Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the university is named for Francis T. Nicholls, a former governor of Louisiana, and member of the Louisiana Supreme Court.
The 287-acre (1.16 km2) campus, once part of historic Acadia Plantation, fronts on Bayou Lafourche, about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of New Orleans and 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Baton Rouge.
Nicholls is located in the Acadiana region, also known as "Cajun Country." It is also within the geographical bounds of the Mississippi River Delta, and close to the Mississippi River, its distributaries, Louisiana's wetlands, and the Gulf of Mexico. The school is sometimes referred to as "Our Harvard on the Bayou;" with the university bookstore selling shirts sporting this light-hearted nickname. The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) at Nicholls, is an initiative focusing on critical thinking
Academics
The University of Louisiana System has identified the following areas as Unique Areas of Excellence at Nicholls State University. These are areas of study that, because of either their unique classes or their leadership in Louisiana education, have been selected for this special honor. John Folse Culinary Institute, Biological Sciences - Marine and environmental sciences emphasis, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Teacher Education, Accounting and Information Systems, and Child, Family and Social Services. Other notable degree programs include: Bachelor of Arts in Art, English, Mass Communication, and Music; Bachelor of Science in Geomatics; and Master's degrees in Biology, Education, and Business Administration (in addition to an Executive MBA program).
Nicholls is one of the first institutions in the United States to offer bachelor's degrees in Culinary Arts. Students gain expertise in both Cajun and French cuisine. The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute is the only American member of the prestigious Institut Paul Bocuse. Students also have the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts and then work towards earning the MBA.
Nicholls' faculty have been recognized nationally and internationally by the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Phi Kappa Lambda, the Renaissance Society of America, and other organizations and associations. In the past three years, several faculty members have been awarded grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents. The university has the only certified geneticist in the South. It also has the highest rate of librarians with PhDs in both public and private universities and colleges in the state. Nicholls is also the home of the Louisiana Center for Women and Government as well as the Dyslexia Center of Louisiana.
Princeton Review statistics from 2010 list the student-to-faculty ratio at Nicholls as 20:1. Admission has become selective. The average GPA upon entry is 3.2 with an ACT score of 21. The average GPA of Honors students is 3.6 with an ACT score of 26. Almost 62 percent of the student body are women; and nearly 3 percent are international students. As with nearly all academic institutions in Louisiana, Hurricane Katrina has had an impact on Nicholls' completion rate and overall ranking. During the aftermath of Katrina, Nicholls suspended its admissions selectivity in order to accommodate students from hurricane affected institutions. The university also had many matriculating students who were affected by the hurricane and did not return.
In April 2014, Dr. Bruce Murphy was inaugurated as Nicholls State University's fifth president.
Nicholls State University petroleum technology program has been ranked the best in the United States in 2015.
Online Colleges In Louisiana Video
Division of Distance Learning
Nicholls has been offering online classes since 2000 and have had distance education courses of other types prior to that (including Course by Cassette, Satellite courses, and Video Conferencing). Nicholls State offers over 100 online courses through its Division of Distance Learning.
Nicholls Online
In January 2013, Nicholls State began to offer complete degrees online through a new initiative known as Nicholls Online. Located in the Division of Distance Education, Nicholls Online provides complete degrees online in a variety of disciplines. Nicholls Online is different from regular online courses at Nicholls in that the courses are offered through 8-week sessions and have a unique fee structure.
College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences provides a liberal education in associate, baccalaureate and master's degree programs and to students of other majors completing the university's general education course requirements.
Department of Mass Communication
Nicholls State University's Mass Communication Department is one of five mass communication programs in Louisiana accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). The department offers 2 concentrations: journalism and public relations. Nicholls mass communication students and faculty employ two computer labs and a broadcast studio for learning and instruction in communication principles. Students within the department are also encouraged to apply for jobs with the KNSU radio station and Student Publications, helping to produce the yearbook or publishing the weekly newspaper, the Nicholls Worth.
School of Art
Art Program Accreditation
The art program is built upon a broad liberal arts foundation and preparation in studio disciplines required for careers in the visual arts and design. The Division of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Ellender Memorial Library
The Ellender Memorial Library offers research assistance to the Nicholls State University community via 125+ databases and traditional reference books. The Library provides access to over 61,000 e-books as part of a collection of more than 245,000 books. Librarians provide library research instruction classes in all disciplines as well as individual consultation sessions. A leisure book collection with recent popular writers and 50 popular magazine titles is also available. The Library has both single and group study rooms for patron use. There is also an interlibrary loan service which acquires materials from other libraries, and a courtesy card service that allows patrons to check out materials from other Louisiana universities.
