STUDENT SERVICES
The
University provides a variety of activities, programs, and services
to support and complement the academic offerings and to expand the
total growth of the student. The various components of the co-curricular
program relate to the University's mission and educational philosophy
by contributing to the cultural, intellectual, physical, emotional,
and social development of students. The student development philosophy
underlying these activities and services focuses on the personal growth
and education of the student and is based on the premise that all
students have the right to develop to their full potential.
The Donald G. Bollinger Memorial Student Union at Nicholls State University is an organization offering a variety of programs, activities, services, and facilities that, when taken together, represent a well-considered plan for community life of the college. The union is the community center of the college, serving students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests. The union is an integral part of the educational mission of the college. The union’s goal is the development of persons as well as intellects. The union serves as a unifying force that honors each individual and values diversity. The union fosters a sense of community that cultivates enduring loyalty to the college.
This facility includes Le Mélange Snack Bar and dining commons,
Godfather’s Pizza, the Gameroom (Le Bons Temps), racquetball/table
tennis court, College Television Network, Information Desk, Le Bijou
Theater, the Cotillion Ballroom, and various meeting and banquet facilities.
It also houses the Office of Student Life, University Bookstore, Post
Office, Union Services and Facilities, Continuing Education Non Credit
Programs, Career Services, the Student Government Association, the
Student Programming Association, Peer Assistance, I.D. Card Operations,
and Interfraternity, Panhellenic, and National Panhellenic Councils.
ID Cards are issued in the Office of ID Card Operations. The ID Card is referred to as the Colonel Card. It is issued for use during your association or attendance at Nicholls State University. The person issued this card is responsible for use, charges or purchases made with the card.
This card provides access to designated events, facilities and services; the University reserves the right to limit or revoke such access. Misuse may result in disciplinary action.
This card must be surrendered when leaving NSU or upon demand of or by a University official.
Report lost or stolen card to the Colonel Card Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. During the evening and weekend, you may report your lost card to University Police, so that it may be deactivated. There is a $10.00 replacement fee for the first lost, stolen or damaged card, $15.00 for second and successive replacement cards. The Colonel Card Office and Nicholls State University are not responsible for any charges made on a lost or stolen card.
This card serves as your meal card, debit card (should you chose to
make a deposit) that may be used at various locations on campus and
entrance into university facilities and events. Visit our website
at www.nicholls.edu/colonelcard
to learn more about our services.
Academic Computing and Instructional Technology
The Department of Academic Computing and Instructional Technology develops and coordinates plans for academic computing and instructional technology for the five undergraduate colleges, the Junior Division, and Graduate Studies. The Department also supports university research efforts requiring large electronic databases (e.g., Compustat, Citibase, and ICPSR) or statistical analysis (e.g., SAS, SPSS, SHAZAM). Three "open" labs, consisting of 110 state of the art computers, the Cenac Center, located in the College of Business; the WAC Computer Lab, located in Ellender Memorial Library; and the Engineering and Petroleum Sciences Lab, located in the College of Life Sciences and Technology, are available to all enrolled students.
Many departments have dedicated computer classrooms or labs for specific
majors. Art, business administration, computer science, criminal justice,
education, English, family and consumer sciences, legal assistant
studies, mass communication, mathematics, music, nursing, and office
information systems are among the areas that have dedicated computer
facilities. In addition, large databases and statistical analysis
software are available on all "open" lab computers. Valid
student ID’s are required for entry.
Writing Across the Curriculum Writing Center
The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Writing Center is staffed with writing consultants to assist students with writing assignments from any subject area. Consultants are trained to guide students through the writing process. The WAC Computer Lab, providing technical assistance which is supported by Instructional Technology, is also available in the same facility. Valid student ID’s are required for entry.
The University main computer center in Room 155 of Peltier Hall provides services to students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The computer configuration consists of an IBM 9221 computer system, model 170, with 128 million-byte main memory. The system has two magnetic tape drives and 72 billion-byte disk capacity. The campus has a fiber optic cable system connecting buildings; in addition, more than 1500 terminals and personal computers are connected to the network. Its server is operated by a NOVELL operating system which connects users to the campus main network (NSUNET), the state computer network (LaNet), and Internet.
Computer Services assists students, faculty, staff and administrators
with their data processing needs.
University Health Services (UHS) provides both health education and health-care services to students. The staff attends to students' acute health concerns and teaches health promotion and disease prevention strategies.
Students are required to submit a statement of immunization status. The immunization statement allows UHS personnel to determine if students are in compliance with state and institutional requirements. The student’s proof of immunization form is kept as part of the student's confidential health records.
