More budget cuts would hamper higher ed

Lafourche council shoots down Company Canal deal
June 8, 2010
Thursday, June 10
June 10, 2010
Lafourche council shoots down Company Canal deal
June 8, 2010
Thursday, June 10
June 10, 2010

Nicholls State University recently hosted its 86th commencement, and I’m proud to report that the total number of graduates from the 2009-10 academic year is 1,240, which is a record number for the second year in a row – proving yet again that Nicholls is the university of choice in the Bayou Region.


This is a remarkable achievement for Nicholls students, faculty and staff. However, with the possibility of further state budget cuts to higher education, I feel it is necessary to address questions regarding the university’s academic success.

A key indicator in determining a university’s academic success is its graduation rate. Nicholls’ graduation rate for students seeking bachelor’s degrees reached 35.3 percent this year, an impressive 10-percent increase since 2005-06. I am quite proud of this improvement, but realize it falls short of the southern regional average.


It is vital that the Bayou Region community understand why this is so, and what we are doing to make improvements.


Contrary to common belief, the national norm to attain a bachelor’s degree is six years, not four. This is important because a university’s graduation rates are calculated on a six-year timeframe.

Current graduation rates are based on students who began college for the first time in fall 2003, when Nicholls was still an open-admissions institution. Students from the 2003 class are counted as completers if they finished their bachelor’s degrees before or during the summer semester of 2009. Nicholls became a selective-admissions university in 2005-06. First-time freshman students of the 2005 class will be considered completers if they have obtained their bachelor’s degree by the summer semester of 2011.

It is important to note that these entering students are not just recent high school graduates from the region. Many are adults who are entering college for the first time, with many other obligations in their lives. These students have other issues that might inhibit the swift completion of their degree. Many of these drop to a part-time status or take semesters off due to child care or financial issues. Nicholls has also historically been a commuter campus. With long commutes, a student doesn’t always have the time to become truly engaged in their college careers.

Because the 2005-06 entering class was required to meet higher admissions standards, they were better prepared to successfully meet the academic challenges of college. Although the graduation rate of the 2005-06 class will not be known until 2011-12, statistical trends generated by the Nicholls Office of Assessment and Institutional Research predict a possible graduation rate of 37 percent at that time, with steady increases in the years to follow.

In addition to selective admissions, Nicholls has put several initiatives into place to ensure the continued increase in graduation rates. These initiatives include the establishment of University College, intended to ensure the success of all Nicholls students; the restructuring of freshman courses in order enhance learning outcomes; the increased admissions standards, resulting in higher caliber enrollees; the expansion of advising and tutoring services, resulting in better grades and faster progression toward graduation; and the improved cooperation with regional primary and secondary schools, resulting in increased numbers of regional students who are better prepared for college. Nicholls has also made great strides in improving campus life so that students become more engaged in the college experience. The construction of new residence halls and a newly renovated cafeteria have added to the quality of life for students.

Nicholls is indeed fulfilling its primary mission – the education of tomorrow’s workforce – and we are moving forward with a spirit of optimism and undying commitment to academic excellence. I ask everyone for their support as we seek to preserve and strengthen this valuable institution.