Tag: Nicholls State University

Nicholls Department of Accounting & Finance Dedicated to JB Falgoust

Nicholls State University recently received a generous donation of $1 million from First American Bank and Trust. This significant contribution has earned them the naming rights for the prestigious JB Falgoust Department of Accounting and Finance, according to this news release from Nicholls. The University plans to utilize this monetary gift as seed money to construct a state-of-the-art facility that will house the esteemed College of Business Administration.

J.B. Falgoust, the namesake of the department, started his career as a humble clerk for the Bank of Vacherie. Through hard work and determination, he rose through the ranks to become the vice president, president, CEO, chairman of the board, and finally, the chairman emeritus of the now renowned First American Bank and Trust. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in transforming the bank’s fortunes.

The bank’s assets witnessed impressive growth, soaring from a mere $2 million to an astounding $830 million. Not only that, but the bank expanded its presence from a single office in Vacherie to an impressive network of 24 branches across Southeast Louisiana. Moreover, the bank’s employee count skyrocketed from a mere 3 to over 200 dedicated professionals. Today, First American Bank and Trust boasts an impressive 25 branches and assets exceeding $1 billion.

Ronnie Falgoust is the President and CEO of First American Bank, and he said, “Mr. J.B. Falgoust understood the importance of Nicholls State University and the resources Nicholls provides to the business economy of Southern Louisiana. Graduates of Nicholls have played a vital role in the growth of First American Bank and Trust. The Bank is proud to honor Mr. J.B. Falgoust and support Nicholls State University.”

First American Bank and Trust is renowned for being a strong and independent community bank. It is deeply ingrained in the fabric of the communities it serves, forging strong connections with local businesses, organizations, and citizens. The bank’s board of directors consists of visionary leaders who hail from these local communities, making them uniquely positioned to understand and address the region’s needs while preserving its distinctive traditions.

Nicholls State University takes immense pride in its AACSB-accredited Accounting program, which plays a vital role in shaping the social and economic landscape of the region it serves. This program empowers students to meet the evolving workforce demands as highly educated, responsible, and engaged accounting professionals. By equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices, the program contributes significantly to the social and economic vitality of the program’s service area and beyond.

The finance and financial services marketing degrees offered by Nicholls also adhere to the stringent educational requirements established by AACSB for a bachelor’s degree in finance. These programs feature a well-rounded curriculum that encompasses senior-level courses in accounting and finance, in addition to other essential business subjects. The goal is to cultivate students’ communication, technological, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making skills, enabling them to excel in the competitive world of finance.

In conclusion, Nicholls State University is grateful for the remarkable $1 million donation from First American Bank and Trust  to the Department of Accounting and Finance.  This generous contribution will not only secure the naming rights for the JB Falgoust Department of Accounting and Finance but also provide the necessary funding for the construction of a cutting-edge facility to house the esteemed College of Business Administration.

Through partnerships between educational institutions and businesses, students can acquire the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to succeed in their chosen fields. These collaborative efforts ensure that graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of the ever-evolving job market while making positive contributions to their communities and beyond.

For more education-related information, click here.

Online Mathematics Master’s Degree at Nicholls Ranks Nationally

It was recently announced via this news release from Nicholls State University that the school’s online mathematics master’s degree was highly ranked among the top online master’s programs in the nation. Nicholls’ online mathematics master’s degree was ranked among OnlineMastersDegrees.org’s Top 31 Degree Programs, where it came in at number 21, placing it in the top 6% of the regionally accredited postsecondary institutions. According to the news release, the online mathematics program at Nicholls had earned this “top honors for overall quality, affordability, and commitment to student success.”

As per the Department of Mathematics at Nicholls, “the faculty of the Department of Mathematics at Nicholls State University is dedicated to preparing students to adapt to the needs and demands of a technologically oriented society. This new Master of Science in mathematics is uniquely designed to serve teachers seeking professional development.”

The Department of Mathematics’s curriculum for their newer, educationally-focused Master of Science in mathematicsis designed to strengthen the content understanding of secondary math teachers enrolled in the program so that they are enriching their knowledge of logic, mathematics, and technology. In addition to these areas, the program also enriches their knowledge and understanding of curriculum and instruction methods.

In order to rank the online degree programs, OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD) analyzed over 7,000 accredited universities through the use of data that was pulled from the individual schools and from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. The data science team at OMD then applied a proprietary algorithm in order to rank all qualifying schools for each of the different master’s degrees specialities.

OMD had originally started back in 2020 in order to support online learning at the master’s level, so that the option could become more viable for those wanting to go back to school for a higher degree but might not be able to physically attend classes on a traditional campus. The site’s user-friendly interface and research-based content work together to assist students in finding scholarships, resources, financial aid, and to connect with accredited universities and colleges across the country. As a result, OMD has become a one-stop-shop for a potential prospective student’s cursory google searches when questioning how, where, and when they can apply for a Master’s degree program.

