Founded in 1948 as a teaching institution, Nicholls' mission and goals have changed as it has grown from a junior college to a four-year institution and finally to a university. When Nicholls gained four-year status in 1956, service and research became important components of its mission. Today, the primary mission of the University is excellence in teaching, with increasing emphasis on research and service. Through the years, Nicholls has published its mission in its official annual Bulletin [1] and on its Web page [2].

To develop our current mission, former President Donald Ayo appointed a Strategic Planning Committee to recommend modifications to the mission and goals and objectives based on the Board of Regents' Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education: 2001 [3]. Approximately 30 constituents including faculty, staff, and community leaders participated in and provided input during a retreat. The group recommended placing specific Master Plan changes in the goals and objectives. The revised mission was approved by the University Council and then submitted to Nicholls' governing board, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System; it was approved on June 28, 2002 [4].

A concise statement of the University mission is stated on the Web page [2] as follows:

Mission

Nicholls State University commits itself to offering an excellent comprehensive education that meets the needs of the communities it serves. Through quality teaching, research, and service, the University strives to achieve accreditation in all eligible programs, evidence of its commitment to south central Louisiana and beyond.

The Mission Statement in its entirety is published in the 2001 Strategic Plan [5] and the NSU Bulletin, as follows:

Institutional History and Purpose

Nicholls State University, located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, is a comprehensive, regional institution serving south central Louisiana. Tax supported and coeducational, it first opened its doors September 23, 1948, as Francis T. Nicholls Junior College of Louisiana State University.

In 1956, the Louisiana Legislature separated Nicholls from LSU and authorized it to develop four-year curricula. Thus, in September 1956, the former junior college began operation as Francis T. Nicholls State College. It granted its first degrees in May 1958. Act 93 of the State Legislature in 1970 changed the name to Nicholls State University.

Nicholls is located in the heart of "Cajun Country," an area rich in tradition and culture. Its location in the heart of the Mississippi River delta allows easy access to the river, its tributaries, Louisiana's wetlands, and the Gulf of Mexico. The 210-acre campus is approximately 50 miles southwest of New Orleans and 60 miles southeast of Baton Rouge.

For more than half a century, Nicholls State University has been the sole provider of higher education in a region with abundant cultural and natural resources. The University's strong general education program prepares students to exercise leadership in a global society and enhances their ability to create a vision for the future. By maintaining a major partnership with businesses, local school systems, community agencies, and other educational institutions, Nicholls actively participates in the development of the region.

Established along the banks of Bayou Lafourche, in the heart of one of the nation's major estuaries, Nicholls provides unique opportunities for instruction and research in the fields of marine and environmental science. The University has taken advantage of its strategic location to assume a leadership role in a region with ample resources in agricultural, fishing, petrochemical, and oil field-related industries. As a leader, the University continues to contribute significantly to the growth of the region in regard to new technology, manufacturing, and international trade.

Nicholls maintains a strong commitment to the well being of the people of the region. Through the expansion of health science programs, the University collaborates with a nationally recognized health care industry in the Houma-Thibodaux metropolitan area to meet the needs of its constituents.

Vision Statement

Nicholls State University, a quality institution of higher education, is dedicated to meeting the unique geographic and multi-cultural needs of south central Louisiana and beyond.

Mission Statement

Nicholls State University commits itself to offering an excellent comprehensive education that meets the needs of the communities it serves. Through quality teaching, research, and service, the University strives to achieve accreditation in eligible programs, evidence of its commitment to south central Louisiana and beyond.

Philosophy Statement

Nicholls State University accomplishes its mission through optimum use of its human, intellectual, and fiscal resources and by responding assertively to a diverse student population in a management environment that promotes faculty and staff involvement.

Information regarding the refinement of the Nicholls State University mission statement for the upcoming 2006-2010 Strategic Plan is contained in Comprehensive Standard 3.1.1 [6].