THIBODAUX, La. — A new grant from the Louisiana Board of Regents will create a state-of-the-art collaborative learning environment at Nicholls State University.
The $137,805 grant will renovate an existing computer lab and classroom in White Hall. The money will pay for group learning stations and videoconferencing technology in each room.
Dr. En Mao, professor of computer information systems, said these changes are necessary to meet the needs of local industry. Businesses are looking for graduates with better soft skills and technological expertise. This also aligns with suggestions from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, an international business school accreditation agency.
Through the new classrooms, students will improve their teamwork, critical thinking, interpersonal skills and technology retention, Dr. Mao said.
“This will make face-to-face classes much more interactive and encourage and inspire teamwork and creativity,” Dr. Mao said. “This will not only provide a HyFlex class environment, but also a high-quality space for Nicholls students, organizations and departments to interact with guest speakers from anywhere in the world.”
The new space will help students collaborate with industry partners, Dr. Mao said. It will also help maximize the use of 73 new laptops by deploying them in the renovated spaces.
Dr. Mao had submitted this proposal twice before to the Board of Regents without success. She promised she would get the funding “one way or another.”
“I am very driven to improve our learning facilities and have been since I came to Nicholls 15 years ago,” Dr. Mao said. “I believe in the power of technology and our students deserve the best.”
For more information on the College of Business Administration, visit nicholls.edu/business.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 3, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: Jacob Batte, Media Relations and Publications Coordinator, 985.448.4141 or jacob.batte@nicholls.edu
