SUNO SPECIAL REPORTS
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University receives reaffirmation of SACS accreditation December 6, 2011
Southern University at New Orleans was officially informed that its accreditation was reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The announcement came during the closing ceremony at the SACSCOC annual meeting held in Orlando, Florida from December 3rd to 6th, confirming SUNO to be compliant with SACSCOC's Principles of Accreditation.
“This finding demonstrates SUNO's commitment to academic excellence and providing students with a high-quality education,” said Victor Ukpolo, Ph.D., SUNO’s chancellor. “SUNO and the entire Southern University System community are ecstatic about this accomplishment!”
“Satisfying all requirements for reaffirmation during a grueling three-year process, which includes the preparation of numerous reports covering every aspect of our operation and an on-site review by a team of reviewers appointed by SACSCOC, represents a testament to the perseverance and teamwork of our students, faculty, staff and administrators, many of whom are new to SUNO as of the past six years," added Ukpolo.
In addition to the compliance certification report, which demonstrated how SUNO met the core requirements, comprehensive standards, and Federal requirements of SACSCOC, the University was also required to submit a Quality Enhancement Plan. The plan outlines a long-term course of action for institutional improvement with special attention to student learning. SUNO's plan calls for an improvement in the technology available for online teaching and ensuring that students and faculty are competent in the use of technology applicable to online classes.
"As I recall assessing the devastation of our campus caused by Hurricane Katrina six years ago, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that our institution would attain reaffirmation meeting all standards in light of the devastation, even though I knew that we were up to the challenge,” said Ukpolo. “Our stakeholders are overwhelmed with joy in celebrating this moment in SUNO’s history.”
SUNO garners additional $20 million toward rebuilding September 7, 2011
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved additional project worksheets (PWs) totaling approximately$20 million toward the rebuilding of Southern University at New Orleans. The figure represents an addition to the original obligated or approved PWs that were determined to be $92 million ($64 million of which to be used towards permanent replacement of four new academic buildings) by the time of U.S Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s second visit to SUNO’s campus in August 2009, bringing the new total obligated amount for SUNO since the Storm to $112 million.
“It is good to see that FEMA has finally provided additional funding for permanent buildings on SUNO’s main campus and temporary structures on its Lake campus,” said U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. “In 2009, I visited the campus with Secretary Napolitano and last year, I sent a letter to FEMA requesting additional funding for these facilities. The funding approved by FEMA will help SUNO complete its recovery from Hurricane Katrina and allow it to maintain the outstanding reputation it has built up over the past half-century.”
Approximately $12 million of the new funding will be used to supplement the permanent construction of the four new academic buildings. The buildings include the Millie M. Charles School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development, Sciences, and Arts & Humanities buildings.
The remaining funds will assist the Louisiana Office of Facility Planning & Control (FP&C) to proceed with construction of new, temporary modular buildings on SUNO’s Lake Campus. The new modular facilities will replace the ones that FEMA constructed for SUNO’s use in 2006. As repairs to Park Campus buildings are completed, SUNO community members will transition from the modular buildings and occupy the permanent facilities.
“SUNO has worked closely with FEMA, FP&C and Senator Landrieu’s office for a very long time to reach this milestone on the road to the University’s full recovery. This bodes well for our recovery and rebuilding effort going forward,” said Victor Ukpolo, SUNO’s chancellor.
According to FEMA public assistance officer Eddie Williams, the funding awarded to SUNO will not be impacted by current immediate needs funding restrictions due to a designation of the monies being categorized as emergency work.
“We are one step closer to providing a more suitable short and long term situation for the students and faculty of SUNO,” said Williams. “We are currently working with the FP&C project manager to gather all invoices associated with this work so that it can be appropriately captured in the PWs. These projects represent the highest priorities of SUNO and Chancellor Ukpolo. As always, FEMA is committed to ensuring that SUNO’s recovery is fast-tracked where possible and that maximum latitude is provided to allow for an expeditious recovery process.”
