After a day of negotiations with a mediator and representatives of the state, Acadia and the university, the parties agreed to a purchase price of $4.5 million for the 57 acres being purchased. "I am delighted by what this means for the future of Nicholls, both for the long-term and for the immediate future," Dr. Stephen Hulbert, university president, said. "This land allows us the space we need to expand, develop and modernize our university."

The first parcel, bordering Highway 1 and Bowie Road, is the planned site of a 39,000-square-foot building for the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute. The second parcel, bordering Bowie Road and Ardoyne Drive, will be used in part for a planned student recreation center and recreation fields. The donated third parcel of 17 acres is located to the south of Ardoyne Drive.

"I deeply appreciate the generosity Jake Giardina and Ronald Adams displayed in donating the additional parcel of land," Hulbert said. "The Nicholls campus is in the midst of numerous expansion and renovation projects, and this land will help to meet the future needs of our students, faculty and staff."

Hulbert added, "I want to also express my appreciation to Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Jerry Luke LeBlanc, the commissioner of administration, and Rep. Warren Triche for their unwavering support throughout the acquisition process."

Hulbert said the agreement allows the university to move forward with the construction of the recreation center, which has already been designed, and with a capital campaign to fund the culinary building. Nicholls students have been paying a fee of $74.25 per semester since 2003 to finance the 63,000-square-foot recreation center.

FR: Stephen T. Hulbert, President

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Laura Badeaux as the new Director of the Louisiana Center for Women and Government. Dr. Badeaux was recommended by a search committee composed of regional council members, as chaired by Dr. Michele Caruso. She will assume her new responsibilities on June 18, 2007.

Dr. Badeaux is highly qualified to lead the Center, having been an avid supporter and advocate for the Center since its inception over sixteen years ago. She has significant experience in governmental affairs, currently serving as the State Chair of the Louisiana Commission on Women’s Policy and Research. At Nicholls, she recently completed a term as President of Faculty Senate and has been a campus leader for many years.

Dr. Badeaux holds a Ph.D. in Management, Business Communications and Marketing from Louisiana State University and is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Sciences. She is known for service to the community and state; she speaks and teaches Leadership, Communications, Public Relations, Organization of Volunteers, and Parliamentary Procedure. Dr. Badeaux is an active member of numerous community organizations and she has an inside view of politics and government, having worked on several political campaigns.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Badeaux on her new leadership position and in offering her our support and encouragement in this important endeavor.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco has declared today, Friday, April 20, a statewide Day of Mourning to honor victims of the Virginia Tech University tragedy. The governor has asked churches and other structures throughout the state to toll their bells at 10 a.m. today. She also has asked that all Louisianans participate in a statewide moment of silence at that time.

"The pain shared among citizens following the tragedy at Virginia Tech reaches far beyond Blacksburg and into the hearts and minds of Louisianans," Gov. Blanco said. "We stand beside our friends in the Commonwealth of Virginia, just as Virginians stood by us in our moment of need. We will continue to offer our prayers and support to members of the Hokie community as they recover from this horrific event."

In a letter sent yesterday expressing gratitude for prayers and well wishes extended from citizens across the nation, Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine asked governors to join the Commonwealth’s Day of Mourning today.

"It is clear that difficult days lie ahead as we all embrace the grieving process that is sure to come. Again, I thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask that you continue to keep Virginia Tech in your hearts and minds as we all work together to overcome this horrific tragedy," Gov. Kaine said.

Gov. Blanco ordered that United States flags be flown at half staff at all state buildings through April 22, keeping with President George W. Bush’s order. The Governor also instructed Commissioner of Higher Education Joe Savoie and State Police Col. Henry Whitehorn to reinforce all campus safety plans.

Again, please join me and observe a moment of silence at 10 a.m. today.

Stephen T. Hulbert
President

I know that all of our thoughts and prayers are with the administration, faculty, staff, students and the entire Virginia Tech University extended family in the aftermath of yesterday’s tragic events. The pain and anguish caused by these actions will affect thousands of people for years to come as they work to understand why this situation occurred.

I am sure that other higher education leaders across the country have been taking time to review procedures to ensure that everything is in place in the event a similar act were to occur at their respective institutions. I want each of you to know Nicholls is prepared to respond to a variety of emergency situations as demonstrated by the university’s response to the alleged student kidnapping that occurred Thursday, April 12.

Through this medium, I again commend Nicholls university police officers for their timely and professional conduct during that investigation and apprehension. Also, be assured that senior administration and university police will continue to update the university’s crisis and emergency plans as necessary to insure the safety of our faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors.

