NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY'S CAREER READINESS INITIATIVE
Background and Development
In December 2023, Nicholls State University formed a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Development Committee composed of faculty, staff, and students from across the university. As the university implemented its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, the committee reviewed institutional data and engaged campus stakeholders to identify priorities that would strengthen student success.
Through this collaborative process, career readiness emerged as an important institutional priority. Career Ready Colonels was established as a university-wide initiative to intentionally integrate career development, experiential learning, employer engagement, and academic partnerships throughout the student experience.
Current QEP Status
SACSCOC has initiated a formal study of the QEP requirement, and the requirement for institutions to develop and implement a QEP is currently suspended during this review. As a result, institutions undergoing comprehensive review during the study period are not required to demonstrate compliance with the QEP requirement.
Although the QEP requirement is currently suspended, Career Ready Colonels remains an important university-wide initiative dedicated to preparing students for meaningful careers and lifelong success.
WHY CAREER READINESS?
Preparing students for success after graduation requires intentional opportunities to develop, practice, and demonstrate skills valued in professional environments. Career readiness extends beyond preparation for a specific occupation by equipping students with transferable competencies that support lifelong career management, adaptability, and continued growth.
Career Ready Colonels supports Nicholls State University’s commitment to student success by strengthening connections between academic learning, co-curricular experiences, experiential learning, and workforce expectations.
WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF CAREER READY COLONELS?
Career Ready Colonels increases opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate career readiness competencies through intentional academic and experiential learning experiences.
The initiative focuses on three National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies:
- Critical and Creative Thinking Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.
- Communication Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.
- Professionalism Understand and demonstrate effective work habits while acting in the interest of the larger community and workplace.
DEFINITION OF CAREER READINESS
Career readiness is the ability of students to demonstrate key workplace competencies—such as critical thinking, communication, and professionalism—through integrated academic, co-curricular, and experiential learning experiences. At Nicholls State University, career readiness is embedded throughout the student experience, preparing graduates for successful careers while serving the Louisiana Coastal Community and beyond.
WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THE INITIATIVE?
Career Ready Colonels is a campus-wide initiative designed to establish, enhance, and expand curriculum-based career readiness experiences across all academic programs, including online learners.
The initiative supports departments in developing and expanding internships, practicums, clinical experiences, undergraduate research, service-learning, project-based learning, and other experiential learning opportunities while strengthening connections between academic learning and professional practice.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students participating in Career Ready Colonels will:
- Demonstrate decision-making and problem-solving using sound reasoning and judgment.
- Gather and analyze information from diverse sources.
- Communicate effectively through verbal, written, and non-verbal communication.
- Apply active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills.
- Demonstrate integrity and accountability.
- Develop and communicate a professional identity.
- Demonstrate dependable workplace behaviors.
INITIATIVE OUTCOMES
Career Ready Colonels will:
- Increase curriculum-based career readiness opportunities.
- Increase student participation in experiential learning.
- Strengthen collaboration between academic programs, Career Services, employers, and campus partners.
- Improve institutional assessment of career readiness development.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
To support career readiness across the university, Career Ready Colonels will:
- Develop curriculum-career maps for each academic program.
- Integrate NACE career readiness competencies into curricula and syllabi.
- Expand internships, practicums, clinical experiences, undergraduate research, service-learning, and project-based learning.
- Strengthen employer partnerships.
- Enhance student employment as a career readiness experience.
- Track participation and assessment data.
- Develop faculty resources supporting career readiness integration.
- Support academic departments through Career Ready Colonels College Liaisons (Career Coaches).
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS
Career Ready Colonels has transitioned from planning to active implementation through the establishment of leadership positions, academic partnerships, and campus resources.
Assistant Director of Career Development and Employer Partnerships
The Assistant Director of Career Development and Employer Partnerships was established to lead implementation of Career Ready Colonels while strengthening employer partnerships, expanding experiential learning opportunities, coordinating university-wide career readiness initiatives, and collaborating with faculty and campus partners.
Career Ready Colonels College Liaisons (Career Coaches)
Career Coaches have been established within each academic college to serve as liaisons between Career Services and academic departments.
Working collaboratively with faculty, Career Coaches support:
- Curriculum-career map development
- Integration of NACE competencies
- Expansion of experiential learning
- Faculty collaboration
- Career readiness initiatives within their assigned colleges
Curriculum-Career Maps
Developed the Career Ready Colonels curriculum-career map framework to assist academic programs in identifying career milestones, experiential learning opportunities, and competency development throughout students’ academic pathways.
Career Readiness Competencies
Began integrating NACE competencies into curriculum planning, faculty resources, and curriculum-career mapping.
CAREER READY COLONELS COLLEGE LIAISONS (CAREER COACHES)
Career Coaches serve as the primary connection between Career Services and their assigned academic colleges. They assist faculty in embedding career readiness throughout the curriculum while supporting the implementation of Career Ready Colonels.
Al Danos College of Business Administration
- Name: Andie Chassion
- Title: Instructor of Economics
- Department: Business Administration & Computer Information Systems
- Contact Information: andrea.chiasson@nicholls.edu
- Name: Kelly Guin
- Title: Title IV-E Coordinator
- Department: Psychology, Counseling, and Family Studies
- Contact Information: kelly.guin@nicholls.edu
College of Liberal Arts
- Name: Dr. Ashley Busby
- Title: Assistant Dean, Assistant Professor
- Department: Art History
- Contact Information: ashley.busby@nicholls.edu
Thibodaux Regional Health System School of Nursing at Nicholls State University
- Name: Amie Chauvin
- Title: Assistant Professor
- Department: Nursing
- Contact Information: amie.chauvin@nicholls.edu
College of Sciences and Technology
- Name: Lynsey McLain
- Title: Instructor
- Department: Mathematics
- Contact Information: lynsey.mclain@nicholls.edu
ALIGNMENT WITH UNIVERSITY MISSIONS, STRTEGIC PLAN & ACADEMIC MASTER PLAN
Alignment with University Mission
Career Ready Colonels supports the Nicholls State University mission by preparing students for meaningful careers, lifelong learning, and engagement within their communities through intentional integration of career readiness into academic and co-curricular experiences.
Alignment with the University’s Strategic Plan
Career Ready Colonels directly supports the goals of the 2023–2028 Strategic Plan by advancing student success, experiential learning, employer engagement, and career readiness across the curriculum.
Alignment with the Nicholls State University Academic Master Plan
Career Ready Colonels advances Academic Master Plan priorities by expanding employer partnerships, increasing high-impact practices, strengthening student engagement, and promoting competency-based learning across academic programs.