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ULM signs Memorandum of Understanding with Thailand officials

University of Louisiana at Monroe President James E. Cofer and Dean of Faculty Wariya Chinwanno of Mahidol University in Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Dean of Faculty Dr. Wariya Chinwanno of Mahidol University in Thailand and ULM President Dr. James Cofer sign the memorandum of understanding.

The agreement was reached following consultations with Dr. Robert Hanser, head of ULM's Criminal Justice Department and Dr. Jeffrey Cass, dean of ULM College of Arts and Sciences, concerning the development of reciprocal programs to promote international exchange and cooperation between the two institutions.

“Dr. Attapol Kuanliang, a professor in our department who is from Thailand, was also instrumental in securing the relations between our two universities,” said Hanser.

Hanser	Cass
Kuanliang	Cofer

Cass said Tuesday's agreement stems from conversations with Thai officials during last year's International Criminal Justice Association meeting in Lafayette, which led to a tentative agreement between the two universities, resulting in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The agreement enables doctoral students from Thailand to earn graduate hours toward a second master's degree or completion of a graduate certificate in criminal justice. Mahidol University students bear financial responsibility while enrolled as a student at ULM. In exchange, ULM will benefit from the exchange of faculty and student scholars, information and research.

"The globalization is impacting all disciplines, including criminal justice," said Hanser. "It is important for us to produce practitioners and scholars equipped to engage in the global crime-fighting effort. Partnerships such as this one facilitate this effort."

"Deborah and I are honored to host you here, and we're proud of our criminal justice faculty who have developed this type of collaboration across borders," said Cofer, acknowledging the Thailand delegation who visited Bon Aire, the ULM presidential home, on Tuesday.

"We have many similar programs where we can cooperate," said Chinwanno, "And our students are expected to complete their dissertation in English, so they will be expected to come to ULM in summer for English."

Director Srisombat Chokprajakchat, Chanabodi Chinwanno and Surat Chokprajakchat of Thailland joined ULM officials in Tuesday's signing.

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ULM to offer Executive MBA program in partnership with Louisiana Tech

The ULM College of Business Administration, in conjunction with Louisiana Tech University's College of Business, will offer an Executive MBA (EMBA) program in Monroe starting in January 2010. While the College of Business at Louisiana Tech will administer the program and award the degree, the ULM College of Business Administration is a partner in the Monroe program and ULM faculty will teach a number of the EMBA courses.

Students will be able to complete the program in under two years, with breaks in December, July, and August. The EMBA offers weekend classes in a condensed format that allows course completion in as little as six to eight weeks.

Meeting times are Friday evenings, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 9:00 p.m. Saturday classes start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m.

For more information on the program, please visit the EMBA Web site at:
http://business.latech.edu/emba/

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ULM awarded nearly $100,000 for suicide prevention/education

Sutton

The director of Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Louisiana at Monroe recently received notification of nearly $100,000 in federal grant funding for a project titled, “ULM Helping Educators and Learners Prevent Suicide.”

Dr. Jana P. Sutton, principal investigator and clinical supervisor of the project, said the goal is to educate the campus family on how to identify those at greater risk for suicide, and those with mental or behavioral health problems. Ultimately, once identified, the goal would be to prevent death by suicide and to provide at-risk students with the clinical treatment that they need, said Sutton.

The grant targets college-aged students who are facing challenges and developmental issues specific to their age group. In the college-age ranges, Louisiana rates are higher than the national averages, being 9.3 as compared with 7.8 per 100,000 nationally (ages 15-19) and 15.1 as compared with 12.3 per 100,000 nationally (ages 20-29).

“Being able to decipher who is depressed and suicidal may be quite difficult for a professional, never mind a layperson,” said Sutton.

Ultimately, the project would educate students, faculty and staff, such as police officers, about when and how to identify and refer at-risk students to available programs and services for help, she said.

“Students can have fabulous relationships with one another and therefore can be influential in helping someone to get the help he or she needs,” said Sutton.

The funding will provide the opportunity for professional development seminars, as well a develop literature about the risks for suicide and how to promote “help-seeking” behavior. Educational workshops directed at incoming freshmen and their families, as well as workshops targeting the ULM student body at large will also be created, according to Sutton.

