Nicholls considering temporary closure

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Nicholls State University in Thibodaux is considering closing for two to three weeks toward the end of the spring semester to absorb budget cuts aimed at higher education as a result of Louisiana's $940 million budget shortfall. University of Louisiana System President Dan Reneau said Monday (Feb. 15) that Nicholls submitted the documents to outline how $70 million in cuts to higher education institutions would affect the university. Higher education officials have been told by Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne that in a best-case scenario, they will need to absorb $70 million in cuts to close the state's $940 million shortfall. Nicholls State University President Bruce Murphy issued a statement in response to Reneau's comments. "Nicholls State University has absolutely no intention of closing unless there is no other option," Murphy said. "Nicholls was asked to provide a list of hypothetical scenarios regarding how the campus might handle varying degrees of mid-year budget cuts. Nicholls submitted a financial planning document listing several options that the university is considering. One of those options includes temporarily closing the campus for several days. Obviously, that is the absolute last option that Nicholls would ever take." Reneau said Murphy told him the response would be the equivalent of closing for 14 days. "I'm not saying it will close down," Reneau said, but he's saying it would be the equivalent of two weeks of closing." Asked how it could affect students, Reneau said, "Hey, we've got three weeks to find out. Hopefully, it won't affect graduation." Higher education officials are on edge as legislators decide over the next three weeks how to close the midyear shortfall with a mix of tax increases and budget cuts. The threat of closing universities was discussed during Sunday's Joint Committee on the Budget meeting, but there were no specific institutions that were mentioned as part of those closures.

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