Nicholls State University provides its students and faculty with comprehensive academic support services to support the academic mission of the University. These services are provided through numerous departments including the following:

•	Division of Student Affairs (For a complete listing of services provided by the Division of Student Affairs, see Nicholls' response to Core Requirement 2.10 [1].)
•	University College [2]
•	Testing Center [3]
•	Ellender Memorial Library [4]
•	Academic Computing [5]
•	Office of Disability Services [6]
•	Faculty Development

Furthermore, the University hires qualified professional and administrative staff to manage the operations of these services [7] (Type in username and password for links to staff credentials).

University College [2]

As stated in its mission, University College "prepares students for entry into their major area of study. While enrolled in University College, students clarify their educational goals in an intellectual setting that fosters independence, delivers quality advising, and promotes student adjustment to and involvement in the University community. Additionally, University College supports achievement in basic skills development and takes an active role in the orientation of first-year students" [8].

University College was formed in response to the changing needs of the University and the student community. Retention and the first year university experience were factors that Noel Levitz identified as areas of concern within the University. In response to these concerns, University College was formed by combining existing academic support units and by recruiting a number of advisors from various academic units. After careful consideration, University College has developed the following stated objectives:

•	To support students in making the transition from high school to college;
•	To assist students who need additional preparation in developing basic skills;
•	To offer a strong academic advising program for students; and
•	To assist students in making informed decisions on choosing degree programs.

These objectives are supported through the operation and efforts of the Tutorial and Academic Enhancement Center, Distance Learning, the Louisiana Center for Dyslexia and Related Learning Disorders, and the University Honors Program.

Before and during registration, advisors in University College explain academic programs, curricula, class scheduling, and course loads. After registration and during the semester, advisors are also available to prepare students for pre-registration and registration for the upcoming semester and discuss absenteeism problems as well as other concerns.

University College has been created to address diverse student needs in a coordinated manner to enhance student learning and allow for individualized academic support.

Tutoring and Academic Enhancement Center

The Tutorial and Academic Enhancement Center [9] is a centralized tutoring center which offers related support activities through the Tutorial Learning Center and the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Center.

According to its Web site, the Tutorial Learning Center "provides small group (3 to 4 people) tutorial assistance to students having difficulty with courses at the college level. The sessions with a tutor provide supplementary work in coordination with the classroom [instruction], not in place of it. Areas of assistance currently include math, English, computer science, biology, chemistry, physics, and foreign language. Supplemental Instruction (SI) is provided for human anatomy lab[s] and history" courses.

The WAC Writing Center [10] supports the University's mission through efforts "to promote student learning, to facilitate student success, to assist in student retention, and to support institutional evaluation and assessment". As stated in its mission, the center facilitates student writers' progress in written expression through consultation. Student writers learn how to better express their ideas in writing and learn the mechanical and grammatical rules of formal English, all the while building "confidence needed to realize their potential as writers and as productive citizens who can communicate their beliefs and desires" [11].

The WAC Writing Center utilizes an approach of talking through strategies for good writing. "Consultants talk with students and help them think through a plan for communicating with an appropriate audience who, in most cases, is the instructor who assigned the writing. In some cases, instructors give the consultants instructions for working with their students. Consultants may discuss some or all of the following ideas with students:

•	How to write a good thesis statement;
•	How to organize main points;
•	How to evaluate support for a thesis; and
•	How to proofread for problems in logic, coherence, structure, and grammar."

Primarily staffed by students, the WAC Writing Center improves its patrons' skills and gives student workers a chance to hone their own skills, thus providing them with a better college experience than would ordinarily be obtained in the classroom alone.

Distance Learning

Distance Learning at Nicholls State University provides students who are unable to attend classes on the Thibodaux campus the ability to earn college credit through Internet or compressed video classes [12]. Nicholls State University has a number of reciprocating partnerships with other institutions to offer courses via compressed video. One such innovative program with Acadian Ambulance Services delivered Emergency Medical Technology training to five points throughout the state via compressed video. This was accomplished by partnering with the National Guard of Louisiana, which operates a large compressed video network throughout the state. Distance Education currently operates five compressed video suites on two campuses.

Nicholls State University also offers courses via the Internet through Blackboard services provided by the Academic Computing department. The number of courses being offered online is growing and currently includes 38.

The Louisiana Center for Dyslexia and Related Learning Disorders

According to its Web site, the Louisiana Center for Dyslexia and Related Learning Disorders "serves the community and NSU students who have been identified as having characteristics of dyslexia and/or a related disorder [13]. College students in all majors are provided support services. A comprehensive assessment is available for children, adolescents, and adults. Screening is available for children, age 4 to 6." The center has an "after-school tutoring program in Houma and Thibodaux. Staff members also provide teacher training through in-service workshops and pre-service classes."

