The fall semester is just a few short weeks away, and it will be exciting to have everyone back for another exciting academic year. We have worked diligently to adapt our campuses, instructional sites, and online learning resources to the new realities of higher education during this global crisis. As I mentioned in previous correspondence, please continue to review our Return to Campus plan, https://www.nsula.edu/return-to-campus/, on the Northwestern State University website. The page provides valuable information about the upcoming semester and is updated as new information becomes available.
You will continue to receive academic, financial, health and safety, student services, and other pertinent information directly from different departments. Below, I have provided some general information and links that you might find helpful. You can find more detailed information on the unit webpages or on our Return to Campus page. Should you have questions about a specific topic, I encourage you to reach out to the contact person through the information link provided below within each topic or utilize the Questions/Concerns link on the Return to Campus page, https://www.nsula.edu/return-to-campus/questions-concerns/.
Classes
We have been working diligently to ensure that the start of the Fall 2020 semester occurs in the safest way possible for all students, faculty, and staff of Northwestern State. With that safety in mind and considering all local, state, and federal guidelines/recommendations, we have developed a plan which will allow us to accommodate most student learning preferences while maintaining the safest environment possible in which that learning will occur. Course offerings during the Fall 2020 semester will be offered face-to-face, online and in HyFlex models.
More information can be found in the email that NSU Academic Vice President Dr. Greg Handel sent to you earlier this week, https://www.nsula.edu/fall-course-delivery-information-available/. If you have questions regarding HyFlex courses, please email hyflex@nsula.edu for assistance. For general questions regarding the academic semester, please contact vpaa@nsula.edu.
Fee Payment/Fall Bills
Students’ Fall 2020 bills will be available to access through myNSU on August 3rd. For more information, visit our website https://www.nsula.edu/student-accounting-cashiering/. For questions regarding your tuition and fees please contact studentaccounting@nsula.edu.
Financial Aid
The NSU Financial Aid Office is open to assist you. Check your MyNSU and be sure you have completed all paperwork. Book vouchers will be available beginning August 10, 2020 and refunds will start being issued September 15. For more information go to our website https://www.nsula.edu/financialaid/ or email nsufinaid@nsula.edu
Technology Support
Information about Student technology and student support can be found at https://www.nsula.edu/studenttech/, and technology questions can be directed to the student helpdesk at sos@nsula.edu or 318-357-6696.
Specific information about student accounts, myNSU, Moodle, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Webex, computer labs, documents and web printing can be found on this informative link, https://www.nsula.edu/documentprovider/docs/465/Student%20Technology%20Handout%207.27.2020.pdf.
Residence Halls
In order to provide for the safest move-in experience possible, Fall Move-In will take place over a seven day period, August 10 – 16. You should be corresponding with housing staff on your move-in time and details. Details about Housing can be found on our Return to Campus page, https://www.nsula.edu/return-to-campus/student-affairs/, and information and resources are located on campus housing website, https://www.nsula.edu/campushousing/. For questions regarding housing, please contact the housing office at nsuleasing@campushousing.com or 318-214-5400.
If you would like to live on-campus but have not applied to reside on-campus for Fall 2020, please complete the Housing Questionnaire on the campus housing website, https://www.nsula.edu/campushousing/ and someone from the Recruiting team will be in touch with you.
Food Services
Northwestern State University, in conjunction with Sodexo, our food services provider, offers several dining options including Iberville Dining Hall, Vic’s Cafeteria, Steak ‘n Shake, Chick-fil-A, Café DeMon and the C-Store. Students may use meal plan options or cash at all locations.
Campus requirements stipulate that all on-campus residents, except graduate students, purchase a meal plan.
Freshmen (students with less than 30 hours and residing on-campus) are automatically assigned the Unlimited Plan and it will be posted to your student account. Sophomore or above residential students may choose from other meal plan options. If you do not select a meal plan, you will be assigned the Unlimited Plan. We also have Commuter meal plans for our non-residential students.
Our meal plans include traditional meals at Iberville Dining Hall with options for declining balance. The declining balance Demon Dollars allow you to eat at any of our dining locations on campus with the swipe of your card and also allows you to make purchases at our convenience store with your declining balance. We also offer declining balance only meal plans that give you the freedom to eat anywhere you want at our on-campus locations.
For more information about Food Services, to change your meal plan or request for an exemption please visit our Campus Dining webpage, https://nsuladining.sodexomyway.com/. Questions can be directed to our One Card office at onecardoff@nsula.edu.
Campus Bookstore and IncludED
The NSU Campus Store is the official bookstore of Northwestern State University. We have two locations, 912 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA and on the first floor of our College of Nursing and Allied Health Building in Shreveport. You can order, textbooks, electronics, school supplies and NSU gear at the sites or shop online, https://www.bkstr.com/northwesternstateustore. Should you have questions about textbooks, please contact the NSU Campus Store textbook manager at J.Sevilla@Follett.com or 318-238-3630.
Also, last year NSU introduced a convenient, affordable textbook program that delivers required materials for your courses in digital or print format by the first day of class. This cost-savings program brings access to course materials at a significantly reduced cost (an average 0f 62%) compared to traditional physical textbooks and course materials. Because of the program’s popularity, we have expanded the number of courses utilizing the IncludEd option. For more information, instructions on how to access your materials and to see what courses are part of the IncludED program, please visit, https://www.nsula.edu/auxiliary/included/. If you have questions, you can email included@nsula.edu or call 318-357-5701.
ID cards/stickers
In order to provide ID Cards as safely as possible, we have developed a simple and easy process to allow students to submit both a photo and signature to be used with your NSU Student ID Card. This process will allow us to have your ID’s available when you arrive this fall. Direction on how to submit your photo and signature will be emailed to your student email account. Questions regarding Student ID’s can be directed to onecardoff@nsula.edu.
Parking
All students who have a vehicle on campus must register their vehicle and secure a parking permit. Northwestern State Police Parking Permit registration is now open. You need to log into your myNSU account and click the Parking Permit Registration link in the QuickLinks Menu and register the vehicle(s) you plan to utilize on campus.
Freshmen attending Freshman Connection 2.0 will receive their parking permits during registration for FC 2.0 from the First Year Experience staff.
All other students that are living on campus for the 2020-21 school year, will be receiving their permits on their designated move-in day (Please complete the parking permit registration at least three days prior to your scheduled move-in day).
All commuting students (and residential students that were not able to obtain their permit during move-in) need to complete the parking permit registration and will pick up their permits at Prather Coliseum ticket office (located on the front of the building) at the scheduled dates and times below.
August 17-20 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
August 21 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
August 24-27 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
August 28 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
August 31 – September 3 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
September 4 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Students taking classes on the Shreveport or Leesville campus will continue to pick up their permits on those campuses.
If you have questions about Parking Permit Registration, you can email kornp@nsula.edu or 318-357-5431.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding in these difficult times and let me know if I may assist you in any way.
Sincerely,
Chris
