Billboard Magazine calls The Savoy Family Band “an Acadian gem.”  The band made of Marc and Ann Savoy and their sons Joel and Wilson will perform at the Liberty Center downtown Eunice on February 28 at 6:30 p.m.

The event is part of the LSU Eunice Performing Arts Series.  Tickets are $5 for general admission into the theater.  Children 12 and under and LSU Eunice students are admitted for free. Tickets will be available at the door 45 minutes before the concert begins.

Legendary performer Marc Savoy plays the accordion & fiddle while his wife, Grammy nominee, Ann will play guitar and sing.  Joel will play fiddle while Wilson will sing and handle the keyboard/piano and the accordion.  The band demonstrates how Cajun must has evolved. Early French ballads have been added to the lineup to show other historic elements of early southwest Louisiana as they join in celebration of Louisiana's 200th anniversary of statehood.

“If there is such a thing as Cajun aristocracy, Marc and Ann Savoy must be its king and queen...the Savoy kids are just as brilliant as their parents already fully mature musicians in their twenties…Marc Savoy is...the finest Cajun accordion player of the era. He has impeccable taste, is creative without ever being affected, and plays as hot as anyone yet his playing always sounds very relaxed, as if he’s having the time of his life...Wilson Savoy is a powerhouse on the keyboard, whether it’s piano or accordion...and he’s also a terrific jazz pianist...Joel Savoy’s beautiful fiddling evokes the Balfa Brothers right down to the tone of the violin...Ann grounds the whole thing with her rock solid guitar playing...her vocals, always wonderful, sound better than ever,” said  The Old-Time Herald, a magazine dedicated to old-time music.

The event is partially funded through LSU Eunice Performing Arts’ Recycle for the Arts program and the university’s Campus Activities Board.  For information, call 457-1510.

-----

February 5, 2012

Play 4Kay is a week-long opportunity for a nation of teams to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for research on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. Since its inception in 2007, the Play 4Kay initiative has raised over $2 million to support women's cancer research. The official dates of the 2013 Play 4Kay campaign nationwide are Feb. 8-18, culminating with ESPN's Play 4Kay coverage on February 17 and 18.

The Lady Bengals' Play4Kay game will be on Feb. 9, when they host Baton Rouge Community College at 6 pm. Both teams will wear special shirts for the game, which will be available to purchase on game day, and donations will also be accepted for The Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

LSU Eunice supporters are encouraged to sign up and join the Lady Bengals' Play4Kay team by accessing this link. There, you can show your support and also can raise money or donate towards the team's overall donation that will go to the Play4Kay campaign and The Kay Yow Cancer Fund after the game.

"It's an honor for us to be able to participate in the Play4Kay campaign. This will be a great opportunity for us to raise some money for a great cause," LSU Eunice head coach Michael Bari said.

"This initiative hits home for me, as my wife had cancer and beat it. It will be a special day for us to honor those in the community," he added.

The Play4Kay campaign is organized by The Kay Yow Cancer Fund, who, in partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation, is a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause.

Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease.

With the creation of the Fund, Coach Yow hoped to raise money to further cutting-edge research conducted by the nation's top doctors and medical experts to allow more and more cancer patients to have access to experimental drugs and clinical trials. Since the majority of these research projects are privately funded, these researchers desperately need our support in order for them to continue to make strides in finding a cure for cancer.

Sponsorship opportunities for the Lady Bengals' Play4Kay game are still available by contacting LSU Eunice Sports Information Director Nick Phillips at sid@lsue.edu or by calling (337) 305-0133.

-----
February 5, 2013

Lots of questions continue to arise about important updates. All important dates for the Spring Semester and Summer Sessions can be found in the Academic Calendar.

Need to know when Spring Break is? It is in the calendar. Last Day of Class? It is in the calendar. What to know when Commencement will be? It is in the calendar.

The calendar can be found by following the Academic Calendar link under Current Students or the Academic tabs. You can also follow the direct link: www.lsue.edu/academiccalendar

Slam Poet Odd?Rod will perform at noon on Feb 22 in the South Commons of the Acadian Center as part of the Campus Activities Board's EmpowerU Information Fair. The Information Fair runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Slam poetry is spoken word poetry that is frequently politicized by drawing upon racial, economic and gender injustice as well as current events for subject manner. The public is invited to attend the presentation.

