GRAMBLING, La – August 30, 2020 – In the aftermath of recovering from the impact of Hurricane Laura, Grambling State University officials announced today that online and face-to-face classes will resume Tuesday, September 8. Administrative offices are planned to resume operations Tuesday, September 1.
Registration for the fall semester will remain open until September 11.
Winds from Hurricane Laura damaged the electrical substation near campus and caused a power outage that began Wednesday and ended Sunday afternoon. Now that power has been restored to the campus, efforts are focused on assisting faculty and staff experiencing disruption, resuming operations and making plans to continue instruction.
"The beginning of this semester has not been without its challenges," said Grambling State President Rick Gallot. "I commend the student body, team members, and the City of Grambling for remaining resilient during this trying time."
"Serving the whole student is our number one priority," said Dr. Connie Walton, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. "Making sure they have what they need as an individual feeds the success of their scholarship."
During the outage, team members acted immediately. Facilities surveyed the campus for damage and worked with Entergy for repair to the substation while the University Police Department placed lighting towers and kept the campus safe. SodexoMagic staff prepared and supplied hot meals to students each day. Campus Living and Housing worked to make the residence halls as comfortable as possible, and Student Affairs coordinated charging and cooling centers to boost cell phones, enhance access to WiFi, and provide relief from the heat of the day.
"We are passionate about meeting students where they are and providing the support they need, especially in this circumstance," said Gourjoine M. Wade, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students. "I'm grateful to the Campus Living and Housing team for the work they continue to do to provide an encouraging environment for our students."
"In every crisis, there is an opportunity to assess our operations and continually improve," said Martin Lemelle, Executive Vice President for Finance & Administration and Chief Operating Officer. "We are thankful to our campus community for their resiliency and collaboration."