This week I received an update of some outstanding achievements from our Undergraduate Nursing programs. Our students have shown exceptional commitment, reflected in their first-time pass rates on the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) exams.

Our ASN program has achieved a perfect 100% first-time pass rate for the Fall 2023 semester, with all 57 students passing on their first attempt. This brings the ASN program’s overall pass rate for 2023 to an impressive 98.9%.

Our BSN students have also shown remarkable performance, boasting a 96.7% first-time pass rate for Fall 2023 and a near-perfect 99.1% for the summer. These results not only highlight the strength of our programs but also the commitment of our students and faculty.

Artificial intelligence (AI) now permeates our daily lives though applications like virtual assistants, aiding in data analysis for decision-making and scientific understanding. Within this landscape, Northwestern State University, along with its College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), has embarked on a mission to propel AI advancements across diverse sectors. This initiative aims to make AI more accessible to NSU students by improving and deploying AI programs through international partnerships, with France.

On Monday, March 25th, NSU entered into a collaborative agreement with the Cluster Patrimoine Bâti 4.0 at the French Senate. This organization is renowned for its pioneering role in the innovation and digitization of built heritage. The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) in Natchitoches played a key role in bringing this partnership to fruition. Together, we aim to explore the resilience of historic buildings in Natchitoches to Louisiana’s climate through advanced sensor technology and AI-driven analysis. Our goal is to understand the adaptive responses of these structures and identify sustainable methods for their insulation and preservation.

Building on this collaboration, another partnership agreement was signed on Wednesday, March 27th, in Troyes, France, with the prestigious University of Technology of Troyes (UTT), France, known for its expertise in technology and engineering education and research. The goal is to promote research in AI and establish a student exchange program between our two universities. This exchange offers NSU students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in sciences, while also providing non-science students with the chance to immerse themselves in French culture and improve their French language skills. UTT students can also study sciences at NSU while experiencing Louisiana culture, facilitated by the Department of English, Languages, and Cultural Studies at NSU.

As always, please contact me with questions or concerns that you may have as we are nearing the end of another memorable semester at Northwestern State University.

Dr. Marcus D. Jones
President
Northwestern State University