Teaming makes credit transfer easier than ever

Options for college students in the Tri-parish area have just increased after the signing of a collaborative plan between Nicholls State University and Fletcher Technical Community College.

The agreement vows to ease the ability to transfer credits from Fletcher to Nicholls, establish academic programs that meet regional workforce needs and share resources for greater efficiencies.

Nicholls and Fletcher representatives formally presented the collaborative plan to the Louisiana Board of Regents March 25 with the hope that four-year and two-year institutions will work together for the betterment of students across the state.

“We feel that the collaborative agreement with Nicholls State University can serve as a model for other community colleges and four year universities in the state,” said Fletcher chancellor Travis Lavigne.

Since the agreement, Fletcher students can more easily pursue a four-year degree at Nicholls without losing their accrued hours by following written guidelines.

In fact, students can enroll at both institutions simultaneously. More than 100 students are currently dually enrolled, allowing them to take classes only offered at the other school, classes at a lower tuition rate or classes at a closer location.

“We have worked very hard to allow Fletcher students to visit Nicholls using their Fletcher library cards and student IDs to use the services of Nicholls and vice versa for Nicholls students that are going over to take a course at Fletcher,” said Nicholls president Dr. Stephen Hulbert.

Fletcher students attempting to receive an Associate of General Studies degree can now follow a “two-plus-two” program where courses chosen for the first two years transfer seamlessly to a variety of four-year curricula at Nicholls.

But Fletcher students won’t have to figure out what to take on their own, because the agreement creates a director of Transitional Programs at Nicholls to help students figure out transfer equivalencies.

Also in order to avoid confusion, the two schools will work together to establish a common course numbering system for freshmen and sophomore level courses to assist in advising and transfer of courses.

“What we have done is specifically put into place policies and practices that ensure greater success for students in completing a degree,” said Hulbert. “Beforehand it was the student working for himself or herself. Now it’s two institutions that work together to make sure that students have a chance for success.”

For community college students wishing to transfer to Nicholls, the newly formed Web site www.nicholls.edu/transfer includes all the information needed for the transfer process.

“The whole approach is to help students transition from a two-year to a four-year program without the loss of credit hours and in a way that will better ensure their success,” said Hulbert.

The agreement will also benefit Fletcher students with no intention of transferring to Nicholls.

For instance, Fletcher students and teachers will be able to use classroom and lab facilities at the Nicholls Duhe building in Houma in order to alleviate space issues.

A byproduct of the agreement will be the transition of Nicholls two-year programs to Fletcher. Fletcher will absorb Nicholls Legal Assistant Studies and Criminal Justice programs in Fall 2010. In addition, Cardiopulmonary Care Science is also in the process of transitioning to Fletcher, but it may not be possible by Fall 2010.

“The support we’ve received from the faculty and staff of both institutions and from the broader community, especially over in Houma, has been outstanding, and a good reason for the success that we have enjoyed so far,” said Hulbert.

Nicholls State President Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, left, and Fletcher Technical Community College Chancellor Travis Lavigne presented a collaborative plan to the Louisiana Board of Regents establishing transfer agreements. * Photo courtesy of NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY