally accredited program without excellence in all areas of general education. One program cannot be accredited without strong programs across the campus. And that includes all areas including those areas that do not have accrediting bodies.”
The university received a new level of state support in 2007-08 as its budget was increased by $15.5 million when the state funded its universities at 100 percent of formula.
“The new level of funding was critical for Northwestern as we continue to move forward,” said Webb. “This level of support allows us to hire and retrain outstanding faculty, provide additional scholarship support for students and develop new academic programs that serve the people of Louisiana. We thank Gov. (Bobby) Jindal and the state legislature, especially Sen. Gerald Long and Rep. Rick Nowlin, for continuing this level of support for higher education..”
Webb said Jimmy Long, a member of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, and former chairman of the board, has also been very supportive of Northwestern during his time on the board and as a member of the Legislature.
The new state support was supplemented with unprecedented private support from alumni and friends of the university. NSU’s first capital campaign brought in more than $34 million, exceeding the campaign’s goal by more than $15 million. The support of students, alumni and friends have also improved university facilities and beautified the campus.
Northwestern students voted to assess themselves a fee to construct the Wellness, Recreation and Activity Center on the site of the former Intramural Building. Alumni and friends built the Barry Smiley Memorial Plaza, beautifying the entrance to Russell Hall and the Alumni Plaza near the A.A. Fredericks Center for Creative and Performing Arts.
Under Webb, the renovation of Russell Hall, now the home of the College of Business, was completed. Multi-million dollar projects to renovate Morrison Hall, Williamson Hall and the Family and Consumer Sciences Building were also undertaken. A project to demolish and reconstruct West Caspari Hall has also started.
“Our physical plant is in much better overall shape because of these important renovation projects with have provided our students which several up to date academic buildings,” said Webb.
Campus living has also improved. The university has closed its older residence halls and replaced them with the University Columns and Phase I and II of University Place. The second phase of University Place opens in August.
Northwestern is in its third year of selective admissions and has seen record in average ACT scores among incoming freshmen. NSU students have won prestigious Goldwater Scholarships and Marshall Fellowships. Student publications have been recognized as some of the best in the nation.
Students in computer information systems have won nine national championships in competition against some of the nation’s top universities including five consecutive titles in systems analysis.
Northwestern has tremendous success delivering classes by distance learning, which includes classes offered by Internet and compressed video. Seventeen degree programs are available electronically and more than half of NSU students take an online class.
“Distance learning has been a tremendous success,” said Webb. “There is great demand for classes that are offered anytime, anywhere and Northwestern moved into this area at just the right time.”
Webb plans to keep pushing Northwestern forward by looking for better ways to serve its students and the people of Louisiana.
“A great deal of good work has been done, but we can never be content,” said Webb. “I’m proud that Northwestern is well known around the state and is better known around the country. We want to maintain our outstanding reputation and work to become an even better university in the years to come.”
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