UHS is located in the Betsy Cheramie Ayo Nursing Building. Services
are available from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during
fall and spring semesters and from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during summer
sessions. Nurses are available whenever Health Services is open. Physician
services are available on the premises five hours per day, Monday
through Friday, when classes are in session during the fall and spring
semesters, and three hours per day during the summer session. After
hours, students with urgent health concerns may call or go to the
Emergency Room at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center for advice or
care.
Union Services and Facilities supervises the food service operations of the University. Vernon F. Galliano Hall Cafeteria is a spacious, centralized dining facility offering nutritious food, student oriented menus, and a wide range of services to the campus community including several meal plans to fit the busy lifestyles of students, faculty, and staff, reasonable cash prices to the public, traditional local cuisine, and a catering department to accommodate the hospitality needs of the University public.
Le Mélange, a full service snack bar area, in the Student Union, offers a wide selection of food and beverages at reasonable prices. Hot and cold sandwiches, local entrees, salads, snacks, and pastries are available daily for the customer's convenience and taste preference. Godfather’s Pizza, located off the main commons area in the Student Union offers great pizza to the university community. Customers can dine in or carry out.
The experience of living on campus is one of the most important phases of University life. The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana system places the welfare of the student as the top priority in the establishment and operation of all higher education institutions.
Positive Board action has been taken in the acquisition and construction of essential housing, dining, student life, and academic facilities for the established institutions. The Board expects students to utilize these facilities to their fullest and in the best interest of all concerned.
The University requires that all full time undergraduate students, regardless of age or whether or not emancipated, live on campus as long as space is available unless exempted by the institution for good and reasonable cause, such as:
1. A case where it appears that a full time undergraduate student will suffer significant hardship or because financial, medical, or other reasons are shown to be sound and sufficient.
2. In the case of a non-traditional student where such individual is by virtue of age and experience incompatible with the educational objectives and values sought to be provided by the on campus residence program.
3. Undergraduate students living with parents, grandparents, married brother or sister, or in supervised sorority or fraternity housing.
4. Students who are married or who maintain single parent households.
Requests for exemptions should be directed to the Office of Residential Services.
Nicholls has seven modern, air conditioned residence halls. Accommodations consist of four student suites (two rooms with adjoining baths with two students sharing a room), except in the case of two men's residence halls. Students may also contract for a private room. All rooms come with comfortable furniture. Requests for applications and questions regarding housing should be directed to the Office of Residential Services.
Residence hall accommodations are operated on a room and board plan; that is, all students living in the residence halls must contract for both services. The contract for room and board is for two semesters (fall and spring) or a single summer session. Students entering into a contract must live in the residence hall for the entire contract period and must pay rates as published. The housing and food service contract does not include official University holidays, e.g., Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras, Easter, Spring Break, and days between semesters. Arrangements for housing during official holidays can be made with the Office of Residential Services.
The current cost of the Housing and Food Service Plan for the regular semester ranges from $1,576 to $1,676 (double occupancy) and $2,101 to $2,201 (private occupancy) which must be paid in full at the time of registration.
The current cost of Housing and Food Service for the seven-week summer session is $712 (double occupancy) or $902 (single occupancy) which must be paid in full at the time of registration. Students who fail to pay room and board fees when due will be subject to eviction from the residence halls; and meal privileges will be cancelled. The student will remain indebted for the balance due the University.
Refund requests for the Housing and Food Service Plan received prior to the opening of the residence halls will be refunded in full. Students who resign after the opening of the residence halls will be issued a refund in accordance with the tuition fee refund schedule, less any applicable daily charges administered prior to the beginning of classes. The housing and food service contract deposit will be forfeited.
Students who remain enrolled, but elect to move from the residence halls will generally not have the right to any refund of fees paid under the housing and food service contract. The housing and food service contract is a binding contract entered into between the student and the University. Breaking the contract by leaving the residence hall before the end of the contract period makes the remainder of the contract due and payable immediately. Only in exceptional cases may any portion of the contract amount be refundable. No refund or credit will be issued to any student who is moved from the residence halls/cafeteria due to disciplinary action. An appeal in writing through the Director of Residential Services to the Vice Presidents for Student Affairs and Business Affairs, outlining the nature and severity of the changed conditions, is necessary for any refund to be considered. The housing and food service contract deposit will be forfeited.
Applications for housing and food service may be filed at any time and must be accompanied by a $150 retention and damage deposit. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Nicholls State University. A student may cancel this contract and recover the deposit if written notice of cancellation is received by the Office of Residential Services no later than 45 days prior to the opening of the residence halls for the contract period. If a student does not claim housing space by 5 p.m. on the day before the first day of classes, the deposit will be automatically forfeited. The deposit (for students meeting all obligations of the contract) will be refunded at the end of the contract period, less any charges for damage and indebtedness due the University.
