Dear members of the University community,
A study issued earlier this month concluded that hate crimes against members of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities have risen in the United States by nearly 150% in the past year. This sharp, startling and deplorable increase in racially fueled attacks against people of Asian descent comes amid an overall nationwide decline in hate crimes during the same period.
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
This month is the one-year anniversary of the University’s transition to remote learning and business operations in response to COVID-19. Last spring, none of us could have fully anticipated how long the situation would last or the effects the pandemic would have on us as individuals, as an institution and as members of a wider community.
However, we did know this: whatever challenges lay ahead would be met with your resolve and resilience – and that’s exactly what happened.
Dear members of the University community,
As you may be aware, the Lafayette Public Library’s governing board recently refused to accept a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities that would have funded a community book reading and discussion about the history of voting rights in the United States.
In rejecting the grant, a board member questioned the objectivity of a member of our faculty, Dr. Theodore Foster, an assistant professor of history who was to act as one of two facilitators for the book discussion.
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
Happy new year and welcome to the spring semester!
I hope that your well-deserved winter break was restful and that you’re ready for a strong start to 2021.
We cannot begin this new year, however, without acknowledging that 2020 continues to cast a long shadow, both close to home and across our nation.
Dear faculty and staff members,
We received an early Christmas present from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges last week – news that it has reaffirmed the University’s accreditation through 2030.
The accreditors determined the University had met all of the commission’s quality standards with no issues to address. That means we passed – with flying colors.
Congratulations!
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
The American Educational Studies Association and more than 2,100 college, university and K-12 educators, scholars and organizations have designated today as a Day of Action. The goal is to urge schools, colleges and universities to declare their commitments to anti-racist curricula, policies and practices at their institutions.
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
In recent days, we have seen an uptick in the number of students reporting positive COVID-19 test results. This unfortunate trend mirrors the rising number of cases in Acadiana, across Louisiana and throughout the nation.
Some of these cases at the University are in the School of Music and Performing Arts and include members of the marching band and a number of ensembles. Out of an abundance of caution, and to limit the virus’ potential spread, the school has suspended all on-campus music-making activities for 14 days.
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
A few weeks ago, I took advantage, as many of you did, of early voting. As I waited in line, I watched as others left the polling place with looks of satisfaction after they had employed the most powerful tool a democracy provides – a ballot.
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
Election Day is this Tuesday, Nov. 3. Every four years, American voters hold in their hands the most sacred and precious responsibility a democracy affords – a ballot.
If you took advantage of early voting opportunities, thank you. If your plan is to vote in person on Tuesday, please do so. The University will announce soon what it’s doing to ensure you have time to make your voice heard and your vote count.
Dear students, faculty and staff members,
The halfway point of this very challenging fall semester is behind us. Before we know it, final exams, Thanksgiving, Commencement and the holiday season will be here. Then, a new year and a new semester will begin.
