Rebuilding phases have begun for both the French and agriculture programs, which have seen an enrollment decline in recent years.The French department has added professor Michelle Benoit who has a masters degree in French, and current professor Dennis Durocher has recently earned his doctorate degree in order to build up the program.
“Our number one priority is to rebuild the French program, showing students that it is not just an elective. It is a big part of internal business in the world today,” Anita Tully, department head of languages and literature, said. “Nicholls is looking at new partnerships within the University and the community such as business, culinary arts and agriculture.”
According to Tully, many companies want to hire people who are able to speak the language for their overseas projects and operations. The French program is trying to set up study abroad programs in partnership with other colleges on campus to better the students’ educational lives and future job opportunities.
The agriculture program is looking to show potential students the opportunities and importance of their program.
“The concern for us is that agriculture is such an important business for us in the South, especially sugarcane for all the parishes that Nicholls serves,” Carroll Falcon, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said.
At the moment the University is trying to build up the visibility of both programs, marketing job opportunities with the help of alumni support. Falcon suggests that much of the decline in agriculture is thought to be from talk of Nicholls selling the University farm. Many students thought that if Nicholls sold the farm then the agriculture program would be the next to go. There are no plans currently to sell the Nicholls farm.
“It is part of our mission at Nicholls to support the agricultural community and conserve the unique aquatic resources of South Louisiana,” Stephen Hulbert, University president, said in a press release.
“Therefore, the University farm at Lafourche Crossing and the agriculture degree program at Nicholls are here to stay.
