NSU faculty receives nearly $500,000 in grants

Nicholls State University faculty members have been awarded nearly $500,000 to study everything from enhancing what students learn in business foundation courses to using accoutrements in college algebra.

In all, the University of Louisiana System Board of Regents awarded Nicholls $457,524 in contracts for nine grant proposals, according to spokeswoman Renee Piper.

The approved grant programs are:

• Dr. Khurrum Bhutta, associate professor of computer information systems, received $77,646 for a project titled “Interactive Teaching Classroom in Support of the Computer Information Systems Program at Nicholls.”

• Dr. Morris Coats, professor of economics, was awarded $18,211 to implement a project dubbed “Assurance of Learning through Computer-Assisted Instruction: Enhancing Learning Outcomes in the Business Foundation Courses.”

• Dr. John Doucet, associate professor of biological sciences and director of the University Honors Program, received $45,850 in support of his program, “Enhancing the Honors Experience for Science Students at NSU.”

• April Dupre, instructor of chemistry, received $25,000 for her project titled “C:SI-REAL (Chemistry: Stimulating Interest through Relevant Experiences in the Analytical Laboratory).”

• Dr. Michael Gray, assistant professor of mathematics, was awarded $90,624 to implement a program called “Accoutrements for a Redesign Model in College Algebra.”

• Dr. Gary Lafleur, associate professor of biological sciences, was awarded $66,580 to spearhead a project titled “Optimizing Education and Research Transfer with Upgraded Presentation Tools.”

• Cynthia Lamberty, instructor of physical sciences, received $29,483 for “Going for the Green: A Transformation of Organic Chemistry Laboratory.”

• Dr. Michelle Robichaux, associate professor of biological sciences, received $32,135 for her project titled “Enhancing Chemistry Experiences for Nursing and Allied Health Science Majors.”

• Dr. Chuck Viosca, assistant professor of marketing, was awarded $71,995 to implement a project called “Enhanced Learning Environments Using Flexible Learning Technologies in Support of a Master Plan in The College of Business Administration at NSU: Phase III.”