Update: Sept. 4, 2020
It is my sincere hope that you and your families are safe and healthy and beginning to experience some sense of normalcy after the devastation created by Hurricane Laura.
Our university campuses sustained extensive wind damage, power outages, disruption in internet and telephone services and other storm-related difficulties, but we are now prepared to resume all classes and other operations on Tuesday, Sept. 8, on all campuses except Leesville-Fort Polk, where there were still power outages Friday afternoon.
Efforts are continuing to restore power in the Leesville area and on our Leesville-Fort Polk campus. We will update students on that campus no later than Monday on plans for the resumption of classes.
Numerous university employees and students have assisted in different aspects of our recovery from the hurricane, and hundreds of utility workers and other frontline personnel from across Louisiana, the United States and Canada contributed to those recovery efforts.
The university had the honor and privilege of serving as the base camp and staging area for those utility crews that have worked tirelessly and continually to restore power and make other major utility infrastructure improvements to the campus, community and region.
With restoration of power across North-Central Louisiana expected to be essentially completed over the weekend, the staging area that was facilitated through Storm Services LLC in cooperation with SWEPCO will be disassembled before classes resume Tuesday. Those operations included extensive mobile infrastructure involving housing, food services, laundry, sanitary facilities, parking for numerous trucks, fueling stations and transportation services.
Everyone in this region owes these companies and employees a deep debt of gratitude for the services they have provided. The university is especially appreciative for their assistance not just in repairing utility infrastructure but also in the removal of downed and damaged trees on our campuses.
As the university fully reopens Tuesday and our personnel resume their regular work schedules, employees who are unable to return to campus because of hurricane-related issues should contact Human Resources Director Lisa Harris at harrisl@nsula.edu and copy their supervisors with that information. The HR staff will assist employees in determining their leave status.
Students should plan to attend in person classes or log in to online classes as usual beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8. Those who are still without power or cannot participate in classes for other reasons can provide that information on the email portal on the Hurricane Laura space on the university’s website, https://www.nsula.edu/hurricane-laura-recovery-updates/. Students who experience internet or technical problems with online or hybrid classes should go directly to the student help desk sos@nsula.edu.
Also, the schedule for the university to issue student financial aid refund checks has not been changed. Refunds and direct deposits will begin on Thursday, Sept. 10.
The NSU Foundation has established a Hurricane Relief Fund to assist students, faculty and staff who experienced extraordinary financial losses as a result of the storm. Information on the application process is available at https://www.northwesternstatealumni.com/hurricane-application/
There is abundant verification that the university will emerge from this latest crisis as a stronger and more effective institution than ever. An increase in enrollment is projected for this fall despite the storm and other substantial challenges. This is a tribute to the credibility and reputation of our university.
Compassion for our students and a firm commitment to their safety, success and wellbeing will remain at the forefront of our efforts during these unprecedented times as they have throughout the university’s 136-year history.
We look forward to having everyone back next week.