Odd?Rod is an author, recording artist and philanthropist raised in Jacksonville, Fla. His tumultuous childhood was a result of his mother's drug addiction and an absent father. School provided solace to Rod and he excelled academically. The death of his 16-year old brother, Eric, was a blow for 13-year old Rod, but provided him with motivation to succeed.

Rod received a full scholarship to the University of North Florida, where he earned a degree in graphic design with a concentration in multimedia. He took up poetry as an outlet for his troubles and continued the hobby at UNF while hosting Open Mic sessions for poets and artists. He uses his current moniker to stand apart from his peers as well as to show he's unafraid of begin considered odd. His conversational tone and use of plain English endeared him to his audiences, who were able to relate to his life's difficulties.

After graduating, Rod authored three poetry books: Simply Put, Simple Still and Visions Thru the P.O.O.R. (Poetry of Odd Rod). In 2006 he wrote "Dying Flowers," a poem used in a gun bounty campaign. He was commissioned to write and star in the "See it, Say it, Stop it" Crime Prevention Campaign commercials as well as the "Let's Do This" NFL promotional campaign starring Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis.

Rod began speaking at rehabilitation centers, churches and schools where he focused on what can be achieved through hard work and determination despite difficulties and obstacles. In 2007 he began to organize educational fundraisers to raise awareness of non-profit organizations and in doing so, founded Eric's Life, Inc. in honor of his late brother. In 2009 he became a children's book author and recording artist with the release of the book, Buddy and Bird and his CD, The Art of Plain English.

-----

February 11, 2013

Students expecting refunds from Financial Aid should start seeing information on their myLSUE accounts as Tuesday was the first official posting by the university. The process is one that raises the most questions around campus.

If the university owes a student funds because their aid is greater than tuition, here is what happens:

First the school must wait 14 class days to verify the enrollment of the student. This is to prevent loan runners: students who accept their aid, get their refunds, and never show up for classes. The 14-day wait allows the university to ensure that students are actually attending classes.

After the 14th day, financial aid begins processing and verifying that a student is attending class and is eligible for a refund. This process can take up to 1 to 2 weeks because of the large numbers of students that need to be checked. That leads to the first official posting of the semester, which many students should see on their myLSUE accounts. The first posting was Tuesday, February 19, 2013.

The posting includes a message on their myLSUE accounts displaying a listing of the type of aid posted, the amount of aid, and a time frame in which the students should get their refund check.

"The Business Office takes over and has to verify information as to addresses, the balance of aid is correct and so forth," said Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Donnie Thibodeaux. "Once that is finished, that information is then sent to LSU Baton Rouge. LSU Baton physically prints the checks for us."

The verification process by the Business Office can take 2-3 days due to the large number of students that need to be verified in the first posting.

Thibodeaux added that once checks are printed in Baton Rouge, they are then sent back to Eunice and a sorting process begins. Checks for students who owe the university or Bengal Village are pulled.
"Once a student is verified that they are cleared, a check will be mailed to the student," said Thibodeaux.

According to Thibodeaux and the Financial Aid Office, the address used to send a student's check is the address that the admissions office has on file for them.

Students will receive notification that the Business Office has a disbursement of their funds.

"That doesn't mean that the check is here," said Thibodeaux. "That means that we've actually requested the check. It takes a few more days from the time the disbursement is on their account to the time they receive their check."

The whole process can take up to 2 weeks, and then it begins again.

"If they did not get notice of disbursement on February 19th that means that [the Financial Aid Office] is working on processing their financial aid. The problem being one or two things. Either they were late applying for the financial aid through FAFSA or there is a problem with their financial aid in regards to verifying information."

That is why the University has several postings during the semester. If a student was not part of the first posting, Financial Aid will explain what prevented their funds from being including in the first round of refunds. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office at 550-1282.

-----
February 19, 2013

Career Month continues at LSU Eunice with a Career Expo to be held Wednesday, February 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This career expo will spotlight employers from the criminal justice, education and business technology fields.