Virginia Tech, like Nicholls, is noted for its caring attitude towards students and its commitment to providing a quality educational experience. Although I know with time that Virginia Tech will recover, my prayers are with them as they work through these trying times. I urge you to continue to keep them in your prayers as well.

Stephen T. Hulbert
President

WHEREAS, Nicholls State University has embraced DIVERSITY as a core value in the 2006-2010 Strategic Plan; and

WHEREAS, the university community is committed to respecting differences among members of society by providing a nurturing and tolerant environment; and

WHEREAS, the university has adopted the goal of promoting a diverse university community to provide an enriched and challenging educational experience;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that I, Stephen T. Hulbert, as President of Nicholls State University, do hereby declare that October 23 through October 29, 2006 as Diversity Week at Nicholls State University; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university remains committed to Diversity as a core value which guides the institution in its activities; and,

FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that all members of the university community are encouraged to attend Diversity Week activities.

Stephen T. Hulbert
President
Nicholls State University

Late in the summer, university projections called for a significant enrollment decline, which at the time, was seen as reaching as high as 6% percent or approximately 400 students. Through extraordinary efforts, the actual fall enrollment is significantly more than anticipated.

Fall 2006 14th class day has passed and the numbers are official. The fall 2006 official enrollment is 6,814, which is down 72 students from last fall’s enrollment without the 645 displaced students from Hurricane Katrina. Implementation of the Board of Regents Master Plan took its full effect with this entering class. Last summer, students were allowed to enter as freshmen without meeting standards since the implementation was scheduled for the fall 2005 semester.

This fall’s first-time freshman class total is 1,119, down 182, which was expected with this full implementation of the Master Plan. As has been the case for the past couple of years, we have a much more academically prepared class entering the university. Among this class are 48 valedictorians, up from 40 last year. The average composite ACT score for this class is 20.92, up 2.0% from last year’s 20.51. Over half of the class is currently receiving the TOPS scholarship (50.2%).

Our fall 2005 entering class fared well, even with the effects of the hurricanes. The fall-to-fall retention rate of last year’s entering class is up to 63.4%. The most significant increase was in African American students whose retention rate increased over 13% to 62.45%. The TOPS students’ retention rate is 75%. We have also retained 92.5% of last year’s valedictorian scholarship recipients (37 of 40).

Overall, enrollment is down in the freshman class only. With the improvements in retention, we currently have a larger sophomore, junior and senior class than we did last year. We also had an 11% increase in graduate students due to a 14.7% increase in graduate programs in the College of Education. The total number of TOPS recipients we have currently enrolled continues to climb even with enrollment dropping. We currently have 1,755 students receiving TOPS, of our undergraduate enrollment. Last year, we had 1,690, 26.9% of the undergraduate enrollment was TOPS students. A detailed enrollment report can be found at the following web site: http://www.nicholls.edu/ir/Publications/Enroll%20Stats%20Fa06.pdf

Although total enrollment is slightly down, we are definitely moving in the right direction. The constantly improving student body and improved retention rates all point to continued development of Nicholls State University as a premier institution serving the citizens of our region and beyond.

Every ten years the intercollegiate athletics program of all Division I/IAA member institutions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) must undergo a certification review. The athletics program at Nicholls State University is scheduled to begin the self-study process this fall with a final certification decision being made by the NCAA in February 2008.

The actual timetable for the certification review process is as follows:

• Orientation – September 21, 2006
• Self-Study – October 2006 * April 2007
• Self-Study Submission – May 15, 2007
• Initial NCAA Review – June 2007
• Campus Evaluation Visit September – December 2007
• Final Committee Review and NCAA Decision – February 2008

An integral part of the certification review involves a year-long self-study conducted by a Steering Committee, the composition of which is broadly representative of campus constituencies.

The composition of the Nicholls State University Athletic Certification Steering Committee is as follows:

Allayne Barrilleaux, Assistant V.P. for Academic Affairs (Chair)
Robert Bernardi, Director of Athletics
Glenn Antizzo, Associate Professor of Government
Louise Bonin, Senior Women Administrator/Associate Athletic Director
David Boudreaux, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Michele Caruso, Dean of Student Services and Director of University Counseling Center
Sharon Daigle, Internal Auditor
Judy Daniels, Dean of Student Life
Al Davis, Dean of University College
John Doucet, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Robert Galinsky, Compliance Coordinator, Department of Athletics
Heather Gamble, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President
Becky Pennington, Assistant V.P. for Institutional Advancement
Debbie Raziano, Alumni Director
Arrianna Smith, Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education
Cyril Djoukeng, Student
As President, I consider the athletic program certification process and, more specifically, the year-long self-study initiative to be a high priority. The affairs of the intercollegiate athletic program must be open for review to the University and broader communities.

