Academic Outreach

The Division of Academic Outreach Programs is a division of the Office of Sciences and Liberal Arts and is comprised of four departments: Distance Learning, Dual Enrollment, Off-Campus Satellite Program, and Weekend and Evening Programs.

Department of Distance Learning

The Department of Distance Learning is responsible for electronic education at Southern University at Shreveport. In addition to the flexible learning environment, the department offers online courses, which convert the older classrooms into new, "smart" learning spaces. The "world-as-a-classroom" will take students on virtual trips to programs in allied health, computer science, mathematics, business, science and even foreign languages. The department also offers another form of electronic education in compressed video courses. In this wireless distance classroom environment, students and instructors, separated by distance, are electronically linked by cutting edge audio/video technology. The trend of these specialized videoconferencing-equipped classrooms is to allow students and instructors to communicate naturally in a "face-to-face extended wall" environment. The department will offer off-campus classes to several Caddo, DeSoto and Webster Parish high schools. Another form of electronic education available through the department is a web-enhanced component added to traditional classroom courses. Students accessing these courses via the Blackboard Learning System, will be able to retrieve supplementary lecture notes, course materials, slides and other course documents, assignments, tests and exams.

The Blackboard Learning System is a Web-based server software platform that offers academic course enhancement, management and communications. SUSLA faculty utilize Blackboard to provide an enhanced learning environment that includes online course content such as:

• Online announcements
• Storage of course documents (syllabus, readings, etc.)
• Electronic submission of assignments.
• Online quizzes and surveys
• Online grades viewable by individual students in a secure environment
• Online threaded discussion (asynchronous)
• Online chat (synchronous)
• Online course calendar
• Group work areas for student team projects (includes group chat, discussion, file sharing)
• Email (to groups, individuals or entire class)
• Instructor-definable links

Instructors and students can access materials at any time from any computer with an Internet connection. SUSLA's Blackboard Learning System is accessed by logging on to the SUSLA web page at www.susla.edu and clicking the Blackboard link.

Telecourses in subjects such as English, History, Psychology and Sociology are available through the Louisiana Public Broadcasting Adult Learning Service. Future e-education offerings will include a campus-wide wireless network where students can use laptops and personal digital assistants (PDAs) on and around campus to access the SUSLA network.

Department of Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment provides students an early start toward earning a college degree while concurrently enrolled in high school. It allows students to make a smooth transition from one educational level to another without experiencing delays, duplication of course work, or loss of credit.

The Dual Enrollment program shall be restricted to the enrollment of an eligible secondary student in a postsecondary course creditable towards a certificate or an associate degree. Students can earn one-half Carnegie unit per course toward a high school diploma and three hours of college credit per course at Southern University at Shreveport. Students enrolled in postsecondary instruction that is not creditable toward a high school diploma shall not be classified as dual enrollment.

However, this dual enrollment agreement will not prohibit enrollment of students in SUSLA courses separate from this agreement. Credit hours earned are transferable to any accredited institution of higher education in the country.

Student Eligibility

• Students who are eligible for dual enrollment must meet the current enrollment requirements for both institutions and:
• Have a minimum of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for a cumulative grade point average;
• Be classified as a junior or senior in good standing, and have 12 or more Carnegie units;
• Meet the admission requirements of Southern University at Shreveport;
• Provide acceptable results on the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT);
• Pay the current dual enrollment tuition rate ($100.00 per course), a $5.00 one time application fee; and
• Maintain a "C" or better average and remain in good standing in every class to remain in the Dual Enrollment program.

Department of Off-Campus Satellite Program

This educational initiative is designed to institute course offerings at off-campus sites in the University's service area. This measure is intended to facilitate the enrollment of students who otherwise are unable to travel to any of the existing campus centers to attend classes. A need for this service exists at the current off-campus sites and several other locales at which SUSLA has yet to establish sites. Among them are Alexandria (Rapides Parish), Vivian Magnet High School (Caddo Parish), Mansfield Multi-Cultural Center (DeSoto Parish), Caddo Career Center (Caddo Parish), Webster Parish Alternative Center and Cotton Valley High School (Webster Parish), Jonesboro Hodge High School (Jackson Parish), and Natchitoches (Natchitoches Parish).

Department of Weekend and Evening Programs

The Weekend and Evening Department is responsible for the coordination of all evening and weekend instructional activities. The Director works in close collaboration with the Division Chairs in identifying courses to be offered in the weekend and evening programs

The Weekend and Evening Programs provide an opportunity for students to pursue their educational goals during the evening hours and on the weekend. Anyone whose family or job responsibilities make it difficult to attend regular classes during the week is a perfect candidate for the Weekend and Evening Program. Students can earn an Associate's degree in two years and/or certificates by attending class only on Friday nights, Saturdays and/or Sundays.

Students who wish to enroll in the Weekend and Evening programs should be willing to make a commitment to attend each scheduled class. Missing even one class in the Weekend or Evening Programs can make it very difficult to make up missed work.

Educational Support Services including library, tutoring, computer labs and a writing center are available for evening students. Student services, such as guidance and counseling, financial aid, career and job placement are also available through extended service hours. These services are designed to assist students in achieving their educational and professional goals.

General Education Courses in the Arts and Sciences are offered for students desiring to complete an Associate's Degree and transfer to a 4-year institution for a Baccalaureate degree. Developmental courses that improve the basic skills of students whose academic foundation needs strengthening are available. Applied Science and technical programs designed to prepare students for employment and updating their technical skills are available as well.

Weekend Cohort Program
A special Weekend Cohort Program is available for the following Degree Programs:

• Associate of Arts- Business Administration
• Associate of Arts in General Studies

Students who elect to enroll in the Cohort program will matriculate through their course of study as a member of a learning community. The learning community concept has proven successful in helping adult learners achieve their educational goals.

 

For more information, contact

Gwendolyn C. Lewis
Division Chair
Barnes Administration Building, Room A-50
318.670.6461

Marie Edwards
Humanities/Academic Outreach Administrative Assistant
Barnes Administration Building, Room A-49
318.670.6466

Dr. Ilko Iliev
Department of Distance Learning Chairman
Collier Hall, Room 121
318.670.6356

Saundra Bigham
Associate Coordinator of Dual Enrollment
Fine Arts Building, Room C-21
318.670.6384

Fred Moss, IV
Coordinator of Instructional Technology Services
Stone Lecture Hall, Room B-02
318.670.6382

3050 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Shreveport, LA 71107