Some of the companies in attendance will include Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office, Austin Texas Police Department, Chase Bank, Casa of St. Landry, Faith House, Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, Walgreens, and others. For a complete list, please see below.

Students are encourage to attend and visit with the vendors in their fields of interest.

List of companies in attendance:
1. Acadiana Works, Inc.
2. Acadia Parish Head Start
3. Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office
4. Allen Correctional Office
5. Austin Police Department
6. Bethel Christian Academy
7. Cameron Corporation
8. Casa of St. Landry
9. Chase Bank
10. Coushatta Casino Resort
11. Eunice Fire Department
12. Evangeline Downs Casino
13. Expro Americas, LLC
14. Faith House
15. LA Army National Guard
16. LA Camp Woodmen
17. LA DOTD
18. LA Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries
19. LOPA (LA Organ Procurement Agency)
20. LA State Fire Marshal Office
21. LA State Police
22. Opelousas Police Department
23. St. Landry Bank & Trust Company
24. St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office
25. Stage Stores, Inc.
26. U.S. Air Force
27. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
28. U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (ICE)
29. U.S. Secret Service
30. Walgreens
31. Wal-Mart
32. Whitney Bank (FKA Hancock Bank)

-----
February 26, 2013

The schedule of classes and the Registration Guides for spring intersession, summer, and fall are now online.

Early Registration ends May 9 for the spring intersession and classes begin May 13. Early Registration of the summer semesters continues through May 23 and classes begin June 3, depending on which session the student is registered. Fall early registration ends August 7 and classes begin August 26.

LSU Eunice will hold several orientations for new students prior to the beginning of the summer semester. Orientations on the LSU Eunice campus will be April 9, 12, 30 and May 28. For LSU Eunice students at LSU Alexandria, orientations will be May 29. Additional orientations are scheduled during the summer.

New students are required to attend an orientation session before they register for classes. Once they apply for admission, they will receive details about signing up for orientation.

To make the process more convenient for students, registration is now a part of orientation with all services centralized. Once students meet with their faculty advisers, they can also go online to enroll in courses through the myLSUE web-based registration system.

Students who have registered early for classes must pay their fees by the fee payment deadline or make arrangements with the university, in order to keep their schedule of classes after early registration ends. Please consult the Academic Bulletin for more specific dates and times.

REGISTRATION PRIORITY SCHEDULE
Registration begins March 18, 2013 using the schedule below based on the credit hours a student has earned PLUS the hours in which he or she is currently enrolled. Students can use myLSUE to check their transcripts to see how many credit hours they have earned. Students will not be permitted to register before their allotted time.

Monday - March 18
8:00 a.m. 90 hours
10:00 a.m. 75-89 hours
1:00 p.m. 64-74 hours

Tuesday - March 19
8:00 a.m. 55-63 hours
10:00 a.m. 50-54 hours
1:00 p.m. 45-49 hours

Wednesday - March 20
8:00 a.m. 38-44 hours
10:00 a.m. 32-37 hours
1:00 p.m. 27-31 hours

Thursday - March 21
8:00 a.m. 24-26 hours
10:00 a.m. 16-23 hours
1:00 p.m. 13-15 hours

Friday - March 22
8:00 a.m. 12 hours
10:00 a.m. 6-11 hours
12:00 p.m. 0-5 hours, as well as new, transfer, or re-entry students

LSU Eunice officials announced Transfer Day for Spring 2013 is Friday, March 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Acadian Center room 127. 

While the transfer day is set up for spring graduates, any student can meet with the transfer representatives from their prospective institutions to discuss the transfer process.

The following institutions have agreed to participate: LSU, University of Louisiana at Monroe, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Northwestern State, Southern, Grambling, Our Lady of the Lake College, LSU Alexandria, McNeese, Southeastern and Louisiana College. 

-----

March 19, 2012

LSU Eunice is offering two college financial aid workshops on Wednesday, Feb. 6 and Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. in the Acadian Center Room 127.

