NATCHITOCHES – An agreement between Northwestern State University and Bossier Parish Community College will allow BPCC students in the Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) to be cross-enrolled at NSU to pursue military science and leadership courses. Administrators who signed the agreement Thursday said the initiative will enhance leadership development at both institutions, both for cadets and for other students who observe the cadets’ commitment, values and dedication.
“What this is doing for our program and for the state is tapping into a pool of people,” said Capt. John Welch, assistant professor of military science at NSU. “One of the Army’s greatest assets is its people.”
NSU will serve as the host institution and provide instruction for courses on the BPCC campus. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required to remain in the program. BPCC will assign a college liaison to support the pilot program and students pursuing military science and leadership courses. The liaison will provide advisement and academic tracking and will work closely with NSU’s Department of Military Science to schedule courses and register students.
The initiative originated from within BPCC’s Division of Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
“It’s unusual that it come from an academic division, but I have personal ties to the military,” explained Dr. Sandra Partain, dean of the Division of Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. “My father was in the military. The military teaches you to do the right thing. The military teaches that you should always work as though the work you do is going to impact someone else’s life, to be part of something bigger than you. And the military teaches you to live life in urgency.”
Administrators signed the agreement in the presence of students and faculty from both institutions, ROTC cadets and military science faculty and 2016 graduates of the Louisiana Leadership Academy, the leadership development program of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.
“We’ve gathered many times to sign agreements because NSU and BPCC put students first,” said Dr. Lesa Taylor-Dupree, BPCC vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “This will produce leaders not only for BPCC but for our state and our nation.”
“We are exceptionally proud of the partnership we have with NSU and believe we are setting the standard between 2-year and 4-year institutions,” said BPCC Chancellor Dr. Rick Bateman. “This agreement is built upon partnerships that we already have the builds pathways to leadership and service.”
“Investment in talent is more important now than ever before,” said NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson. “We have to invest in higher education because we are putting resources towards the development of the next generation of leaders.”
For more information on Army ROTC at Northwestern State, go to rotc.nsula.edu. For information on Bossier Parish Community College, visit bpcc.edu.