LSUA’s Mission Statement [1] indicates the university will provide a learning environment that "cultivates intellectual, professional, social, and economic growth."  One of LSUA's institutional goals [2] is to "Increase the array and flexibility of student activities and support services."  LSUA offers programs and services in support of these aspects of its mission primarily through the departments of Student Services, Enrollment Services, and Financial Aid and Scholarships. Student Services and Enrollment Services report to the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. Financial Aid and Scholarships reports to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administratiive Services.

LSUA’s Student Services offers a variety of services that are designed to support and enhance the college experience. Support programs offered include the following: the Tutoring, Learning and Computer Lab (TLC Lab); peer tutoring (Writing Center; Math, Science, Video, and Testing Lab); Career Services (Job Fair, job assistance, career workshops and seminars, and DISCOVER, a computer based career assessment); Counseling (academic, vocational, and personal); Carl Perkins Career Education Counseling; Student Activities and Intramural Sports; Organizations; Publications; Testing Center; Orientation; the OAKS, (campus ambassadors); and Disability Services. Each unit is designed to facilitate student development and support the academic program. All services are free and confidential. Student Services recorded 13,782 student contacts for the academic year 2004-2005. These contacts include all phases of Student Life. The Student Services office is located on the second floor of the LSUA Student Center, West Wing. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Student Services has qualified and experienced personnel that enable the department to meet the needs of students. Personnel in the department include the director, a counselor, a vocational counselor, a testing/orientation coordinator, a coordinator for student activities and intramural sports, and a department secretary.

The Director of Student Services supervises and coordinates the personnel, budgets, programming, hiring, planning, and evaluation of all the components of Student Services. The Director also serves as coordinator for Students with Disability Services, facilitates student conduct hearings, provides counseling, advises students with special needs, and assists with the University's retention efforts. The current Director of Student Services, Dr. Dee Slavant, holds a Ph.D. in Education (Development of Human Resources and Counseling), a Masters in Counseling, and a Bachelor of Education. She is certified as a Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselor and is a National Board Certified Counselor. Dr. Slavant came to LSUA in 1990 to design, implement, and direct Counseling Services. Since that time, the additional duties have been assigned.

LSUA provides a vocational counselor through Carl Perkins funding. Idalia Carroll holds a Master’s in Student Personnel Services (Counseling) and a Bachelor’s in General Studies. Ms. Carroll is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Ms. Carroll has been in her current position since 1995. Prior to coming to LSUA, Ms. Carroll worked at a private college where she was the director of career development and an advisor to international students. She also has experience as a clinical therapist with a family counseling agency. Ms. Carroll provides academic advising and career, academic, and personal counseling services to students in vocational educational programs. She also coordinates the annual Job Fair and develops career related workshops and seminars. Ms. Carroll’s case load includes more than sixteen hundred student contacts annually.

Kathryn Clark Wimmert provides academic, career, and personal counseling for students, faculty, and staff. She plans and implements seminars and workshops on a variety of student issues, provides professional development activities for faculty and staff as requested, and develops and maintains good relations with community help agencies and referrals. She also serves as an academic advisor, directs the Ms. LSUA Pageant, supervises the Student Activities/Intramural Coordinator, coordinates and supervises tutoring services, and teaches a University Studies (orientation) class. Ms. Wimmert has a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Student Personnel Services. She has worked in this position at LSUA since 1997.

Robin Arnold is the coordinator of the Testing Center. The coordinator organizes, administers, and coordinates a university testing program that involves testing for students with disabilities and serves the needs of students requiring makeup tests, exit tests, or tests for distance education classes. The coordinator also provides students and faculty members with assistance in testing to meet requirements for placement, admissions, and instructional purposes. A variety of national exams such as ACT, CLEP, PRAXIS, ACT Center Examinations, and Person VUE are administered through the Testing Center. The coordinator insures confidentiality and integrity of test results. All tests are kept in a locked file, and tests are picked up by professors or returned by the Testing Coordinator. Student confidentiality is maintained according to FERPA guidelines. The Testing Center reported 5,432 student contacts for 2004-2005. The Testing Center is located within the TLC Lab and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Some special testing is administered on Saturday.

