It was great to welcome back our Alumni to the Hill for Reunion Weekend. Between the Golden Bison Dinner celebrating our Class of ’72 to the Annual Golf Tournament, the Indian Princess Sunset Cruise, and finishing off the evening with music and a drink in the Bison Den, it was wonderful weekend! Nichols is lucky to have such talented Alumni and we would not be what we are nor where we are going without their continued support. Thank you for all you do for the Hill, Alumni! Go Books. Go Bison.
Greetings to the Members of the Nichols College Class of 2022,
Congratulations on your graduation! You should be very proud of the legacy each and every one of you made in your time here at Nichols. Wherever your life’s journey takes you next, your Nichols experience has prepared you to succeed both personally and professionally. In the one year we spent together, you have demonstrated talent, commitment, and resilience to truly embody what it means to be a Nichols College Bison.
The spirit and leadership shown by Nichols’ seniors this year has been extraordinary. You have pursued academic excellence and studied diligently, enhanced your abilities through internships and leadership positions such as being captains and club presidents, excelled in your athletic competitions, and helped others through community service such as volunteering at the Bison Pantry. Your contributions and achievements are a source of great pride to Nichols’ dedicated faculty and staff.
The Class of 2022 is graduating at a time when a Nichols degree has never had greater value. Our approach to a real-world education is exactly why Nichols graduates are in high demand. Your Nichols education has provided you with the core 21st century skills that are needed now and will be needed long into the future. Today marks an important transition in your relationship with Nichols College. It is our responsibility to continue to advance strategic goals that enhance the value of a Nichols degree and increase the competitive advantage of your diploma.
As a new member of the Nichols Alumni Association, you join a powerful network of accomplished women and men around the Nation. We ask you to remain engaged in the life of our community and cultivate the principle “Bison Help Bison.” I look forward to welcoming you back home when you attend alumni events, cheer on our athletic teams to victory, and lend a hand to a fellow Bison for internship or job opportunities.
The entire Nichols community- our trustees, Cabinet, faculty and staff- is proud of your achievements and confident about your future. You have been an exceptional class and we thank you for all you have contributed to the Hill. As you depart campus, I know that you will build upon the extraordinary foundation your Nichols education has provided. Marla and I extend our very best wishes for a lifetime of success and fulfillment. Even though you may be leaving the Hill as a student today, your new journey as a Bison alumnus is just beginning and you will always have a home here.
Go Books. Go Bison.
President Sulmasy
Dear Distinguished Rising Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students,
As the semester comes to a close and you finish up final papers, and your exams, Marla and I wanted to wish you all an incredible summer. It has been our pleasure getting to know so many of you and we can’t wait to welcome you all back to campus in the fall. While we bid farewell to our incredible Class of 2022 over the next week, we wanted to send along our thanks to all of you as well for your warm welcome to the Bison Family.
Take good care of yourselves, and each other, and we will see you all in late August. Wear your Nichols gear with pride everywhere you go this summer and let all you meet know that Nichols College is #onthemove. Now go crush finals.
Go Books. Go Bison.
With gratitude and warmth,
Marla and Glenn
Greetings to the Herd on the Hill,
As so many of you depart today for the Thanksgiving Holiday, Marla and I (and the children) wanted to wish you and your families a very safe, and wonderful Thanksgiving. Always know how grateful I am for all that each and every one of you do, day in and day out – students, staff, faculty, alumni, and families – The Nichols Way comes through in all that is undertaken.
Marla and I could never thank you all enough for the warm embrace we have enjoyed over the past five months, and we are oh so optimistic for the future of this great institution.
While gathering for the Thanksgiving Holiday, perhaps it is appropriate to reflect upon George Washington’s “Day of Thanksgiving” Proclamation of 1789,
“By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor– and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be– That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
“And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions– to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
“Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
“Go: Washington”
Safe travels and enjoy your time with friends and family.
Go Books. Go Bison.
With sincere thanks,
Glenn and Marla
Well, it has been an exciting and busy time on The Hill. We are at midterms already, our Fall sports are continuing to show their grit on the field and court, and the campus is just breathtaking with the fall colors.
Just to note a few of the exciting things happening here:
1) On October 3rd, we welcomed prospective families to campus for our first in-person Open House event since 2019. It was great being able to show the families all Nichols has to offer with small class sizes, world class professors and staff, incredible experiential learning opportunities, and beautiful facilities. I also attended a Guidance Counselor Reception at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA where we welcomed over 40 counselors to enjoy a beautiful dinner reception and discuss the different opportunities Nichols can offer our students. On November 7th we will welcome prospective families back to campus for our second Open House – can’t wait for that day.
2) Marla and I had a great turnout for our last Freshmen BBQ of the season. It has been wonderful being able to talk with the first-year students on a weekly basis and learn about their interests and involvement on campus. The Class of 2025 is truly an ambitious class and we are excited to watch them grow as leaders over the next four years.
3) Over the next few weeks, the campus will be booming with community events including our first ever Pumpkin Fest 2021, where there will be Halloween inspired food, fire pits and s’mores, pumpkin carving, and live music. We’ll wrap up the month with a haunted house in the Fels Student Center and a faculty and staff social where they will hand out candy to our students. It will be a spooky time here in Dudley.
4) Our first EVER event in the “Nichols on the Green” will happen this month with a Senior Halloween Pub Night. We will start on renovations at the golf course restaurant/bar soon creating a sports bar feel for our students to be able to enjoy watching athletic events and create memories together. Our Hospitality students will be hosting three of their fundraising events in there in November and some faculty meetings will also concur in the space. Initially, this Fall will be a soft opening but, upon arrival back for Spring semester, it will be a space used consistently for our community! Beyond exciting news for the Bison.
5) Now introducing- The Nichols College Center for Intelligent Process Automation (CIPA) where students can access cutting-edge technology and build skills to revolutionize business processes with dynamic experiential learning opportunities. I am so excited by the efforts of Professor Richards and students as this will be a game changer for Nichols.
6) Nichols vs. Bryant at Bryant University! On October 25, we will witness Coach Erickson and the Men’s Basketball team play Division I opponent Bryant University. Nichols fans will fill the stands (a “green out” is planned) showing their Bison Pride and singing the newly released Nichols College Fight Song. There will be green and black everywhere.
You can feel the energy here on the Hill. The Bison are on the move, and Marla and I are looking forward to all that’s happening the next few weeks.
Go Books. Go Bison.