LSU Eunice officials will provide an overview of financial aid, answer questions about grants, loans, and works study jobs and offer assistance with the application process for federal financial aid to attend college.

Information provided is pertinent no matter where the student enrolls.

Please RSVP online at www.lsue.edu/finaidRSVP or by calling (337) 550-1374. Seating is limited.

-----

01/23/2013

BATON ROUGE - Two LSU Eunice baseball players have signed with, and will be playing for, the LSU Tigers next season.  Joey Bourgeois and Trey Watkins will be leaving the Bengals early to join Coach Paul Mainieri and the Tigers.

Bourgeois is a 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher who played at Lutcher High School.  He finished last season 12-2 and recorded a 5.90 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 15 games.

Watkins played at Destrehan and is a speedy outfielder who picked up 68 stolen bases in 2009.  He led the Bengals with a .418 average and hit six home runs.  He recorded 71 RBIs.

News Archives

EUNICE - Enrollment for the fall 2009 at Louisiana State University Eunice was up 9.9 percent over the fall of 2008, according to final regular fall semester enrollment figures released by the university's registrar's office.

Enrollment is 3,332 students, setting a record for the university's all time enrollment. The previous top enrollment record was 3,265 students set in fall 2003.

"We are excited and pleased with our campus' nearly ten percent enrollment increase," said LSU Eunice Chancellor William Nunez. "It serves to underscore the respect and quality which LSU Eunice has accrued over its 43 year history and the fact that people realize the fact that ‘success starts here' at LSUE."

Students from 57 parishes are enrolled in LSU Eunice classes, including off-campus classes. Parishes with 20 or more students attending LSU Eunice this fall are St. Landry, 873; Acadia, 610; Evangeline, 397; Lafayette, 342; Rapides, 290; Vermilion, 130; Jeff Davis, 98; Iberia, 89; Allen, 81; St. Martin, 70; Avoyelles, 52; Calcasieu, 38; East Baton Rouge, 33; and 230 students from out of state.

"This significant enrollment increase comes, however, at a time when LSU Eunice, along with all other higher education institutions are being challenged, fiscally, by the state of Louisiana's huge budget deficit - a situation which cannot continue if the state expects to prepare its citizens for the jobs of knowledge," said Nunez.

Louisiana State University Eunice is proud that so many valedictorians from the Class of 2009 chose to start their college experience at the university.  LSU Eunice is home to all valedictorians from Acadia Parish public schools. More than 80 percent of TOPS Honors recipients attending two-year schools choose LSU Eunice.

Pictured are Acadia Parish Valedictorians Reille Trahan, Crowley High School; Britany Cormier, Rayne High School; Courtney Thibodeaux, Rayne High School; Nicholas Thevenet, Rayne High School; Braylon Cormier, Iota High School; Brittany Guidry, Church Point High School; Hollie Blanchard, Midland High School; and Hannah Comeaux, Church Point High School. Not pictured is Rayne's Victoria Simar.

The pair, fresh off their Black Pot Festival performance, will present music from the isolated region of Tierra Caliente, Mexico.

Tierra Caliente was home to genius violinist Juan Reynoso. Anastasio, who studied with Juan for more than 10 years and transcribed his over 500 piece repertoir; and Pilione, a student of Juan's for 5 years, present the diverse forms of the music known as Calentano.

Some of the pieces played in the region they call Tierra Caliente are known throughout Mexico, but most are part of an exclusively regional repertoire. Musicologists are most familiar with the region's sones and gustos, two styles of 6/8 dance music, but musicians there also play waltzes, pasodobles, foxtrots, boleros, danzones, tangos, marches, polkas, swing pieces and minuets.

The event is free to LSU Eunice students, $4.00 general audiences, and $3.00 children. Tickets may be purchased at the LSU Eunice Business Office located in the Science Building on the campus or at the door.

Upcoming in November
At noon on November 2, the Performing Arts Series will host Ken Waldman, a poet and fiddle player who will offer his experiences about writing and publishing. He will also present his original music, stories and poetry. Waldman's presentation will be held in Room 127 of the Acadian Center on the LSU Eunice campus.

For additional information, please call 337-457-1510, or see www.lsue.edu/ performing_arts .

