NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University will host its last week of classes after Thanksgiving break with all health and safety protocols in place, according NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio.  NSU will observe all mandates set forth by Gov. John Bel Edwards with Phase 2 modifications as the semester concludes.

The university has one week of classes left Nov. 30-Dec. 4 before finals begin on Dec. 5.  Administrators plan to go forward with a carefully planned, socially distanced series of commencement exercises Dec. 17-18.

“The university began the semester in Phase 2 in August before moving into Phase 3 in mid-September,” Maggio said. “Currently, we have one week of classes remaining when we return and then final examinations.”

“Most classes are virtual or hybrid already and in hybrid classes, students have the option of logging in and attending from a distance,” said Dr. Greg Handel, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Most professors will be giving finals in a virtual online format. Only a few classes with very low numbers will be face to face.”

Protocols will be outlined, and all safety measures observed for some upper-level students taking finals, completing projects, presenting portfolios or presenting juried performances for students in Biological and Physical Sciences, Nursing and Allied Health clinicals, student teaching/internship residencies and students in the Creative and Performing Arts, Handel said.  He also advises students to check course shells via myNSU and email for any further communication from professors about classes and finals.

Maggio said Fall 2020 commencement exercises, a series of five ceremonies spaced out over two days, fall within the governor’s protocols of less than 25 percent capacity and is compliant with guidelines set forth by the University of Louisiana system, of which NSU and other eight state schools are members.

“NSU will continue to follow the health and safety protocols that have been in place since the semester began,” Maggio said. “Our commencement exercises will have limited attendance but will be streamed and recorded for those watching from home.”

Information on NSU’s Covid-19 response is available at https://www.nsula.edu/return-to-campus/.  Details regarding NSU’s Fall 2020 commencement are available at https://www.nsula.edu/graduation/