Delgado Ranks Nationally

Delgado Community College ranked 14^th in the nation in the number of nursing associate degrees and 16^th in the nation in the number of allied health associate degrees awarded last year, according to analysis of U. S. Department of Education data, based on 2002-2003 academic year, published June 21 in the industry newspaper Community College Week.   The number of early childhood education associate degrees conferred is also noteworthy, ranking 29^th in the nation.  For the first time, Communication/Journalism was included in the listing, ranking 38^th in the nation for the number of associate degrees awarded.  In addition, Delgado ranked 31^st in the nation in the number of associate degrees awarded to African-Americans.   Delgado is one of the nation's oldest community colleges and the state's largest community college.

Legislature Appropriate Funds for Nursing and Allied Health Programs

Community and technical colleges were featured along with the state's four-year institutions as beneficiaries of recently passed legislative allocations for health care industry training, as announced on June 30 by Greater New Orleans, Inc. at a press conference held at their offices in New Orleans.  Press conference attendees included Senators Paulette Irons and Dianna Bajoie, GNO, Inc., CEO Mark Drennen, Metropolitan Area Hospital Council CEO Dr. Jack Finn, Board of Regents representative Larry Tremblay, Associate Commissioner, Delgado chancellor Dr. Alex Johnson, plus representatives from Tulane University Medical Center and others.

Cosey Named Dean of Student Affairs

Arnel Cosey was appointed Dean of Student Affairs for Delgado Community College at the Louisiana Community and Technical College System board meeting held in Baton Rouge on July 14.

Cosey began working at Delgado in July 1991 as a counselor in Project Independence. She then held positions as an academic advisor for the Business Studies (1996), director of the Veterans Upward Bound TRIO program (1996-1997), and director of the Advising, Retention and Counseling Center (1997-2003). 

As dean, she is responsible for the following departments: Admissions and Enrollment Services, Advising, Financial Aid, Registrar, Student Life, Testing and Assessment, in addition to two TRIO programs-Student Support Services and Veterans Upward Bound.

Cosey holds a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications (1985) and a Master of Arts in counseling (1990), both degrees from Xavier University.

Arnel Cosey,

Dean for Student Affairs

News Briefs

Delgado has entered into a partnership with the Independent Insurance Agents of Greater New Orleans to prepare individuals for employment as Insurance Customer Service Associates. The two-semester program includes four courses—the Overview of Insurance, Database, Insurance Office Simulation and Insurance Licensing.  Industry experts will participate in the program by providing some instruction, job placement activities, internships, guest speakers and field trips.  Similar educational programs are offered in 200 classrooms nationwide to fulfill the training and employment needs of the growing insurance industry. 

Thirty-one Delgado Community College culinary art students are the first cohort of students to complete the culinary apprenticeship program in two calendar years. Previously the culinary arts apprenticeship program required three academic years to complete.  With the Board of Regents directives to reduce credit hours in associate degrees and the attrition of students between the second and third years of the program, major revisions were necessary to comply with the directives and to increase retention in this program.  In the fall of 2002, the culinary art students admitted were put in the first cohort to complete the program in two years with the addition of summer classes.  The program still requires six semesters to complete, but with the addition of two summer rotations the students can complete the program in 24 months.  Students attend classes two days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and continue to work 40 hours per week in the industry.   Part of the students’ final exam was to prepare and serve a four course meal.  A group of local industry chefs served as judges for their culminating exercise.

A Culinary Arts student prepares a dish during the practical test held in the Kitchen on the City Park Campus on July 22.

Dr. Mary P. Bartholomew, director of Culinary Arts, reports that the Culinary Arts Department hosted the New Orleans Chapter of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs’ Scholarship Dinner on June 17.  The chapter donated scholarship funds that will be awarded to the Culinary Arts students.

