Month: May 2022

For the tenth consecutive year, Southeastern has been named a Military Friendly® School for 2022-2023.

Southeastern continues to strive to be one of the best military and veteran-friendly institutions in the state of Louisiana and in the nation. Viqtory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs, states the listing honors the top colleges, universities, and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace the nation’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and to ensure their success on campus. This year Southeastern was awarded Gold Status, which is the highest award currently in the state of Louisiana. No other university or college achieved a designation this high by the publication this year.

“We are proud of our consistent listing, as it illustrates Southeastern’s continued commitment to serve active military, veterans, and their families. It also places us among some of the top universities in the nation,” said President John L. Crain. “Most importantly, we know the designation means we are doing our best to serve those who have made many sacrifices in service to our nation.”

Southeastern enrolls 591 veterans, dependents, and military service members. The university maintains a Veterans Upward Bound program; provides academic and other counseling services; offers scholarships specifically for military students and veterans; and maintains a wide range of online and distance learning programs that provide students with flexibility in scheduling.

Southeastern’s ROTC program, which is a sub-unit of the Southern University Army ROTC program, returned to Hammond in 2016 after more than a 20-year hiatus. Fifty-five students now participate in the program.

Southeastern also serves as a resource center for thousands of Louisiana veterans in an effort to help active-duty military service men and women successfully transition to college through a new program called LaVetCorps.

Additionally, Southeastern now has an Office of Military and Veteran Success. The new office includes two college employees, a LaVetCorps employee, and 10 veteran ambassadors and student workers. The office offers help with academic advising related to VA education benefits, processing VA education benefits, counseling on VA education benefits, programs, events, and priority registration.

“Southeastern has made a concerted effort in the past several years to focus on military service members, veterans, and their families,” said Director of Military and Veteran Success Matt Watkins, a U.S. Air Force Veteran. “Southeastern has created innovative programming, services, events, and resources for our veterans, dependents, and military population. All of our staff members feel there is no greater calling than serving those who have served us.”

A recent addition to campus is the Southeastern Student Veterans and Military Interest Association, a group open to veterans, reservists, spouses, dependents, and ROTC participants attending both Southeastern and Northshore Technical Community College. The association was founded to help the school administration better understand and meet the needs of veterans; offer advice from experienced to incoming veterans; help civilians better understand the military experience; and provide opportunities for veterans to meet one another and connect.

Institutions competed for inclusion on the Military Friendly Schools list based on such categories as military support on campus, graduation and employment outcomes, and career and job counseling services. The firm Ernst and Young independently tested the data provided by schools.

The 2022 list of Military Friendly Schools shows the commitment of those institutions in providing a supportive environment for military students, the company said in announcing the list.

Viqtory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business founded in 2001. In addition to G.I. Jobs, the company also publishes the magazine “Military Spouse.”

A Southeastern recent graduate in occupational safety, health and environment has been awarded a national scholarship from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

Joseph Schopp of Greenwell Springs received the $5,000 award based upon his cumulative grade point average, a submitted essay on why he entered the program, and his commitment to obtaining professional certification upon his graduation.

“The BCSP scholarship was the icing on the cake of my educational experience at Southeastern,” he said. “I am truly blessed to have received this scholarship, and it will play a vital role in paying off the excellent education I received through the safety program at Southeastern. The scholarship has given me a confidence boost, and I am very thankful for each of the BCSP members for extending a generous hand and believing in my future as a safety professional.”

The Southeastern OSH&E program was recently ranked among the top 10 best values in OSH&E programs in the country by the website collegevaluesonline.com. The ranking is based on quality of academics; value, which includes tuition affordability and financial aid; and the calculated average return on investment data, a guide to the success of students graduating from the program.

The OSH&E program is nationally accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. The program grew from a two-year associate’s degree program to a four-year bachelor of science program following considerable input from managers at area industries who reported a significant need for safety, health and environmental professionals. The program prepares students for a variety of positions, including roles of environmental safety and health specialists and safety supervisors.

Southeastern Office of University Marketing and Communication’s Assistant Director of Creative Michael Trahan recently won Silver in the American Advertising Federation (AAF), Baton Rouge’s American Advertising Awards. It then went on to achieve Silver in AAF’s District 7 (“South” states) competition, earning an entry to compete in this year’s national awards. These wins demonstrate not only excellence in design and marketing, but also the ability to excel in adapting to and overcoming unprecedented challenges.

Columbia Theatre has produced a traditional brochure, designed by University Marketing and Communications, to promote each season since 2002. When COVID-19 caused multiple cancellations to the ’20/’21 season, the current brochures became obsolete shortly after printing. A new way was needed to print this popular piece while incorporating the ability to adjust information during these uncertain times.

As a solution, the ’21/’22 brochure was reimagined into a series of “show cards” which are housed in a box/sleeve. Each card features custom poster art on the front and performance information on the back. These cards not only function as a series of collectible art, but each one can be used as a separate flyer or handout. Most importantly, each card is easily replaceable if a show is canceled or changed in the future.

The piece has additionally won gold in the Collegiate Advertising awards and silver in the Communicator Awards, for a total of four awards and counting.

Southeastern’s College of Science and Technology, through the Department of Computer Science, is sponsoring the “Lion’s Code CyberCamp” this summer. Scheduled from July 18-21 in the new Innovation Hub at Sims Memorial Library from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, the free camp is designed for students in grades 8 – 12. Campers have the option to attend in person or online; however, class size is limited for in-person campers.

Although the program is free, registration is required no later than 4 p.m., July 1, and early registration is encouraged due to limited space. Registration is available at southeastern.edu/lionscode.

Instructor of Computer Science and Camp Coordinator Bonnie Achee said the camp is a fun-filled, action-packed program that does not require prior coding or extensive experience with computers. It also satisfies all requirements for the Girl Scout Cadette Cyber Security patch and a large part of activities required for Senior and Ambassador Cyber Security patches.

Achee said the camp introduces students to cognitive analysis skills vital in computer science through CyberSociety analysis and investigation of cyber scenarios developed by Cyber.org.

“These scenarios drop the students into the role of Department of HomeLion Security teams using critical thinking skills to solve the crime,” Achee explained. “Teams will be briefed by the Director of HomeLion Security at the beginning of the experience as to the details of the incident. With HomeLion security agents leading each team, they will use cognitive analysis skills to piece together the details of the incident and report their findings back to the director at the conclusion of the mission.”

“All student campers will come away with greater personal knowledge and confidence, as well as take their computer skills to the next level,” Achee said. “This is a rare opportunity for students to work directly with Southeastern’s cutting-edge computer science faculty and industrial technology professional staff.”

Achee said campers will participate in a virtual Capture the Flag competition exploring data encryption algorithms, logic puzzles, cyber careers, and Southeastern’s offerings. Each participant will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the camp.

Bonus activities include learning about the wide range of career opportunities in information technology and educational options to help students plan for the future. Southeastern is pleased to provide this free summer activity as a community service, Achee said.

For more information, email lionscodecamp@southeastern.edu