Volume 65 Issue 1
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
www.southerndigest.com
THE BELTON ERA BEGINS.
“ I look forward to engaging more with students.”
Ray Belton assumes top post as Southern University’s First President-Chancellor Alliyah Moore/DIGEST
BY LAUREN JOHNSON DIGEST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
With the beginning of the 2015-16 academic year, Southern University welcomes newly elected President-Chancellor Ray L. Belton to the System and flagship campus. Obtaining the recently merged position as President of the S.U. System and Chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus, Belton expressed his gratitude. “It is a special honor, for the board to offer evidence of their confidence to fulfill the roles of both President and Chancellor, I’ve been very humble by the degree in which the faculty and staff have received me in these roles,” said Belton Being the first to obtain this new position, Belton plans to adequately fulfill both. “We are trying to shape an organizational
structure that will enable us to fulfill both positions,” said Belton. “Last month the Board authorized me to go forth and search for an Executive Vice President and I will ask that person to provide leadership over academic affairs, but as well to work and support me in day to day management of the baton rouge campus, allowing me to assume the critical position of President,” finished Belton. Currently facing decreases in enrollment, graduate and retention numbers, Belton, with 27 years of experience responded to the situation, saying, “I really look forward to a constant increase of numbers, which we have already begun to meet. We have already waived our out of state fees, and are taking a look at our policies.” Belton went on to say, “We welcome more students from across the nation and
internationally.” When asked of special techniques he would like to implement, Belton responded, “It’s a collective duty, and there is an opportunity for us to define some niches, and market those niches. I feel that it is critical to put the dollars and resources into establishing a healthy online presence for the university, I suspect while we know of the good things that are happening on our campus and in our system many others don’t,” said Belton. “I plan to meet with faculty and staff to take another look at the programs of studies, at a degree in which we can modify them, to provide greater access to working adults,” continued Belton. “I want the faculty to lend themselves to the students outside of the classroom and create an engaging relationship amongst the professors and the students outside the classroom,” said Belton.
Belton explained that he recently met with representatives that own downtown area facilities, to provide a presence for Southern. “Just last year SU argued for and was successful in being able to revise our mission statement, but what is most important is that we ensure that we have wrap around support services so that we can host students when they come to us and that’s where we are going to revisit.” With expectations of the upcoming semesters Belton shared his projections. “I see that going forth in the fall there is a mechanism to grow Southern and we are already going into the next year with an expected shortfall revenue, but we are not in position to cut anymore on the Baton Rouge campus, we have to grow our way out of this,
See NEW ERA page 3
BASF partners with Career Services for new media center BY LAQUENCIA PARKER DIGEST MANAGING EDITOR
The Southern University Career Services Center and BASF Corporation have partnered to bring SU students the BASF Media Center; a multi-purpose technology resource center. The project, budgeted at a total of 25,000 dollars, supports the idea that students placed in an environment with high expectations are more likely to excel academically and professionally. The purpose of the BASF Corporation is to “Create chemistry for a sustainable
future.” As the world’s leading producer a variety of chemicals, plastics, and performance products, crop protection products, along with oil and gas, their products contribute to conserving resources and improving quality of life worldwide. The BASF Media Center, located in 2064 Harris Hall, offers new technology that will enhance current services offered for professional development. The remotevirtual interviewing equipment housed in the media center will allow employers to interview potential employees regardless
of travel or time constraints. The center will also support and improve existing career development workshops, internship programs, leadership seminars, mock interviews, and group training sessions. “We are excited about the new media center, which has the latest technology to prepare our students for the workforce,” said Director of Career Services Tamara Montgomery. “BASF is a wonderful partner, and they are definitely making a difference in the lives of our students. BASF is not just another company, we consider them to be part of the SU family.”
Joshua Mcknight/DIGEST The newly implemented BASF Media Center, located in 2064 Harris Hall.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSIT Y AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA