Administrative Officers of the Southern University System

RAY L. BELTON, PH.D. President and Secretary to the Board
JAMES H. AMMONS, PH.D. Executive Vice President
KATARA A. WILLIAMS, PH.D. Chief of Staff, Office of the President
FLANDUS McCLINTON, JR, MBA, CPA System Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs & Comptroller
ALFRED E. HARRELL, CFRE Executive Director, SU System Foundation
CORRINE BLACHE, J.D. General Counsel to the Office of the President
VLADMIR APPEANING, PH.D. System Vice President for Strategic Planning, Policy and Institutional Effectiveness
GABRIEL FAGBEYIRO, PH.D. Vice President, Information and Technology Management
ROBYN MERRICK, PH.D. Vice President for External Affairs

Administrative Officers, Baton Rouge Campus

RAY L. BELTON, PH.D. Chancellor
BIJOY K. SAHOO, PH.D. Interim Executive Vice Chancellor
BIJOY K. SAHOO, PH.D. Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
XXXXXXXXXXXXX Special Assistant to Executive Vice President/Executive Vice Chancellor
VLADMIR APPEANING, PH.D. Vice Chancellor for Academic Compliance and Institutional Effectiveness
JACQUELINE PREASTLY, PH.D. Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Success
C. FREDERICK WALTON, PH.D. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
BENJAMIN PUGH Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
MICHAEL STUBBLEFIELD, PH.D. Vice Chancellor for Research, Strategic Initiatives & Economic Development
ANTHONY T. JACKSON Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
DIANNA GILBERT-DEPRON University Registrar
RONNIE L. FOSTER Assistant Registrar
HUEY K. LAWSON, PH.D. Interim Director, Title III Programs
JANENE TATE Director of Communications

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Members, Baton Rouge Campus

OSWALD DAUVERGNE, PH.D. Faculty Senate President
RAO UPPU, PH.D. Interim Faculty Senate Vice President
DEIDRA ATKINS-BALL, PH.D. Secretary
SHERVIA TAYLOR, PH.D. Treasurer

Administrative Officers, SU Law Center

JOHN PIERRE Chancellor
TERRY HALL Vice Chancellor of Financial Affairs
DONALD NORTH Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
REGINA L. RAMSEY Vice Chancellor for Institutional Accountability & Accreditation
SHAWN D. VANCE Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
DEMETRIA GEORGE Associate Vice Chancellor for Financial Affairs
SHENEQUA GREY Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
LATA JOHNSON Associate Vice Chancellor for and Deputy CIO
CYNTHIA N. REED Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Support, Counseling and Bar Preparation
GREG SERGIENKO Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
PRENTICE WHITE Associate Vice Chancellor for Evening Division and Emerging Initiatives
ANGELA BRUNS-TURNER Director of Assessment Planning and Research
CALAUNDRA CLARKE Director of Financial Aid
MARLA DICKERSON Director of Continuing Legal Education
TANYA FREEMAN Director of Development
ANGELA GAINES Director of Facilities and Maintenance
PHEBE HUDERSON-POYDRAS Director of Library Services
JASMINE HUNTER Director of External Affairs
KERII LANDRY-THOMAS Director of Career Services and Title IX Coordinator
ANDREA LOVE Director of Admission and Recruitment
ROBBIN THOMAS Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund
LATONYA WRIGHT Interim Director of Records and Registration

Administrative Officers

Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

C. REUBEN WALKER, PH.D. Interim Chancellor-Dean
DAWN A. MELLION-PATIN, PH.D. Vice Chancellor for Extension and Outreach
ANDRA JOHNSON, PH.D. Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Development
VACANT POSITION Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Support Services/Associate Dean
C. RUBEN WALKER, PH.D. Associate VC for Strategic Initiatives, Auxiliary Services and External Engagements
VACANT POSITION Director of Finance
OSCAR UDOH, PH.D. Director of Grants and Facility Management
CHRISTOPHER J. ROGERS, SR. MA, MLIS Director of Technology Services
ALLISON JOHNSON Southern University System USDA 1890 Liaison

Disclaimer

Southern University and A&M College Undergraduate Catalog Online intends to reflect current academic policies, procedures, degree offerings, course descriptions, and other information pertinent to undergraduate study at Southern University. The university reserves the right to change or discontinue graduation requirements, department majors, individual courses, instructors, and all other aspects of university operations. In the event the university decides to make changes in curriculum, it will post these changes in this online catalog. Although this catalog was prepared on the basis of the best information available at the time, and the information is updated regularly, users are cautioned about the following:

  1. Editorial, clerical, and programming errors may have occurred in the publication of this website. Please contact the Office of Academic Affairs to report any errors or inconsistencies.
  2. There is a lag time between approved changes and their publication on this website.
  3. Students normally are entitled to graduate under the degree provisions of the catalog in effect at the time of their first completed semester of enrollment.

