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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 102
BY SENATOR LONG
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Dr. Randall J. Webb upon his retirement as President of
Northwestern State University.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To commend Dr. Randall J. Webb for his commitment, service, singular contributions, and2
outstanding accomplishments upon his retirement as president of Northwestern State3
University and to express gratitude for his exemplary term of dedicated and highly4
productive public service.5
WHEREAS, Dr. Randall J. Webb has served as president of Northwestern State6
University since 1996 and in July will become the university's longest serving president; and7
WHEREAS, under Dr. Webb's leadership, Northwestern State University has8
received well-deserved national and international attention for its academic programs and9
student accomplishments; university facilities have been renovated to better serve students;10
and two capital campaigns have set fundraising records at the school; and11
WHEREAS, he has led the move toward higher admissions standards at the12
university which has resulted in students having greater academic potential and aptitude and13
the university has had its largest graduating classes in school history during his tenure as14
president; and15
WHEREAS, retention has increased at Northwestern State University, the average16
ACT score of students has gone up, and high school student leaders have enrolled at the17
university in record numbers; and 18 SCR NO. 102
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WHEREAS, Dr. Webb has also expanded the university's outreach by spearheading1
the development at NSU of the largest electronic education and distance learning network2
of any university in Louisiana as the university offers courses and thirty-four accredited3
degree programs to students across the nation and world through Internet and compressed4
video and several university online programs have been rated as being among the best buys5
in the United States; and6
WHEREAS, millions of dollars have been obtained during his presidency for new7
and renovated facilities with new facilities including the Wellness, Recreation and Activity8
Center, Student Services Center, University Place I and II residence halls while Morrison9
Hall, the Family and Consumer Sciences Building, Williamson Hall, Russell Hall and10
Caspari Hall have been completely renovated and restored; and 11
WHEREAS, Northwestern State University has achieved Tier I status in the United12
State News and World Report ranking of regional universities on two occasions and the13
master's program in nursing was rated as one of the Top 100; and14
WHEREAS, a new Doctor of Nursing Practice program was created along with a15
Post Master's Certificate in Global Security and Intelligence and a master's in homeland16
security and the university has added new undergraduate academic programs in theatre,17
criminal justice, unified public safety administration, organizational leadership, addiction18
studies, liberal arts, general studies, communication, and allied health; and 19
WHEREAS, Dr. Webb has held positions of leadership at the national level in20
intercollegiate athletics, serving as chair of the board of directors of the Southland21
Conference and as a member of the prestigious NCAA Executive Council and the NCAA22
Division I Board of Directors that oversee all major policy decisions by the governing body23
for major college sports, while also serving as the Southland Conference representative on24
the NCAA Presidential Advisory Group; and25
WHEREAS, he has been active in the community as a member of the board of26
directors of the Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Association for27
the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, the Natchitoches Historic Foundation, the28
Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society, Rotary Club, and the First Baptist Church;29
and30 SCR NO. 102
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WHEREAS, Randall Webb and his wife Brenda have two daughters, both honor1
graduates of Northwestern who are each married to former NSU student-athletes.2
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby3
commend Dr. Randall J. Webb for his outstanding accomplishments upon his retirement as4
president of Northwestern State University, does hereby record for posterity his5
commitment, contributions, and remarkable service as president, does hereby express6
enduring gratitude for his extraordinary contributions, and does hereby extend to him best7
wishes for full measures of success and happiness in all of his future endeavors.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Dr.9
Randall J. Webb.10
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
Long SCR No. 102
Commends Dr. Randall J. Webb for his outstanding accomplishments upon his retirement
as president of Northwestern State University.