The schedule of classes and the Spring 2010 Academic Bulletin, which contains important registration dates and policies, are now online.

Early Registration ends December 14 and Regular Registration begins December 15 and runs through January 14. Weekday classes begin January 19.

LSU Eunice will hold several orientations for new students prior to the beginning of the spring semester. Orientations on the LSU Eunice campus will be November 10, December 3, and January 7. For LSU Eunice students at LSU Alexandria, orientations will be December 10 and January 13. Orientations for LSUE students enrolled at the Learning Center for Rapides Parish will be held December 1 and January 11.

New students are required to attend an orientation session before they register for classes. Once they apply for admission, they will receive details about signing up for orientation.

To make the process more convenient for students, registration is now a part of orientation with all services centralized. Once students meet with their faculty advisers, they can also go online to enroll in courses through the myLSUE web-based registration system.

Students who have registered early for classes must pay their fees by December 14 or their class schedules will be cancelled and they will have to re-enroll in classes. Students who register during regular registration have until January 14 to pay for their classes.

Please consult the Academic Bulletin for more specific dates and times.

=====
Related Links

Academic Bulletin
Academic Calendar
Schedule of Classes
Orientation

LSU Eunice will provide free distribution of the H1N1 vaccine to its students and employees. The university has a limited supply of vaccine in nasal spray form which is intended for relatively healthy individuals up to age. 49.

All vaccinations will take place at the University Health Clinic, Acadian Center, Room 113 under the direction of medical director, Dr. Brian Heinen, and supported by LSU Eunice nursing faculty volunteers.

The limited supply of vaccines required that we prioritize students and employees on campus. These groups were determined using guidelines recommended by the Center for Disease Control, the Louisiana Office of Public Health and the LSU Eunice Health Committee. Vaccines will be given on a first come, first served basis within each priority group listed below.

Priority Group 1 (Limit 100 doses)
Nursing & Allied Health Faculty • Nursing & Allied Health Clinical Students
Monday, November 9 (due to clinical schedules, moved to second week of vaccinations)
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Priority Group 2 (Limit 200 doses)
Student Athletes & Coaches • Bengal Village Residents & Staff
Tuesday, November 3
8:00 am - 12 noon

Priority Group 3 (Limit 200 doses)
All other Faculty • All other Students & Staff
Wednesday, November 4
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Priority Group 4 (normal clinic hours resume; pending availability, vaccinations will also be given)
Remaining students and employees
Tuesday, November 10
10:00 am - 12 noon

The H1N1 Nasal Spray form of the vaccine should NOT be given to individuals who are...
• Allergic to eggs
• Over 49 years of age
• Pregnant or have asthma, diabetes, heart disease or other chronic medical conditions (anyone in this category MUST provide written authorization from your physician if you wish to take this vaccine)

Any questions about the vaccinations can be directed to the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services in Room 112 of the Acadian Center or by calling 337-550-1217.

=====
Related Links:
Information about the Nasal Spray from the CDC
Flu.gov

The award is given to a public servant who advances the cause of developmental education in the state. Fowler currently serves as the Director of Developmental Education and the Pathways to Success Program at LSU Eunice.

Pathways to Success was initiated by a campus wide committee that looked at ways to help students who enroll at LSU Eunice and are lacking skills needed to succeed in college. The program includes several courses to bring their academic skills up to the college level combined with extensive advising, mandatory tutoring and strictly enforced policies on class attendance.

"The Pathways program is really for the students and institutional data indicates that students are succeeding at higher levels and staying in college longer," said Fowler. "Several of our students have graduated with an Associate's Degree in Nursing, Business, and Office Information Systems since the Pathways program began in 2004."

Fowler has presented on the uniqueness of the Pathways program at state, regional, national, and international conferences.

Dr. Fowler thanked the association along with the faculty, staff, and other administrators at LSU Eunice for working together as a team to help underprepared students succeed in a university setting.

The program won a national award in late 2008 when it was named as a national Outstanding Institutional Advising Program in 2008 - one of three in the nation. Interested parents or students may contact Dr. Fowler at 337-550-1433.