Because of this, it makes the online mathematics program at Nicholls State University all-the-most equipped to meet a prospective student’s inquiries and needs by being on this nationally-ranked list of the best online degrees in the nation. OMD’s list is accompanied with several resources to help a student decide if an online master’s degree is the right step for them, and this includes a list of the benefits of earning an online master’s degree in mathematics. Some of the benefits include: being able to advance in your career while studying, having the opportunity to learn advanced concepts, and setting yourself up in for the ultimate degree.

OMD also explains that with an Online Master’s Degree Program, you’ll be able to learn by writing, “every master’s in mathematics online program has a similar set of core courses that everyone needs to take at the graduate level. Beyond that, there are electives, which students can use to create a unique concentration or fit into a concentration already laid out by the school. Below are some of the more common courses you can expect to encounter. Keep in mind that some schools require a capstone project or thesis, while others require an examination. Students learn about the qualitative behavior of solutions on nonlinear differential equations, bifurcation methods, strange attractors and chaos, fixed pointed and periodic orbits. They also learn how these systems apply to fields like engineering, biology, physics, chemistry, and more.”

For more education-related information, click here.

Nicholls Recently Renewed its Partnership with MAX Charter School

It was recently announced that Nicholls State University and the Maxine Giardina Charter School have officially renewed their five-year affiliation, according to this news release from Nicholls. The affiliation between Nicholls and MAX Charter School is described as a way to provide both engagement and support through both the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the Nicholls Louisiana Center for Dyslexia and Related Learning Disorders.

Five years ago, Nicholls’ College of Education had introduced the internally recognized Comprehensive Application of Behavior Analysis to Schooling approach to MAX Charter’s educational curriculum. Essentially, the Comprehensive Application of Behavior Analysis to Schooling, or CABAS, is seen as a scientifically validated approach to schooling, and because of this, it incorporates principles and tactics of the basic science of behavior in order to teach educationally significant and socially significant repertoires through continuous assessment, monitoring, and individualized interventions that are based on data.

Nicholls President Jay Clune, PhD. had spoken about the renewed partnership by saying, “for years, the affiliation between MAX Charter School and Nicholls has provided incredible opportunities for our teacher candidates to receive hands-on training in instructional delivery to students with differentiated learning styles. In turn, MAX benefits by having access to resources and ongoing support from the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the Louisiana Center for Dyslexia and Related Learning Disorders. This is a valuable educational partnership for both organizations.”

The Chairman of MAX Charter School Board, Jake Giardina, commented on the partnership by saying, “the collaboration between MAX Charter and Nicholls leverages the education, experience, and expertise of both entities greatly benefiting all stakeholders.”

Additionally, Nicholls Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Scot Rademaker, said “MAX is a great place for our teacher candidates and future counselors to gain valuable experiences prior to their employment as professionals in the world of education. Some candidates and interns may even be employed by MAX and continue to provide quality instruction and services for students with dyslexia. Nicholls has been able to provide valuable resources, including professional development from teacher education faculty, as well as leadership and guidance through board governance for MAX. We hope that the professional connections between our two educational entities will continue for many years to come.”

Approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the MAX Charter School is actually the first of its kind in Louisiana and it has since become a source for ongoing professional development of in-service teachers and field experience training for pre-service teachers at the University. The school is described as being dedicated to educating first through eighth-grade students with dyslexia and related learning differences.

The Nicholls Louisiana Center for Dyslexia & Related Learning Disorders describes its mission by saying that it “is to transform the lives of individuals with dyslexia through the provision of support services to college students, educational evaluations to the public, and training opportunities to teachers and parents.”

Similarly, the Nicholls College of Education and Behavioral Sciences is dedicated to the preparation of high-quality, experienced, and knowledgeable educational leaders, teachers, school counselors, psychological counselors, school psychologists, and human service professionals who are able to meet the diverse needs of Louisiana and the larger global community. They say, “this is accomplished by a faculty committed to teaching, community service, professional service, and research. Programs of study are grounded in the conceptual framework: ‘Responsible Leaders Engaging in Professional Practice.’ The college is strongly committed to service in area school systems and community agencies.”

For more education-related information, click here.

Nicholls State University Renames Two Buildings after Alumni

Recently, Nicholls State University announced that they will be officially naming two buildings on campus in honor of two alumni of Nicholls who have had a significant impact on the University, according to this news release from Nicholls. Towards the start of the Fall semester, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System officially approved the renaming of the two Nicholls buildings, and it was announced that an official ceremony commemorating the change is set to occur later in the Fall 2022 semester.

