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Name of Institution:

    Nicholls State University

Name, Title, Phone number, and email address of Accreditation Liaison:

    Dr. Laynie Pizzolatto
    Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
    985-448-4174
    laynie.pizzolatto@nicholls.edu

Name, Title, Phone number, and email address of Technical Support person for the Compliance Certification:

    Mihir Fnu
    Accreditation Web Designer
    985-448-4734
    f.mihir@nicholls.edu

Educational Programs

1. Level of offerings (Check all that apply)

	Diploma or certificate program(s) requiring less than one year beyond grade 12
	Diploma or certificate program(s) of at least two but fewer than four years of work beyond grade 12
X	Associate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 60 semester hours or the equivalent designed for transfer to a baccalaureate institution
X	Associate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 60 semester hours or the equivalent not designed for transfer
X	Four or five-year baccalaureate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 120 semester hours or the equivalent
	Professional degree program(s)
X	Master's degree program(s)
X	Work beyond the master's level but not at the doctoral level (such as Specialist in Education)
	Doctoral degree program(s)
	Other (Specify) ______

Types of Undergraduate Programs (Check all that apply)

HISTORY AND CHARACTERISTICS

History:  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.

Current 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 eligible programs, evidence of its commitment to south central Louisiana and beyond.

Mission for 2006 Strategic Plan:  Nicholls State University provides a unique blend of excellent academic programs to meet the needs of Louisiana and beyond. The University cultivates productive, responsible, engaged citizens in a personalized, culturally rich and dynamic learning environment through quality teaching, research, and service.

Geographic Service Area and Student Population:  The 210-acre campus is approximately 50 miles southwest of New Orleans and 60 miles southeast of Baton Rouge. Nicholls State University serves a diverse population of traditional and non-traditional students, as well as professional, social, and cultural groups who contribute to the University and benefit from their relationship with it. Specific demographics as of Fall 2004 are:

    Total Enrollment: 7482
    Percentage Part Time Students: 23.1%
    Percentage Graduate Students: 9.3%
    Percentage Minorities: 25.2%
    Percentage Women: 64%
    Percentage Non-traditional Students (25 years and older): 27%

Unusual/Distinctive Features:  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. 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.

Admissions Policies: Admissions criteria effective Fall 2005

The college freshman class of Fall 2005 must complete the following to be admitted to Nicholls:

    1) Completion of the Regents' high school TOPS core curriculum   AND
    2) High school GPA equal to or greater than 2.0   OR
    3) An ACT composite score equal or greater than 20   OR
    4) A high school graduation rank of 50% or higher   AND
    5) No more than one (1) developmental course

Transfer students with fewer than 12 credit hours of college level (non-developmental) courses must meet the same admission criteria as first-time entering freshmen.

Note: Nicholls State University retains 15 percent of its freshman class for admission exceptions, 10 percent for minority students, and 5 percent for other exceptions.

For admissions criteria prior to Fall 2005, see Appendix A.

Peer Institutions:  Augusta State University, GA; Columbus State University, GA; Fort Valley State University, GA; Georgia Southwestern State University, GA; Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA; North Georgia College and State University, GA; Troy State University Dothan, AL; Troy State University Montgomery, AL; University of West Alabama, AL, McNeese State University, LA.