Ms. Arnold, who has been employed at LSUA since 2002, also serves as the coordinator of Orientation and supervises the OAKS. She has a Master’s in Student Personnel Services (Counseling) and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. Robin is a National Board Certified counselor. She has three years teaching and counseling experience, served as an admissions counselor at another university, and did her Student Personnel Practicum with LSUA.

Dan Purvis serves as LSUA’s Student Activities/Intramural Coordinator. He has a Master’s in Physical Education and Recreation and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration. Mr. Purvis served as an adjunct professor of sports administration at another college before coming to LSUA in 2003. He is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Mississippi Association of Coaches, and Louisiana Collegiate Intramural-Recreational Sports Association. Mr. Purvis leads LSUA’s intramural sports program and plans and implements various activities for LSUA students. He has also written a proposal to begin inter-collegiate teams in men’s baseball and women’s softball.

Enrollment Services

The Enrollment Services department includes Admissions, Records, and Recruiting. This unit provides vital services to all LSUA students. Enrollment Services is responsible for recruiting students to the university, assisting them through the process of admission, and processing and housing all student academic records. There are eleven staff members.  These include the Registrar/Director, two recruiters, and eight classified (Civil Service) staff consisting of one administrative assistant, two administrative coordinators (level 3), four administrative coordinators (level 4), and one program specialist. Enrollment Services is located in Abrams Hall and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Leslie Quinn is the Registrar and Director of Enrollment Services. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Family Therapy. She joined the University in 2002 with four years of experience in professional counseling and two years of experience in higher education. Before coming to LSUA, she served as an adjunct instructor in psychology and Coordinator of Student Services for a branch of another university. She is currently licensed as a professional counselor in the state of Louisiana and serves as the university’s representative in the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and the Louisiana Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (LACRAO). She is responsible for all aspects of administration of the Enrollment Services office, including leadership of admissions and recruitment and maintenance of all academic records (credit and non-credit).

As Recruiter and Admissions Counselor, Shelly Kieffer is responsible for planning, organizing, and conducting recruitment for the University. She also acts as an Admissions/Articulation Counselor. Ms. Kieffer completed her Bachelor’s in General Studies from Louisiana State University.  She is a former student of LSUA and completed her bachelor’s degree by attending the LSU Senior College program housed on the LSUA campus. She has served as LSUA’s recruiter since 2000.

In March 2005, Chris Laffitte joined the University in the role of Recruiter. Mr. Laffitte completed his Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management and Tourism in May 2001. Chris represents LSUA at recruiting functions and events across the state.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid and Scholarships attempts to bring the best and most deserving students to the university and retain them by offering the financial assistance they need to succeed through provision of both merit and need-based aid. Financial Aid and Scholarships is located in Abrams Hall. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Financial Aid and Scholarships served over 2,714 students in 2004-2005, and the number of students served continues to grow. LSUA awards over fifteen million dollars in financial aid each year. Financial Aid and Scholarships has six qualified staff, including a Director, Assistant Director, three Counselors, and an office coordinator.

Kenn Posey, the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Public Relations and a Master’s in Education. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Resource Education Leadership. Mr. Posey has ten years experience administering all Title IV programs, including Federal PELL Grant, FSEOG, Federal College Work Study, and the Federal Family Educational Loan program. He also oversees institutional financial aid. Mr. Posey has been in his current position since 2000 but served as Director of Financial Aid at another university before coming to LSUA.

Betty Saunders serves as Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships. She holds a Bachelor of General Studies. She joined Financial Aid and Scholarships at LSUA January 1986.  She assumes the duties of the Director in his absence and assists with administration of all types of financial aid. She also provides counseling to students regarding loan indebtedness.

Three Financial Aid Counselors provide financial aid services to students and client schools which includes counseling, file review, needs analysis, determination of awards, federal verification, and loan processing.  Gwen Andress holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She has been at LSUA since April 2002 and previously worked as a Financial Aid Counselor at another university. Angela Bordelon holds a Bachelor of General Studies.  She joined Financial Aid and Scholarships May 2004. Brenda Stacy holds a Bachelor of Arts.  She joined Financial Aid and Scholarships August 2005.

Callie Harvey joined Financial Aid and Scholarships at LSUA in March 2002 as the Office Coordinator.  She works with scholarship recipients and performs other various duties as assigned.