GENERaL INFORMatION
MEMBERSHIPS
american College Health association association of Governing Boards association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts Colleges of Worcester Consortium Council for advancement and Support of Education International assembly of Collegiate Business Education National association of Independent Colleges and Universities National Collegiate athletic association New England association of Schools and Colleges the association to advance Collegiate Schools of Business the College Board the Council of Independent Colleges the tuition Exchange
HIStORICaL HIGHLIGHtS
1815 Nichols academy was founded by amasa Nichols, a wealthy Dudley industrialist. Early benefactors of the academy include Samuel Slater, “the father of cotton manufacture in the United States,” who owned mills in the adjoining town of Webster; and Hezekiah Conant, another leading textile manufacturer. Nichols academy closed in 1909.
1931 Nichols Junior College of Business administration was founded by James Lawson Conrad. the first junior college exclusively for men in the East, the college also became the first junior college in Massachusetts to receive the authority to grant an associate’s degree in business administration. Nichols was closed during the latter part of World War II.
1946 Nichols Junior College was reopened under James Conrad.
1958 Nichols was granted the authority to become a four-year college and to confer the degree of Bachelor of Business administration.
1965 Nichols earned accreditation by the New England association of Schools and Colleges.
1970 the Board of trustees voted to admit women to Nichols for the first time since the academy days. 1971 the College was granted authority by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Higher Education to grant the degrees of Bachelor of arts, Bachelor of Science in Business administration, and Bachelor of Science in Public administration. 1974 Nichols was given authority to grant the degree of Master of Business administration. 1980 Nichols established the Institute for american Values (renamed the Robert C. Fischer Policy and Cultural Institute in 1999) as a division of the College, providing a forum for the free exchange of ideas. 1998 Dr. Debra M. townsley is named Nichols College’s sixth and first female, president.
Nichols established an innovative curriculum including a Current Issues Symposium and Professional Development Seminars.
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1999 the Educator Preparation Program (5-12) is re-established as an academic specialization. 2005 Nichols earned accreditation by the International assembly for Collegiate Business Education. 2006 Nichols Student Government association celebrates its 30th anniversary. the Fischer Institute celebrates its 25 anniversary.
2007 Nichols was given authority to grant the degree of Master of Organizational Leadership and the degree of associate of arts in General Studies. 2008 Nichols introduces a “GreeNCampus” initiative in order to reduce its carbon footprint. 2010 attendance at the Fischer Institute passes the 50,000 mark.
2011 Dr. Susan West Engelkemeyer is named Nichols College president.
COLLEGE RESOURCES The Faculty
the faculty at Nichols comprises one of our most important resources. Nichols’ small size, student/faculty ratio of 17 to 1, institutional commitment to teaching, and dedicated faculty help the student form close and lasting relationships with faculty members. Members of the faculty represent a broad range of academic and professional interests and experiences. the faculty’s academic credentials have been earned through study at major graduate and professional schools in the U.S. and signify high levels of scholarly achievement. the faculty’s professional credentials include extensive service in both the business and public sectors. this blend of academic and professional experiences among the faculty gives the student a unique perspective on business and public service.
tHE CaMPUS
Nichols College is located in a quaint New England village in south-central Massachusetts, in the town of Dudley. the main road through campus follows the crest of a ridge overlooking valleys and hills in all directions, and creates a picturesque view. the campus includes close to 200 acres of land. Currently Nichols College owns and maintains 33 buildings and structures comprised of 14 administrative/academic buildings, 11 resident halls and 8 student life buildings. the gross square footage for these buildings totals 403,550. the average age of the buildings is 58 years old, while the oldest building on campus, the Guest House, dates back to 1792. the most recent addition is Copper Beech II, a resident hall built in 2009. Over the past 10 years roughly $23.2 million has been spent on new construction adding 6 new resident halls and an athletic center to the campus. Nichols has spent an additional $4.8 million on capital improvements throughout campus in the last 4 years which includes renovations to 2 resident halls, 2 administrative/academic buildings, the campus common and various other projects. 2011 – 2013 CATALOG |
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