NSU offering dual enrollment, non-credit courses

Nicholls State University is offering classes from twice the credit and classes to no credit.

NSU is establishing an enticing opportunity for high school seniors: The new dual enrollment program allows seniors in high school to get a jump-start on their college courses and receive high school credit for the course at the same time.

“These programs provide a chance for students to get a jump start while still enrolled in high school,” said Eugene Dial, vice president for student affairs and enrollment services. “Students can either take classes that will count toward their major, or if they have a need for remedial classes the can eliminate that need before starting college.”

There are currently 20 students from high schools in the area, who are taking advantage of the program for the fall semester, and Nicholls expects a drastic increase of enrollment for this spring, Courtney Cassard, director of enrollment services, said.

The Nicholls Admissions Office is working with local high schools to determine the courses that will be included in the program, she said.  Students interested in dually enrolling for the spring semester at NSU should contact the Admissions Office before Sept. 15 in order to determine possible scholarship eligibility.

The dual enrollment program will be available only to high school seniors who are currently completing the TOPS core curriculum and have wither a 2.0 cumulative grade point average or a 20 composite score on the ACT, or rank within the top 50 percent of their class.

The Board of Regents will grant scholarships for tuition and fees for students eligible for free or reduced lunch programs. Students must be enrolled in TOPS core courses at their high schools to qualify and must register for college course that will be accepted by the high school as credit.

Nicholls will award scholarships that cover half the tuition cost for students who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch programs. 

The cost of the program is $100 per credit hour, which does not include laboratory and parking decal fees. Students can enroll for a maximum of six hours for this spring.

Interested students should contact the Office of Admissions at (985) 448-4507 or 1-(877) NICHOLLS.

Beginning this month, NSU is offering non-credit courses for adults through the Office of Continuing Education. 

Beginners’ and Advanced Middle Eastern Dance classes and Pilates classes have begun this week.

Enrollment is still open for the following non-credit courses: LSU-S Video Conferencing, which offers 32 hours of Life and Health class instruction to aid in preparation for state insurance exams; Financial Strategies for Successful Retirement taught by Angela L. Denham and designed for the 45-60 year-old age group; Italian for Beginners and Intermediate Italian taught by Neal “Nino” Thibodaux; Spanish for Beginners taught by Julio Contreras.

For more information on non-credit course schedules and fees, visit the university’s Web site at “http://www.nicholls.edu/cnc”www.nicholls.edu/cnc or call the Office of Continuing Education at (985) 448-4444.