Louisiana College News

Pineville, LA. … The Louisiana College Office of the Registrar announces fall enrollment at LC. Carolyn Dennis, Louisiana College Registrar said, “There are 1,870 students enrolled, which correlates to a 28% increase from last fall.” The total headcount includes approximately 300 first-time freshmen, 1,057 undergraduates and 813 graduate students.

“The growth that we are experiencing is a result of strong programs that fill a need in our community and our state,” explained Dr. Joe Aguillard, President of Louisiana College. “Our undergraduate programs continue to thrive and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree has doubled in size.”

There has been an increase of 89% in enrollment numbers over the last five years.

Total head count:

Fall 2006         987

Fall 2007         1,056

Fall 2008         1,096

Fall 2009         1,456

Fall 2010         1,870

The fall 2010 full-time equivalent (FTE) for undergraduate students is 1,025 and the (FTE) for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is 377. For a combined total of 1,402 (FTE).

“When the MAT program was created, everyone knew there was a need but we did not realize the overwhelming response that would take place,” explained Dr. Sonia Tinsley, Director of the MAT and Teacher Education Alternate Certification Honors (TEACH) programs. “Our program is so special because we tailor it to meet the needs of students who are already working full-time; many of them have families and other responsibilities. The LC MAT program gives these students the opportunity to further their education and receive a master’s degree without having to relocate their entire lives to a different city.” Tinsley goes on to say, “We currently have MAT students from across the state reaching from Shreveport to New Orleans and all points in between.”

For more information about the fall enrollment at LC contact the Office of College Communications at (318) 487-7194.

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Pineville, LA…Louisiana College mourns the death of long-time professor, Dr. George Hearn. Hearn retired in 2000 from LC after teaching 35 years at the college. He served as professor and chair of the psychology department and was well loved by students and colleagues alike. Hearn leaves behind a legacy of a lifetime love of learning.

Former student of Hearn, Larry Stuart, (BA in music, 1970) remembers Dr. Hearn as a “true inspiration”. Stuart noted, “As a struggling freshman in 1965, Dr. Hearn was an encourager and a true friend.  Without his encouragement, I may have never made it past that first year.  I owe him much. I mourn his passing, but I rejoice in his heavenly reward.”  

Services for Hearn will be held at 11a.m. on Saturday, September 18 at First Baptist Church, Pineville.  Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Park, Pineville.  Visitation with family will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hixson Brothers, Pineville and Saturday before the service at First Baptist Church.

Pineville, LA. … The Division of History and Political Science at Louisiana College will hold its Constitution Day Forum on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Granberry Conference Center on the campus of Louisiana College.

“Constitution Day needs to be celebrated each year because our founding fathers wanted us to remember the importance of having a written organic law. This framework of government has ensured success and prosperity unprecedented in history,” explained Dr. Henry O. Robertson, Department Chair of the History and Political Science Department and Associate Professor of History.

This year’s speaker is J. Michael Johnson, Esq., founding dean of the Louisiana College Judge Paul Pressler School of Law. Prior to accepting the position of dean, Johnson served as Senior Legal Counsel and national media spokesman for the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), the nation’s largest legal alliance of more than 1,700 attorneys and 300 organizations defending religious liberty.

Johnson has litigated and won high profile constitutional law cases in state and federal district and appellate courts nationwide. He was also a principal drafter of pro-family legislation for many states and municipalities and taught constitutional law seminars and continuing legal education courses around the country.

The Constitution Day Forum at Louisiana College is free and the community is invited to attend. For more information contact Dr. Henry Robertson at (318) 487-7102 or robertson@lacollege.edu

…  The Louisiana College Board of Trustees and President Joe Aguillard announced today that the Louisiana College Judge Paul Pressler School of Law will be located in Shreveport, Louisiana. In addition, the founding dean of the law school was also announced, J. Michael Johnson, Esq.

        “It is after much research, consideration and prayer that we have chosen Shreveport, Louisiana to be the home of the Louisiana College Judge Paul Pressler School of Law,” explained Dr. Joe Aguillard, President of Louisiana College. “Many factors influenced our decision including the expansive legal community in the Shreveport-Bossier area, a large supply of judges and lawyers to serve as adjuncts and the fact that this location will serve not only central Louisiana but the entire Ark-LA-Tex region.”

        Shreveport city leaders, members of the local judiciary, and the Shreveport Bar Association have all expressed enthusiastic support for the school. “The Shreveport Bar Association have long believed that a law school, much like our medical and nursing schools, is necessary to fully serve the educational needs of the citizens of north Louisiana,” said Roy S. Payne, President of the Shreveport Bar Association. “We also believe that the opportunities that these law students will have to work with our state and federal courts, and the many local lawyers who practice in them will greatly enhance the education of the students in the art of lawyering. At the same time the scholarly resources represented by the Louisiana Law School faculty, students and law library will allow our lawyers to better represent their clients.”

        At a recent Louisiana College Board of Trustees meeting J. Michael Johnson, Esq. was unanimously voted as the dean of the law school. Mr. Johnson is a nationally recognized constitutional law attorney who most recently served as Senior Legal Counsel, Allied Attorney Coach and national media spokesman for the Alliance Defense Fund. “Mike brings a wealth of energy, experience and expertise to the post of Dean, we know that Mike has the knowledge and enthusiasm to make the law school a success,” said, Aguillard.