The University

Southern University and A&M College is a comprehensive institution offering four-year, graduate, professional, and doctoral degree programs. The University is part of the only Historically Black Land Grant University System in the United States. It offers bachelor’s degrees in 33 areas as well as 23 masters, five doctoral. An average of 6,500 students are enrolled each year at the Baton Rouge campus.

Organization

The Southern University System, is composed of campuses in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport, the Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and the Law Center, is managed by the Southern University Board of Supervisors. The president is the chief administrative officer for the Southern University System.

The chief administrative officer of Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge is the Chancellor. Reporting directly to the Chancellor are the Executive Vice Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, and the Vice Chancellor for Research and Strategic Initiatives.

The academic organization of the Baton Rouge campus consists of six degree-granting, academic colleges and schools--the College of Agriculture Family and Consumer Sciences, the College of Business, the Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Nursing and Allied Health, and College of Sciences and Engineering. Other components of the academic structure of the Baton Rouge campus include the School of Graduate Studies, the Dolores Margaret Richard (D. M. R.) Spikes Honors College, and International and Continuing Education. Also included in the organization are the divisions of Military Science (Army ROTC) and Naval Science (Naval ROTC), which includes the Marine Corps.

Location

The Baton Rouge campus is located on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section of the City of Baton Rouge. The city parish metropolitan area has a population of more than 800,000 and serves as a cultural, political, educational, and industrial center for South Louisiana. The campus encompasses 512 acres, with approximately 60 acres for agricultural instruction, research and outreach.

Mission Statement

The mission of Southern University and A&M College, an Historically Black, 1890 land- grant institution, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is to provide a student-focused teaching and learning environment that creates global leadership opportunities for a diverse student population where teaching, research, service, scholarly and creative expectations for students and faculty are achieved through the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs offered at the institution via different instructional modalities and via public service. (Adopted by Board of Supervisors August 24, 2018.)

Statement of Purpose

The Southern University and A&M College offers programs of study ranging from bachelor’s degrees to doctoral and professional degrees. Educational opportunities are provided for traditional and non- traditional students offering scholarly interaction among diverse people. The University is committed to a broad program of research, both basic and applied, and creative work to stimulate the faculty and students in a quest for knowledge and to aid society in resolving its scientific, technological, socioeconomic, and cultural problems.

Southern University renders service to the community through urban and rural programs and makes available educational, cultural, and developmental resources to enhance the quality of life. Adhering to the spirit ` function as an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, the University’s public service programs have assumed a prominent posture throughout the State of Louisiana, nationally, and internationally. Southern University views diversity as vital to the health of any educational enterprise. To support this philosophy, the University takes affirmative steps to maintain a multicultural faculty, staff, and student body. This diversity is achieved principally through assertive recruitment efforts and through multifaceted international programs.

The University seeks to recruit and maintain a faculty which through its preparation and scholarly activities exerts a profound effect on various institutions in the state, region, nation, and world. Beyond their traditional roles, faculty members perform distinguished services that complement and enhance both teaching and research initiatives and provide an additional mechanism for Southern University to serve the community at large.

The University develops and maintains a safe physical environment that is conducive to intellectual growth and development while operating in accordance with the highest standards of fiscal and administrative management. This environment is enhanced through the use of the most recent information technology, which offers the university community access to resources from throughout the world.

