BPCC, LSUS help students gain that competitive edge
The decision to pursue higher education can provide opportunities into the everevolving world of work, especially in the Ark-La-Tex area. Bossier Parish Community College and Louisiana State University Shreveport are offering new and dynamic programs to give their students a competitive edge after graduation.
BPCC expanded its program development by focusing on employment sectors with the highest demand growths. They’ve added programs in the nursing and allied health eld, oil and gas technology, industrial technology, construction management, cyber security and engineering.
“We pride ourselves on offering the latest curriculum/coursework that aligns with what the needs are in the particular eld,” said Tracy McGill, director of public relations at BPCC. “All of our divisions meet regularly with advisory boards made up of local individuals in the particular elds, as well as individuals from four-year schools to keep our faculty and staff abreast of the latest needs in the particular areas.”
For those who take an interest in any of the emerging elds BPCC is targeting, the end result could prove to be academically and nancially rewarding.
“Students with interest in the particular elds [of] allied health, nursing, cyber security, oil and gas production technology or energy services would de nitely be ideal for those courses,” McGill said. “Students who graduate with an associate’s degree in these elds can look to make a starting salary of $50,000 and up.”
BPCC had its highest enrollment and largest graduating class in the school’s 46- year history for the fall 2012-spring 2013 semester. With numerous accreditations and certi cations awarded to their new programs, BPCC maintains its goal of helping its students achieve success. In doing so, they provide advising from the very beginning for any student interested in pursuing higher education.
“Meeting with someone in the particular division to discuss interests, goals and pre-enrollment information would be bene cial,” McGill said. “The BPCC Advising Center can assist prospective students with the educational planning. Scheduling a tour through our recruiting of ce would allow the student to visit campus rst-hand. Our online virtual tour [with guide] can also be a rst-step to visiting and seeing the campus.”
For those looking to complete a four-year university, LSUS also offers competitive degrees for their students.
“The bachelor of ne arts in digital arts is a new and distinctive program in the state,” said Dr. John Vassar, interim provost. “Although there are other excellent BFA degrees in the state, they are not in the digital eld. This ne arts degree prepares our graduates for working in the emerging artistic world of the 21st century by giving them the foundation of graphic design, animation and compositing.”
A new component to the university is the structure in which classes are being offered. The new schedule will allow students to allocate their time to fewer classes but at a quicker rate.
“We are introducing something called LSUS [A]ccelerated beginning in fall 2013,” said interim chancellor Dr. Paul Sisson. “This year, approximately 10 percent of our courses will be taught in the eight-week term format. This format is something that answers the call of an increasing number of students today – they are looking for classes delivered in a more focused and ef cient manner, and often prefer to concentrate on just two or possibly three classes at a time, instead of four or ve.”
In addition to their most popular undergraduate programs (in terms of enrollment) – biology, accounting and general studies – LSUS is expanding on its graduate programs as well. The master’s programs for business administration, liberal arts and counseling psychology have been the most sought after, but the university is now offering a new dynamic to their master’s of education.
“We have completely reformatted our [master’s in education] curriculum and instruction and are now offering it as a 100 percent online program in eightweek terms,” Sisson said. “This format is increasingly in demand by students today, who are looking for more exibility in the way they can earn degrees.”
In part of the LSUS Commitment Plan, which expands the degrees they offer by ve, the university is also partnering with LSU to provide the opportunity to earn ve LSU degrees at the Shreveport campus. Construction management, human resource education, sports administration, international studies and petroleum engineering will all be a part of the “LSU 2015” initiative.
The faculty at LSUS is dedicated to working closely with students, providing accessibility and rst-hand knowledge for anyone committed to higher education and completing their degree.
For more information on course offerings and advising at BPCC and LSUS, go to their websites at www.bpcc. edu and www.lsus.edu.
– Katie Ho