LIST OF DEGREES

MAJOR *CONCENTRATION/CERTIFICATION	MAJOR CODE		2000 CIP CODE	RECENT CHANGES
Associate of Science Degrees (A.S.)
Child Development & Preschool Management	(CDAS)		[19.0708]
Culinary Arts	(CAAS)		[12.0503]
Chemistry Laboratory Technology	(CTAS)		[41.0301]	Program Cancelled
Criminal Justice	(CRAS)		[43.0107]
Legal Assistant Studies	(LAAS)		[22.0302]
Petroleum Services	(PSAS)		[15.0903]
Safety Technology	(STAS)		[15.0903]
Nursing	(NRAS)		[51.1601]
Cardiopulmonary Care Science	(CCAS)		[51.0908]
Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic	(EPAS)		[51.0904]
General Business	(GBAS)		[52.0101]	Program Cancelled
Associate of General Studies Degrees (A.G.S.)
General Studies	(GSAS)		[24.0102]
*Production Services Technology	(PDAS)			Program Cancelled
Bachelor of Arts Degrees (B.A.)
Secondary Education			[13.1205]	No Longer Concentrations
English Education – Primary Certification	(EPED)		[13.1305]	New CIP Code
French Education Certification	(FRED)		[13.1325]	New CIP Code
Social Studies Education – Primary Certification	(SSPE)		[13.1318]	New CIP Code
Art Education	(ARED)		[13.1302]	New CIP Code
Psychology	(PSYC)		[42.0101]
English	(ENGL)		[23.0101]
*English – Creative Writing	(ENCW)
*English – Professional/Technical Writing	(ENTW)
French	(FREN)		[16.0901]
History	(HIST)		[54.0101]
Government	(GOVT)		[45.1001]
*Government – Criminal Justice	(GOCJ)
Sociology	(SOCI)		[45.1101]
*Sociology – Family/Youth Advocacy	(SOYA)
Art	(ARTS)		[50.0701]
Music	(MUSI)		[50.0901]
Mass Communications			[09.0102]
*Broadcast Journalism	(MCBJ)
*Print Journalism	(MCPJ)
*Public Relations	(MCPR)
Bachelor of General Studies Degrees (B.G.S.)
General Studies	(GENS)		[24.0102]
Bachelor of Music Education Degrees (B.M.E.)
Music Education			[13.1312]
*Instrumental Music Certification	(IMED)
*Vocal Music Certification	(VMED)
Bachelor of Science Degrees (B.S.)
Secondary Education			[13.1205]	No Longer Concentrations
Mathematics Education – Primary Certification	(MPED)		[13.1311]	New CIP Code
Health and Physical Education Certification	(HPED)		[13.1314]	New CIP Code
Business Education – Primary Certification	(BPED)		[13.1303]	New CIP Code
General Science Education – Primary Certification	(GSPE)		[13.1316]	New CIP Code
Elementary Education – PK–3 Certification	(P3ED)		[13.1210]
Elementary Education – 1-5 Certification	(15ED)		[13.1202]	Name Change
Elementary Education – 4-8 Certification	(48ED)		[13.1203]
General Family & Consumer Sciences			[19.0101]
*GF&CS – Social Services	(GFCS)
*GF&CS – Education	(GFCE)
*GF & CS – Birth to Five Interventionist Education	(BFEI)
Culinary Arts	(CABS)		[12.0503]
Chemistry			[40.0501]
*Chemistry – Professional	(CHEM)
*Chemistry – Pre-Dentistry/Pre-Medical	(CHDM)
Mathematics	(MATH)		[27.0101]
Computer Science	(CMPS)		[11.0701]
Biology	(BIOL)		[26.0101]
*Environmental Biology	(BIOE)
*Marine Biology	(BIOM)
*Microbiology	(BIOC)
*Pre-Medical Technology	(BIOT)
*Pre-Occupational Therapy	(BIOO)
*Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dental	(BIOD)
*Pre-Physical Therapy	(BIOP)
*Pre Veterinary Medicine	(BIOV)
Agricultural Business	(AGBU)		[01.0101]
*Agricultural Business – Production	(AGPD)
*Agricultural Business – Science	(AGSC)
*Agricultural Business – Environmental	(AGNV)
Petroleum Services	(PSBS)		[15.0903]
Geomatics	(GEOM)		[15.1102]
Manufacturing Engineering Technology	(MNTC)		[15.0805]
Allied Health Sciences			[51.0000]
*Allied Health – Professional Practice	(AHPP)