The 2012 freshmen class increased in size by 10.4 percent thanks to a campus wide effort to increase recruitment through revamped services and programs offered at the University.
Becky Durocher, director of the office of admissions, said the admissions team formed a new vision for recruitment this year that would erase everything done in the past.  
“We had to think, if money wasn’t an issue and we were able to treat every student as family, what would we do?” Becky Durocher said.  “How could we reach our ultimate goal to get them to land at Nicholls?”    
The office of admission’s efforts helped to increase first time freshmen enrollment to 1,253, an increase of 118 students from last year, out of the University’s 6,606 students.  Overall, the office of admissions pursued over 15,000 prospective students from the efforts of recruitment officers who are on the road year long.  
Durocher said the admissions office had to start at the beginning when a student becomes a prospect to the University.  The office evaluated which method of communication reaches students best.  From a focus group of students, Durocher said it was determined that emails were the most ineffective form of communication.   A new initiative to reach students through text messages proved successful, Durocher said.  
“Students thought it was awesome they received a message from Nicholls welcoming them to the family,” Durocher said.  “Humans still like to be contacted by humans.”
Laurie Larose, assistant direct of the office of admissions, said “Every year our program evolves and changes with students.  We listen to them and figure out what they want.”  
To help engage students more with the University environment, the office of admissions revamped orientation and events that go along with the implementation of a theme each year.    
Durocher said students are now required to self-register to help them become familiar with the process and to help increase retention.  
Amy Hebert, coordinator of the academic advising center, said to keep students at Nicholls, it is important to give students the information they need to become familiar with the college environment.  
“One of the biggest things is getting students familiar with the University so they feel comfortable and know that they have places that can help them if they need help,” Hebert said.
Hebert said it is important for University College to identify students who are having trouble and getting them help early on from tutoring services or any other on campus services.  
“Students who are uncertain about their major or have anxiety because they’re not doing well in classes tend to change direction, and those are the ones who are most likely to get lost,” Hebert said.  
According to enrollment statistics, the number of students who progressed from freshmen to sophomore status increased from 44 to 45.6 percent.  
Durocher said the orientation team implemented a spirit contest to help people become more involved.  
“We made a conscious effort at orientation programs this summer to help people find a niche, a student organization or something out of the classroom to help them fall deeper in love with Nicholls,” Durocher said.    
“I definitely have seen an increase in interest,” Hebert said.