Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           www.selu.edu/NewsEvents
    Date: 9/25/97
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  1

SOUTHEASTERN INCREASES ACCESS TO EDUCATION
     HAMMOND -- Thanks to the support of Rep. Jerry Thomas and other Florida Parish
legislators, Southeastern Louisiana University and the Washington Parish Public Transit Service
have teamed up to successfully win approval of the Department of Natural Resources to transport
students to preestablished locations between Washington Parish and Southeastern Louisiana
University.
        The plan calls for two 20 passenger vans to make round trips daily on class days and during
exams.  The starting date of the new service and other details still in the planning stage. 
        "Many of our well-established citizens in the area obtained their education because transport
service was available to us during the '60s and '70s. Budget cuts necessitated an end to this
service which presented a hardship to rural areas," Dr. Sally Clausen, Southeastern President,
said. "With the help of representatives and senators and the competent staff of DNR, the van
service was reinstated and we will have a chance to once again offer it to our citizens."
        "Creating an availability for higher education within our parish has always been a top
priority for me. Many of us rode the bus to Southeastern in the 1970s and there has been much
support to reinstate this service to our students," Rep. Thomas said. Thomas also commended
President Clausen for her support. "These monies will facilitate the beginning of this service;
however, our goal is for it to become self supporting." he said. "I fully expect this busy service to
be highly successful and beneficial to our students. It is a step in the right direction for
Washington Parish."
        Southeastern submitted a proposal to the Department of Natural Resources for
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ACCESS -- Add One
multiple-parish distance learning sites and for van service for Washington Parish. Distance
learning sites are planned for the parishes of Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Washington, Livingston,
Jefferson and St. John. Van service will be available in Washington Parish only. Bogalusa and
Franklinton will be proposed sites for distance learning centers in Washington Parish. This new
service has multiple advantages, Dr. Clausen said.
        "We will be able to reach new students of all ages and offer academic classes, workshops
and other adult and continuing education courses. This is a wonderful opportunity for life-long
learning," she said. "I want to express appreciation to the Washington Parish Public Transit
Service, the Department of Natural Resources and to Rep. Thomas and other Florida Parish
legislators for their support and vision. I want to especially thank the legislative members of the
Joint Committee on Federal Oil Overcharge Monies who voted for this project on Sept. 19. They
have opened access for new educational opportunities for many Louisiana citizens."
       
                                 - SLU -
         This press release is available on the World Wide Web:
          www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsm97.htm