After being evaluated by the University of Louisiana System, Nicholls was awarded $46,794 of performance funding. The University was recognized for work in seven areas including program accreditation rates, student retention and in areas of excellence. The ULS performance award is awarded to all institutions of the University of Louisiana System. Based upon a point system, money is given to each university according to the number of points received in areas of performance.

“The University showed improvement in most of its performance areas,” Dr. Alice G. Pecoraro, vice president for academic affairs said.

“But there are areas that we can improve in, and the University is currently working on this.”

The University had perfect scores in accreditation rates and financial rates. The lowest score was given to the remedial rate amongst students at Nicholls.

“We may not have as many students in remediations compared to other schools, but we have more student credit hours in remediation,” Pecoraro said. “Up until last summer we had six hour remedial courses, and we decided to change to three hour courses. We were graded on the six hour system while we were in the three hour period which made it seem that our remedial rates were low.”

Pecoraro said she is extremely proud of the University performance and knows that the rates will continue to improve throughout the years.

“I feel that we accomplish a lot here,” Pecoraro said. “Our faculty and students work hard here and we have the results to show it.”

With new committees and other groups being formed to make improvements to the areas of performance at Nicholls, Pecoraro said the University will receive even more money in performance funding for next year.

“We are definitely moving in the right direction here at Nicholls,” Pecoraro said. “We showed improvement in every area of performance except for remediation, but this definitely reflects a step into the right direction.”

The performance funding is kept in a restricted account and used mainly to fund programs and awards in the areas of excellence.