Strategic Plan 2017-2022

Mission

Nicholls State University delivers accredited degree programs and comprehensive learning experiences to prepare students for regional and global professions within a spirited campus environment immersed in Bayou Region culture.

Vision

To be the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Bayou Region.

Values

Nicholls State University supports values that promote citizenship, concern for self and others, and the desire for a better world by embracing as its core values:

• Civic Responsibility: We use our time and talents to serve our community
• Diversity: We embrace unique perspectives that all individuals bring to the learning environment.
• Excellence: We reach for the highest level of achievement in all activities.
• Integrity: We expect fairness and truthfulness in all instances.
• Leadership: As representatives of the university, we embrace our role as leaders.
• Respectfulness: We respect the rights of others and are responsive to the needs of others.
• Responsibility: We are accountable for our actions.

University of Louisiana System

Strategic Framework

Mission

The University of Louisiana System is a public, multi-campus university system dedicated to the service of Louisiana and its people. The System offers a broad spectrum of educational opportunities ranging from technical training at the associate level to research at the doctoral level. It encompasses nine diverse higher education institutions: Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Monroe, and University of New Orleans. While these nine institutions share the responsibility for providing high-quality educational opportunities for the people of Louisiana through a lifetime of intellectual growth, each institution’s specific mission is shaped by its historic and unique strengths.

The fundamental mission of the System is to emphasize teaching, research, and community service to enhance the quality of life for the state’s citizens. Through this mission, students are afforded experiences to discover, create, transmit, and apply knowledge. The purpose of the System is to provide high-quality education that is cost efficient to both students and taxpayers, enabling students to reach their highest potential.

Vision

The following aspirations will shape our efforts to advance educational attainment statewide; empower our citizenry; meet the needs of business and industry; grow our economy; and enrich our communities.

ULS Framework

• Academic Success, Student Success and Educational Attainment
• Economic Development, Research, and Innovation
• Financial Stewardship and Accountability

Nicholls State University Focus Areas

Strategic Focus 1: Student Success and Educational Attainment

Education should improve the quality of a person’s life, by expanding their possibilities and giving them the tools to succeed professionally and personally.

Educational attainment refers to the highest level of education an individual has completed.  Research shows that a higher level of educational attainment has many benefits to society, the economy and the individual’s quality of life. Nicholls State University is committed to providing a quality education to its diverse student populations to prepare them to adapt to the changing needs of industry and to be engaged, productive citizens. 

Nicholls is also committed to increasing the number of students served by the institution, especially reaching out to more non-traditional populations.  Increasing the success rates among all populations of students will be achieved through support programs to provide everyone the best possible learning experience.  Nicholls strives to give all of its students a sense of belonging and a foundation to achieve their goals and serve the needs of the region.

The goals below are focused on improving the level of educational attainment at Nicholls:

1.1 Grow enrollment in all populations

1.2 Improve student success

1.3 Provide high-quality academic programs that meet the needs of the student and the region

1.4 Maintain high student satisfaction

Strategic Focus 2: Economic Development through Workforce Development and Applicable Research

Economic development is the process by which a region improves the socioeconomic well-being of its people.

Nicholls is focused on providing programs that meet the needs of the region and prepares students to be competitive in the global job market.  Nicholls works closely with regional businesses to provide a workforce that is ready to meet the industry’s current needs and to adapt to a changing world. 

Nicholls will support research and scholarly activities that increase knowledge in academic disciplines that benefit the region. 

2.1 Enhance external relationships

2.2 Maintain high alumni satisfaction and engagement

2.3 Produce quality graduates to fill workforce needs and be engaged citizens

2.4 Promote achievements of the university

2.5 Support a climate of research and scholarly activity

Strategic Focus 3: Stewardship of Resources

Nicholls State University strives to be a good steward of its resources. Its greatest resource is people, therefore retaining high quality faculty and staff through the creation of an environment of support and a sense of belonging in the institution will be a focus. Nicholls is aware of the cost of higher education and is committed to remaining affordable while also supporting students financially.

Financial resources are also critical to the operation of the university.  Making sound financial decisions and improving processes are essential. Optimizing facilities to better serve students and providing more resources for faculty are keys to being good stewards.

3.1 Grow financial resources

3.2 Continuously improve workflow

3.3 Maintain highly qualified faculty and staff

3.4 Develop facilities that support student success and economic development

Click here to download the plan in PDF format.