GENERAL INFORMATION
University Namesake: Francis T. Nicholls [ Top of Page ]
Francis Redding Tillou Nicholls was born on August 20, 1834, in Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish. After his graduation from West Point in 1855, he practiced law in South Louisiana. During the Civil War he rose to the rank of brigadier general. His battlefield wounds cost him his left arm and leg and he was a prisoner of war. After the war he returned to his law practice in Napoleonville. The Louisiana State Democratic Party nominated him for governor in 1876. His election generally is considered to mark the end to Louisiana's political Reconstruction and the reestablishment of "Home Rule."
His second tenure as governor (1888-1892) was climaxed by his successful opposition to the corrupt Louisiana Lottery Company. With his term completed, he was named chief justice to the Louisiana Supreme Court. He retired to his Thibodaux home in 1911 and died in 1912.
Institutional Purpose [ Top of Page ]
Nicholls State University, located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, is a comprehensive, regional university serving south central Louisiana. Tax-supported and coeducational, it first opened its doors September 23, 1948, as Francis T. Nicholls Junior College of Louisiana State University.
In 1956, the Louisiana Legislature separated Nicholls from LSU and authorized it to develop four-year curricula. Thus, in September 1956, the former junior college began operation as Francis T. Nicholls State College. It granted its first degrees in May 1958. Act 93 of the State Legislature in 1970 changed the name to Nicholls State University.
Nicholls is located in the heart of ?Cajun Country,? an area rich in tradition and culture. Its location in the heart of the Mississippi River delta, allows easy access to the river, its tributaries, Louisiana's wetlands, and the Gulf of Mexico. The 210-acre campus in Thibodaux, is approximately 50 miles southwest of New Orleans and 60 miles southeast of Baton Rouge.
For more than half a century, Nicholls State University has been the sole provider of higher education in a region with abundant cultural and natural resources. The University?s strong general education program prepares students to exercise leadership in a global society and enhances their ability to create a vision for the future. By maintaining a major partnership with businesses, local school systems, community agencies, and other educational institutions, Nicholls actively participates in the development of the region.
Established along the banks of Bayou Lafourche, in the heart of one of the nation?s major estuaries, Nicholls provides unique opportunities for instruction and research in the fields of marine and environmental science. The University has taken advantage of its strategic location to assume a leadership role in a region with ample resources in agricultural, fishing, petrochemical, and oil field-related industries. As a leader, the University continues to contribute significantly to the growth of the region in regard to new technology, manufacturing, and international trade.
Nicholls maintains a strong commitment to the well-being of the people of the region. Through the expansion of health science programs, the University collaborates with a nationally recognized health care industry in the Houma-Thibodaux metropolitan area to meet the needs of its constituents.
Vision Statement [ Top of Page ]
Nicholls State University, a quality institution of higher education, is dedicated to meeting the unique geographic and multi-cultural needs of south central Louisiana and beyond.
Mission Statement [ Top of Page ]
Nicholls State University commits itself to offering an excellent comprehensive education that meets the needs of the communities it serves. Through quality teaching, research, and service, the University strives to achieve accreditation in all eligible programs, evidence of its commitment to south central Louisiana and beyond.
Philosophy Statement [ Top of Page ]
Nicholls State University accomplishes its mission through optimum use of its human, intellectual, and fiscal resources and by responding assertively to a diverse student population in a management environment that promotes faculty and staff involvement.
Clientele [ Top of Page ]
Nicholls State University serves a diverse population of traditional and non-traditional students, as well as professional, social, and cultural groups who contribute to the University and benefit from their relationship with it.
Comparative Advantage [ Top of Page ]
The principle of ?Excellence in Education with a Personal Touch? has become embedded in the organizational culture of the University. This principle promotes an academic and social environment where students interact with caring faculty and staff and receive individualized attention.
Strategic Goals [ Top of Page ]
In an effort to fulfill its mission, the following strategic goals have been developed.
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Strategic Goal 1 - Advance knowledge in higher education
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Strategic Goal 2 - Increase opportunities for student access to and success in higher education
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Strategic Goal 3 - Promote responsible citizenship and leadership within an increasingly diverse population
- Strategic Goal 4 - Promote the social, cultural, and economic development of the region
Accreditation [ Top of Page ]
Regional/University
Nicholls State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, master and specialist levels. Inquiries relating to the accreditation status of Nicholls State University can be mailed to Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 30033-4097, or may be directed to (404) 679-4501 via telephone.
College, Departmental, and Program
The College of Business Administration's baccalaureate and master's degrees are accredited by the AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The specialist degree program in School Psychology has the full approval of the National Association of School Psychologists.
The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Council for Accreditation.