On June 28, Dr. Johnson met with Representative Arthur Morrell as the first in a series of meetings with New Orleans Metro legislators.  The purposes of the meetings are to update the lawmakers on the strategic priorities for Delgado over the next several years and to elicit input on how these priorities can support community and economic development in the areas served by these public officials.

On June 29, the Delgado Foundation held its summer board meeting on the City Park Campus.  Dr. Johnson updated the group on Delgado’s recent accomplishments, grants secured from all sources including the Incumbent Worker Training Program, legislative outcomes, and the North Shore Report completed by the Board of Regents in collaboration with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.  The Foundation also heard a report on the visit form Mr. Ray Clements from the Clements Group.  They approved unanimously to allow the Clements Group to study and make recommendations on restructuring the Resource Development Office.  Further, the Foundation agreed to undertake a campaign to raise $200,000 for gap scholarships for nursing and allied health students.

On June 30, Dr. Johnson welcomed a group of over 100 United Way coordinators to the college.  They were undergoing an orientation for the upcoming campaign, which Delgado will support generously.  The institutional representative for Delgado is Darryl Talbert.

Mix Named Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Education Position

The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) appointed Kathleen Mix, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Education for Delgado Community College, at the LCTC system board meeting in Baton Rouge on July 14.

Under the leadership of Delgado Chancellor Alex Johnson, the college established the new position of vice chancellor for Workforce Development and Education to increase the college's capacity and effectiveness in providing quality workers for regional business and industry.

Mix holds a master of education degree from the University of New Orleans.  Mix, a native of New Orleans, began her professional career as an instructor in the Delgado Community College Rehabilitation Center in 1974.  After teaching for six years and designing academic training for adult learners, she was then named assistant dean at Delgado to create a Marketing and Educational Outreach Program for the Greater New Orleans area.  She immediately made use of grant opportunities for customized training in a variety of areas and launched a Women’s Services Center for Delgado Community College.  As an outgrowth of this effort, Delgado’s Community Projects Division was established responding to specific training needs of individuals, groups and businesses.

Mix most recently served as the associate dean of Delgado’s Community and Workforce Development Division.  As administrative manager of the Business and Industry arm of Delgado, Mix provided creative ideas, grant proposals and leadership to meet the comprehensive and evolving needs of industry.  Through her initiatives, local, national and international programs received funding for Community and Workforce Development initiatives with private, corporate, federal, state and municipal resources.

In response to area needs, Mix designed and managed a variety of commercial training and grants programs to serve incumbent, entry level and dislocated workers.  She has been a very active member of the Department of Labor Workforce Investment Board and the Private Industry Council for over ten years.  Most recently, she has been involved with Incumbent Worker Training Grant initiatives through the Louisiana Department of Labor and has secured over $12 million worth of funds to train workers in the maritime industry in 2003.

Mix recently made presentations at the International Association of Drilling Contractors conference, the American Association of Community Colleges conference, the International Economic Development Council’s “Workforce Development Conference,” the “International Dialogue Conference” organized through the Transatlantic Technology and Training Alliance, and the “Workforce Solutions Summit” hosted by the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Recent recognition for projects related to technology in education is the prestigious Bellwether Award Finalist and Innovator of the Year Finalist status by New Orleans CityBusiness for Delgado’s Ship Simulator workforce training program.

The establishment of this new vice chancellor position advances Delgado's leadership role as the premiere workforce educator in the region.  Chancellor Johnson's vision involves extending Delgado's workforce training by identifying and addressing emerging employment opportunities and industry needs, and providing the training to fill those jobs, thereby stimulating and assisting economic development.  In essence, Delgado will become an integral partner with business and industry helping to enhance, create and accommodate job growth with well prepared and qualified workers.

“The new workforce unit will encompass all continuing education, incumbent worker programs, public service institutes, corporate initiatives, and other functions that should comprise the community college workforce division.  Most importantly, the unit will establish cooperative relations with credit programs to ensure that the community at large can access the wide range of offerings available at Delgado,” said Johnson.

