Three departments at LSUA are involved in provision of learning resources. Library Services provides library resources; Educational Technology maintains technological support for teaching and learning; and Student Services provides a computer lab with specialized services, peer tutoring, and on-line tutoring. Each department employs a sufficient number of qualified staff to provide services in support of the institution’s mission.
Library Services
There are five full-time faculty in Library Services. Each librarian has a master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association. Jules Tate serves as the Director of Library Services and coordinates collection development. He came to LSUA in 2002 after many years of experience at other academic libraries. Dr. Bonnie Hines came to LSUA in 2005 after many years of academic library experience; she is responsible for print and online resource development and system administration. Debra Rollins, Assistant Librarian, is responsible for reference, instruction, and coordination of information literacy outreach. She came to LSUA in 2002 after several years of experience in the secondary school system. Nancy Radonovich came to LSUA in 2005 after a number of years experience in academic libraries; she is cataloger and head of technical services. Rusty Gaspard completed his Master’s in Library and Information Science in 2003 and has been employed by the library since 2002. He assists with reference and instruction, particularly in the evenings and on weekends and coordinates interlibrary loan and document delivery.
The library faculty are assisted by 4 FTE classified support staff. However, two half-time positions are currently vacant. Rachael Hunter serves as Administrative Secretary and assists with acquisitions and library accounting. Esther Blood serves as head of circulation, reserves and stacks maintenance and assists with interlibrary loan and document delivery. Titus Belgard handles serials and assists with other technical processing operations. One vacant half-time position is responsible for evening circulation, including reserves and stacks maintenance. Additional student wages have been budgeted to help with circulation until the position is filled. The other vacancy assists with technical processing and special projects. A temporary position was created to fill this vacancy and is funded through the middle of November. Both positions may be filled if the freeze on hiring is lifted.
The library has requested that the half-time technical services position be upgraded to full time when the vacancy is advertised. Another half-time position in circulation is planned for when library hours increase after on-campus student housing is built.
Educational Technology
Educational Technology is a unit within Information and Educational Technology (IET) Services. IET staff includes units that support, 1) administrative services (registration information, data collection, data storage and student records), 2) technical services (hardware and software installation of technology including phones and computers), 3) web services and 4) educational technology (maintaining course management software, classroom technology, faculty and staff training. The department administers and supports student computer laboratories, classroom technology including multimedia equipment, and software including Desire2Learn, Microsoft Office, domain and e-mail accounts for students, and content-specific software requested by academic departments. The department also works with faculty and academic departments to identify and acquire appropriate multi-media tools, equipment or software to facilitate the teaching and learning experience.
Within the Educational Technology unit, Teresa Seymour, the Director, coordinates activities of the department and has been involved in electronic learning for the past eight years. She holds a Master's Degree in Human Relations and Supervision and is pursing a Ph.D. in Adult Education through the University of New Orleans. The Educational Technology Specialist position is currently vacant. A search is underway.
Student Services
Student Services provides learning resources in the form of the Teaching, Learning and Computer (TLC) lab. This lab has computers with general and content-specific software for student use. The lab also has carrels for viewing videos of mathematics classes.
There are two professional staff in Student Services who deal with the TLC lab and tutors. Dr. Dee Slavant, Director of Student Services, holds a doctorate in adult education and career counseling, and a master’s degree in Education with a counseling major. She has been Director of Student Services at LSUA for over 13 years. Prior to that she had experience teaching and as a counselor in the K-12 system. Kathryn Wimmert is a Personal Counselor in Student Services. She holds a master’s degree in Student Personnel Services with a bachelor’s in Psychology. She has worked for LSUA since 1997. She is responsible for the hiring and training of all the peer tutors.