In This Issue:

• CALL Milestones
• Two of NSU's 35 Spring 2009 Graduates Spotlighted
• Registered Nurses Go Online At Southeastern To Gain Degree

---

CALL Milestones

LOUISIANA – The Spring 2009 semester ended almost one month ago, but staff at CALL member institutions do not slow down. In the early part of the summer months, CALL has been busy with new projects and plans for the upcoming school year, while looking forward to welcoming Summer 2009 Graduates to our growing list of Louisiana residents who have returned to college and earned an Associate or Bachelor’s degree. Remember this number – 150! That is the total number of CALL graduates within 4 semesters. 105 Bachelor Degrees and 45 Associate Degrees have been earned through the CALL program at 6 colleges and universities statewide. Graduates have come from all walks of life, in all corners of the state. Some have sought job advancement, others looked at their degree as a personal challenge, and some used it to become better role models for their children. “150 new graduates is a huge achievement for a program that has only been offering classes for six semesters,” said Luke Dowden, CALL Executive Director. “What this proves is that given the chance, adults will come back to school and earn the degree they always wanted. They just have to know that the opportunity is there, and that’s our job.” CALL Report: Investing in Louisiana Adult Learners The Center for Adult Learning in Louisiana, or CALL, has spent 3 years working with 6 public postsecondary college and universities developing and launching accelerated online degree programs to increase educational attainment in Louisiana. Through its work, CALL has connected with national organizations, including the Commission on Accelerated Programs (CAP) and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), as well as national experts to bring high quality education to adults in the context that they want it. With contributions from national experts, CALL member institutions, and Louisiana adult learners, CALL has released a statewide report, Investing in Louisiana Adult Learners. The report is available at CALL’s Web site – http://www.yourcallla.org/files/CALLBOOKLETweb.pdf. The conclusion of the report provides a small overview of CALL’s Strategic Plan, which was recently approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents, the sponsoring agency of CALL. The plan clearly states where CALL plans to go and how CALL can support a state that historically struggles in postsecondary educational attainment. CALL will continue to educate the state through reports, press releases and other ways of informing the public-at-large of the concerns and success of adult learning. CALL Marketing Campaign CALL’s Summer 2009 marketing campaign continues to get the word out there. Billboards can be seen across the state, and CALL has added a commercial to run statewide, as well as new links online including Youtube videos and a Facebook group page - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1247045118#/pages/Center-for-Adul... CALL will utilize other forms of social networking including Twitter and LinkedIn in the future. Please visit http://www.yourcallla.org for any new details.

For more information on CALL, go to http://www.yourcallla.org.

Two of NSU's 35 Spring 2009 Graduates Spotlighted

NATCHITOCHES – NATCHITOCHES – Amy Dye Noonan and Jonathan Posey found the right way for them to complete their college degree at Northwestern State University. Noonan and Posey, who are from Bossier City, were among 714 students receiving degrees at Northwestern this spring. They are among 35 students who finished their degree through the Center for Adult Learning in Louisiana (CALL), which allows working adults to access degree programs designed for them. The program lets adult learners take online courses set up to allow them to study at their convenience. CALL allows adult learners to submit portfolios for use in a Prior Learning Assessment. This assessment could lead to college credit for previous work and life experience. The program also features fast track classes to speed adult learners toward a degree. Information is available at www.yourcallla.org. Noonan earned a bachelor’s in general studies with a minor in social studies. She started in the fall of 2007 while working in the Bossier Parish District Attorney’s Office. “It’s been a long process,” she said. “Twenty years ago, my education was interrupted. I decided I wanted to go back once my youngest children got to junior high. I saw a story on television about CALL and saw I could work toward a degree and work at my job.” Posey, a production coordinator at Bossier Parish Community College, learned about CALL at work. “My boss told me about the program and what a wonderful opportunity it was,” said Posey. “Taking online classes was best for me. The program was better than I expected. I enjoyed being able to take classes on my own terms on my own time. It allowed me to balance work and family with education.” Noonan said it was difficult to balance her obligations at first, but she was able to establish a routine. “We have six teenagers and all of them are active,” said Noonan. “Fortunately, I had an established network of friends who supported me and my husband was great.” According to Noonan, the support network at NSU was the backbone of the program. She credited Director of the Division of General Studies in the University College Steve Hicks and Coordinator of Adult Education Initiatives Carl P. Henry with helping her on several occasions. “Somebody at Northwestern was always there to help me,” she said. “Steve Hicks and Mr. Henry kept me on track by making sure I took the classes I needed and answering questions at any time. It’s nice to know that people were looking out for me.” Noonan said graduating in May 2009 had special meaning to her. “It’s a pleasure to graduate from college the same year one of my children graduates from high school. It lets me set a good example,” said Noonan. Posey plans to enroll at Northwestern in the graduate program in adult education, which is available online. “I try to push my students to go all the way and I am going to keep going myself,” he said.

For more information on CALL, go to http://www.yourcallla.org.

Registered Nurses Go Online At Southeastern To Gain Degree

HAMMOND – Kathryne Champagne was looking for a way to get her bachelor’s degree in nursing while balancing a full-time job and her busy home life as a mother of three. A resident of West Monroe, who is employed as the director of nursing at Avalon Place, Champagne is currently enrolled in Southeastern Louisiana University’s online, accelerated degree program, and is taking the first course in her journey to completing a degree. Southeastern’s program is part of a statewide special adult learning initiative known as CALL – “Center for Adult Learning in Louisiana” and is sponsored by the Louisiana Board of Regents. The initiative targets adults who have some college credit but have never earned a baccalaureate degree. Initiated this year at Southeastern, the program allows registered nurses who hold diploma or associate degrees the opportunity to earn a bachelor of science degree without having to attend classes on campus. Champagne said she discovered the program while watching television and felt it was a good fit for her busy lifestyle and educational needs. CALL currently has 38 students taking nursing and other courses online at Southeastern, and five students received their degrees at the university’s spring commencement. More than 20 new students are expected to enroll next semester. “Our online RN to BS degree program is one more example of how Southeastern is working to address critical workforce needs in the region,” said President John L. Crain. “Louisiana has a considerable number of licensed, registered nurses who are graduates of diploma schools or two-year associate degree programs,” explained Jean Urick, who coordinates the Southeastern program. “Most are working full time, and it’s difficult for them to return to college to earn the bachelor’s degree, which is an important step in career advancement.” Urick explained that applicants to the program are individually assessed to determine which courses they need to earn the bachelor’s degree. Registered nurses can receive up to 30 nursing credit hours, and transfer credits may be awarded for any equivalent general education courses. The online courses are offered in accelerated eight or 15-week formats, allowing the nursing students complete a number of courses in a typical semester. “The courses are rigorous and require considerable attention and work,” she said. “Learning online is a different experience than a traditional classroom environment; but it requires the same discipline, dedication and time management skills needed in a classroom course.” A graduate of Louisiana Tech University with an associate degree in nursing, Champagne entered the program after realizing that her full-time job and children could not permit her to take courses on campus. My online class has been working out great,” she said. Additional information on the CALL nursing program can be obtained by contacting the Southeastern School of Nursing at 985-549-5288 or by going online at www.selu.edu/CALL.

For more information on CALL, go to http://www.yourcallla.org.