The University reserves the right to conduct inspections for damage and repairs, for compliance with housing and University regulations, and protection of the health and safety of occupants or other persons. The University reserves the right to change or cancel residence hall accommodations of any student in cases where such action is deemed necessary. Other regulations pertaining to residence halls are contained in the Residence Hall Contract and Regulations and in the Code of Student Conduct.
The University has a total of twenty unfurnished apartments (one and two bedroom). These facilities are unfurnished other than for kitchen facilities. A deposit equal to one month’s rent is required. A one bedroom unit rents for $325 per month and a two bedroom unit for $375 per month. Applications and fees for housing should be directed to the director of Residential Services.
The order of priority for assignment of apartments is as follows: (1) students with dependents, (2) students with co habitants who are not eligible for assignment to the residence halls, (3) emergency housing for faculty staff (for terms of less than six months), and (4) students eligible for assignment to the residence halls.
University police officers are responsible for law enforcement and vehicle traffic control on campus. Officers are police commissioned by the City of Thibodaux and by the director of Public Safety for the State of Louisiana. They have the right to carry concealed weapons, exercise the power of arrest, and enforce federal, state, and local laws. The Office for University Police is within the administrative area of Student Affairs.
Officers must be graduates of a basic law enforcement training academy. The department of University Police is administered by a director assisted by an assistant director, a communication officer, four part time student workers, and a secretary.
EMERGENCIES. Emergency calls are initiated through the Complaint Desk
Officer by dialing 448 4911 (on campus, dial 4911) or by reporting
to the office at Ardoyne Drive and Madewood Drive. Police service
is available and officers patrol the campus 24 hours each day of the
year. Depending on the existing emergency conditions and the seriousness
and nature of the problem, the appropriate University officer will
be notified, or the problem will be addressed directly by the police
officer investigating if it is within his or her jurisdiction to do
so.
AUTOMOBILE REGISTRATION. Any person who operates and parks an automobile on campus must pay a registration fee for an official permit valid from August 1 of each year through August 31 of the next year. The fee is $25 for the academic year and $10 for the summer session. The fee must be paid at the Controller's Office during class registration or within the first seven class days of the fall semester. Decals may be picked up at the Parking Office during office hours upon presenting a receipt from the Controller's Office. Special and temporary parking permits may also be obtained at the Parking Office. Fees are subject to change without notice.
PARKING FACILITIES. Printed regulations, signs, and street and curb markings notify drivers of parking and traffic regulations. Printed regulations are obtained with the registration of an automobile at the Parking Office. Parking spaces are available for non ambulatory disabled persons. Special parking privileges may be obtained through the Parking Office.
The operation of a vehicle on the campus is a privilege granted by
the University. The purchase of a parking permit does not guarantee
the registrant a parking space, nor does it imply that the University
assumes responsibility for that vehicle or its contents. Students,
faculty, and staff are deemed to know and understand campus parking
regulations by virtue of their choosing to take advantage of campus
parking facilities. Each parking violation incurs a $20 fine, with
a $20 penalty for late payment.
The University Bookstore, located next to the Post Office in the Student Union building, is open Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. During the first two weeks of classes in the Fall and Spring Semesters, Bookstore hours are extended to accommodate students with evening classes. Hours are posted reflecting said times and dates.
Students are allowed to obtain a full refund on textbook purchases during the first week of class in a semester, with a receipt. After the first week of class, a full refund will be given up to 30 days after start of classes, with a receipt, if within 2 days of purchase or with proof of schedule change. All other textbook refunds within the first 30 days will be honored at 75% of the purchase price, with a receipt. Textbooks must be in original condition. Refunds for Summer Session will be accepted for ONE WEEK ONLY AFTER THE START OF CLASS. Returns for special course sessions such as Intersession are not allowed after the 2nd day of class. A full copy of the Return Policy is available at the Bookstore.
The University Bookstore buys used books back every day. However, the best time to sell used books is during finals week. Selling your textbooks back at the end of a term can cut your net textbook expense by up to one half. Buyback dates and times are posted prior to finals exam week. The Bookstore will pay up to 50% of the book’s selling price, if it was requested by your professors for required use for next term, if the bookstore is not overstocked and if it is in good condition. If the book does not meet these criteria, the price paid is then based on the current national demand. For the protection of the students on campus, we always require those selling books to show current student identification.
