PROGRAMS OF PRIDE
On April 25, the Steering Committee met for its final session prior to submitting its report to President Simmons. The main purpose of the meeting was to consider and vote upon programs, previously nominated by committee members, for the category Programs of Pride. This category emerged from deliberations at the February 18 retreat. A consensus emerged at that time that a third category of distinction was needed for distinguished programs that, for various reason or another, were not selected as Programs of National Excellence or Programs Targeted for Enhancement. Some were not recommended for funding enhancement in the context of this report because they are funded in different ways from the other programs. Programs of pride are distinguished programs recognized for their excellent achievements and service, and for their contributions to the honor and reputation of Lamar University.
Operating under previously established rules, the committee heard a final report on each of twelve programs, and then voted on them by secret ballot, with proxy votes allowed. A two-thirds majority was required for approval. The following representatives addressed the Steering Committee and spoke for the programs nominated: (1) The visual and performing arts, Prof. Lynn Lokensgaard, (2) The Center for Executive Leadership, Dean Carl Westerfield, (3) the University Honors Program, Prof. Valentin Andreev, (4) the programs for "at-risk" Students at the Center for General Studies, Prof. Valentin Andreev, (5) The Texas Academy for Leadership in the Humanities, Prof. Valentin Andreev, (6) The Community Outreach Program, Prof. Valentin Adreev, (7) the Pre-professional Program, Interim Library Director Linda Dugger, (8) The Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, Prof. Valentin Andreev, (9) the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, Prof. Cynthia Barnes, (10) The Small Business Development Center, Prof. Cynthia Barnes, (11) The College of Engineering and Environmental Research Centers, Dean Jack Hopper, (12) The Philosophy of Knowledge Core Curriculum, Prof. Bruce Drury.
From these programs, the following seven were chosen by vote of the committee. A brief rationale for recommending each of these programs follows. The Visual and Performing Arts. The visual and performing arts areas provide the campus with an academic window to the community. It is through this window that the community gets a first-hand look at the quality of the programs that are offered on the campus. The arts on the Lamar Campus have exemplified programmatic quality that extends to all of the colleges and provide the community with a view of the campus that they can assess and measure. The College of Fine Arts and Communication is particularly proud of the endowed Walles Chair in Visual and Performing Arts, held from its inception by the internationally acclaimed photographer, Prof. Keith Carter, and the excellent Dishman Art Gallery awarded a commendation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1998. The performing arts have also enhanced the quality of life on the campus and in the community through performances that are brought to the community and those which the community comes to campus to see. The music program has maintained a “Good Standing” accreditation with the National Association of Music. Theater faculty and students are active with the Texas Educational Theatre Association and have received some of its highest honors. The faculty have also hosted and held offices in the Kennedy Center Association College Theatre Festival.
The Center for Executive Leadership. The Center for Executive Leadership has offered advanced leadership development for Texas Superintendents for nine years. This unique program has been funded by a $500,000 grant, per biennium, from the Texas Education Agency. Total fund raising for the program comes to $2.25 million. Attendance is by nomination, and admission is highly competitive. Only practicing superintendents are eligible to attend. While most participants are from Texas, school leaders from other state have also attended. More than 300 Texas Superintendents from across the state have graduated from the program. Considering that Texas has 1,100 school districts, this program has had a statewide impact and has gained a reputation as a high quality program. The Principals Academy provides campus leaders an opportunity to develop their skills and abilities. Approximately, 150 principals have attended the academy.
The programs for “at-risk” students at the Center for General Studies. Currently 1 in 8 students at Lamar University attends these programs. These programs will improve our graduation rates and will contribute to the goals established in Closing the Gaps. The Monitored Probation Early Intervention Program (MPEIP) has received the Star Award, indicating its prominence at the state level, and Dr. Hunt is now receiving invitations from universities across the state to make presentations about this program. The MPEIP is one element of an integrated system of mechanisms for addressing the needs of "at-risk" students and thus fulfilling the goals of Closing the Gaps.
The Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities. This is the only leadership in the humanities program in the country in which high school juniors and seniors are enrolled in college classes in a residential program on a college campus. The success of the program is seen in the success of the students, especially their performance as gauged by the NMSQT, the SAT, their Lamar GPAs and their ability to gain acceptance into the colleges of their choice after completing their high school requirements in TALH. This program enhances Lamar's academic reputation, especially among secondary educators, and gives visibility to Lamar academic programs in areas of the state and nation where we do not recruit heavily.
Pre-Professional Program. The Pre-professional Program is an outstanding success story in Arts and Sciences. Currently more than 250 students are enrolled in pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-veterinary and pre-optometry tracks which provide them with the course work and experiences needed for acceptance into professional schools. Nine pre-professional advisors guide students through their undergraduate careers and help them their applications to medical school. Most of these students earn B.S. degrees in biology, chemistry or psychology. For those who successfully complete the curriculum, the high quality of the pre-professional program experience is verified by an 80% acceptance rate for our pre-medical and pre-dental students who applied for entrance to professional schools during the past three years.
Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. The Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies (IES) is a newly created center at Lamar University with a two-fold mission. First, the Institute is cultivating a network of investors, mentors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs that will stimulate entrepreneurship in Southeast Texas. Achievements in this area include offering the FastTrac business planning course, the Business Idea Evaluator, which helps convert ideas into business concepts that can be launched as new enterprises, New Venture Forums, and individualized business consulting services. The second mission is to integrate entrepreneurship curriculum into the College of Business. The college currently offers two courses with Entrepreneurship in the title, and more are planned, aimed at giving students a broader, deeper, and up-to-date understanding of entrepreneurship, offered in a more dynamic and experiential fashion. In addition, a new concentration in Entrepreneurship has been approved. Beginning in Spring 2004, students will have the opportunity to graduate with a B.A. in General Business/Concentration in Entrepreneurship. IES has also begun an Entrepreneurship Lecture Series and created an $80,000, state-of-the-art Entrepreneurship Multimedia Training Classroom.
College of Engineering’s Environmental Research Centers.
Texas Hazardous Waste Research Center. The Texas Hazardous Waste Research Center (THWRC) was established as a hazardous substance center to conduct research on waste minimization and treatment. Members of the center include Lamar University, Texas A&M University, The University of Houston and The University of Texas. The Center has over a decade of experience in studying Gulf Coast environmental problems. The Center has been funded by annual grants from the State of Texas, industrial sources and other Federal and State Agencies. The THWRC has pursued and obtained over $10.0 million in funding since its inception. With this funding, it has awarded 150 research projects, trained approximately 180 graduate students and generated 300 publications.
Texas Air Research Center. The Texas Air Research Center (TARC) supports local, regional and national policy development on air pollution by an integrated environmental air research program which provides a sound basis for actions to improve air quality. The range of research carried out by the TARC members (Lamar, Texas A&M, The University of Houston and The University of Texas) focuses on local and regional issues, and is coordinated with national programs. Funding has been from the State, industries and various State and Federal agencies. The TARC has obtained over $3 million in funding since its inception in 2000. The Center has funded 43 air research projects which have led to the training of 45 graduate students.
Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center. The Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (GCHSRC) conducts research, evaluation, testing, development and demonstration of alternative technologies which may be used in response actions or in the normal handling of hazardous waste to achieve better protection of human health and environment. Members of the GCHSRC include nine universities (Lamar, The University of Houston, Rice University, Texas A&M, The University of Texas, LSU, Mississippi State University, The University of Alabama and The University of Central Florida). The Center has obtained over $32 million in Federal and industry funding since its inception, has funded 388 research projects, has trained 466 graduate students and has generated 776 publications.