Ellender Library, through its Government Information Department, has been a selective depository for Louisiana state government publications since 1960 and a selective depository of the U.S. Federal Depository Library Program since 1962. The Library is a congressionally designated depository for United States government documents. Public access to the government documents collection is guaranteed by public law (Title 44 USC). In its role as a depository, Government Information houses an extensive collection of books, periodicals, microfiche, maps, CDs, and kits published by Louisiana state and federal agencies on a wide array of topics such as health, geology, military history, laws & legislation, education, statistics and much more.
The Archives and Special Collections Department of Ellender Memorial Library is the archival repository for the historical records of the university and serves as a repository for primary and secondary material relating to the geographical, historical and cultural uniqueness of the region. The collections include personal papers, business and organizational records, historical photographs, literary manuscripts, maps, diaries and scrapbooks. Newspapers, oral histories, and numerous other formats are also represented. Many collections document the plantation era and the sugar cane industry. The Archives and Special Collections Department is also home to the library's Regional, Rare Book, and Genealogy Collections.
Athletics
Nicholls sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision or FCS for football) in the Southland Conference.
Nicholls' colors are red and gray and the athletics teams are nicknamed the Colonels.
The Nicholls State University Department of Athletics currently sponsors men's intercollegiate baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf and tennis along with women's intercollegiate basketball, cross-country, softball, soccer, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.
Nicholls official athletics mascot is Colonel Tillou. President Stephen Hulbert stated that "The Colonel is and will remain the mascot designation for Nicholls State University and its intercollegiate athletics program" on March 31, 2004 while calling the current Colonel depiction antiquated and reminiscent of the Civil War in the South. The decision to retire the mascot was made to avoid portraying racist sentiments associated with the Civil War confederacy. Although met with criticism from the school and surrounding community who were in favor of preserving the colonel mascot, the retirement of the mascot was considered vital to the public relations outlook of the university and its policy of solidarity with The University of Louisiana System's policy on discrimination. Hulbert banned the old Colonel from the university and tasked student leaders to work on a suitable replacement. That process lasted six years. The new Col. Tillou was introduced to the campus community in August 2009, sporting a bright red uniform topped off with a contemporary-style military officer's cap.
Nicholls' primary athletic rivals are Southeastern Louisiana University and Northwestern State University. Nicholls' now defunct rivalry with Texas State, dubbed "The Battle For the Paddle" ended with Texas State's decision to join the FBS.
Notable alumni
- Robert Billiot (B.A. 1976), member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for Jefferson Parish since 2008
- Marty J. Chabert, state senator for Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes from 1992 to 1996
- Norby Chabert, state senator for Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes since 2009
- Gordon Dove, state representative since 2004 for Terrebonne Parish
- Hunt Downer, former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives; assistant adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard
- Anthony Guarisco, Jr. (Class of 1960, Business Administration), lawyer and state senator from Morgan City from 1976 to 1988
- Joe Harrison, state representative since 2008 from Assumption, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes
- Francis C. Heitmeier (born 1950), Democratic member of the Louisiana House from 1984 to 1992 and the Louisiana Senate from 1992 to 2008; businessman and lobbyist from New Orleans
- Sam S. Jones (Class of 1975, History), Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for St. Mary Parish since 2008; real estate developer in Franklin
- Hilton Koch, former owner of the WNBA's Houston Comets
- Morris Lottinger, Jr., former state legislator and judge from Terrebonne Parish
- Lardarius Webb, current kickoff returner and cornerback with the Baltimore Ravens.
- Kareem Moore, safety for Washington Redskins
- Darryl Pounds, former NFL defensive back for the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos
- Andrew Simoncelli, WWL-TV Producer; Professor
- Dwight Walker, former Running Back for the Cleveland Browns, and wide Receiver for the New Orleans Saints
- Jerome "Dee" Richard, attended 1973-1974, current member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Lafourche Parish, one of only two Independents in the chamber
- Antonio Robinson, wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers
- Billy Tauzin, member of the United States House of Representatives from 1980 to 2005
- Jerome Zeringue,
- Anatoly Bose, guard/forward for BC Astana
- Darryl Hamilton, 13 Year Major League Baseball Player
- Bobby April, 12 Year NFL Coach
- Bobby Felder, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cornerback
Notable faculty
- Robert A. Calvert (1933-2000), Texas historian
- Monnie T. Cheves (1902-1988), education professor; served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from Natchitoches Parish from 1952 to 1960
- Thomas G. Clausen (1939-2002), the last elected Louisiana state superintendent of education, on Nicholls faculty from 1967 to 1972
- Walter M. Lowrey (1921-1980), Louisiana historian
- Joe Gray Taylor (1920-1987), historian
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