Nicholls State University controls all aspects of its education program as evidenced by the following:

1.  Nicholls State University offers all course work in each of its degree programs. Descriptions of control of this coursework are presented in response to Standard 3.4, especially 3.4.1 [1].

2.  Nicholls State University provides students additional opportunities to apply a limited amount of credit earned at other universities toward their degrees at Nicholls. Courses accepted for credit from other universities are carefully evaluated and compared to Nicholls' own courses, as specified in the section related to Transfer Students in the University's Bulletin [2]. This policy is also in accordance with the Board of Regents' Statewide Student Transfer Guide and Articulation System [3]. Description of this process is presented in response to Standard 3.4.4 [4].

Transfer Students

Students (in-state and out-of-state) desiring to transfer to Nicholls State University must meet the following minimum admissions criteria:

Additional Criteria

Nicholls State University may admit students who do not meet all stated admissions requirements in accordance with the Board of Regents Master Plan. Nicholls State University may set aside a limited number of exceptions of the entering transfer class. Admissions decisions will be made considering each applicant's potential for success and will include factors such as special talents and the University's commitment to a demographically diverse student population.

Acceptance of transfer credit is limited to academic credit earned at regionally accredited institutions in the United States or through the appropriate accrediting agency for institutions of higher education abroad. Until further notice, when a student transfers from South Louisiana Community College, or Louisiana Delta Community College the University will examine course equivalency, faculty credentials, and other appropriate indicators of competencies to determine if these courses can be accepted for transfer credit. The University reserves the right to deny credit where such indicators are not present, or to require the student to prove competency by some other means.

General education course credit earned beginning Fall 2003 at L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College will be subject to the same examination and verification used to award transfer credit from previously mentioned community college[s].

An applicant for admission who has been enrolled in other institutions of higher learning must have a complete and official transcript from each college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned, sent to the Office of Admissions by the registrar of the institutions previously attended.

Any student entering the University from a community or junior college or a junior division is limited in the amount of transfer credit which may be applied toward the baccalaureate degree program, and the approval of the academic dean is required.

"Pursuant to Act 383 of the 2003 Regular Session, each campus shall state, in its catalog and materials disseminated to students or prospective students as part of recruitment, admissions, orientation, and registration procedures, the existence of the Statewide Student Transfer Guide and Articulation System Matrices (Board of Regents' E-matrix). These matrices indicate transfer equivalences of courses among Louisiana's public colleges and universities and may be accessed through the Board of Regents' webpage at www.regents.state.la.us.

Students should also be informed that the listing of courses on the matrices is not all-inclusive. There are courses that articulate between campuses that are not listed on the matrices. Students should be advised to contact the institution's Transfer Student Contact listed on the website if they are unclear as to whether academic credit in general or credit toward meeting degree program requirements at other institutions is transferable."

3.   Nicholls uses consortia and articulation agreements [5] to provide students with greater access to undergraduate and graduate programs. All courses taken through such agreements are subject to the same transfer credit policies that apply to courses taken at other regionally accredited institutions and must be evaluated and approved by the academic college and department in which the equivalent course is offered. Our response to Standard 3.4.7 describes the control of these consortia and articulation agreements [6].

The University offers primary course work in all degree programs at three levels: associate, baccalaureate, and graduate. This course work is offered by full-time and part-time faculty who are employed and supervised by the University.

The University uses consortia agreements to supplement the primary instruction provided in courses by faculty. The majority of these agreements involve nursing or allied health students who receive some of their laboratory training at hospitals or health facilities.

Articulation agreements with various institutions cover transfer of credit issues in particular programs. For example, the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute has an articulation agreement with Hospitality Business Alliance regarding the acceptance of credits into the baccalaureate degree program in Culinary Arts [7].

Documentation