The Department of Mass Communication is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
The Division of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Each of the eligible programs within the Department of Allied Health Sciences is fully accredited. The Cardiopulmonary Care Science program and the advanced course offerings in Respiratory Therapy have full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care; the Cytology program is accredited by CAAHEP in cooperation with the Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee of the American Society of Cytopathology; the Emergency Medical Services Paramedic program is accredited by CAAHEP in cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Training Education Programs; and the Dietetics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association.
The degree program in Chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training.
The Computer Science curriculum is accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board.
Degree programs in Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Both of the degree programs in the Department of Nursing, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program and the Associate of Science Nursing Program, are fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission; additionally, the BSN Program is accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Nursing Continuing Education Program is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation.
Administrative
The Tutorial and Academic Enhancement Center is certified by the National Tutoring Association and the College Reading and Learning Association.
The University Counseling Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc.
Ellender Memorial Library [ Top of Page ]
Allen J. Ellender Memorial Library, an imposing three-story contemporary structure, houses more than 436,000 volumes, 3,000 journal titles, and 350,000 catalogued federal and state documents. It provides well lit study areas for fifteen hundred patrons. Centrally and conveniently located, it faces the Student Union, is no more than a block or two from campus dormitories, and no more than a four-minute walk from most classroom buildings.
Service is the first priority of the library's faculty and staff. At the central reference desk librarians offer one-on-one help by answering questions and providing instruction in library skills. Library faculty also provide instruction in basic library skills, an integral part of University College classes in freshman studies.
Interlibrary loan personnel offer personalized services to patrons who need materials from other libraries. They use the latest on-line computer technology to locate and request materials from nearby and distant libraries. Ellender librarians also visit classes to explain topics of particular interest to students and instructors.
The Ellender collections can be found on all three floors. On the first floor are the Allen J. Ellender Archives and the Multimedia Center (audio and visual media, and music listening rooms). The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Lab, and Inter-Library Loan are located on the first floor also. On the second floor are the central reference desk, the circulation desk, and the reference, reserve and general book collections. The third floor houses serials (periodicals) and government documents. All collections are easily accessible through open shelving, convenient service stations and the computerized card catalogue known as i Link.
Ellender Archives, part of the Special Collections Department, serves as a repository for primary and secondary materials relating to Louisiana. The largest collection within Archives is the papers of Senator Allen J. Ellender (1,500 linear feet), which document his thirty-five-year career in the U. S. Senate. Other original materials available to patrons include antebellum plantation papers, local business records, diaries and journals, historical photographs, regional and rare books, and a genealogy collection. Archives is also home to the papers of past University presidents and to University yearbooks, student newspaper files, special reports, photographs, and related items that document the growth of the institution.
Although the information needs of Nicholls students and University personnel are the first priority of the staff, all patrons are welcome to use the resources of the Library. Detailed information concerning borrowing privileges is available at the circulation desk.
When classes are in session, the library is open from 7:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays; from noon to 4 p.m. each Saturday; and from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. each Sunday. Archives follows a different schedule: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. each Tuesday, and noon to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month. Service hours during examination periods, holidays, and intersessions are posted on the Library’s website, at the library and published in the student newspaper and the faculty-staff newsletter.
Alumni Federation [ Top of Page ]
The Nicholls State University Alumni Federation, chartered in 1960, is composed of graduates and former students who have successfully completed at least one semester and a minimum of twelve semester hours. A board of directors elected by the general membership directs Federation activities. The Federation conducts an annual business meeting each spring on campus. Active members are those who have paid annual dues. The board bestows special honorary membership on carefully chosen friends of the University. Nicholls faculty members hold associate membership in the Federation.
The organization maintains and promotes a mutually beneficial relationship between the University and its alumni. It publishes The Colonel, a quarterly; sponsors homecoming activities; and awards 10 scholarships each year: eight $800 awards per semester based on academic performance (four to freshmen, four to upperclass students), the Clift Gresham Scholarship awarded to an upperclass business major on the basis of academic performance valued at $800 a semester, and the F. Smith Knoblock Legal Assistant Studies Major Scholarship valued at $350 a semester awarded to an upperclass student having a 3.0 grade-point average.
The director of Alumni Affairs supervises day-to-day activities from an office on campus in the Clarence James Jr. Alumni House at 203 Audubon Drive. The mailing address is P. O. Box 2158, Nicholls Station, Thibodaux, LA 70310; Telephone number 985-448-4111.
Chef John Folse Culinary Institute [ Top of Page ]
The Institute preserves and fosters the rich culinary heritage of Louisiana. It administers both a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Arts and an Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts and provides opportunities for professional and personal development in the culinary arts to the community. The institute serves as a center for partnerships with the foodservice industry within and outside the state.