The Steering Committee has the authority to look critically at the University’s intercollegiate athletic program and related services, to make recommendations for institutional improvement and to speak on behalf of Nicholls to the NCAA and its peer-review team.

Ultimately, all of us at Nicholls share responsibility for the athletic program. The self-study process permits us the opportunity to affirm the positive aspects of intercollegiate athletics and to seek to identify and resolve any aspects of that program requiring attention.

I will communicate with the University community as the certification review process moves forward.

The opening of the Fall Semester 2006 marks the beginning of my fourth year at Nicholls State University. During my first three years at the University, I have spent much time getting to know the character of Nicholls while seeking to provide leadership to the campus through some unique and sometimes trying circumstances. Since 2003, we have experienced turmoil with budget cuts and visits from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a challenge to academic integrity with the NCAA investigation, proud moments with the SACS, AACSB, NCATE, Nursing and Mass Communication reaffirmations of accreditations among others, and the move to more selective admissions standards.

This year, Nicholls faces another serious challenge to institutional integrity through a potentially significant decline in enrollment. New academic criteria, the economy, mother nature . . . all of these factors have played a part in what could well be upwards of an 8 percent or 400 FTF reduction in enrollment for this University. Thus, student recruitment and retention remain my primary focus of attention for the next three years; however, student retention is everyone’s responsibility. Nicholls is enrolling better-prepared students and our retention rates should reflect this fact. The success rates of our students must be improved, particularly in our first year general education classes. This must become a major concern for faculty, and faculty must take the initiative to enhance student learning and retention. The opportunities afforded by the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and implementation of the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Engagement (CAFÉ) should be seen by all as the means to enhance skills supportive of teaching and learning.

A second major area of focus involves strengthening the University’s new status as a Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Four-year-4 category institution. We have much to do here to maintain this new classification. First and foremost, faculty salaries must be compared to this higher classification level and steps must continue to be taken to make those salaries more competitive. Additionally, our current graduate programs must be enhanced, and we must maintain the minimum number of graduates required for the Four-year-4 category. Thus, we look forward to supporting efforts by the College of Business Administration to develop its Executive MBA program, but we must also enhance other programs and seriously consider adding additional graduate initiatives. All of this occurs at a time of competing needs and scarce resources.

A third area of focus and effort involves attention to campus facilities, both in support of the academic program and that for student life. Work is well underway for road and parking lot improvements, renovation of the student union and cafeteria, and for the purchase of land in support of a new student recreation center. The University now looks forward to undertaking major renovations in Beauregard Hall. It is my goal to undertake planning for new facilities for the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute and the College of Business Administration, and to propose substantial renovations to Peltier Hall. Finally, a request for proposals has been released to undertake a comprehensive renovation of student housing with initial new facilities becoming available by January 2008.

Several other areas that will receive my attention involve emergency preparedness planning, shared governance, and service learning. Our shared experiences this past year have opened everyone’s eyes to the importance of being able to continue instruction despite the disasters that come our way. There is a growing national concern regarding pandemics and much talk of the need for “social distancing” or, more specifically, the closing of schools at all levels should an outbreak occur. One solution in response to weather and health related disasters involves the use of web instruction. Blackboard is no stranger to many of us on this campus, and this year I will encourage faculty and administrators alike to become familiar with the uses and benefits of this program. Faculty, at a minimum, should have syllabi and grades available to students on Blackboard. It is also imperative that the University be able to make coursework available through this communication vehicle should a disaster occur. To that end, faculty must make certain our students are educated on how Blackboard will be used to help them continue to progress toward their degrees even if they cannot physically be on campus.

From the outset of my presidency, it has always been my goal to promote and encourage shared governance on this campus. Although some faculty and staff seem hesitant to truly engage in this process, I have seen progress over each of the past three years. My goal remains to continue to encourage interaction and input as decisions are made in order to advance this University.

Finally, this faculty has made considerable strides in the area of service learning over the past three to five years. Together, this year, we will continue that effort with considerable attention given to a partnership with the University of Louisiana System Office and its grant funded initiatives with the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, D.C.

My best wishes to each of you for a highly productive and hopefully a “normal” school year. I genuinely appreciate everything that each of you does for Nicholls and its students.