MTSU and New Orleans university partner

By ERIN EDGEMON

MTSU has entered into a partnership to help rebuild a New Orleans university devastated by Hurricane Katrina both physically and academically.A formal agreement was signed between MTSU President Sidney McPhee and Southern University of New Orleans Chancellor Victor Ukpolo Tuesday morning. Representatives from the traditionally black university are visiting Murfreesboro for three days, attending events on campus and meeting with academic departments."They have to essentially rebuild their entire university," McPhee said in a released statement. He said the agreement between the two universities should be a “true partnership that will help them (SUNO) get back on their feet.” MTSU has agreed to help SUNO in a variety of areas, some of which could include student-exchange programs, sharing of academic expertise and assistance in a variety of topics including diversity, technology, e-learning and university security.The visitors from SUNO arrived Monday and will meet with academic deans, administrators and other officials during their three-day visit to discuss how MTSU can assist the university.The partnership spawned after a recent visit McPhee made to New Orleans to witness the devastation and the rebuilding efforts, said Tom Tozer, director of News and Public Affairs at MTSU. The president thought there must be something MTSU could do to help SUNO. Before the hurricanes, Tozer said the university had approximately 3,000 students but enrollment dwindled to just over 2,000 since. SUNO reopened after the hurricane in January 2006.He said wasn't aware of any SUNO students who attended MTSU in the hurricane’s aftermath. Students from such universities as Tulane and Xavier, both in New Orleans, were allowed to attend MTSU while their universities were closed.In a statement on the SUNO Web site, Ukpolo said the university faces "some difficult months and possibly years ahead" and will need the assistance of the university community and at the community at large.He said SUNO has moved forward with streamlined programs and reduced student population and staff. SUNO virtually lost all of its building after Hurricane Katrina. The university is now made up of a temporary campus consisting of 45 trailers set up by the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Of the 45 trailers, 26 are classrooms and the rest are used as a computer laboratory, dining area, health unit and other university support services. Many students, faculty and staff live in 400 trailers on the campus.

Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.