Students' Return to School Postponed Until January 9 -- Update for Parents (12.29.21)

Dear Parents,

We all hope that you and your families have enjoyed a safe holiday, even though temperatures outside do not align with what we know as a wintry season.  I suspect that cold weather is ahead, however.

For the fifth time we are facing a significant uptick of the Covid virus.  This time, however, we are seeing the effects of the Omicron variant.  Approximately 30% of those being tested in Natchitoches through the hospital are showing positive results, and Monday the state reported 12,000 positive cases over the 3-day weekend.

During the fall semester we were so fortunate to not experience any campus-wide outbreaks because we took every necessary precaution to assure the health of our entire campus family.  This included social distancing and an indoor mask order, and had we faced an outbreak we were prepared  to switch to an online platform.

Based on data we are receiving from the Louisiana Department of Health and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center,  the next 10 to 15 days are going to be very telling, particularly since we are headed into New Year's weekend.  In order to support CDC and NRMC recommendations for preventing further outbreak, we will postpone the students' return to campus until SUNDAY, JANUARY 9.  Special Projects will begin on MONDAY, JANUARY 10, and spring semester classes will begin on MONDAY, JANUARY 17.  We will operate on an abbreviated schedule on Monday, January 17 so that the campus may participate in the City of Natchitoches' Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities.  As of right now we assume that those events will continue as scheduled; however, should those plans change we will adjust our campus activities accordingly.

Upon return, we will revert back to the indoor masking and social distancing requirements previously followed.

This amendment to the spring semester schedule will NOT affect the schedule for the remainder of the semester.  All other events/dates will remain the same.

Faculty will be in touch with their Special Projects classes over the next several days to discuss changes, particularly those who have travel plans scheduled.  Mrs. Townsend will update the Eagle Bus schedule and share those changes/signup opportunities soon.

Remember that the campus remains closed for the break through Sunday, January 2, so please be patient with faculty and staff as they monitor and answer emails concerning these changes.

Thank you for always being so cooperative as we continue to monitor/adjust based on information we are receiving daily.

Stay well!

 

 
--STEVEN G. HORTON, Ph.D