Nicholls skims back on projected cuts

The Louisiana Board of Regents rescued two Nicholls State University programs from elimination on Friday.

The geomatics and marine and environmental biology graduate programs have been protected from budget cuts to the University of Louisiana System.

The board has granted both programs a three-year continuance, pending reevaluation.

Geomatics was introduced at Nicholls in 2003, and is the state’s only four-year degree program in land surveying and mapping.

To date, 12 students have graduated from the program, with 54 currently enrolled. The geomatics faculty has requested an accreditation visit from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology in November.

“The need for professional land surveyors and professional mappers is far and wide,” said Dr. Terry Dantin, department head of applied sciences. “These professionals are involved in land development, construction, oil and gas exploration, disaster restoration, monitoring coastal erosion and wetland reclamation, processing geographical information and many additional applications.”

Created in 2002, the Master of Science degree program in marine and environmental biology trains students in coastal restoration, water quality, environmental health, biofuel alternatives, toxicology and other areas. Twenty-four students have graduated from the program and 30 are currently enrolled.

“The marine and environmental biology graduate program has received wide support from regional industry and businesses,” said Dr. John Doucet, interim department head of biological sciences. “One hundred percent of program graduates are either contributing to the marine and environmental workforce or are busy earning doctoral degrees.”

Neither program was on Nicholls’ list of proposed cuts released two weeks ago.