The Louisiana Center for Dyslexia and Related Learning Disorders provides a support system where students receive help adapting to the University and the Center. Additionally students can enroll in remedial reading, remedial English, remedial math, and college algebra classes designated for those with dyslexia. Classes offer more individualized attention with lower enrollment and are taught by the Center's personnel. Remediation students receive specialized tutoring in English, math, and reading, and assistance with academic planning. A number of resources provide accommodations for which students are eligible based upon their evaluation. Additionally a computer lab consists of nine iMac computers, two G4 Mac computers, four Dell computers, two laser printers, one color inkjet printer, and a copier.

University Honors Program

The mission of the University Honors Program is "to create enhanced educational experiences for a community of intellectually curious and academically talented students by providing challenging and creative opportunities that foster a life-long love of learning [14]. Through innovative teaching, honors students receive a distinctly personal education that significantly involves them in the learning process. Because enrollment is limited, Honors classes allow students to learn in small groups." Students enrolled in the Honors Program may also participate in the Honors Abroad Program [15].

Testing Center [3]

The Testing Center offers a wide range of testing services through traditional paper and through electronic methods. Currently 10 computers are available for online testing, which offers immediate, unofficial scores to exam takers. Use of technology is increasing across all testing firms, and Nicholls State University is emergent in the use and availability of technology for its population and the community. Of course, traditional paper testing is still administered under the supervision of approved staff for any student wishing to test in that method.

The Testing Center currently offers the following exams:

•	ACT (5 times a year)
•	ACT Residual (no specific number per year)
•	PRAXIS (6 times a year)
•	GRE (3 times a year)
•	ASE (6 times a year)
•	ACE (6 times a year)
•	CLEP (by appointment)
•	General Education Test (6 times a year)
•	MCAT (2 times a year)
•	Correspondence exams (by appointment)
•	Placement tests (no specific number per year)
•	Major field tests for graduating seniors    º  Computer Science    º  Family and Consumer Science    º  Math    º  Nursing

Ellender Memorial Library [4]

Ellender Memorial Library is a Federal Documents repository that also houses the archives and the main computer lab. Ellender Memorial Library's catalog, iLink, provides access to books, journals, videos, CDs, LPs, and other resources owned by the library. Additionally electronic databases available through the library's Web site offer citations to articles as well as many full-text articles. These databases may be searched by title, subject, search interface, or by full text. Currently 48 databases can be searched by providers such as Proquest, EBSCOHost, ACM, Accunet, CSA, GaleNet, JSTOR, CCH, Lexis-Nexis, AMS, Ovid, and OCLC FirstSearch.

Additionally the library offers interlibrary loan, reciprocation with sister institutions within the state, multimedia services, and online assistance.

Academic Computing [5]

Academic Computing supports all student and faculty with technology in classrooms and labs and administers the Student Technology Fee through the Instructional Technology Committee. Additionally Academic Computing works with the Office of Sponsored Programs to assist program investigators with cash and matching funds to leverage existing programs provided by the technology fee and to seed new programs through cash matches.

Open labs are maintained and managed by the Academic Computing department. These labs are staffed with trained students and provide weekday coverage from 7:15 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Weekend hours are available during Saturday afternoons from noon to 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday afternoons from 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Academic Computing supports or provides login and print services for 24 departmental labs. Spanning both Nicholls State University campuses are 1,050 computers available for student use.

Additionally the Academic Computing department provides technical support for five video conferencing suites on campus. These video conferencing suites connect to the video data services provided to the state via T1 channelized services. Nicholls State University has the capability to simultaneously offer four bridged videoconferences to the outside world. This is accomplished through DAXing equipment located on both campuses. Currently, Academic Computing and Distance Education are upgrading all video conferencing equipment to H.323 standard for connecting via IP protocol.

The Academic Computing department also provides Blackboard, email, Web, file, and print services to the entire student population. All instructors are welcome to create Blackboard courses to supplement face-to-face courses, as hybrid courses, or as exclusively online courses. All Blackboard courses are linked to the student email system that is offered to all students at Nicholls. Additionally, all students have access to Web space to create personalized Web pages for portfolios or demonstrate other work while attending the University.

Office of Disability Services [6]

Office of Disability Services provides assistance to students with disabilities in their adjustment to college and also serves as a liaison with faculty so that those students receive appropriate accommodations.

Faculty Development

To assist faculty in improving performance in teaching, scholarly activity, and service, Nicholls State University provides a range of faculty development programs that include the following: provisions for travel; teaching improvement activities; alternate work from teaching; assistance in proposing and conducting unpaid research and support for publication, consulting, or grant activities through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs [16]; computer services [17]; and other such institutional support as may be expected to enhance faculty development. Nicholls' response to Comprehensive Standard 3.7.3 provides a description of these faculty development programs and services [18].

Other Academic Support Services

A comprehensive list of learning and information resources at Nicholls State University along with links to descriptions and staff is electronically avilable [19].