Southeastern NEWS
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
504-549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
Date: May 4, 2000
Contact: Rene Abadie 42
SOUTHEASTERN SELECTED SEMI-FINALIST IN NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE
AWARDS PROGRAM
HAMMOND Southeastern Louisiana University has been notified that the university is a
semifinalist in the Innovations in American Government Awards competition.
Southeastern's High School Development Cooperative is one of 96 semifinalists selected from
1,300
applicants nationwide for the prestigious award. Initiated in 1996, the Southeastern High School
Developmental Cooperative is designed to reduce the number of entering college freshman who
must
take remedial math and English, resulting in reduced costs and time to obtain a degree. The
program is
the only one in Louisiana selected a semifinalist.
The Innovations in American Government Award is sponsored by the Ford Foundation and
administered by Harvard University=s John F. Kennedy School of Government in partnership
with the
Council for Excellence in Government.
The Innovation awards program recognizes government initiatives that are judged to be
original
and effective. In September, 25 finalists will be named from the pool, with the top 10 programs
receiving a $100,000 award and the remaining 15 finalists receiving $20,000. The awards are
funded by
the Ford Foundation, which has made grants totaling $15.9 million since the Innovations
program began
in 1986.
The Southeastern program is now being offered at 14 schools in seven parishes, including
Ascension, Livingston, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington.
The courses are taught by high school teachers who have been prepared to incorporate
Southeastern=s
curriculum guidelines to better prepare students for college courses. Successful students can then
enter
directly into the freshman curriculum at SLU without having to take remedial courses.
The program has proven its effectiveness. Currently more than 75% of students in the math and
English
classes are exceeding the developmental requirements. The high schools are also
-MORE-
SOUTHEASTERN AWARD -- Add One
showing an increase in ACT scores of participating students, making more of these students
eligible for
the state=s Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).
The program was developed by Southeastern=s Department of Developmental Education in the
College of Basic Studies in response to a report by the Louisiana Department of Education
that
showed that one-half of high school graduates attending a state-supported college need at least
one
developmental course.
According to university estimates, over the past three years participating students saved nearly
$90,000 in tuition that would have had to be paid for college remedial courses. The university
estimates
that it saved an additional $40,000 in operating costs over the same period.
The university currently is discussing expansion of the program with school boards in other
parishes that are part of Southeastern=s region.
This marks the third major recognition of Southeastern's Developmental Cooperative program.
The program is one of 19 semifinalists in this year's American Council on Education's Academic
Excellence and Cost Management Awards Program; last year the program received a Grand Gold
Prize
from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Parishes and schools participating in the program are:
ASCENSION PARISH: East Ascension High
LIVINGSTON PARISH: Walker High
ST. CHARLES PARISH: Hahnville High, Destrehan High
ST. HELENA PARISH: St. Helena High
ST. TAMMANY PARISH: Mandeville High, St. Paul, St. Scholastica
TANGIPAHOA PARISH: Independence High, Amite High, Ponchatoula High, Hammond
High,
Northwood Preparatory Charter School
WASHINGTON PARISH: Franklinton High
-SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp00.htm