Selection of textbooks is the responsibility of the academic departments. Course book information requests are sent to the academic departments by the Bookstore every semester. These book requests are completed and returned to the Bookstore so that the textbook procurement cycle can take place. New book prices are established by the publishers. Used books retail for 75% of the new book price.
The University Bookstore stocks all required textbooks and materials. Reference books, cookbooks, paperback readings, and a wide variety of staple materials and supplies are also available. Specialty items, NSU merchandise, greeting cards, graduation supplies, and snacks can also be purchased. U.P.S. services, fax services, sign making, binding and lamination services are all provided for a small fee.
The Bookstore accepts cash, personal checks, travelers cheques, Master
Card, Visa, American Express, and Discover as tender for purchases.
A special program called “Textbook Reservations” is not
available so that textbooks can be reserved on line at http://nich.bkstore.com.
The University Bookstore can be reached by phone at (985) 448-4540
or by fax at (985) 448-4928.
The Nicholls Post Office is located in the Donald G. Bollinger Memorial Student Union and is a satellite of the U.S. Postal Service; therefore students, faculty, staff, and non-students are eligible to rent post office boxes. The NSU Post Office offers all the usual services except the issuance of postal money orders and is currently a cash only operation. Students may pay box rentals only using other methods of payment at the fee collection center in Elkins Hall.
Continuing Education Non Credit Programs
The Office of Continuing Education Non Credit Programs develops youth and adult non-credit programs, which provide opportunities for intellectual and personal development. Fees for these programs vary, depending on the topic, the number of hours of instruction and the supplies required. Individuals may register for these programs in person, by mail, by phone, or online.
The Office of Continuing Education Non Credit Programs also contracts with off-campus groups that want to use Nicholls State University facilities and services. The Office of Continuing Education Non Credit Programs will provide a one-step service for coordinating food and housing services, scheduling of university facilities and equipment, and providing management, marketing, and fiscal monitoring for a program.
Youth Programs: One purpose of the Office of Continuing Education Non Credit Programs is to offer youth programs to the Nicholls State University community for clientele that are 18 years or younger. The variety of youth programs will include sports or athletic camps, recreation, self-development, academic and other areas needed for a comprehensive youth oriented format. Local, university, and national presenters direct and teach the programs.
All youth programs and camps are open to the public. Classes are held year-round including weekends, holidays, and evenings.
All youth camps, clinics, leagues, classes, institutes, workshops, etc. which will use campus facilities or grounds, whether sponsored by a University department, individual faculty or staff, or an outside entity, will be administered through the Office of Continuing Education Non Credit Programs located in the Student Union. This service provides marketing registration, and administration services.
Adult Programs: The Office of Continuing Education Non Credit Programs adult non-credit programs are of two major types: community enrichment and professional development. These programs are generally open to the public and do not require that participants have a high school diploma. Most classes are scheduled in the evenings or on Saturdays. Each semester, a brochure describing the current offerings is made available to the public.
Community enrichment courses are primarily special interest classes, designed to expand one’s horizons and create new interests. Courses offered vary from semester to semester and include a variety of topics ranging from folk to financial planning to microcomputers and Cajun dancing.
Professional development courses include seminars, conferences, and workshops aimed at individuals already in the workplace who need to update their knowledge and skills. Because these non-credit courses are flexible, they can be quickly arranged to meet the constantly changing needs of area businesses and industries. These programs are held on the NSU campus in Thibodaux or Houma, at local businesses, or other convenient locations.
For additional information about youth and adult non-credit programs,
contact the Office of Continuing Education Non Credit Programs: by
visiting the office across from the Post Office in the Student Union
(office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday);
by mailing to P. O. Box 2119, Thibodaux, LA 70310; by visiting our
website at www.nicholls.edu/cnc;
or by calling (985) 448-4444.
The Career Services Center at Nicholls, located in the Student Union
Ballroom, provides professional coaching and career counseling as
well as a comprehensive program on resume writing. Students, as well
as alumni, are encouraged to register with the Career Services Center
during their junior year in college. The office will help students
find part-time and summer employment while attending college and full-time
employment after graduation. The On-Campus Recruiting Program is designed
to assist graduating seniors, graduate students, and alumni with their
job search during the spring and fall semesters. A career library,
which contains literature on various companies throughout the United
States, is available for career research and interview preparation,
and the video reading library offers job candidates videotaped materials
on interviewing and up-to-date books on job search skills and resume
writing. Career Day, an event sponsored by the Career Services Center
each October, brings representatives from more than 100 local, regional,
and national companies to the campus to interview students and alumni.
Throughout the academic year, special Job Search seminars are offered
to teach students how to prepare resumes and to learn interviewing
skills. Alumni are offered all services and training materials.