Center for Women and Government [ Top of Page ]
The mission of the Louisiana Center for Women and Government at Nicholls is to encourage the future leadership of women by preparing them for public service through non-partisan provision and support of education, research, training, and the development of creative programs. Among the programs offered by the Center are a unique internship program and faculty research grant. The Center also hosts seminars and conferences, and has instituted a Hall of Fame to honor outstanding Louisiana women for their contributions to the public sector.
Center for the Study of Dyslexia [ Top of Page ]
The Center for the Study of Dyslexia is a state Center, housed in Polk and Peltier Halls and administered through University College. The major functions of the Center are to prepare teachers to serve individuals with dyslexia through clinical and educational intervention, to provide direct service to Nicholls State University students and area residents, and to conduct psycho-educational assessments for children and adults. Additionally, the Center disseminates information about dyslexia, contributes to state policy regarding dyslexia, and conducts research that contributes to the study of dyslexia.
Rural Development Institute [ Top of Page ]
The Rural Development Institute was established to provide leadership to communities and to facilitate programs and services that enhance regional community development efforts in rural South Louisiana. The mission for the Institute is fulfilled through four interrelated programs: education and training, community outreach, applied research and development, and telecommunications. The programs are designed to build active partnerships with communities, businesses, industries, and governmental agencies.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDY [ Top of Page ]
Nicholls State had a vision over a quarter of a century ago to expand its classrooms from a regional campus in Louisiana to a global environment. Today, the university has ten international study sites around the world. The university continues its commitment to this vision. As part of its mission, the University strives to prepare students to interpret and respond to changing regional, national, and global societies. One way of accomplishing this goal is to educate students in different parts of the world as well as in diversified cultures.
Art Program [ Top of Page ]
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Office: |
221-225 Talbot Hall |
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Phone: |
448-4597 |
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Program Director: |
Jean Donegan |
The Division of Art offers an educational travel opportunity each summer which departs in early June. Accompanied by faculty of Nicholls State, students participate in an organized tour which concentrates on a few countries in Europe. Some past itineraries have included Ireland, England and France, Spain, the French Riviera and Northern Italy, and Greece and Italy. The length of the program is approximately nineteen days and is designed to offer on-site experiences while providing the opportunity of fulfilling academic courses in art, fine arts, art history, humanities and field study for studio courses in photography and drawing. Annual programs are available to all students and individuals in the community.
HONORS ABROAD PROGRAM [ Top of Page ]
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Office: |
245 Peltier Hall |
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Phone: |
448-4610 |
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Program Director: |
Martin Simpson |
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Program Coordinator: |
John Doucet |
The University has established a study abroad program to England for students who are enrolled in the Honors Program. The program offers a cross-cultural educational opportunity by placing students in England as part of their undergraduate experience. Students are enrolled in a special set of courses such as history and English. Students begin their courses on the campus of Nicholls. In a four-week period during the semester, students attend classes at the University of Plymouth in England. Students return to the campus of Nicholls to complete their courses and semester. Nicholls faculty teach the courses and design extra-curricular activities to take advantage of the different cultural setting. Students are housed in the dormitories of the university.
One of the largest universities in England, the University of Plymouth is located in Plymouth and has approximately 23,000 students. The city of Plymouth is a port city in the southwestern part of England.
Glossary [ Top of Page ]
Academic Sequence Courses - Those which must be taken in designated order of sequence. Completion of a lower-numbered course is a requisite in order to master subject matter presented in the next higher course. Each department designates sequence courses within its department. Placement tests may be used to determine where a student begins a sequence.
Academic Year - That period beginning with the summer session and including the fall and spring semesters.
Adjusted (Internal) Grade Point Average - A student's grade-point average computed by subtracting the hours and quality points earned in all previous attempts in a repeated course from the overall number of hours and quality points.
Audit - To pay fees and register for a class or classes as an observer only and receive no credit for it.
Certification - Process by which Louisiana State Department of Education grants licensure.
Clinical Practice - Student teaching or internships that provide candidates with an intensive and extensive culminating activity. Candidates are immersed in the learning community and are provided opportunities to develop and demonstrate competence in the professional role for which they are preparing.
College - An academic unit of the University, administered by a dean and staffed by faculty members, which provides an academic program.
Concentration - An alternative track of courses within a Major or Option, accounting for at least 30% of the Major requirements. Concentrations may be instituted by the affected system and campus without prior approval by the Board of Regents.*
Corequisite - A concurrent requirement; usually a course or some other condition that must be taken or met at the same time as another course.
Credit - A measurement of course work completed satisfactorily. Ordinarily, one semester hour credit is given for one hour of class attendance per week for a period of one semester. However, in some courses, such as laboratory courses, two or three clock hours of attendance per week are required to earn one semester hour. A specified number of credits must be earned for a degree. Some colleges and universities, unlike Nicholls, operate on a quarter basis; that is, they divide the year into four quarters and give quarter credits. Quarter credits multiplied by two thirds equal semester credits. Semester credits multiplied by one and one half equal quarter credits.
