The award recognizes excellence in a developmental education program. NADE evaluates programs based on quality of service to students and if the program demonstrates effectiveness through achievement of objective criteria.
"LSU Eunice is both excited and pleased with its recent receipt of the National Association for Developmental Education John Champaign Memorial Award for its Pathways to Success Program-recognizing it as one of the nation's top developmental education programs," said LSU Eunice Chancellor Dr. William Nunez.
Unique to LSU Eunice, the program targets incoming freshmen who have no ACT scores or have an ACT composite of 15 or less.
"These students typically need developmental education coursework in math, English, reading, and sciences prior to enrolling in for-credit college courses," said Fowler. "In fall 2009, this accounted for 27% of the new first time freshmen enrolled at LSU Eunice."
In addition to the coursework, the program requires student attendance in class, tutoring, and academic advising to help students stay on track during their first year of study.
"The Pathways to Success Program demonstrates how effective and even exemplary a comprehensive developmental education program can be when it has good leadership, as in the case of our program director Dr. Paul Fowler; employs best practices; holds high expectations of its participants; and has committed and motivated teachers, administrators, and students," said Nunez.
Since the program's implementation, LSU Eunice has seen double digits increases in student success and retention and currently has five former Pathways students enrolled in the university's nursing program.
Pathways to Success is no stranger to awards. It was named an Outstanding Institutional Advising Program in 2008 by a different national organization - The National Academic Advising Association.
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Pathways to Success