The University will lose a program that helps students transition from high school to college because the United States Department of Education has decided not to fund the program for this year. However, an extension has been granted to allow the program to complete the activities it set out to accomplish this fall.The Academic Success program was set to discontinue on Aug. 31, but the extension will allow the program to continue operating until Nov. 30. Each year, the federal government provides $430,000 for the Academic Success program.

The Department of Education allows programs that are scheduled not to be funded again a chance to submit a letter asking for reconsideration. Betty Elfert, Nicholls’ Academic Success director, decided not to request reconsideration and, instead, asked for an extension.

“We didn’t ask for that (reconsideration),” Elfert said. “We wanted an extension.”

Elfert would like to use the extension to finish the activities that the Academic Success program has not yet completed and then apply for the federal dollars during the next funding cycle. She does not know when the next funding cycle will be since the federal government announces the funding cycle a year in advance of when the money is given.

“We have three activities to complete,” Elfert said. “When the next funding cycle comes around, we will reapply.”

The Academic Success program at Nicholls was not the only program to lose funding, Elfert said. Similar programs from universities across the country were not refunded. Elfert said that it is possible that the other programs completed their tasks and no longer needed the federal funding; therefore, they may not have asked to be funded again.

Academic advising and financial and career counseling are some of the different types of assistance the Academic Success program provides to Nicholls students. More than 450 students are enrolled in the Academic Success program each year.

Each year, the Academic Success program divides $10,000 of grant aid to the Nicholls students with the most financial need.

The Academic Success program has a staff of four counselors and advisers, three specialists, two coordinators, two clerical staff members and 20 student tutors. Elfert said that her staff has found other positions for when the program ends.