Delta State recently announced two new programs developed through a university-wide visioning process to promote academic excellence and student success at the institution.

These initiatives include the Capstone Project and the Writing Skills Enhancement Initiative. Both initiatives aim to increase academic excellence at the university. The Capstone Project will increase student learning by providing a Capstone experience for every student in every degree program. Departments across campus have identified a Capstone experience for each of its major programs with the desired outcome being to promote reflection and synthesis of key concepts within their major. The Writing Skills Enhancement Initiative serves to improve written communication in students with an emphasis on the style appropriate to their major discipline. By replacing the Writing Proficiency Requirement exam, the focus is now placed on enhancing academic writing experiences and expectations of writing in the discipline.

These initiatives underscore and enhance the academic rigor and reputation of the university and its programs. Students will be better prepared for a more productive and successful professional life.

In other campus news, the Office of Student Affairs is hosting Culture on the Quad on Tuesday, April 24 on the Quadrangle. This event will give the student body and Cleveland community members an idea of the diverse culture here at Delta State. There will be a fashion show, food tasting and much more. The Wiley Planetarium will have a showing of We Are Stars on Friday, April 27 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children, seniors and anyone with an Okra Card.

In athletic news, the Statesmen baseball team is in action at home Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Ouachita Baptist. The baseball and softball teams host in-state rival Mississippi College in GSC action this weekend. Visit gostatesmen.com for all of those game times.

To keep up with all of our news, events and activities, please visit our website at deltastate.edu.

President LaForge is joined by Marwa Cherraf and Abul Hajizada, the first international students to be inducted into Delta State University’s Student Hall of Fame.

The DSU Student Hall of Fame began in 1972 as a way to recognize outstanding students. It is the single highest honor bestowed upon any Delta State student based on outstanding accomplishments in all phases of college life.

Abul, a senior, computer information systems major from Azerbaijan, serves as president of the International Student Association and is a Student Government Association Senate member. Marwa, a senior, international business major from Morocco, is a member of Phi Beta Lambda and has served as an intern for the Office of Student Affairs.

Both of these students will be inducted into the Student Hall of Fame on May 4 and will graduate from Delta State the next day.

In other campus news, a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella will be on stage at the Bologna Performing Arts Center on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., and the Wiley Planetarium’s Stars of the Pharaohs will show on Friday, April 20 at 6 p.m.

In athletic news, the golf team is competing at the Natural State Classic in Searcy, Arkansas today and tomorrow. And, the Statesmen baseball team will travel to Arkansas Tech for a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday with game times at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

To keep up with all of our news, events and activities, please visit our website at deltastate.edu.

Joining President LaForge is Dr. Charles McAdams, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Delta State.

There are numerous paybacks for enrolling in summer classes. Among those are finding a job faster and potentially saving thousands of dollars in overall tuition and fees. According to Rise Up Mississippi, an additional year of college in Mississippi can cost you more than $50,000, which includes extra tuition, lost wages, and related costs.

Additionally, there are financial aid options available for summer school. Options range from federal aid to state-based assistance, such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which helps students complete their degree and find employment.

Financial aid applications for the summer are due during fall pre-registration, with the priority deadline of April 6, and the final deadline of June 12.

Students should also be aware of the general deadlines to enroll in summer course work. The deadline for the Summer I session is May 29, and the Summer II deadline is July 2.

In other news on campus, Career Services is hosting its “Passport to Success” program on Tuesday from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. on the second floor of the H.L. Nowell Student Union.  On Thursday, the Union Program Council will host its annual Springfest event from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. on the Quad.

In athletic news, the softball and baseball teams will host Lee University in GSC action this weekend, with both doubleheaders starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, the games begin at noon for softball and at 2 p.m. for baseball.

To keep up with all of our news, events and activities, please visit our website at deltastate.edu.