University President

TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Stephen T. Hulbert, President

This week you will be seeing and hearing media coverage regarding the Fall Semester 2004 enrollment. The number of students enrolled at Nicholls State University is at its highest since 1992 and students arriving at the University are better prepared for admission. The data reflects a 220 student or 3.03 percent increase this fall compared to one year ago. The data also shows record high ACT scores and enrollment figures for new freshmen and a record high number of full-time students.

The 7,482 students currently enrolled include 6,787 undergraduates (up 4.03 percent) and 695 graduate students. Full-time enrollment is at a record 5,753 and another 1,729 students take classes on a part-time basis. These gains are even more significant when considering that recent increases in the University’s graduation rates have resulted in a reduction in the number of returning seniors. This fall, average ACT scores for freshmen entering Nicholls rose from 19.50 to 19.73, which is significant progress, especially when looked at in light of the rising number of incoming freshmen.

One factor contributing to the higher enrollment is that the University allocated a record $2,086,966 in scholarship support this year, almost $800,000 more than two years ago. As a result, the number of academically talented scholarship recipients is increasing. In fact the University successfully recruited 39 valedictorians this year, compared to 24 for the year before.

The retention rate of last year’s full-time, first-time freshman class, 65.3 percent, was higher than the 57.6 percent that returned the year before. The number of first-time freshmen earning Tuition Opportunity Program for Students scholarships rose from 514, or 35.3 percent, to 666 or 40.5 percent. The total number of Nicholls students on TOPS scholarships rose from 1,455 to 1,674.

I want to use this means to acknowledge the hard work of involved administrative staff in Admissions, Financial Aid and Records and Registration, among other areas, for their extraordinary effort to recruit and retain students. Just as importantly, I want to thank everyone across the University community for their individual and collective contribution to the recruitment and retention effort. Together, we have worked more efficiently and more effectively to recruit and retain better-prepared students. The substantial effort to streamline the enrollment process, to enhance related student services and to make even more scholarship dollars available is showing results and will continue to do so.

Nicholls State University will move to even more selective admissions standards next fall. Through the effort of so many of you within the University community, I feel that Nicholls is well positioned to successfully transition to that higher level of admissions standard.
Thank you for your significant contributions and support in this challenging area. We have much more work to do together but success is clearly within our institutional reach.

Accompanying this message you will find an attachment that provides more detailed information on the enrollment, retention and related matters referenced in this statement.

Fall 2004 Enrollment Analysis – (PDF) (Excel)

TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Stephen T. Hulbert, President

For a second year I am writing to all Nicholls State University employees emphasizing the obligation each of us share to conform with governing statute, policy and procedure. No matter what our particular role within the University, we each share certain responsibilities. More specifically, as university employees we are expected to exhibit the utmost integrity in all matters related to institutional operations. In fulfilling this responsibility, it is critical that faculty and staff members are aware of and follow all governing laws, regulations, policies and procedures that pertain to their respective role within university operations.

Managing university resources is a more complex and challenging responsibility then ever before. To fulfill its responsibility in this area and to ensure institutional integrity, the University administration has established and maintains a system of internal operating controls. Through these internal controls, or more specifically operating policies and procedures, the University seeks to safeguard public assets while guaranteeing conformance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

One attribute of this system of internal control involves the work of the University’s Internal Auditor. The Internal Auditor is guided by a substantial body of professional practice consisting of position duties and responsibilities, standards and statements of ethical behavior. The Internal Auditor routinely monitors university business practices at all levels against established law, regulations, policies and procedures. The work of the Internal Auditor reflects on objective and professional evaluation of these activities as a means of ensuring that laws, regulations, policies and procedures are being followed in line with stated goals and objectives.

Employees affected by an internal audit review should see such an initiative as an opportunity to assess overall effectiveness and efficiency. Employees are expected to exercise open cooperation with the Internal Auditor in completing such a review.

Nicholls State University is committed to distinguishing itself as a quality institution of higher education through excellence in teaching, research and service. Each of us, no matter our role in the University, contributes to that success by fulfilling our responsibilities with integrity.

To that end, I want to thank each of you for your continued cooperation and support of this fine university.