NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio provided the following update.

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Good afternoon.  Every day continues to be eventful for campuses across the state.  We anticipate still more adjustments as the situation with the coronavirus continues to evolve.  I am confident our Northwestern State Family will continue to respond proactively to whatever conditions we face.

I continue to be inspired by how our faculty, staff and students are adapting to the new normal. I hope these updates help you in your work each day, whether it’s transitioning to an online class, adapting student services or helping students through this difficult time. Here is the latest information on our response to the outbreak.

We have made the decision that online and other alternative delivery of classes will continue for the remainder of the Spring Semester. The suspension of face-to-face instruction will remain in effect during that time.To limit the number of employees on campus as part of the national effort to flatten the transmission curve of coronavirus, we will implement teleworking arrangements for most employees beginning Monday, March 23.  However, we will still have some students on campus as residence halls and dining facilities are open, and we must continue to support them.  The NSU Guide For Teleworking and  Request for Temporary Removal of State Movable Property can be found at the bottom of this email.

Also, Spring commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 8 are canceled.  Plans are being considered to give graduates an option of a late summer commencement program or an invitation to participate in Fall commencement in December of 2020.

We remain committed to sharing information and addressing your questions on a regular basis. Please continue to monitor information and news releases on the university website, www.nsula.edu/covid-19/.  Also, we have added a Questions/Concerns link on this page if you need additional assistance.

Below is more detailed information I will send to students concerning university operations, class delivery and student services.

Ongoing University Operations

  • To limit the number of employees on campus to help flatten the transmission curve of coronavirus, Northwestern State University will implement teleworking arrangements for most employees beginning Monday, March 23, 2020.  Employees will still be available to assist you.  Please utilize email and contact information on office websites or contact the Questions/Concerns link at www.nsula.edu/covid-19/ page.

Classes

  • Online classes begin Thursday, March 19.
  • Courses already offered online will continue without interruption.
  • Continue to check your email and Moodle for communication from professors concerning your courses.
  • During Spring Break, there will be no online class meetings.
  • For help with technology, please contact Student Support Helpdesk at:

Residence Halls

The on-campus residential communities remain open, and residents are not required to go home or to move out.

To promote social distancing, our Housing Offices in clubhouses will close to the public and residents effective March 19.  Our offices will be staffed during the times below, and staff will be available via phone and email.

  • Monday – Friday        8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • The contact information for Housing is:

Phone:   318-214-5400

Email:    nsuleasing@campushousing.com.

Resident Assistants will be on-call as usual after hours and weekends for any emergency.

  • Columns                             318-663-7992
  • University Place 1             318-471-0551
  • University Place 2             318-471-0179
  • Varnado Hall                      318-471-3382

**Visitation is suspended and restricted to on-campus residential students only.  Residential students may visit each other, but all off-campus NSU students and non-students are prohibited from visiting the residential communities.

**If you decide to go home for a period of time, we ask that you email the Housing Office at nsuleasing@campushousing.com and let us know so we are aware of which residents are remaining in the residential community.

If you decide to go home, here are a few tips:

  • Make sure to close and lock all windows and close blinds.
  • Take home any valuables.
  • Lock your bedroom and apartment door.

Take out any trash and take home or dispose of any perishable food items.

If you decide to move home for the remainder of the semester, you will need to contact our office to arrange to turn in your keys and complete your move-out paperwork.

Food Services

Our food service facilities’ hours of operation are listed below:

  • Iberville
  • 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Lunch, To Go Only
  • 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.    Dinner, To Go Only
  • These times are through lunch, Friday, March 20, and will be closed for Spring Break
  • Iberville will reopen Monday, March 30
  • Cafe DeMon
  • 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Sunday – Saturday, and open during Spring Break
  • C-Store
  • 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  through Friday, March 20, and closed for Spring Break
  • Steak ‘n Shake
  • 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., To Go Only through Friday, March 20, and Closed for Spring Break
  • Chick-fil-a
  • 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday – Saturday, through March 21, Take Out Only and open for Spring Break
  • Starting, Monday, March 23, operating hours will be 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Take Out Only
  • Vic’s
  • Closed Until further notice

** Meal Plans and Declining Balance will be accepted.

Technology Support and Computer Labs

Beginning Saturday, March 21, computer labs will be closed during Spring Break and will be closed until further notice.

Library

Watson Library will close at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, for spring break and will be closed until further notice, but you have 24-7 access to the library online catalog, which includes eBooks and journal articles.  You can access these resources from any computer with your NSU student login.  Go to https://library.nsula.edu/.  Use the “FIND IT@NSULA LIBRARIES” search box for a quick search of all library resources or click “SEARCH DATABASE DIRECTORIES” for a dropdown menu of databases by subject.  Also, library staff may be accessed through their NSU email.

Health Services

o     Northwestern State University Student Health Services will remain open to provide medical care for our students.  If you have a respiratory illness with fever and cough and think you may have contracted COVID-19, please call 318-357-5351 and ask to speak to a nurse before arriving at Health Services.  If criteria are met for testing of COVID-19, it can be provided in our clinic.  There is a 2-3 day wait for results of COVID-19 testing. Our nursing and contracted physicians are ready to assist students with their questions and health care needs.

o     NSU Counseling and Career Services Offices will be open.  You may contact the office at 318-357-5621 if you need assistance or to schedule a counseling session.

Student Workers

Student workers can continue to work through Friday, March 20.  We will have further information about student employment in subsequent emails.  If you have questions, please contact Ms. Dustie Litton,littond@nsula.edu.

WRAC and NSU Recreational Complex

    • NSU WRAC is closed until further Notice
    • NSU Recreation Complex:

Golf Course remains open on regular schedule.  Tuesday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed Mondays for maintenance.

    • Opening of swimming pool scheduled for early April postponed until further notice.

Events and Commencement

  • All on-campus events have been canceled through April 15.  We will re-evaluate the situation at that time to make determinations about events scheduled for later.
  • Spring commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 8 are canceled.  Plans are being considered to give graduates an option of a late summer commencement program or an invitation to participate in Fall commencement in December of 2020.

University Travel

  • International travel and non-essential domestic travel have been suspended.  Students, faculty and staff are directed to report to the university all personal travel to a country identified by the CDC as Level 1 or greater risk.

Pre-Registration for Summer and Fall 2020 Semesters

Post Office

Beginning Monday, March 23, the NSU Post Office will open from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. daily for processing of mail.   Any department is welcome to stop by and pick up departmental mail, and student mail will be placed in their assigned post office box daily.

Thank you and please know that we remain committed to your health and safety and the mission and goals of our university and are here to serve you.  We will continue to provide you updates, and please let me know if you have any questions.

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