Nichols College

Photograph of Conant Hall circa 1838

The institution was founded in 1815 as Nichols Academy. The academy's founder was Amasa Nichols, a wealthy industrialist in Dudley, Massachusetts. Early benefactors of the academy include textile manufacturers Samuel Slater and Hezekiah Conant. Nichols Academy closed its doors in 1909. Between 1909 and 1931, the academy buildings were used by the town and leased to other educational entities over different periods of time. Notable nineteenth century architects Elbridge Boyden and Charles F. Wilcox designed buildings on the Nichols campus.[4]

In 1931, Col. James L. Conrad reorganized the school to Nichols Junior College of Business Administration and Executive Training, a two-year college, at the closed Nichols Academy location. Nichols Junior College's purpose was to incorporate a new idea in education—a junior college for men only, and an institution where a student can secure a college education in business administration and executive training and at the same time enjoy the advantages of campus life. Its program of study was to combine courses in business education, similar to those offered in the third and fourth years of four-year colleges and universities, with necessary electives and selected cultural subjects. All of this occurred in a two-year format. In 1938, the Massachusetts State Department of Education authorized Nichols Junior College to award the Associate in Business Administration degree. Over time, the college purchased, constructed, and remodeled over forty-four buildings to shape most of the current campus that is seen today. [Source: book by James L. Conrad—Nichols: A College for the Hill, 1931-1996]

In 1958, Nichols became Nichols College of Business Administration, a four-year college with the authority to grant a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. In 1965, Nichols College became accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges. The college became a member of the NCAA in 1966. In 1971, Nichols became co-educational, and the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education authorized the College to award the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Public Administration. In 1974, the college received the authority to grant the degree of Master of Business Administration. The college was granted accreditation by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) in 2005. In 2007, Nichols was granted authority to offer the degree of Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and in 2017, the degree of Master of Science in Counterterrorism.

In 1980, Nichols established the Institute for American Values, later renamed the Robert C. Fischer Policy & Cultural Institute in 1999, as a department of the College providing a forum for the free exchange of ideas.[4]

In 2013, The Institute for Women's Leadership[5] was established with the goal of developing the leadership potential of female students, and serving as a resource and authoritative voice on women's leadership for the community at large.

In 2014, the new Emerging Leaders program began with the introduction of the new LEAD101 class, and Nichols began a series of events to celebrate its bicentennial.

In 2011, Dr. Susan West Engelkemeyer became the second woman to hold the position of President of Nichols College and its seventh president. The president is the chief executive officer of the college and is responsible for the fulfillment of the college's mission.

Nichols' signature Professional Development Seminar (PDS) Program is a four-year sequence of one credit academic courses. Coursework builds on the prior year. First-year students receive help with the transition to college, setting goals, and managing time. Sophomores develop their brands, as they build resumes and electronic portfolios, explore internship opportunities, and learn to represent themselves professionally. Juniors refine their interviewing and networking skills, and participate in employer-conducted mock interviews. Seniors launch their careers, as they learn key job search and salary negotiation techniques; personal budgeting; and professional etiquette.

Fels Student Center opened in 2012. Located at the center of the campus, the 30,000-square-foot center houses student services, including the Center for Student Involvement, Residence Life and Career Services; a meeting space for student government and clubs; an alternative food service; and a student lounge, post office, bookstore and Nichols College radio station WNRC 97.5 FM. The Center features a classroom with a 35-foot LED scrolling stock ticker and web and video conferencing capability, giving students access to guest lecturers from around the world via audio or video.

The Fels Student Center

The north campus consists of ten out of the twenty-two campus buildings. The southernmost part of this campus is Conrad Hall. The westernmost part of north campus is Conant Library. The Nichols north campus consists mostly of academic halls. Also located in the north campus are three of the oldest buildings at the Dudley campus, 1881–1885, Conant Library and Observatory, Academy Hall, and Conant Hall. The north campus is also home to the newest building on campus, which is an academic building that has distinctive design elements including a three-story lobby with a water feature; four team-based classrooms; several breakout areas for studying, gathering, or group work; and a patio/garden that bridges the academic building with Davis Hall and serves as the primary entrance for students.

The south campus consists of twelve out of the twenty-two campus buildings. The northernmost part of the campus is the Currier Center. The southernmost part of the campus is Kuppenheimer Residence Hall. The easternmost part of the south campus is the athletic complex.

The athletic complex is the focal point of the south campus. The complex includes Vendetti Field, a multipurpose turf field used for football and men's and women's lacrosse. The athletic complex also includes facilities for baseball, softball, tennis and soccer. In addition to the athletic field, the Athletic Center is used for indoor events and the Chalmers Field House for athletic training.

Nichols College athletics teams are known as the Bison. Currently, the Nichols College Department of Athletics offers 11 men's intercollegiate sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track and field, and volleyball. The college also offers 10 women's intercollegiate sports: basketball, cross country, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. The school varsity teams compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III level. Nichols is a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference for most sports while the women's hockey in the New England Hockey Conference. The school also sponsors a variety of club sports.

The men's tennis team has won 8 straight Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championships from the 2011/2012 season to the 2018/2019 season.

The women's tennis team has won 4 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships. The first was during the 2010/2011 season and the next three were in 2016/2017, 2017/2018, and 2018/2019 seasons.

The men's basketball team has won 3 Commonwealth Coast Championships in a row from the 2016/2017 season to the 2018/2019 season. In 2018/2019 the men's basketball team made it to the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, losing to the eventual national runner up, Swarthmore College.

The men's ice hockey team has won 4 conference championships. The first 3 were in 2008/2009, 2013/2014, 2014/2015 when they were in the ECAC Northeast Conference. In 2017/2018 they won the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). In 2017/2018 they won in the first round of the NCAA tournament and went on to lose against Salve Regina, the eventual national runner up, in the Quarterfinals of the tournament, 4–3.

The men's soccer team has won 2 Commonwealth Coast Conference Championships in the 2010 and 2014 seasons.

The field hockey team has won 3 conference championships. The first 2 were in the 1991 and 1993 seasons when they were a part of the Massachusetts Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (MAIAW). The most recent conference championship was during the 2009 season when they beat New England College 4–1 to capture the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship (CCC).

The women's soccer team has won 3 conference championships. The first one was in the 1994 season when they were a part of the Northeast Women's Athletic Conference (NEWAC). In 1996 and 2002 they won the Commonwealth Coast Championship.

The women's basketball team has won 3 conference championships in the 1981/1982, 1982/1984, and 1989/1990 seasons while a part of the Massachusetts Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (MAIAW).

The softball team has won 4 conference championships. In 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994 seasons while a part of the Massachusetts Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (MAIAW).