McNeese Serving Students Through New Facility and Program Upgrades

Elizabeth and Leslie Richard Student Union Now Open    

The new Elizabeth and Leslie Richard Student Union is now open. This multipurpose facility will be the hub of student activity on campus and houses a modernized cafeteria, a ballroom and space for collaborating, studying and meeting, the SGA office and offices for the dean of student support and advocacy, the director of student activities and the director of student engagement and leadership.    

 “The Richard Student Union stands on the footprint of two historic campus facilities, Farrar Hall, built in 1968 and named after the first dean of McNeese Junior College, and Memorial Gymnasium, built in 1949, named to honor the students and faculty of the 1960s who were killed in war,” explained Dr. Kedrick Nicholas, interim president of McNeese. “While they both were significantly damaged by hurricanes Laura and Delta and were subsequently demolished, the memory and symbolism of those facilities will live on through the beauty that is presented behind us.”    

The Richard Student Union sits on the east side of the McNeese Quad and offers a direct link from the student parking garage to the center of campus. A wall of windows lets in natural light to the entire space. Students can take advantage of the comfortable chairs and tables in the collaboration spaces and study rooms, all equipped with internet access and some with mounted screens. The ballroom is a large space that can be divided to accommodate large events or small meetings.    

The cafeteria boasts additional food options and more seating. There is a salad and baked potato bar, a smoothie station, a grilling stone and a pizza oven. Students will find homestyle cooking, hamburgers and other grilled foods and a special diet section for those with food allergies.  

FYE Offers Support for First-Year Students   

First-year students at McNeese State University are getting a strong start to their college careers through the First-Year Experience (FYE) program, which provides added support designed to help students succeed.   

McNeese received a $2.2 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create FYE. The program is designed to support first-year students with mentors and special events.    

“The fall 2025 semester marked an exciting beginning as we launched the First-Year Experience,” explained Jacqueline Clark, director of FYE. “Our goal was simply to support, guide and empower first-year students as they transitioned into college life. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished together in just one semester.”   

The SPUR Mentor aspect of FYE connects first-year students with trained peer mentors to support academic success, campus engagement and personal growth.    

The FYE Office is a dedicated space in the Frazar Memorial Library for first-year students to seek advice, build connections, relax and study. Mentors can meet with students one-on-one or in groups in the office. Students stopped by the office more than 1,200 times during the fall 2025 semester. Tutoring for science, math and writing are also located in the library for all students.     

Collaborations, Partnerships and Internships    

One of McNeese’s core values is collaboration and collaborating with the community, business, industry and other high education institutions leads to more opportunities for students.    

• The Department of Biology partnered with Firestone, Woodside LNG and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to create a Cajun Prairie lab for students.    

• Agriculture students at two of the McNeese farms are working with local beef producers to follow the progress of their livestock.    

• Marketing students worked with The Stables at Le Bocage to create a comprehensive marketing plan for The Venue at The Stables.   

• McNeese students receive valuable hands-on experiences through internships in their fields of study. Internships offer amazing opportunities for students to network with industry professionals, receive on-the-job training and graduate with work experience on their resumes, and some interns can translate their experiences into full-time employment after graduation. Recent internships have included Ernst and Young, PayPal, HUNT Refined Repellent, The Response Group, Dashall Corp., AECOM, AMERISAFE, Southland Environmental, West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, Guidewire Software, LyondellBasell, Southwest Louisiana Law Center, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, a white-tailed deer breeding facility in Mississippi, Cameron LNG and the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.   

LNG Center of Excellence Opens at McNeese State University

The LNG Center of Excellence at McNeese State University is now open, reinforcing Southwest Louisiana’s position as the global leader in natural gas exports. The new Center was created to serve as a hub for training, research and engagement focused on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, bringing together students, industry leaders, government partners and educators to support one of the region’s most critical economic drivers.

The official grand opening was celebrated on April 20 with a ribbon cutting and reception, with multiple local, state and federal officials speaking on the significance of the new facility, which also houses the National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced in May 2025 the selection of McNeese State University as the site for its National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety. Paul Roberti, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Administrator, spoke at the opening event. “This Center will be a vital resource for advancing the safety of LNG facilities across the country, directly supporting the administration’s energy dominance agenda. It is designed to be a central hub for collaboration among all stakeholders, for sharing knowledge and best practices within the LNG industry and government, supporting the continued growth of the industry. I look forward to our continued collaboration as we work to expand the United States’ role as the global leader in LNG safety, innovation and excellence.” 

The more than $10 million, 23,000-square-foot facility is located on West Sale Road. Funding for the project was a collaborative effort that included a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, a $4 million investment from the McNeese Foundation and contributions from founding donors who were recognized at the grand opening reception. These are Woodside Energy, the Port of Lake Charles, the City of Lake Charles, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, and the H.C. Drew Estate.

Dr. Nikos Kiritsas, director of operations for the LNG Center, provided highlights of the educational opportunities the Center will provide, including the development of a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in LNG Engineering, plans for a virtual reality lab and a hands-on-training unit. He also recognized the Center’s collaborative training partners, Honeywell and GTI Energy.

The facility features include multiple training rooms, a lab, a control room, administrative offices, banquet room and a conference room. The offices for the National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety are located on the second floor. Also nearing completion on this floor is new office for ReCon Management Services Inc., a Southwest Louisiana company that provides engineering, consulting and project management services to regional industry.

For more information about the LNG Center of Excellence, visit mcneeselngcenter.com.