The $99,995 award is for a one-year period and begins Sept. 30, with the option to extend funding for another two years if approved. The initiative is an interdisciplinary partnership that will include collaboration with Dr. Lamar Woodham of Marriage and Family Therapy, Dr. Syeda Jasmine, Gerontology Professor Chris Johnson and Staff Counselor Steve Kelly in the ULM Counseling Center.

“I think reaching across the disciplines helped us as we created this all-encompassing program,” said Sutton. “We started by just looking at what needed to be built from scratch and how we could enhance what already existed in order to maximize the grant.”

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Upcoming VAPA Events

Now through Nov.5 : “We Saw The Wrecked” a solo painting exhibit by Michael Stillion, Bry Gallery

Tues. Oct. 20: Guest Artist On Campus Series: Juli Wood, soprano, Biedenharn Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Wed. Oct. 28: New Music Recital, Biedenharn Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Tues. Nov. 3: Guest Artist On Campus Series: Bruce Tychinski, trombone, Biedenharn Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. $15 public, free for ULM students, faculty and staff with ID.

Thur. Nov. 5: Low Brass Soloists, Biedenharn Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Fri. Nov. 6: Wind Ensemble Concert, Brown Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Mon. Nov. 9: Flute Soloists, Biedenharn Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Nov. 9 - 24: "Big and Tall" Sculpture Exhibition, Sculpture Exhibition, Bry Gallery, free. Artist reception, Nov. 12, 5-7 p.m. in the gallery.

Nov. 11-13, and 15: "Bat Boy: The Musical", Black Box Theatre. 7:30 p.m. $15 public, free for ULM students, faculty and staff with ID.

Sun. Nov. 15: Flute Choir and High School Flute Invitational, Biedenharn Recital Hall, 4:00 p.m. Free.

Mon. Nov. 16: Jessica Reed, Senior Flute Recital, Biedenharn Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Tues. Nov. 17: ULM Jazz Ensemble, Brown Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Free.

For more VAPA and ULM events, call 318-342-1414 or visit www.ulm.edu/calendar

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ULM’s CBER releases 2009 Factbook for Northeast Louisiana businesses and residents

The Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Louisiana at Monroe has released the 2009 edition of its annual economic and demographic Factbook for Northeast Louisiana.

The Factbook is an outgrowth of discussions between ULM’s College of Business Dean Ron Berry, Center For Business and Economic Research Director Robert Eisenstadt and several community leaders who offered suggestions as to how the CBER could best assist local economic development interests.

It is a comprehensive compendium of local and regional information broken down into four sections, including demographics; labor force data; business climate information; and quality of life measures. Wherever possible, parish, regional, state and national averages are included over a five-year period for comparison purposes.

Eisenstadt

This fourth edition is the first to include results from the CBER’s participation with the Council for Community and Economic Research in local area cost of living analysis, according to Eisenstadt.

“We are happy to make this service available, to provide the kind of assistance that an impartial arbiter such as the CBER can provide to regional and extra regional interests, and to help move our community forward as a better place to live and work,” said Eisenstadt.

The Factbook is available on-line as a PDF document, as well as in interactive format at cba.ulm.edu/cber. The CBER acknowledges the invaluable assistance in this year’s production by Zita Zalai, ULM Master of Business Administration candidate.

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ULM joins other system universities in National Learn and Serve Challenge

The University of Louisiana at Monroe joins the UL System and thousands of young people, educators, community partners, civic leaders, and business partners across the country in celebration of this week’s National Learn and Serve Challenge.

Since 2006, 79 projects funded at UL System campuses by a Learn and Serve America grant have tackled community problems from truancy to hunger to energy conservation.

The following Learn and Serve America grants have been approved for the ULM campus:

• C.A.S.T. - CPR at School Training Program, Dr. Mark Doherty

ULM kinesiology majors, working with faculty and volunteer community members, will guide sessions that focus on training middle and high school students in the Monroe area with a desire to learn basic CPR techniques.

The program enables large groups of students to participate in massive American Heart Association Family & Friends training sessions. The training also trains large groups of students to handle a life-threatening emergency that might occur during a natural disaster as well as increase the potential for these life-threatening emergencies to be managed by a larger number of people throughout the community.