The University Counseling Center (UCC) provides personal counseling for such concerns as depression, stress, self esteem, anxiety, eating disorders, career issues, and relationship issues. Individual, group, and couples counseling sessions are offered. Workshops and presentations are also offered to the campus community and through classes, student organizations, and residence halls. These services are provided by licensed counselors.
All UCC services are confidential and free of charge for registered
students, faculty, and staff. The UCC is located in 224 Elkins Hall.
Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call
448-4080 for information and appointments. For after hour emergencies
call University Police at 448-4911.
Programs and services for students with disabilities are available
through the Office of Disabled Student Services which assists students
in making adjustments to university life. Students with disabilities
must first self-identify with the Office of Disabled Student Services
and provide current documentation of their disability from an appropriate
licensed professional regarding the nature and extent of the disability
and the recommended accommodations. Before any accommodations will
be made documentation must be provided. The Office of Disabled Student
Services is located in Peltier Hall, Room 101, in conjunction with
the Testing Center. Call 448-4430 for information and appointments.
The Testing Center in Peltier Hall, Room 101, administers a variety of tests pertinent to prospective and enrolled University students, and others. The following tests are of importance to prospective students: American College Test (ACT), ACT Residual, and the University Pre-Enrollment Placement (PEP) tests. The PEP tests are used by Nicholls to place students in the correct levels of English, mathematics and reading. Enrolled students may avail themselves of tests required for admission to advanced study. These include, the Graduate Record Exam (Subject Areas), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Other tests which may be of importance to both prospective and enrolled students are the National League for Nursing (NLN), Center for Nursing Education and Testing (ACE), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Automotive Service for Excellence (ASE) and correspondence exams.
Specialized tests and inventories useful in helping the students are given in conjunction with the Freshman Studies and Academic Success. Students requesting special testing accommodations must have documentation on file in the Office of Disability Services.
The Jo Carol Nolen Speech, Language, and Hearing Center, located in Talbot Hall, has a dual function. It offers clinical practice to students training in communicative disorders. It also offers diagnostic and management services to college students, children, and adults in the Nicholls area to help them overcome communication disorders which could impair their educational, professional, and cultural growth. Such disorders include articulation problems, fluency disorders, voice disorders, aphasia, laryngectomy, and speech disorders associated with cleft palate and cerebral palsy. Individuals with varying degrees of hearing impairment are also seen for evaluation and rehabilitation.
The center is under the direction of the Department of Allied Health
Sciences. All diagnostic and management services are performed or
are closely supervised by qualified personnel who have earned the
Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing
Association and who are licensed by the Louisiana Board of Examiners
for Speech Pathology and Audiology.
The Family Resource Center provides on-site support to families in the region. Its mission is to support and strengthen families by offering resources, information, and skill development classes. Family and individual support through the center is available through a toll-free telephone line answered by volunteers from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with after hours and holiday coverage through an answering machine. Annually, a community resource directory is published. The center provides skill building out-reach programs and on-campus programs for students in parenting, budgeting, self esteem, family communications, nutrition, positive discipline, conflict resolution and others on demand. A staff is available to address, develop and implement new ideas and programs identified by professionals and community residents. Outreach programs are made available through schools, daycare centers, churches, businesses, and recreation facilities. The center is open for the lending of resources, parent support groups, and services.
The University Community agency network (U.C.A.N.) operates through
the Family Resource Center and provides information about and refers
individuals to various non-profit agencies. Students are encouraged
to volunteer in assisting with the telephone line. UCAN is located
in the portable building to the rear of the Family and Consumer Sciences
Building.
The NSU-Family Service Center is dedicated to enhancing the social and cultural infrastructure of south central Louisiana. The Family Service Center operates as an intake center for referrals from the Office of Community Services and Families in Need of Services programs. The center provides supportive services to families and utilizes a family systems perspective in treatment planning and service delivery. Parenting skills training, home-based counseling programs, mentor programs, support groups for families, respite, health services, homemaker and housing assistance, substance abuse services, independent living skills, individual and family therapy and play therapy are supportive services provided to families in the Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption parish areas. The case management services funded by and delivered through the Family Service Center accommodate the needs of families by establishing permanency, safety and well-being and promote community involvement so every family has an opportunity to experience a quality of life conducive to maximizing individual potential.
For information on bus service students should contact their local parish school board office.
Students may register to vote in the ID Card Operations Office located in the Donald G. Bollinger Student Union. When a student first obtains an identification card, he or she will be offered a voter registration form; if the student is already registered to vote, or does not wish to register, he or she must so indicate in writing.