THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University and Tulane University School of Medicine have finalized a partnership that will allow Nicholls graduate students in the ABA program to complete experiential rotations at the Tulane Center for Autism Related Disorders (TCARD) ABA Clinic.
This partnership provides Nicholls candidates the necessary experience to complete their degree, and Tulane will receive a steady workforce stream to help them operate their expanding center.
“The Tulane center provides necessary services to south Louisiana, such as diagnostic evaluations. It speaks to the quality of our program that they chose to work with us,” Dr. Gautreaux said. “Now, with the expansion of their center and with our candidates, they will be able to take the clients they were testing and offer them on-site services.”
The licensed behavior analyst at the TCARD ABA Clinic is Jenny Cronier, a former Nicholls graduate of the Nicholls ABA program.
Eligible Nicholls candidates must be enrolled in the masters of education in curriculum and instruction with a high incidence disabilities concentration with an applied behavior analysis option.
Under the agreement, Nicholls will set the curriculum and objectives of the rotation, while Tulane will oversee the candidates on their rotation. Nicholls ABA faculty, Dr. Grant Gautreaux, associate professor of teacher education, and Dr. Derek Shanman, assistant professor of teacher education, will visit the Tulane center once a week to supervise and observe the candidates.
“We are seeing more and more candidates from the New Orleans area and we want to make sure they have access to a high-quality, progressive workplace. So, we combined forces with Tulane,” Dr. Gautreaux said. “This is going to be important for the building and expanding of our program. This will benefit our recruitment, extend our reach and improve our research. This will be a fruitful partnership.”
Nicholls ABA program aims to prepare educators and clinicians to implement intervention strategies to reach students with a variety of challenges. The ABA option prepares candidates to become licensed behavior analysts in Louisiana as well as achieve national certification.
Nicholls’ program is only one of two in the world to offer certifications through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and the Comprehensive Application of Behavior Analysis to Schooling Board, which are internationally recognized certifications. In 2018, Action Behavior Centers named Nicholls’ program one of the best in the country.
For more information on the ABA program, visit www.nicholls.edu/education/graduate-programs/curriculum-and-instruction-m-ed.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sep. 7, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Jacob Batte, Media Relations and Publications Coordinator, 985.448.4141 or jacob.batte@nicholls.edu