• Project Soar: Launching a Professional Development School, Drs. Lynn Clark and Beth Ricks

This project is designed to provide targeted interventions in reading and writing for the Monroe City School and Cypress Point University Elementary sites, for first through fifth grade students, practical application of teacher preparation course content for College of Education and Human Development participants (junior year teacher candidates), and opportunities for ongoing relationships between university participants and site recipients.

The student population at these schools reflects the long-term academic needs of many of the communities affected by Hurricane Katrina, such as declining literacy rates, absenteeism and emotional or behavioral disorders. The grant enhances the existing relationship with Cypress Point by providing essential and sustainable resources to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

• University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks Mentoring Program, Dr. Wayne Brumfield

This project will utilize 50 carefully trained students from the College of Arts and Sciences to mentor 50 ninth grade high school students from Wossman High School and Carroll High School in Monroe.

Through one-on-one relationships, the mentors will provide personal and academic guidance, encouragement and structured college and career readiness skills training to ensure that students gain basic skills and information to succeed in high school and beyond. Individualized attention, special events and exposure to ULM's campus and students will help mentees begin to envision their potential and to develop specific plans for future success.

"This is an important opportunity to thank the numerous dedicated faculty, staff and students in our system for making a positive impact on Louisiana's communities,” said UL System President Randy Moffett. “As part of the role, scope and mission of our eight universities, service-learning harnesses brainpower for the betterment of our citizenry and instills an important lesson of civic responsibility for our students,” he said.

Learn and Serve America's Higher Education Program Coordinator, Kirsten Breckinridge, praised the UL System for its efforts over the last three years.

"The ULS Learn and Serve program has done an outstanding job of spreading service learning across the state of Louisiana,” said Breckinridge.

“Over 13,000 students have participated in service learning, providing service to the state's communities by cleaning and restoring coastal lands, providing tutoring and mentoring to at-risk youth, and a myriad of other projects addressing everything from health to economic development.”

To date, almost 13,500 college students and over 800 faculty and staff have volunteered 115,000 service hours and engaged 323 community partners. Those impacts are expected to grow this year.

Out of the 79 projects funded by the UL System grant, 28 are still in process including nine mentoring programs through a partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education.

For more information about the National Learn and Serve Challenge visit: www.learnandservechallenge.org/.

A detailed report on the UL System's service-learning programs including full descriptions of all 79 projects can be found at www.ulsystem.edu.

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Beast unleashed at ULM’s Museum of Natural History

The University of Louisiana at Monroe recently unleashed a beast at its Museum of Natural History – albeit one that is about 65-million years old.

Stringer

ULM Museum of Natural History Geosciences Division Curator Dr. Gary Stringer received a little help from young paleontologist-in-training, Calvin Praetorius, as he unveiled a skull cast of Sue, the world’s most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimen. The skull is roughly 59 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 37 inches from the bottom of the jaw to the top of the skull, according to Stringer.

There are approximately 55 teeth in the jaws with many of them over five inches long, he said. “This skull should impress young and old alike for many years to come,” said Stringer. “It is truly a magnificent fossil and is easily visible when walking into the Museum as it is mounted about six feet above the floor.”

The unveiling took place at the museum’s first seminar of the fall semester, with about 50 people in attendance, said Stringer.

Praetorius is the son of Shane Praetorius, provost and vice present of ULM Academic Affairs. “I like to tell people that Calvin is our ‘biggest little supporter,’” said Stringer.

Stringer said the acquisition was one of the most exciting events ever in the Geosciences Division of the Museum. Sue’s full 42-foot-long, 7-ton skeleton resides in Stanley Hall at the Chicago Field Museum. Scientists today theorize that a disease transmitted by parasites, rather than a bloody battle, may have killed her.

The cast of the dinosaur skull was made possible by a generous donation from geology alumnus Stanley Barnett and matching funds from Agilent Technologies.

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Listeners of ULM’s public radio get “jazzed” with addition of KEDM2

KEDM 90.3 FM, the public radio station housed at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, is now broadcasting KEDM2 Jazz, a second channel of excellent KEDM programming throughout northeast Louisiana.

