Returning to Campus

Dear faculty and staff members,

We would like to thank you for your service to our students and the University community during the past semester and throughout the challenges of the previous year.

Your determination and resilience helped create a safe living, learning and working environment on campus since the pandemic began. Your efforts – in addition to low rates of infection and the wide availability of vaccines in our community – have made it possible for us to welcome you back to campus. 

We are pleased to announce that faculty and staff members should return to work on campus on Monday, May 17. Faculty members with nine-month appointments who do not have duties over the summer should plan to return to campus in August. Offices will observe regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday. 

As you know, Gov. John Bel Edwards has amended the state’s COVID-19 guidelines. The updated proclamation mandates that all higher education institutions continue to require that students, employees and visitors wear face masks or coverings. This is a practice the University has had in place for more than a year, and it will remain part of our safety protocols, as will washing hands, maintaining proper social distancing, and disinfecting common and personal workspaces.

The most effective defense against the spread of COVID-19 is to get vaccinated, and we highly encourage everyone to do so. You can view a list of vaccination locations and providers on the Louisiana Department of Health website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has the latest vaccine information and FAQs.

We recognize that the layout of some offices may not allow employees to be present simultaneously while maintaining social distancing. For situations where staff members share offices or for other extenuating circumstances, supervisors/department heads should consult their area vice president to develop plans to have offices staffed in person on Monday, May 17.

The past 14 months have been extraordinary, and we remain deeply grateful for the way in which each of you responded to the historic challenges the pandemic brought to the University and our broader community. 

Thank you for enabling us to take the next step in our resumption of campus life.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joseph Savoie
President

Dr. Jaimie Hebert
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs