Straight Talk from the President - December 10, 2008
Dear Colleagues,
Louisiana’s children are in the hands of the best and brightest educators in the state: graduates of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The Value-Added Teacher Preparation Model, a study of new elementary and middle school teachers, reveals that those certified in ULM’s College of Education and Human Development consistently outperform graduates from other education programs in the state. The assessment examines the effect of post-redesign alternate certification programs offered at several University of Louisiana System schools, including ULM. At a joint meeting last week, Board of Regents member Robert Bruno publicly commended ULM's College of Education, saying that other universities in the state should visit the institution to learn more about what its faculty members are doing to produce such qualified graduates. Dr. George Noelle, chief researcher for the report, said that based on the study's analysis, he would be "thrilled to have his children taught by a graduate of ULM's College of Education." This success speaks volumes about the strength of ULM’s education program, and I applaud the work of Dr. Sandra Lemoine, College of Education dean, along with her faculty.
ULM Nursing faculty and students work on one of ULM's programmable manikins in the School of Nursing's Clinical Simulation Lab.
The rigor of our academic programs is revealed in yet another report, this time in the School of Nursing. Recent exam results indicate that the May 2008 graduating class earned a perfect score overall on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), a test required to receive professional nursing licensure. ULM students received a 100 percent pass rate on the NCLEX examination, compared to an 86.34 percent national pass rate and an 89.08 percent state pass rate. I appreciate the diligence of Dr. Florencetta Gibson, School of Nursing director, Dr. Denny Ryman, College of Nursing dean, and our entire Nursing faculty and staff; their work is shaping our students into outstanding nursing professionals.
Deborah and I recently celebrated the strength of another academic program: ULM’s 30-year partnership with Shue Yan University in Hong Kong, where more than 100 of our graduates have completed their MBAs and several of our faculty have taught. We attended the commencement ceremonies and met Hong Kong Secretary for Education, the honorable Michael Suen Ming-yeung, and Department of Business Administration Head and ULM alum Dr. Ricky Szeto. We discussed higher education, both in China and in the United States. We also talked about the possibilities of an undergraduate exchange program; I will apprise you of these details as they develop. Deborah and I also met with Beta Pharmaceuticals, a company that continues to support Dr. Paul Sylvester’s groundbreaking research into the link between breast cancer and vitamin E. This pharmaceutical company is extremely interested in Dr. Sylvester’s work, and we will continue to pursue this important resource. Please visit the photo gallery from our trip.
As you know, on Nov. 20, Governor Bobby Jindal signed an executive order establishing a limited hiring freeze for the executive branch of state government. While this ruling does not directly apply to institutions of higher education, the governor gave Louisiana’s governing boards, including the University of Louisiana System, individual authority to implement the appropriate actions necessary to adjust for falling state revenues. Instead of implementing a freeze, UL System President Dr. Randy Moffett asked our institutions to identify vacant positions and determine if they are critical to the mission of the universities. He charged us with preserving the academic mission while very closely controlling expenditures. Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Sally Clausen announced that the “excess” Go Grants and dual enrollment funds will be absorbed by individual institutions. The “excess” expenditures, which resulted from more students participating in both the Go Grants and dual enrollment classes than originally budgeted, is expected to be approximately $10 million dollars for all of higher education. While we do not yet know the true scope of how this will affect ULM, I can assure you that we are well-prepared to meet these challenges. Three years ago we created faculty and administrative budget committees to address these kinds of financial dilemmas. Under the direction of Provost Stephen Richters, the deans and budget committees have already been addressing these issues; they will ensure minimal interruptions to our academic progress.
Please be assured that our institution is equipped to tackle these financial challenges. I know the current economic climate can be stressful, but I urge you to enjoy this holiday season and to celebrate all of the progress we have enjoyed at ULM during the fall semester. These achievements, whether in the form of highly-qualified teachers, future nurses, or the development of life-saving drugs continue to shape our greater community. Thank you for your contributions.
As you know, more than 400 of our students will graduate on Saturday, Dec. 13. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. in Fant-Ewing Coliseum and Dr. Randy Moffett, president of the University of Louisiana System, will serve as ULM’s keynote speaker. I hope to see you there.
Deborah and I wish you a happy and peaceful holiday season.
James E. Cofer
President