Jerry Jones, assistant commissioner of FP&C, expressed thanks to FEMA for finalizing this agreement, and looks forward to seeing the University recover fully. “I hope that we can all stand together for the ribbon cutting and rededication and rebirth of the campus and the vital role it serves in this community as a safety net, higher education institution,” said Jones.
University ups the ante in technology May 23, 2011
Southern University at New Orleans announced that the campus will become 100 percent wireless and will implement cloud computing starting the Summer 2011 session. The University also announced that each incoming freshman who qualifies for the Louisiana Board of Regents regional minimum admission standards and without a personal laptop will have access to a laptop upon arrival. SUNO implemented selective admission criteria mandated by the Board of Regents in Fall 2010.
“Part of the focus of both our Strategic Plan as well as our Quality Enhancement Plan is to enhance SUNO’s technological resources, and this is a step in the right direction,” said Dr. Victor Ukpolo, the Chancellor of SUNO. “This is a big step in our providing SUNO students with a critical service. Considering that many of our students come from homes that are not wired with internet access, we believe that this is a down payment on their college success.”
Cloud computing has been heavily advertised across the nation recently. “Cloud computing is the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage and process data, rather than a local server or personal computer,” according to Edmond Cummings, Director of SUNO’s Information Technology Center.
“I love it,” said Eugenie Tobin, SUNO’s outgoing Student Government Association President. “It’s exciting to know that we’re providing this kind of technological access to incoming freshmen. I love the fact that we have this to offer students, and SUNO is still the most cost-effective college option in the state.”
The importance of SUNO’s technology strides cannot be emphasized enough, according to Chris Boudy, co-founder of NewOrleansTech.net and a 2008 graduate of SUNO. Boudy, who is a rising star on the New Orleans technology scene, estimates that possibly 30 to 40 per cent of homes in New Orleans do not have internet access. “Having a campus that’s 100% wi-fi and with cloud computing means students will be able to access Blackboard, do research, do homework, chat with fellow students, and communicate with professors much more conveniently. This in addition to freshmen having access to laptops is an awesome step for my alma mater and great particularly for the types of students that SUNO serves,” he said.
SUNO receives outstanding feedback on SACS accreditation visit May 9, 2011
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) held its on-site visit of Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) from March 2nd through 4th, 2011. The on-site committee report, which the University just received on Thursday, May 5th, indicates that SUNO is in compliance with all SACS standards with no recommendations for corrective action.
“I commend our team for a job well done in showing our commitment to academic excellence and accountability,” said Dr. Victor Ukpolo, the Chancellor of SUNO, who has served on SACS review teams. “To have complied with all 89 standards, including the core requirements, speaks volumes of our efforts at SUNO.”
The SACSCOC on-site report commented on the University’s hospitality, and noted that SUNO “has made a remarkable recovery since the Katrina disaster. A major commitment has been made to ensure that the quality of course offerings, the teaching/learning processes and students’ engagement in learning were sustained at a competitive level during the post-Katrina period.”
Dr. Ron Mason, the President of the Southern University System, expressed with satisfaction, “This is a remarkable feat. It is rare in higher education for any institution, even with all its facilities intact, to ‘pitch a perfect game’ by meeting all of the 89 SACS standards with no recommendations. Dr. Ukpolo and this team of administrators, faculty, staff and students deserve the highest commendation for attaining this achievement even while living with the severe devastation of Katrina.”
The findings of the visiting committee represent a preliminary assessment of the institution at this time, and final action on the report rests with the Commission on Colleges. The final reaffirmation confirmation is anticipated by the SACS Commission on Colleges in December. A copy of the entire report can be obtained from the institution.
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SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in Southern states and Latin America. Accreditation is a voluntary, independent review of an institution’s educational programs and its adherence to accepted academic standards. It determines an institution’s eligibility for participation in federal and other financial aid programs as well as the acceptance and transfer of college credits. Additionally, graduation from an accredited institution qualifies students for admission to graduate and professional schools.
