Nicholls will increase admissions standards in the fall in an attempt to raise graduation rates.Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs and enrollment services, said this change is in response to recommendations from the Postsecondary Education Review Commission on how to improve higher education in Louisiana.
“The whole intent is to help students determine what they need to do to prepare and be successful when they come into Nicholls,” Dial said.
The new admission requirements state a student must require no more than one developmental course. The student must meet the TOPS core high school curriculum and have a minimum 2.0 grade point average. Also, students must meet one of three criteria: a 21 composite ACT, an overall 2.35 grade point average or rank in the top 50 percent of their high school graduating class.
Dial said these requirements mean that a student only needs to meet them if he wants to be accepted into regular admission status and take the classes he needs his first semester. “If you don’t have that, then we go to plan B,” Dial said.
A student can enroll for a semester at Fletcher, dual-enroll at both Nicholls and Fletcher or strengthen skills by taking extra courses in high school or the summer before starting college.
According to the University of Louisiana System, if a student has one remedial and at least a 21 composite ACT, he is generally able to finish college. Also, when a student’s GPA is below 2.35 in high school, the student tends to have problems in college.
“Nicholls looked at the characteristics of the students that succeed and struggle,” Dial said. Using observations like these, the University plans to help students become more prepared for their first semester.
For example, if a student needing remedial English takes more than 12 credit hours in one semester, that student would most likely have more trouble than a student who does not need the remedial.
When a student needing remedial English sits down with an advisor, the advisor can tell the student what classes he needs to take at Nicholls and what classes would be beneficial to take at Fletcher.
“The whole idea is to try and set students up for success, rather than come to school, struggle, leave without a degree and then have a debt because they’ve been taking out loans,” Dial said.
Courtney Cassard, director of enrollment services, said it is estimated that these changes would have affected about 70 students who applied in the past academic year.
New admission standards will not affect teachers or the size or number of classes. However, it will affect whether or not students are admitted full-time or dual-enrolled at Nicholls and Fletcher. This does not mean all classes cannot be taken on campus.
“We allow Fletcher to come and teach some courses on campus. That way you don’t have to go to Houma,” Dial said. “The students won’t really notice any difference. When you get your schedule, it will show your courses at Nicholls and the course with Fletcher. Whether they start at Fletcher or Nicholls, it’s about putting the student in the best position to succeed.