The goals for the unit are to be a catalyst for regional economic development; ensure the viability of small, mid-size and large employers; develop and retain employees in a wide range of positions; provide access to a wide variety of professional training, certification, academic programs and personal development resources available in a world-class location; partner with nationally-recognized professional training organizations; up-skill workers at all levels of employment; increase organizational competitiveness and profitability; and make Greater New Orleans a more attractive corporate environment.

Kathleen Mix,

Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development and Education at Delgado Community College

Community Festival Held on City Park Campus

Delgado Community College’s annual Community Festival was held Saturday, June 26 on the City Park Campus.  In a relaxed family atmosphere, participants had the opportunity to learn about the educational opportunities at Delgado as well as enjoyed the fun-filled day. Featured attractions included live entertainment, free barbeque, prizes and games for the kids.  Inclement weather resulted in an abbreviated event that attracted a few hundred visitors.

Community Festival 2004 Committee members were:

Face painting was the style of the day for the younger set at Community Festival.

“Goop” was a curiosity for some as well.  Diane Cohen, (left, under the straw hat) of the Early Childhood Education Department, shows the mixture to Jordyn Cosey, 5, and her mom, Dean of Student Service Arnel Cosey, at the Community Festival, June 26.

Andre’ Brown of Old School 102.9 interviews Gwen Boutte, director of Admissions and Enrollment Services during Community Festival, June 26.

Faculty and Staff Achievements…

Dr. Alex Johnson, chancellor of Delgado Community College, was one of the panelists for the St. Tammany West Chamber Luncheon Forum to be held at the Courtyard Marriott in Covington on June 30.   The forum focused on a topic critical to both small and big business—workforce development.   “Post Secondary Education’s Role in Workforce Development” panel discussion  also included Dr. Courtney Cheri of the Workforce Investment Board, SLU President Dr. Randy Moffett,  Dean M.J. Murphy of Louisiana Technical College - Sullivan Campus and Claudia Munn of the Louisiana Department of Labor.  Barbara Johnson of Greater New Orleans, Inc. served as moderator for the forum

State Representative Nita Hutter, director of Development, Government Relations and Foundation, was elected member at-large for the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus.  The caucus includes all female members of the House and Senate and services as the voice on issues affecting women in the state.  The one-year term began July 1.

Charlene Mc Cabe, dean Student Affairs, Charity School of Nursing, was appointed by Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard to serve on the President’s Tourism Committee.  This is a Jefferson Parish committee appointment.

Dorothy Ward, academic coordinator for Blackboard, represented Delgado at the Shuart & Associates “Lunch for Legals” on June 17, 2004.  The topic was “Do’s and Don’ts of Email.  The CATT had been invited to participate by providing a speaker on the topic. This was a service offered by the CATT as a community outreach.  The slide show will be available to our faculty who are interested using the information for students learning proper email etiquette and format for communication.

Arrianna Smith, head women’s basketball coach and instructor, completed a seminar given by the National Athletic Coaches for Women’s Administrative Advancement/Higher Education Research Services (NACWAA/HERS) Institute in Willington, North Carolina, June 8.  In addition, Smith was invited by the University of Tennessee to work their Basketball Camp held June 26 – 28.  

Carol Gniady, director of Public Relations, was elected to the Board of Directors for the Advertising Club of New Orleans on June 22.  The Advertising Club of New Orleans is one of the oldest professional organizations in the city as well as one of the oldest Ad Clubs in the country. Established in 1910, the Ad Club has a long history of civic and business involvement.

Sallye Raymond, director of the West Bank Campus Massage Therapy program, has been elected Treasurer for the Louisiana Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association, AMTA.  She will serve in this position for two years, 2004-2006.  Additionally, Sallye will serve as a Louisiana delegate for the AMTA-LA chapter at the National Convention to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, October 6-9.

Editor: Deborah A. Kohler, APR, Asst. Director, Public Relations