Nicholls State University

Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. 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 campus, once part of historic Acadia Plantation, fronts on Bayou Lafourche, about 50 mi southwest of New Orleans and 60 mi southeast of Baton Rouge.

Nicholls is located in Acadiana, also known as "Cajun Country," an area rich in tradition and culture. It is also located in the heart of the Mississippi River Delta, allowing easy access to the river, its distributaries, Louisiana's wetlands, and the Gulf of Mexico. The school is sometimes referred to as "Our Harvard on the Bayou;" the university bookstore even sells shirts sporting this light-hearted nickname. The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) at Nicholls—which focuses on critical thinking—has the motto "L'esprit engagé," which means "the engaged mind."

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 degrees in Art, English, Mass Communication, and Music; and Master degrees in Biology, Education, and Business Administration (in addition to an Executive MBA program). Education at the undergraduate and graduate level at Nicholls is one of the most affordable in Louisiana itself as well as in the country.

Nicholls is one of the first institutions in the United States to offer bachelor degrees in Culinary Arts. Students gain expertise in both Cajun and French cuisine. The 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 by many 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.

Recent Princeton Review statistics from 2010 list the student-to-faculty ratio as 20:1 at Nicholls. Admissions has become selective. The average GPA upon entry is 3.2 with an ACT score of 21. As expected, 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. College ranking systems and review publications fail to recognize these factors.

Division of Distance Learning
Nicholls State offers over 100 online courses through their Division of Distance Learning .Students can take these courses from anywhere in the world. Students must first register with the University in a similar fashion as regular on-campus students. Nicholls has been offering online classes since 2000 and have had distance education courses of other types prior to that. Former distance learning courses included Course by Cassette, Satellite courses, and Video Conferencing, which is still available upon request.

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.

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 (two-tone) and the athletics teams are nicknamed the Colonels.

The Nicholls State University Department of Athletics currently sponsors men's intercollegiate baseball, basketball, football, golf and tennis along with women's intercollegiate basketball, softball, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball and cheerleading.

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, Northwestern State University, and Central Arkansas. Nicholls' now defunct rivalry with Texas State, dubbed "The Battle For the Paddle" ended with Texas State's decision to join the FBS.

College of Education
College of Education

The College of Education is the “educational provider” for two academic departments: Teacher Education and Psychology and Counselor Education. Several undergraduate and graduate programs are offered in each department. Most of our programs are nationally recognized through the National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS).

Undergraduate Degree programs:

Birth to Five / Early Interventionist Education Elementary Education Art Education (K-12) Business Education (6-12) Child Development and Preschool Management (two-year associate degree program) English Education (6-12) General Science Education (6-12) Family and Consumer Sciences Education Health and Physical Education (K-12) Mathematics Education (6-12) Music Education (K-12) Psychology Social Studies Education (6-12)
 * PK-3 Certification
 * 1-5 Certification
 * 4-8 Certification
 * Instrumental Music Education
 * Vocal Music Education

Teacher Certification Only:
 * Elementary Grades 1-5
 * Middle School Grades 4-8
 * Secondary Grades 6-12
 * Health and Physical Education K-12

College of Education Graduate Studies

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) The Master of Arts in Teaching is a graduate program in teacher preparation for individuals who have a baccalaureate degree in the liberal arts or sciences and a desire to enter the teaching profession.
 * Elementary Education Grades 1-5
 * General & Special Education Mild/Moderate
 * Middle School Education Grades 4-8
 * Secondary Education Grades 6-12, with concentrations in: Math, English, Social Studies, and Science.
 * Vocational Education (Business Education, Family and Consumer Science Education)
 * Health and Physical Education

Master of Education (M.Ed.)


 * Curriculum and Instruction, with concentrations in: Early Childhood, High Incidence Disabilities, Reading Specialist, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education.
 * Educational Leadership with concentrations in K-12 School Leadership, Higher Education Administration, and Educational Technology Leadership
 * School Counseling

Specialist in School Psychology (Specialist):

The Nicholls State University Specialist in School Psychology program prepares future school psychologists to serve as consultants to the entire school community. The graduate program, which is recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists, trains students to provide a variety of psychological services within educational settings. Students get hands-on experience during supervised field experiences in public schools and at the Psychology Training Clinic on campus.

Psychological Counseling (M.A.)

The Nicholls State University Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling program prepares students to become licensed professional counselors in Louisiana and other jurisdictions. The curriculum also focuses on administering and interpreting psychological tests as well as using research techniques to solve practical counseling problems.

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.

Mission

The Division of Art supports the university mission in offering individuals an opportunity to study the visual arts. It aims to provide quality studies in all visual media (photography, graphic design, printmaking, painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, and art history), to provide an environment in which students from the region can understand their personal place in the history of art, to provide the skills needed for both employment or continued studies in their area, and to provide a degree in visual arts, with a concentration in studio art, applied arts, or art education.

The university awards the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in art to students who, in addition to satisfying the minimum requirements for graduation from the College of Arts and Sciences, complete the art curriculum outline.

Nicholls State University Alma Mater
All hail to thee, our Alma Mater,We raise thy glorious name on high.The echo of thy spirit rises,And fills devotion’s cloudless sky.To thee we pledge our loyaltyThrough all the years that are to be.Hail to Nicholls, Alma Mater,Our hearts are thine and thine shall be.

Notable alumni

 * Jody Amedee, state senator since 2004 from Ascension, Livingston, St. James, and St. John the Baptist parishes
 * Gordon Dove, state representative since 2004 from Terrebonne Parish
 * Hunt Downer, former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives; assistant adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard
 * Joe Harrison, state representative since 2008 from Assumption, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes
 * Lardarius Webb, current kickoff returner and cornerback with the Baltimore Ravens.
 * Kareem Moore, safety for Washington Redskins
 * Hunter Smith, restaurateur
 * Dwight Walker, former Running Back for the Cleveland Browns, and wide Receiver for the New Orleans Saints
 * Lenar Whitney, state representative from Houma
 * Antonio Robinson, wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers
 * Anatoly Bose, guard/forward for BC Astana

Notable faculty

 * Robert A. Calvert (1933–2000), Texas historian
 * Walter M. Lowrey (1921–1980), Louisiana historian
 * Joe Gray Taylor (1920–1987), historian