Accreditations

Southern University and A&M College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, SACSCOC, to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4501 for questions about the accreditation of Southern University and A&M College. The University’s civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 telephone: (410) 347-7700. The electronics engineering technology program is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 telephone: (410) 347-7700. Music programs in the Department of Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The Department of Mass Communications is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC). The Teacher Education Program is approved by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. The Department of Chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society. The Department of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The Division of Family and Consumer Sciences is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of the American Association and Family and Consumer Sciences. The Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Scientific Option and the Information Systems Option in the Department of Computer Science are accredited by the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology. The School of Nursing is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The College of Business is accredited by the AACSB International. The School of Law is approved by the American Bar Association. The Public Administration-Generalist program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. The Visual Arts program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and related Educational Programs (CACREP). The Rehabilitation Counseling program is accredited by the Council of Rehabilitation Education. The Speech-Language Pathology program is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Physical Facilities

The Southern University and A&M College campus is one of the most beautiful campuses in the South. Lake Kernan flows through the center of the campus and the Mississippi River forms its western boundary.

Since 1960, buildings containing more than 2,000,000 square feet of floor area have been constructed. These buildings include the F. G. Clark Activity Center, J. S. Clark Administration Building, E. N. Mayberry Dining Hall, Music Recital Hall, Band Building, John B. Cade Library, School of Nursing Building, Health Research Wing of Lee Hall, Rodney G. Higgins Hall for Social Science, Augustus C. Blanks Hall for Special Education and Psychology, Baranco-Hill Student Health Center, and the College of Engineering Building, P.B.S. Pinchback.

The Smith-Brown Memorial Union, a 66,200-square feet multipurpose building which serves as a major center for extracurricular activities, is known as the campus “living room.” The recently renovated Union features a food court with popular food outlets; barber and beauty shops; television rooms; 12 bowling lanes; a game room for billiards, video games, and quiet games; an art gallery; a browsing room; a ballroom, meeting and conference rooms; and a U.S. Post Office. The building also houses offices for student organizations.

The F. G. Clark Activity Center has accommodations for theater, athletic events, conferences, convocations, and recreational activities. The building houses the Athletic Department.

The J. S. Clark Administration Building houses the offices of the Southern University Board of Supervisors, the Southern University System officers, the President - Chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus, and other campus administrative officers.

E. N. Mayberry Dining Hall contains the Magnolia Room, the Cypress Room, and the Oak Room, which is for student dining. Dunn Cafeteria is located in the Freshman Complex.

John B. Cade Library

www.subr.edu/library

Dawn V. Kight, Dean

The John B. Cade Library is a progressive, evolving resource and information center with over one million volumes, four floors and a seating capacity of 1,400. As an essential pillar of education at the University, the library serves as an instructional unit, a learning space, and a virtual library. Library services and resources support student progression and completion, as well as all of the University’s strategic goals. The library has adapted to current demands by focusing its efforts on streamlining workflows, purchasing through consortial arrangements, selecting learning objects shared by other libraries, purchasing online tools that improve the user’s experience, assisting faculty with information literacy instruction, and making economical decisions on collecting print and digital resources.

The Library is also a member of the library consortium LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network which is comprised of academic libraries in Louisiana. Through its membership, the library is estimated to receive a 12 to 1 return on funds that are invested. LOUIS provides support in various ways including: professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, affordable learning support, access to numerous resources and services, as well as reciprocal borrowing privileges for our users with member libraries.

The Library has robust scholarly offerings, providing access to more than 40,000 full-text journal titles through research database subscriptions. These databases cover a range of academic disciplines and are available from the library’s website. The library also boasts rich and culturally diverse Special Collections with the Camille Shade African American Collection, Archives, and Music Listening. More than 200 computers are available throughout the Library for users. Laptops, Kindles, iPads, and other mobile devices are available for students to checkout. The Library Learning Resource Center and the new Information Technology Center are the two most heavily used areas of the Library which provide word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheet application software, Internet access, multimedia graphic workstations/scanners, color laser, B/W laser printers and access to other electronic resources and information. For technology innovations and especially the Electronic Reserve Library, the Library received the 1999 Imaging Solution of the Year Award in Document Imaging and Electronic Image Management, the 1999 Process Innovation Award in Education and a commendation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Board of Regents has recognized the Library for its innovations and access to technology during their accreditation visits. The Library has successfully obtained more than one million dollars’ worth of grants for technology improvements and renovated learning spaces.

