NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
7/15/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - If you have wanted to complete your college degree, but didn’t think classes could fit into your work schedule and or would interfere with family obligations, Northwestern State University has a program to help you.
NSU is one of six institutions in Louisiana offering a program to help adults without a college degree earn a diploma more easily through an innovative adult learning program.
The Continuum for All Louisiana Learners, or CALL helps working adults take online courses in an accelerated or “fast track” model at their own convenience and even provides college credit for prior education, work and life experiences. This allows adults to more quickly complete an associate or bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s in general studies is available at Northwestern. Information on the program is available at http://www.yourcallla.org or http://www.nsula.edu/call.
Among those enrolling in CALL last fall was Mickey Williams of Shreveport.
Last summer Williams, 50, began thinking about completing his college degree. About that time, he began seeing ads in Shreveport for the CALL Program. A few weeks later, he was laid off from his job as an accountant which gave him the push to go back to college.
Williams initially went to Bossier Parish Community College to enroll in CALL. A staff member at BPCC looked over his transcript and said he should sign up for classes at Northwestern.
“She explained to me that everything could be done over the Internet and I would not have to go to the university,” said Williams. “To be honest with you, my first thought was “Do you think that I am crazy and believe that story?””
Williams phoned Carl Henry, the coordinator of adult education initiatives at NSU, and began the process of enrolling.
“I was so excited about being able to now complete my degree,” said Williams. “I am still just as excited and can not wait for December to get here, so that I can walk across the stage at NSU to receive my degree.”
According to Williams, he has had positive experiences since he enrolled. He gives credit to Henry and his advisor Steve Hicks for making returning to college easy for him.
“My experience with the CALL program has gone above and beyond what I really expected,” said Williams. “From Mr. Henry and my advisor Steve Hicks to the overall administration of the CALL program, when I have a question, I e-mail them or call, and before the end of the day, someone has touched based with me to make sure that I have received the information that I was looking for.
“I will never forget talking with my advisor, Steve Hicks, for the first time. Most advisors that I have had in the past, acted like they were advising me just because they were told too. They did not really care about me as a student or what I was trying to complete. Mr. Hicks is different. I can truly say that he has cared from day one, and he listens to me. When we first talked, he helped me set out a path of completion. At first, I told him that I just wanted to complete my degree. By the end of my first semester, he had put together a plan to where I could see me graduating in December with a lot of hard work”
Williams said his grades are better than when he first attended college, and that he thinking about working on a degree in computer information systems at Northwestern next year. He also found a new job as a comptroller for a Shreveport company.
“Believe me, that I have to be very excited about school to even be thinking about going back for another degree,” he said. “But I give all of the credit to the CALL program and to the staff and administration of the program.”
But before that, Williams is focused on completing his degree and graduating in December.
“In December, my mom and dad will see the first of their 5 children cross a stage with a university degree in his hands. I can not tell you what that means to me and to them,” said Williams.
The Continuum for All Louisiana Learners, or CALL, is a joint initiative of the Louisiana Board of Regents and the Southern Regional Education Board. Participating institutions include Northwestern, Bossier Parish Community College, LSU-Eunice, McNeese State University, Southeastern Louisiana University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
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