Winter weather advisory – 11 February 2021

The National Weather Service has issued a forecast of severe winter weather through this weekend and into the beginning of next week. Be careful when traveling.

Tomorrow morning, we may experience thin ice after some freezing rain, so use caution while traveling and using sidewalks and exterior stairs.

More freezing rain and sleet is expected beginning Friday night and into the daytime hours of Saturday. Please monitor weather sources for specific areas you may be headed to this weekend.

We will continue to monitor weather conditions and update the campus community as necessary throughout the next few days. We will also update ERT.latech.edu and issue emergency text alerts as needed.

Back to Normal – 12 Jan 2021

We have continued to monitor weather conditions throughout today and plan to return to campus Tuesday (12 Jan 2021) morning.

While the roads in our area have had much of the day to dry off, there still may be some patchy ice. Be careful while driving into campus tomorrow as temperatures will drop and freezing on the roadways will likely occur.  Be particularly careful in rural shaded areas and on overpasses.

Our essential workers have applied de-icing materials today, but be sure to watch for slick walkways and bridges on campus. Our campus police will monitor road conditions tonight and tomorrow morning for any changes.

Winter weather advisory – 11 Jan 2021

Tomorrow (Monday, Jan. 11), Louisiana Tech University will hold remote classes, and only essential personnel are expected to report to campus.

Supervisors are responsible for notifying essential employees. Essential employees who work will be compensated in accordance with Civil Service and University guidelines. Special leave will be provided for employees who do not work.

Tech Table will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3-7 p.m. The Lambright Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We will continue to monitor weather conditions tonight and through the day tomorrow. The current forecast from the National Weather Service has our area under a winter storm warning with possible snow accumulations of two to four inches.

These conditions could make travel difficult this evening and Monday morning. If you must travel, be careful and check for dangerous weather conditions before leaving. Students who are returning to campus late in the afternoon should check conditions along their route before leaving home.

Essential employees will apply de-icing materials today, and University police will monitor road conditions. If you need to walk on campus, ensure to watch for slick walkways and bridges.

Once again, we ask that faculty consider preparing an alternative class lesson for Monday. Rescheduling class time, an online assignment, a group assignment, or an online discussion or study session are options. Students should watch for an email or Moodle message from their professors with details.

Classified employees and other hourly hours who do not work on Monday will not be required to check in and check out. The Payroll Office will provide guidance for recording leave in Workday when employees return to work.

We will continue to monitor the National Weather Service for changes in the forecast, and we will issue a Tech Alert text message and email, post on the ert.latech.edu website, and post on social media if there is a change in University plans.

Campus closure – Aug. 28

Campus will be closed Friday, Aug. 28. Current plans are to return Monday, Aug. 31. We remain under Phase Two of the state’s COVID-19 return plan, with a mask mandate in place.

Please continue to be safe. There are a number of trees down, and power is out throughout the city.

Campus closure – Aug. 27

According to the National Weather Service, north Louisiana should experience tropical storm conditions tomorrow – Thursday, Aug. 27.

Hurricane Laura is expected to make landfall near the Texas and Louisiana border as a major hurricane this evening. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and possible tornadoes are expected overnight Wednesday and through Thursday.

Campus will be closed tomorrow – Thursday, Aug. 27 – in anticipation of the possibility of dangerous weather.

Many essential employees work to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. Other employees work to successfully meet University deadlines such as payroll processing and perform other essential administrative functions during the closure. Please travel with extreme caution if you plan to come to campus.

Update on COVID-19 – 9 March 2020

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students

Welcome back for the 2020 Spring Quarter.  We want to keep you updated with the latest information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impacts on our community.  We are maintaining contact with local and state health officials as well as our higher education community and others.

Earlier this afternoon, Gov. John Bel Edwards verified that the State of Louisiana has its first presumptive case of COVID-19. Information on the virus continues to show that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from the virus, including older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease.

The presumptive case was reported in a Jefferson Parish resident who was hospitalized in Orleans Parish. Presumptive cases mean a person is presumed to have an illness but will still need further testing to positively confirm they have the virus.

There have been no other cases reported in the state to date, and officials are working to stop the possible spread of the virus. Human coronaviruses spread just like the flu or a cold — through the air by coughing or sneezing; through close personal contact, like touching or shaking hands; by touching an object or surface with the viruses on it; and occasionally, through fecal contamination.

Health-care professionals say one of the most important ways to help stop the spread of any virus is frequent and thorough hand-washing with soap and water for 20 seconds or longer. We should also practice social distancing and avoid those handshakes and hugs that are common on our campus. I ask that each of us do our part to follow these guidelines and others issued by the CDC.

Our highest priority is the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.  We will also do our best to ensure that students’ academic progress continues and students can achieve their course goals this quarter. Registration for our Spring Quarter will continue and classes will begin as planned on Wednesday.

Our Emergency Response Team (ERT) meets regularly to ensure the safety and health of our students, faculty, and staff. To stay up to date on developments, please review the ERT website at ert.latech.edu.

Les Guice
President

COVID-19 Interim Travel Measures

As the number of cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) increases in a number of countries – including the United States – Louisiana Tech University officials continue to monitor the spread of the virus.

We have also put in place two interim policies related to travel to and from countries on the Centers for Disease Control international travel watch list. These measures – made under the advisement of our University of Louisiana System leadership – relate to both personal travel and University-funded travel. I encourage you to read these interim policies thoroughly and reach out with any questions you made have. Here is an executive summary of what these measures mean:

Interim University Travel Measures

The interim university travel measures prohibit university-sponsored travel by students, faculty, and staff to nations the CDC has included on its coronavirus travel warning list (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html ). If someone does travel to one of those nations, they are required to remain away from campus for 14 days starting from the date of their departure from the nation on the warning list.

Interim Personal Travel Measures

The interim personal travel measures require that any student or employee who, with personal time and money, travels to nations the CDC has included on its coronavirus travel warning list (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html) remain away from campus for 14 days starting from the date of their departure from the nation on the list.  It also requires them to stay away for 14 days if they have “known contact” with someone who is from a listed nation and shows symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The policy also requires the university to designate a point person or office, establish a decontamination plan for the University, and a plan to address financial impacts on students that may result.

Thank you for your attention and your work to keep our community safe and healthy.

Leslie K. Guice

COVID-19 Campus Update

As the number of cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) increases in a number of countries – including the United States – Louisiana Tech University officials continue to monitor the spread of the virus.

No cases of the virus have been diagnosed in Louisiana, but state health officials remain vigilant and advise citizens to seek medical assistance if they develop a fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness like a cough or shortness of breath.

More information

Campus open today

Our University is open, and classes will be held today, April 29.

Thank you so much for your patience as we continue to recover from last Thursday’s storm.

Update – campus opening

Louisiana Tech University will be open and classes will be held on Monday (April 29, 2019).

We realize that situations vary for each student, faculty, and staff member. If you have extenuating circumstances that will keep you from campus, please contact your supervisor or professor to determine if accommodations can be made.

We understand that this recovery process will be ongoing and will not end on Monday. Returning to a normal routine will be an important part of the healing process for our faculty, staff, and students.

Thank you for your patience and perseverance since the early Thursday morning storms.