The John B. Cade Library offers a host of services to the Southern University community. It is the focal point of the university where one can go to obtain various types of information ranging from reference services, access service, electronic resources, online databases, and the use of the World Wide Web/Internet. Some of the services include:

Online Catalog

SIRSI-Dynix – is an integrated online library system. Users are able to locate materials (books, journals, videos, etc.) owned by the Library and other libraries in the state.

Electronic Journals, Books, Guides

The Library offers electronic access to journals and books. Many journals provide full-text access. If full-text access is not available, students may request articles using the library’s Interlibrary Loan Service ILL). (see below) Library guides or LibGuides have been compiled by library liaisons for each discipline. LibGuides are a content management and information sharing system designed specifically for libraries. The platform allows for easy navigation through and instruction on core and relevant resources in a particular subject field, class, or assignment.

These guides contain reference resources that are pertinent for each specific discipline. These guides are available on the library’s website. (https://subr.libguides.com/)

Individual/Group Study Rooms/Silent Study Room

The Library offers both individual and group study rooms. Individual study rooms are equipped with a computer, desk and chairs. Web cameras also are available for checkout from the Ask Here Desk on the first floor. Group study rooms have large screen displays, computers, conference tables, web conferencing capabilities and white boards. A Silent Study Room was designed as a quiet place for students to work and study. It is an area established for users that desire to have no distractions.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

ILLiad – ILL is a means to obtain materials that the library does not have in the collection for graduate students and faculty. During the Spring 2020 semester, the library launched a new article retrieval service to supplement its ILL offerings. The Southern University Researchers Online Article Retrieval Service (SUROARS) allows the library to fulfill requested articles within 2 to 24 hours. Users can access the system from the library’s website (ILL).

Historical Statement

In 1879, P. B. S. Pinchback, T. T. Allain, T. B. Stamps, and Henry Demas sponsored the movement in the Louisiana State Constitutional Convention that resulted in the establishment in the City of New Orleans of an institution “for the education of persons of color.” This institution was chartered as Southern University in April, 1880, by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana. The State Legislature passed Act 87 in 1880 as a proper act of incorporation and governance of the Institution. Section 7 of this Act provided that this Board of Trustees “shall establish a faculty of arts and letters, which shall be competent to instruct in every branch of liberal education; and under the rules of, and in concurrence with the Board of Trustees, to graduate students and grant degrees pertaining to arts and letters on persons competent and deserving.”

On October 19, 1880, the Board of Trustees was organized under the Chairmanship of Dr. J. B. Wilkinson. A. Mercier was elected President of the Board; T. T. Allain, Vice President, and Edwin W. Fay, Secretary-Treasurer. Other members of the Board were: General Zebulon York, Washington Saunders, S. D. Stockman, I. N. Marks, A. R. Gourrier, and George Fayerweather.

The Board of Trustees elected A. R. Gourrier to serve as President of Southern University, but he resigned on February 14, 1881, before the University opened. The Board then elected George Fayerweather as Interim President. During this administration, the University was opened. Successive presidents were: the Reverend C. H. Thompson, Rector of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 1882-1883; the Reverend J. H. Harrison, a graduate of Vanderbilt University, 1883-1886; George W. Bathwell, 1886-1887; and H. A. Hill, 1887-1913.

On December 1, 1880, five individuals were bonded to establish the University Treasury. They were George Fayerweather, bonded for $10,000, and four residents of Feliciana Parish - Albert Mayer, D. J. Wedge, J. G. Kilbourne, and W. H. Piper - each bonded for $2,500. The trustees then purchased the building of the Hebrew Girls School, formerly the Israel Sinai Temple Synagogue, on Caliope Street, between St. Charles and Camp streets in New Orleans, as the site for the University. Southern University was opened on March 7, 1881, with 12 students. The University’s support was secured by a Constitutional provision, on February 6, 1882, which granted an annual State appropriation of $10,000. At the same time the Legislature reorganized the Board of Trustees with W.H. Chaffee, President; T. T. Allain, Vice President, and Charles Keever, Secretary Treasurer. By 1886, the University had outgrown its facilities and a State appropriation of $14,000 was used to purchase the square at Magazine and Soniat streets. Later, two classic Doric columned buildings were erected. In 1890, an Agricultural and Mechanical Department was established. In 1891, Southern University was recognized by the Federal Government as a Land Grant College under the Federal Act of 1890, known as the Second Morrill Act.