Nicholls State University will be renaming their College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Building to Dr. O. Cleveland Hill Hall. The building will be named after Dr. O. Cleveland Hill, a Mississippi native who was initially offered a scholarship and recruited to play basketball at Nicholls in 1968. Dr. O. Cleveland Hill became the first black athlete to wear a Colonel uniform, and as a sophomore, his teammates voted him team captain. This made him the first non-senior to serve in that position in school history.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in 1973, he joined the army and then returned to Nicholls as a student assistant basketball coach while completing his Master of Education degree. Dr. Hill served as the head basketball coach and assistant football coach at East Thibodaux Junior High School before being hired on as an assistant basketball coach at Nicholls. He stayed at Nicholls State University as an Assistant Professor of Physical Education, and in 1999, he became the Dean of the College of Education.

Dr. Steven H. Kenney, Jr. is the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and Title IX Coordinator at Nicholls. Dr. Steven H. Kenney, Jr. commented on the appropriateness of naming the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Building after Dr. Hill by saying, “placing Dr. Hill’s name on the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences building, from what he represents, gives all Nicholls students the audacity to hope that if Dr. Hill can go from a student to the dean of a college, I can do this as well.”

Nicholls will also be renaming the College of Sciences and Technology Building to Dr. Marilyn B. Kilgen Hall. The building will be named after Dr. Marilyn B. Kilgen, who dedicated more than four decades of her life to Nicholls. After she had received her bachelor’s degree from the university in 1966, Kilden earned her doctorate from Auburn University before returning to Nicholls. She went on to teach Biology at Nicholls for 41 years.

Outside of teaching Biology at the university, Dr. Kilgen is also known for being a nationally renowned microbiologist and seafood safety scientist who has received more than $7.5 million in research funding. Her research has been reported in over 80 presentations and over 90 scientific publications; furthermore, she has served on committees for the United States Department of Education. Dr. Kilgen served as the head of the Nicholls Department of Biological Sciences for 12 years where her substantial impact was seen in the Department of Biological Sciences winning one of only 17 Departmental Excellence Through Faculty Enhancement awards, making Dr. Kilgen’s department the only undergraduate program in the state of Louisiana to win the coveted award.

Nicholls Dean of Sciences and Technology, Alcee Fortier Professor, and Distinguished Service Professor Dr. John P. Doucet also spoke about Dr. Kilgen’s impact by saying: “not only was Dr. Kilgen one of the foremost scientists and accomplished faculty members in the 75-year history of Nicholls; she is also the architect of the modern biology department, having renovated the undergraduate curriculum and created the graduate curriculum from scratch, both of which we still use today.

For more education-related information, click here.

“Last Acadian Coast” Symposium Hosted at Nicholls

In Early October, Nicholls State University hosted a symposium on the particularly unique history and culture of certain Acadian descendants in both Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, according to this new release from Nicholls. The symposium, which is titled: “The Last Acadian Coast: A Symposium on Acadian History and Culture in the Lafourche-Terrebonne” was held on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, in the Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

The event is hosted by Nicholls State University, the Nicholls Coastal Center, the Center for Bayou Studies at Nicholls, the Lafourche Heritage Society, and the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. Additionally, this event is a part of the larger Grand Réveil Acadien 2022, which is a multi-parish experience that is designed to celebrate the lasting cultural impact of the Acadian people across southern Louisiana.

The Last Acadian Coast’s Symposium on Acadian history and culture in the Lafourche Terrebonne Area did so by featuring several notable speakers at their public event who spoke on the Acadians of the wetlands. The following speakers and topics were featured at the event:

  • Glen Pitre, “Historic Lifeways in the Lafourche-Terrebonne”
  • John Doucet, “The Last Acadian Coast: Settlement and Succession of the Wetlands Acadians”
  • Windell Curole, “Shaped by Tide and Thunder and Terror: Historical Storms and the Shaping of Coastal Settlement in the Lafourche-Terrebonne”
  • Nathalie Dajko, “French on Shifting Ground: Development of Unique Language in the Lafourche-Terrebonne”
  • Donald (Don) Davis, ”Historical Wetlands Seafood Culture and Industry”
  • Patty Whitney, “A Cultural Gumbo: Terrebonne Parish’s 200th Anniversary”
  • Shana Walton & Helen Regis, ”Living off the Land in Lafourche: Hunting, Fishing, Planting and Community”

Prior to the “Last Acadian Coast” symposium, an event a part of Grand Réveil Acadien took place at Nicholls State University’s Chef John Folse Culinary Institute. The event was an “Acadian Chef Demo,” and it featured Chef Paul Thimot and Chef Shane Robicheau who cooked and prepared a traditional Acadian dish while highlighting the culture and food of Acadian culture and Nova Scotia in both the past and present.

