Nicholls State University offers an on-campus daycare center for Nicholls faculty, staff, students and community members.

Little Colonels Academy (LCA) is a Type III early learning center. It accepts children aged six weeks to five years old and groups them in a six-classroom system. 

Enrolled kids can experience hands-on learning and follow the Frog Street curriculum that aligns with local school district standards.

Dr. Mistie Lasseigne, LCA’s Executive Director, said the program has expanded compared to where it started.

“Beginning as a single preschool classroom, the program was established to provide candidates within – at the time Family and Consumer Science candidates – the opportunity to obtain clinical hands-on experience working with children within a ‘real-world’ setting […] The program has also expanded to provide clinical hands-on experiences for a variety of campus programs including education, nursing and communicative disorders,” Lasseigne said.

Lasseigne said the first three years of a child’s life is when they develop foundational physical, cognitive and social skills. She said utilizing LCA will provide a preparatory environment for children, preventing disadvantages in future schooling. 

Lasseigne said having access to professionals can aid parents in understanding their child’s behavior and developing effective guidance strategies for home.

She believes keeping a child in a safe, caring and developmentally appropriate environment will contribute to child growth and allow parents to pursue personal and professional goals.

Various Type III learning centers across the state provide similar programs as LCA, but Lasseigne said not many children have access to them for varying reasons.

“The state has made great strides in supporting and enhancing the field of early childhood education. However, there is more work to be done. All children – even our youngest – deserve the opportunity to experience a quality Type III early learning center. Our goal now is to work with leaders (at the local level and state level) in identifying ways to expand access as well as provide financial resources to all families – even those within our most vulnerable populations,” Lasseigne said.

LCA operates at 304 NSU Ardoyne Drive, Thibodaux, La. 70310 (number 23 on Nicholls map). For those interested in registering for LCA, click here for the online application.