McNeese State: Preparing Students for Bright Futures

Nathan Lambrecht

A highly skilled workforce is at the heart of Southwest Louisiana’s economic development strategy. With a rich history and strong commitment to education, McNeese State University in Lake Charles is a key contributor to the region’s workforce, producing graduates equipped with the knowledge and skills demanded by local industries, such as health care, agriculture sciences and business. 

Cultivating Success 

“McNeese is the hub of career development. Our partnerships with local industries along with new and developing industries allow us to connect our students with their needs. We work with these business leaders to get input on what skills our students need to excel in their business,” says Frederick “Chip” LeMieux, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and provost and vice president for academic affairs and enrollment management at McNeese State University.

“We have advisory groups that consist of industry leaders. We also have alumni spotlight lectures each week to help our students learn the skills and competencies they need.” 

The College of Agricultural Sciences offers degree programs in agriculture, ecology and conservation, food and nutrition, and animal and veterinary sciences. With three working farms and the state-of-the-art Center for Advancement of Meat Production and Processing (CAMPP), the college prioritizes hands-on learning experiences. 

“There are many traditional and nontraditional careers for students in the agricultural sciences. We provide all our students with the basic foundation of plant, animal, environment and food science,” LeMieux says. “After they have mastered these concepts, we allow them to choose a path to educate them in specific technologies within these disciplines.” 

Nurturing Tomorrow’s Leaders 

LeMieux says the college’s programs prepare students to not only be leaders in their fields, but also in the community. 

“We provide them opportunities to work on soft skills, such as writing and oral communication, and we challenge them to join discipline-specific clubs and associations and take leadership roles in these clubs. Community service, internships and networking events are also required for our students,” he says. 

The university’s College of Business also emphasizes experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to participate in case competitions, internships and cooperative education programs. Students benefit from mentorship opportunities, connecting with experienced faculty members and industry professionals, and from state-of-the-art facilities, technological resources and active involvement by local businesses. 

The university in Lake Charles also supports entrepreneurs and budding small businesses through the Louisiana Small Business Development Center. 

“The college collaborates with the business community to create course offerings that reflect current business needs, which makes McNeese students the first choice for internships and careers,” says Shuming Bai, dean of the College of Business. “Internships allow students to earn course credit and gain hands-on experience. In turn, employers benefit by meeting new talent with fresh perspectives that are eager to learn. Through student engagement programming, students can network and connect with employers in industries that drive our local economy.” 

Speaking of connecting with employers, the programs available through the university’s College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics are locally and nationally recognized for their strong ties to business and industry. Plus, the college’s labs and facilities boast the latest technologies to best help students develop skills. Students can also take part in internships as well as one-on-one research opportunities with university faculty. 

Transforming Health Care in Lake Charles 

McNeese has been a consistent contributor to the region’s supply of skilled health care providers. The university’s College of Nursing and Health Professions has a rich history of producing a diverse range of health care professionals, including nurse practitioners, nurse educators, radiologic technologists, medical lab scientists, counselors, behavior analysts and dietitians. 

“McNeese is probably best known for the undergraduate nursing program, which has been producing BSN-prepared RNs (registered nurses) for Southwest Louisiana since 1957,” says Ann Warner, dean and professor in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. 

Warner says a common thread among health care programs at McNeese is the emphasis on simulation and hands-on learning to ensure students are workforce ready. Undergraduate nursing students use labs that simulate patient care scenarios, allowing students to practice clinical decision-making and teamwork. Graduate students use online simulations with avatars to help prepare for the advanced physical assessments required of nurse practitioners. 

“We also partner with hundreds of regional hospitals, clinics and medical practices who welcome students to their facilities to support student learning. We absolutely could not have the student outcomes we do without the assistance of local health care agencies and the providers who practice there.”