To: Community and Friends of Nicholls State University
From: Stephen T. Hulbert, President
Through administrative reports, news releases, and the resulting media coverage, you are aware that the Nicholls State University Intercollegiate Athletics Program has been the subject of an on-going investigation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
To: Faculty and Staff
From: Stephen T. Hulbert, President
Yesterday afternoon, the University received notification from University of Louisiana System President Sally Clausen announcing a budget reduction initiative. Based on a directive from Governor Kathleen Blanco, the U. L. System is effecting a “savings target” to bring the current year budget to the 98.25% level for the year ending on June 30, 2005. The 1.75 percent “savings target” assigned to the U. L. System amounts to a total of $5,033,400 of which $408,500 is the share assigned to Nicholls State University. This budget reduction is not one time in nature but we are being asked by Governor Blanco “to continue these efficiencies through the next fiscal year.”
In accordance with the established reporting deadlines for the Office of Planning and Budget, we have been given our own deadline of noon on Thursday, January 27th, to complete the decision-making process and to submit the necessary reports in which we identify the sources of the program and service cuts.
This budget reduction comes in a fiscal year of enrollment growth, which in itself entails additional institutional and operating costs. When one considers that in bringing up the 2004-05 fiscal year budget, it was necessary to implement an approximate four percent budget reduction within the University that, combined with the 1.75 cut, reflects the evolving burden on the institution, the academic program, and the students both serve.
I sincerely regret the necessity of the action and the expedited decision-making process. Decisions will be made within the central administration over the next 48 hours but with notification to the broad University community for communication purposes. I will also be inviting representatives of the various University constituent groups to briefings in this matter.
I appreciate the continued hard work and support of everyone in the Nicholls family, as we move through what clearly will be another period of challenging financial conditions. Budget planning for the 2005-06 Fiscal Year ahead and considerations regarding tuition and fee revenues will be very much impacted by the budget shortfall facing the State of Louisiana.
Of necessity, Nicholls will have to work carefully over this period, as we complete the transition to admission standards 2005 and prepare for SACS accreditation 2006.
To: Faculty and Staff
From: Stephen T. Hulbert, President
This message is being written on the eve of the reopening of the University and the beginning of classes for the Spring Semester 2005. I hope that each of you are rested and relaxed after the long mid-year break and have enjoyed the recent holidays.The Spring Semester Faculty Institute was a most productive event. The various presentations on planning, preparation for the SACS accreditation and academic advising demonstrated just how much activity has occurred over the fall months. I am particularly appreciative of the faculty, staff and broader community support for the planning effort.
While many of us were away between the Christmas and New Year holidays, private contractors supported by physical plant personnel were hard at work with classroom and related support service facility renovations. Powell Hall, Talbot Hall and the front areas of the Student Union were the recipients of more major work. Additionally, further work was completed on parking lots and road surfaces.
As I indicated at Faculty Institute, I appreciate the participation of upwards of 120 faculty and staff in the eight informal "coffee" discussions that I held over the course of the fall semester. These candid, free flowing conversations were most instructive in helping me to better understand issues and concerns before the University. Another series of these "coffee" discussions have been scheduled for the February and March months ahead.
From the comments by Laynie Pizzolatto, before the Institute, you are aware that much work lies ahead this semester to prepare for the 2006 SACS accreditation visit. Faculty and staff will be asked for information and support of this process. The timely response by all involved will be greatly appreciated and is central to the University’s success during the SACS review.
In another area of accreditation, the College of Business Administration is now awaiting the arrival of the visiting team for its reaffirmation of accreditation by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) February 27 – March 2, 2005. The business faculty have completed an impressive self-study document and have every reason to be most confident in the forthcoming assessment.
The recent tragedy in Asia has prompted faculty members to e-mail me expressing hope that the University community will come together to provide formal support to the affected people. Representatives of Faculty Senate, the Student Government Association, the Classified Staff and the Unclassified Counsel will be working together to initiate such a fund raising initiative. While I know that many of us have already given to this cause, as the opportunity presents itself I hope each of us will consider contributing to this university community sponsored initiative.
Last fall I had the opportunity to be involved in teaching a class at the graduate level within the College of Education. While I very much enjoyed the student contact, teaching on such occasions only too clearly reminds me just how challenging and demanding the life of a faculty member truly is on a daily basis. Please know that I appreciate the hard work and dedication of faculty and staff alike. I wish each of you only the best over the spring semester ahead.
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.