Curriculum - A description of required and elective courses for a Degree Program.*
Degree - The title of the award conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school upon completion of a unified program of study (e.g., Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts).*
Degree Program - Any grouping of campus-approved courses and requirements (e.g., minimum GPA required, comprehensive examinations, English and Math proficiency) which, when satisfactorily completed by a student will entitle him or her to a degree from a public institution of higher education.*
Degree of Subject Area - The primary discipline which constitutes the focus of a Degree Program. When a student satisfactorily completes a Degree Program, he/she will be entitled to a degree in the appropriate subject area (e.g., Biology, History, Vocal Arts).*
Degree Title - The complete label of a Degree Program, consisting of a Degree Designation (e.g., Associate of Science) and the Degree Subject Area (e.g., Biology).
Department - The unit of instructional organization in a particular discipline.
Developmental Course - One designed to enable students to develop the skills required to do college-level work.
Dispositions - The values, commitments, and professional ethics that influence behaviors toward students, families, colleagues, and communities and affect student learning, motivation, and development as well as the educator's own professional growth. Dispositions are guided by beliefs and attitudes related to values such as caring, fairness, honesty, responsibility, and social justice.
Elective - A course chosen by the student, as opposed to a required course. The term "elective," without a qualifier, will be understood to be a free elective, chosen by the student at his or her option from all the courses offered by the University for degree credit, with due regard for prerequisites. An approved elective is not open to the free choice of the student.
*Equivalent - When used in a course prerequisite, this term means either credit in a comparable course or adequate preparation by other experience. Determination of equivalency is at the discretion of the individual departments.
Fine Arts - The Board of Regents recognizes the following disciplines as Fine Arts courses: music, visual arts, applied arts, theatre, dance, and interdisciplinary.
Good Standing - The status of a student who is eligible to continue in or return to the University.
Graduate Student - A student who has received a baccalaureate degree and has been officially admitted to Graduate Studies.
Humanities - The Board of Regents recognizes the following disciplines as Humanities courses: literature, foreign languages, history, communications, philosophy, and interdisciplinary.
In-depth Certification - Area of expertise in Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies.
International Student - A student who is a citizen and resident of a foreign country and who is attending Nicholls on a visa from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Licensure - The official recognition by a state governmental agency that an individual has met certain qualifications specified by the state and is, therefore, approved to practice in an occupation as a professional.
Major - That part of a Degree Program which consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline(s) or field(s). The name of the Major is usually consistent with the Degree Subject Area. A Major usually consists of 25% or more of total hours required in an undergraduate curriculum. Establishment of a Major requires prior approval by the Board of Regents.*
Major Professor - A member of the graduate faculty who closely advises and counsels a graduate student.
Minor - That part of a Degree Program which consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline(s) or field(s), consisting usually of 15% or more of total hours required in an undergraduate curriculum. Minors may be instituted by the affected system and campus without prior approval by the Board of Regents.*
Official Cumulative (External) Grade Point Average - A student's grade point average based on the total number of quality points earned divided by total number of quality hours attempted. This is the official GPA posted on the transcript and used to determine academic honors and class standing.
Option - An alternative track of courses within a Major, accounting for at least 50% of the Major requirements. Establishment of an Option requires prior approval by the Board of Regents.*
Pathway - Chosen field of certification.
Prerequisites - A course or courses to be completed or conditions to be met before a student is eligible to enroll in a more advanced course. Prerequisites are listed in each course description.
Primary Certification - Consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline which provides expertise.
Quality Point - Result obtained when the numerical value of a letter grade (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) is multiplied by the credit hours for the course.
Registration - The process by which a student, upon payment of required fees, is enrolled in one or more classes.
Residence Credit - Credit earned by a student in residence by virtue of enrollment in University day or evening classes conducted on campus.
Resident - A student whose home or legal residence, as defined by the policy of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, is in Louisiana and is therefore not required to pay the out of state fee.
Secondary Focus - Consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline.
Semester - A period consisting of about four and one-half months.
Semester Average - A student's grade-point average based on the total number of quality points earned divided by total number of semester hours attempted in a given semester.
Semester Hour - The unit by which course work is measured. The number of semester hours assigned to a course is usually determined by the number of hours the class meets each week.
Social and Behavioral Sciences - The Board of Regents recognizes the following disciplines as social and behavioral sciences: economics, geography, government, psychology, and sociology.
Student Schedule - The courses in which a student is enrolled.
Transfer Student - One who has attended another college or university before entering Nicholls.
Transition Points - A point in the education program where the progress of each candidate is reviewed and evaluated.
Undergraduate - A student who has not yet received the baccalaureate degree.
Upperclass student - A sophomore, junior, or senior.
*As defined by Board of Regents.