Collegiate Development, the firm the Nicholls State University has selected as its master planner/developer to update the residence halls, has proposed tearing down all dormitories except for Ellender Hall and married student housing and constructing new residence halls, three of which could be completed by January 2008, Mike Davis, Assistant Vice President for Administration, said.

Davis said after the University finishes reviewing and making changes to the firm's recommendations and a revised proposal is submitted, the University will determine what is financially feasible.

"If it's a good deal for the University and a good deal for students, we will go before the board (University of Louisiana System) for final approval," Davis said.

If Nicholls and Collegiate, the firm that developed La Maison du Bayou, cannot reach an agreement, the University will seek requests for proposals once again, Davis said. He said Collegiate was the only firm that proposed residence hall upgrades to the University at the beginning of the semester.

Nicholls hopes to seek approval from the board in December or January at the latest, Davis said, and have three residence halls constructed by January 2008.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done before the University knows which direction it will go in, according to Davis.

"These are very complicated financial deals," Davis said. "There is a lot of work, involvement and interaction. It takes time to put the whole thing together."

With the construction of new dormitories, students can expect an increase in rents, Davis said, which will be used to pay the bonds for the project. However, he said the University will keep the needs of the students in mind when negotiating the deal.

"We're not going to build if we think rents will be too high for our students," Davis said. "It will be affordable. Where it's going to be? I don't know yet."

Davis said Southeastern University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe have seen similar increases in rent after constructing residence halls.

"As they built new facilities they had to raise rates, but it has not affected their enrollment," Davis said. "Southeastern has a waiting list for their facilities."

Southeastern opened new residence halls this fall after tearing down old facilities, Davis said.

Students will see the benefits of paying more if they receive better quality rooms and facilities the University can be proud of, Davis said, and that is what Nicholls is trying to provide.

In order to get a feel for what kinds of dormitories Collegiate has built in other areas, Davis and four other university officials visited a university in St. Louis, Mo. and one in Delan, Fla.

Davis said the group took note of things they liked at the other schools and will implement them into the plans at Nicholls. These aspects of the residence halls will adhere to the convenience for students and will improve the atmosphere of the building.

"Those are the things that start making a residence hall warm and inviting, Davis said. "They sound like small things, but when the students get in there, those are the things that will make the difference."