After the “Last Acadian Coast” symposium, Grand Réveil Acadien also featured a Cajun Music Demonstration & Lecture at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. This demonstration and lecture featured Chad Huval on accordion and Brazos Huval on fiddle as they demonstrated Cajun Music techniques while also teaching about the history of Cajun music and the preservation of music specific to Bayou Lafourche.

In providing more information on the Acadian descendants of both Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish, Nicholls provided the following information: “the migration of Acadian exiles to Louisiana largely concluded in 1785 with the landing of seven-passenger ships in New Orleans carrying nearly 1600 persons. Following earlier establishments of the First and Second Acadian Coast settlements along the Mississippi River, most of the 1785 Acadian immigrants were settled along the Bayous Lafourche and Terrebonne.”

The arrival of the Acadian immigrants didn’t only the largest single migration and settlement of Acadians in the entire world, but it also marked the final mass re-settlement of Acadians in history. Over time, these Acadian immigrants migrated south along the bayous toward the Gulf Coast, and they founded “not only the bayouside cities, towns, and villages we know today but also forging their own history and developing a unique wetlands Cajun culture.”

Furthermore, Grand Réveil Acadien described their multi-parish experience as a way to “encourage Acadians from around the world to continue to advance our unique lifestyle through shared memories, French-speaking events, bonding and fellowship over Cajun food and music, and the general celebration of our shared culture.” Because of this, there is no better sponsor than Nicholls State University to host a symposium on the rich tapestry of the history of Acadian people in both LaFourche and Terrebonne Parishes.

For more education-related information, click here.

BCBS of Louisiana Foundation Awards Nicholls a Disaster Response Grant

Nicholls State University will soon be able to offer need-based scholarships to help students return to campus after having previously left in the wake of Hurricane Ida. According to this news release from the school, a $100,000 disaster response grant will be utilized to create these scholarships, which will be helpful to students wanting to return to their degree plans.

It was announced by the university in May 2022 that a $100,000 disaster response grant was awarded by The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation. It was also announced that the funds would be utilized so that students who had halted their learning due to Hurricane Ida’s detrimental impact on the area would be able to qualify for a needs-based scholarship that would offset the cost of re-enrolling & returning to classes.

Nicholls State University President Dr. Jay Clune commented on BCBSLA’s award by saying, “even though others outside of South Louisiana have long stopped talking about the effects of Hurricane Ida, we are still feeling the impacts every single day. We are grateful for this partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield. I don’t like to think of where we would be without the support of our wonderful industry and community partners.”

In the wake of Hurricane Ida, the destructive Category 4 Atlantic hurricane that made its landfall near Port Fourchon on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, it was reported that an estimated 25% of Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish homes were destroyed or declared uninhabitable. Additionally, approximately two-thirds of the Nicholls community reported that their homes were destroyed or uninhabitable. Once the storm passed, the BCBSLA Foundation had committed $5 million in funds to areas affected by Ida, and other communities across the Gulf Coast also stepped up.

Earlier this year, The Courier reported that Nicholls State’s spring enrollment had dropped 10% from the previous year, attributing the decline to Hurricane Ida as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In August of 2021, Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune announced that the school would essentially restructure its retention and recruitment strategies. As a result, the university’s decision to have recruitment and retention efforts managed by the Office of Academic Affairs, specifically being led by Sue Westbrook, provost and president for Academic Affairs, and Renee Hicks, assistant vice president of Institutional Effectiveness, Access, and success.

It was then reported that the university’s fall-to-spring retention rate of first-time freshmen had increased by 7.9 percentage points from the previous year to be listed at 90.5%. This was the first time that this retention rate had surpassed 90% in over a decade, thus signaling that Nicholls’ restructuring was beginning to pay off. Renee Hicks interpreted the data by saying, “when we post retention rates like this, it means our entire campus community has come together to provide extraordinary support for our students during the recovery from a major hurricane on top of a pandemic.”

Dr. Clune commented on the promising data, saying, “in addition to our strong retention rates, we also see applications are up year-to-year. I attribute that to our data-led approach to recruitment and retention by Ms. Hicks and her team. With a new marketing campaign and increased recruitment and retention efforts, we anticipate a return to an upward trend in enrollment.”

Pair this earlier indicator of rising enrollment rates with these new needs-based scholarships established from The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation’s $100,000 disaster response grant, and it’s even clearer to see that not just the campus community of Nicholls is coming together to come out of Hurricane Ida stronger than before, but the surrounding community of Houma, Thibodaux, and the State of Louisiana is banding together as well.

For more education-related information, click here