Freshman Housing Requirements
Dear Parent(s):
The campus community is excited that your child will be joining the Nicholls State University family. I am writing to you about a very important aspect of college life. Where students live, especially during their freshman year, has a tremendous impact on the quality of the educational experience and may influence the likelihood that a student will graduate. It is for this reason that the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors has implemented a policy requiring all students to live on campus unless an exemption to this policy is met.
There are many advantages, academic and social, to living on campus. Students who live on campus get involved in student activities, are more likely to stay enrolled, graduate at higher rates and generally graduate in a shorter time period than students who live off campus. Living on campus enables students to have easy access to the library and computer labs, and it allows students to visit with faculty and staff as needed. It also reduces risks associated with driving to school and eliminates time used for driving and having to find a parking space. We are also proud that Nicholls continuously ranks among the safest campuses in America.
Additionally, the costs associated with living on campus are often overestimated. Students can reside on campus, eat three meals a day, have utilities paid for, gain a certain degree of freedom necessary to becoming an adult and not worry about a roommate’s half of the rent all for about $18 per day. Students who have a commute as short as 30 miles each way often spend around $10 per day on gas and $5-7 per day on food. For the same price, sometimes less, they can enjoy the conveniences of campus with added free time.
Your student will be mailed information about the residence hall program. The first document is a housing and food service contract. The second is an application for exemption to Board policy which requires all undergraduate students to live in the residence halls. One of these two forms must be completed and sent to the Office of Housing Operations.
If your child will live at home while attending school, the exemption request form should be completed and returned to the address noted on the form. If he/she will not be living with you while attending school, he/she must reside in the residence halls until 30 credit hours have been earned. After the completion of 30 credit hours or two semesters, your child will be eligible to live in the La Maison Du Bayou apartments, our upper classmen on-campus complex. After completion of 60 hours, students are eligible to live off campus.
We look forward to seeing your son/daughter in the fall. Please contact our office at (985)448-4479 if we can be of further assistance. Please visit www.nicholls.edu/housing and www.nicholls.edu/dining to find additional information regarding life on campus. Please be assured that we will do what is possible to make your loved one’s experience the very best possible.
Sincerely,
Scott Jenkins
Director of Housing Operations and Student Union
Housing 985-448-4479
Student Union 985-448-4519
scott.jenkins@nicholls.edu