For the purposes of this standard, adequate physical facilities are those of sufficient size in kind and in quality to meet the requirements of the educational institution as well as those of professional organizations that accredit or certify the University's educational programs. In addition, the University's physical facilities must provide an attractive, comfortable learning environment that draws students, faculty, and staff to the institution.

Nicholls State University's Physical Facilities

The main campus of the University, consisting of approximately 210 acres, is located in Thibodaux, Louisiana on Bayou Lafourche, approximately 50 miles southwest of New Orleans and 60 miles southeast of Baton Rouge [1]. The City of Thibodaux is located on Bayou Lafourche at the intersection of Louisiana Highways 20 and 1. In addition to the main campus, the University owns Rienzi Plantation home and grounds [2] as well as 7.11 acres within the city limits of Thibodaux. At present, the Board of Regents has committed up to five million dollars for the purchase of approximately 100 acres adjacent to the east side of the main campus.

The University began a strategic planning process in 1991. Addressing facility needs became an important aspect of that planning process, which culminated in the development of the Facilities Master Plan in 1997 [3]. This plan provides an in-depth analysis of facilities and ranked goals and objectives. The creation of this Facilities Master Plan was a team effort among the University's faculty, staff, and community. This Master Plan provides the basis for the University's Capital Outlay Requests and may be adapted in response to changes that arise through the strategic planning process. Due to the collaborative effort, the University has been successful over the past seven years in obtaining funding for capital outlay projects on campus. Table 1 lists capital outlay projects initiated at the University since 1998.

Table 1: Capital Outlay Projects 1998-2005

Date	Project	Approximate Cost	Additional Square Footage	Renovated Square Footage	Status
1998	Electrical Upgrade Phase I	$465,000.00			Complete
2000	Construction of Nursing and Classroom Office Building	$9,470,000.00	74,753 sq. ft.		Complete
2000	Construction of Allied Health Classroom and Office Building	$3,147,000.00	14,401 sq. ft.		Complete
2002	Electrical Upgrade Phase II	$2,000,000.00			Complete
2002	Construction of Hazardous Materials Building	$530,000.00	4,246 sq. ft.		Complete
2003	Construction of East Elkins: Otto C. Candies	$1,500,000.00	9,000 sq. ft.	11,576 sq. ft.	Complete
2003	Telephone Switch Upgrade	$1,800,000.00			Complete
2004	Rienzi Plantation Renovations	$750,000.00		6,125 sq. ft.	Currently in Design

As a result of the above projects, the University owns approximately 1,311,354 gross square feet. Assignable square footage is listed below by space type.

Table 2: Assignable Square Footage by Space Type

Location of Space	Assignable Square Footage
Classroom Facilities	108,538
Laboratory Facilities	127,942
Office Facilities	132,084
Study Facilities	97,139
Special Use Facilities	246,423
General Use Facilities	92,455
Supporting Facilities	9,307
Medical Care Facilities	1,653
Residential Facilities	119,000
Unclassified Facilities	9,550
Total Assignable Square Footage	944,091

The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System recently released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to secure the services of a qualified contractor to develop a System-wide space needs model and to conduct a space needs analysis for the System's eight regional institutions, of which Nicholls is a member. Upon completion of this project, the System will provide funding to the University for the development of a Master Plan.

Data on Louisiana's university facilities is managed by the Louisiana Board of Regents [4], and information on all state universities, including Nicholls, can be found in the Board's 2004 Facilities Inventory and Space Utilization System [5], available on its Web site. The Louisiana Office of Facility Planning and Control [6] also maintains data on all buildings in the state, including universities [7].

In addition to the properties described above, Nicholls owns the following off-campus facilities which assist in serving the needs of the University's educational programs, support services, and mission-related activities:

•	Theodore L. Duhé Building [8]. Located in Houma, Louisiana, the facility was constructed in 2001, in order to meet the growing health care needs of the region. Home to the Department of Allied Health Sciences, this 14,401 square-foot facility offers undergraduate classes and labs. The facility also contains ample office space and an auditorium.
•	NSU Folk Art Center and Sculpture Garden [9]. Located in Chauvin, Louisiana, this site is the home of the Kenny Hill Sculpture Garden. The mission of the Folk Art Center is to educate the public on the value of Folk Art and its importance in the world of visual arts. The Center displays the works of contemporary artists in its 1,000 square-foot exhibition space. The Center also houses a functioning darkroom and ceramic kiln area.
•	Nicholls State Farm [10]. Located on Highway 1 at Lafourche Crossing, the University maintains a 123 acre farm for instructional and research purposes. The Farm maintains a cattle herd of 35 to enhance the academic experience of students majoring in agriculture.

Deferred Maintenance

The University's Department of Physical Plant Operations runs and maintains a work control system. Items identified as needing repair that cannot be completed in a timely manner are included on a deferred maintenance list. The University is required, as part of its Capital Outlay Requests, to submit a comprehensive list of deferred maintenance needs, which the State currently defines as ADA code improvements, major repairs, and reproofing. Management of Physical Plant Operations meets quarterly to review this list and evaluate priorities. Table 3 lists the amounts provided by the State of Louisiana towards deferred maintenance at the University.

Table 3: Funding for Deferred Maintenance Activity 1996-2004

Fiscal Year Ending	Amount
1996	$556,575.00
1997	$556,575.00
1998	$484,832.00
1999	---
2000	$145,467.00
2001	$51,443.00
2002	$101,263.00
2003	$30,542.00
2004	$222,611.00

In addition to the above funding, the State of Louisiana, through the Board of Regents, recently completed an assessment of all buildings on state college and university campuses. The assessment focused on site and building weaknesses; HVAC; and plumbing, electrical, safety, and fire alarm improvements. This assessment will assist the University in determining future deferred maintenance needs.

In addition to state funding for deferred maintenance, the University has funded facility renovations in an effort to improve the aesthetics and learning environment for its students:

Table 4: University Funded Facility Renovations

Project	Amount	Justification for Project
Re-Surfacing of Streets	$345,000.00	2003-2004 ACT Student Opinion Survey
Renovations in Powell/White Hall	$145,000.00	Academic Driven–Accreditation
Renovations in Gouaux Hall–Phases I and II	$372,000.00	Academic Driven–Master's Program
Refurbishing of Elevators in Ellender and Long Halls	$185,000.00	Safety Concern, Service For Students
Renovations in Talbot Hall (Stage Lighting, Flooring, Art)–Phases I and II	$173,000.00	Academic Driven–Accreditation
Drainage Upgrades	$53,000.00	Campus Inspection
Re-Surfacing of Tennis Courts	$67,660.00	Campus Inspection
Renovations in Gouaux Hall for Manufacturing Technology Phases I and II	$60,000.00	Academic Driven–Departmental Upgrade
Renovations in Shaver Gym for Sports Medicine	$70,000.00	Academic Driven–Creation of New Programs
Installation in Peltier Hall–Emergency Generator with Battery Back–Up	$98,200.00	Maintain Computer Center During Power Outage
Replacement of Chemical Hoods in Beauregard Hall	$149,380.00	Academic Driven–Safety Concerns
Renovations in Polk Hall–Flooring	$150,000.00	Scheduled Replacement
Renovations in Student Union	$170,000.00	Scheduled Replacement
Fire Marshal Campus-Wide Upgrades	$175,000.00	Fire Marshal Inspection