Willer

“KEDM is excited to be able to provide our community with this additional service,” said ULM Director of University Broadcasting Joel Willer. “Our listeners have long enjoyed Jazz on our main channel, and we’re sure they will appreciate the breadth and quality of the new channel.”

The channel features music by the masters and new artists, with Jazz classics and the latest releases 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to Willer. Engaging and enlightening hosts, and topical information for the Jazz listener are also now available.

A sampling of the great artists being played on the channel include Billie Holiday, Herbie Mann, Dianne Reeves, Shirley Horn, Charlie Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Ramsey Lewis, Miles Davis, Stanley Turrentine, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.

In order to receive the new channel, listeners must acquire a new digital HD Radio, which enables stations to multi-cast up to three channels per analog frequency.

KEDM sends out a digital HD Radio signal along with the station’s analog signal. HD Radio is not to be confused with satellite radio services, said Willer. Unlike other providers of digital radio, HD Radio is available without paying a subscription fee.

The station began digital HD Radio broadcasts of its main programming in April, enabling listeners with HD Radio receivers to enjoy KEDM’s traditional programming without the noise and interference of analog.

KEDM is the first radio station in northeast Louisiana to make the conversion, although nearly 2,000 stations nationwide using the technology, including stations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria and Hammond. Willer said KEDM is developing a third channel, KEDM3 Ideas, which will consist entirely of news and information programming.

Local donors, the Louisiana legislative delegation, and Corporation for Public Broadcasting grants have made the transition to digital broadcasting possible.

Electronics retailers have a variety of HD Radios for sale, including tabletop and car stereos, and certain new cars also come with them. HD radio receivers are available from several online retailers, including Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Crutchfield, JCPenney, RadioShack, Target and Walmart.

Additional information about HD Radio and KEDM2 can be found on the station’s Web site, kedm.org.

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Traveling Scholars Series slated for fall on ULM campus

The Department of Communication and the Speech and Debate Forum are hosting a Traveling Scholars Series this fall on University of Louisiana at Monroe’s campus.
 
The series offers the ULM and Monroe/West Monroe Communities access to scholarship growing out of the communication discipline and demonstrate ways the discipline contributes to the betterment of society.
 
Spearheaded by Dr. Lesli K. Pace, the Traveling Scholars Series will include three community presentations. All events will run from 6 to 8 p.m. in various locations on campus.
 
The following list of scholars are scheduled for visits to ULM:

Oct. 27: Dr. Jason Del Gandio, assistant professor of Public Communication at Temple University in Philadelphia. Del Gandio’s presentation, “Communication, Desire, and the Creation of Reality: A Preliminary Talk on Neo-Radicalism" will be held in Stubbs 100.

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A+PEL’S “Project New” provides new teacher support

The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL) announces its 2009-2010 series of Project NEW workshops. The Project NEW Program is a support system created especially for new teachers and pre-service teachers.

Louisiana Department of Education offices in Baton Rouge will broadcast each workshop, available for viewing at colleges around the state including the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

The first workshop was held Sept. 26 and featured an update concerning the Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program, and discussion of the components of effective teaching. The second workshop was held Oct. 17, and will provide help with portfolio building, review the La. Components of Effective Teaching and Teacher Certification Information, and interviewing techniques.

The third workshop will be held Feb. 27, 2010, and will focus on Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum, Grade Level Expectations, Assessments, teacher rights and legal issues.

Reservation fees are $15 for A+PEL members and $35 for nonmembers. A+PEL member fees will be refunded, making the workshops free to those members who attend.

All participants must pre-register and pay fees prior to attendance. For additional information, contact Tina Allen, Coordinator of Field Experiences and Teacher Candidacy, at 318-342-1271.

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ULM Library Special Collections presents special exhibits for fall semester

The ULM Library Special Collections Department will feature a public exhibit and program showcasing the works of documentary photographer Lee Estes from Nov. 3 through Dec. 17.

Estes documented the people, buildings, landscape and culture of Highway 80 in North Louisiana and will have 40, 16x20, framed photos on exhibit at the library.

The exhibit’s kickoff will be held at 6 p.m., Nov. 3, in the Passman Room be on display through the fall semester. The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is funding this program and exhibit through an outreach grant.