Legislative Act 118 of 1912 authorized the closing and sale of Southern University of New Orleans, and the reestablishment of the University on a new site. Act 118 also provided for the reorganization of the University with a new Board of Trustees to be appointed to four-year terms by the State Governor. This Act was validated by the Supreme Court on June 14, 1913. In July of 1913, the Board of Trustees elected Joseph Samuel Clark, President of Baton Rouge College and the Louisiana Colored Teachers Association, to serve as President of the “New” Southern University. In 1914, Southern University in New Orleans was closed by Legislative authorization. On March 9 of that same year, the “New” Southern University was opened in Scotlandville, Louisiana.

The Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1921 authorized the reorganization and expansion of Southern University; and Legislative Act 100 of 1922 provided that the University be reorganized under the control of the State Board of Education, effective immediately.

The State Constitution Convention of 1973 authorized a Board of Supervisors for Southern University. In 1977, the Southern University Board of Supervisors reorganized the system and Dr. Jesse N. Stone, was designated System President, with office and residence on the Baton Rouge campus. The chief administrative officer on each campus was designated Chancellor. They were Dr. Roosevelt Steptoe, Chancellor, Baton Rouge campus (1977-1982); Dr. Emmett W. Bashful, Chancellor, New Orleans campus (1977-1986), and Leonard Barnes, Chancellor, Shreveport campus (1977-1986).

On June 29, 1985, the Southern University Board of Supervisors changed the name of Southern University School of Law to the Southern University Law Center. Dr. B. K. Agnihotri was named Chancellor (1985-2000). Judge Freddie Pitcher served as Chancellor of the Southern University Law Center (2003-2015). John Pierre became Chancellor of the Southern University Law Center in March 2016.

Other System Presidents have been Dr. Joffre T. Whisenton, (1985-1988), Dr. Dolores R. Spikes (1988-1996), Dr. Leon Tarver II (1997-2005), Dr. Ralph Slaughter (2006-2009), Dr. Kassie Freeman (interim 2009). Dr. Ronald Mason Jr. became president July 2010.

Other Chancellors of the Baton Rouge campus have been Dr. James J. Prestage (1982-1985), Dr. Wesley McClure (1985-1988), Dr. Dolores R. Spikes, (interim 1988-1991), Dr. Marvin Yates (1991- 1998), Dr. Edward R. Jackson (1998-2008) and Dr. Kofi Lomotey (2009-2011). Dr. James Llorens served as Chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus (2011-2014). Flandus McClinton was named Acting Chancellor of Southern University Baton Rouge (2104-2015). Ray L. Belton became the new President and Chancellor of Southern University System and Baton Rouge Campus in June of 2015.

Cooperative and Dual Degree Programs

Southern University and Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge conduct cooperative programs. Additionally, the two universities have participated in programs involving students and faculty members, library usage, and research endeavors. Increased efforts in these regards were prompted by the Consent Decree of 1980 and the Settlement Agreement of 1994. The Consent Decree and the Settlement Agreement provided for augmentation and enrichment of educational programs in historically black colleges and universities in Louisiana. They further encouraged more cooperation between Southern University and LSU. Southern University and LSU offer a dual degree program in chemistry-chemical engineering. Cooperative programs in electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering are offered with Jackson State University in Mississippi and Xavier University of New Orleans.

Undergraduate Degrees Offered

College of Business

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Bachelor of Science in Finance

Bachelor of Science in Business Management

Bachelor of Science in Marketing

College of Agricultural, Family and Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Urban Forestry and Natural Resources

Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Science

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Bachelor of Science in Sociology

Bachelor of Science in Social Work

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

College of Humanities and Interdisciplinary Studies

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies

Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications

Bachelor of Arts in English

Bachelor of Arts in History

Bachelor of Music

College of Nursing and Allied Health

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services

Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology

Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Studies

College of Sciences and Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology (Not accepting new students effective Fall 2020)

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Student Responsibility

Each student is personally responsible for completing all requirements established for his/her degree by the University, college, and department. It is the student’s responsibility to learn these requirements. A student’s advisor or counselor may not assume that responsibility. Any substitution, waiver, or exemption from any established departmental or college requirement or academic standard may be made only with the recommendation of the student’s dean and approval of the executive vice chancellor and provost.