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COVID-19 Response

This past spring semester, the faculty, staff and students of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette met the challenges of COVID-19 with resilience and determination.

In the face of the greatest global health crisis in more than a century, the University never ceased to function. Through remote course delivery and telework, its academic mission was uninterrupted, and business services continued.

Now, it’s time to return to campus.

This website presents the University’s plans to resume on-campus classes and business operations in a way that prioritizes the wellbeing of every member of the campus community. All planning is aligned with local orders and ordinances of the City of Lafayette, the State of Louisiana’s Phased Reopening Model, and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Louisiana Department of Public Health.

Here, you’ll find guidance about safety, cleaning and sanitation, protective equipment and other measures to ensure employee and student health. The website also has information about changes to campus services.

Planning continues, and the site will be updated frequently as new information becomes available.

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COVID-19 Updates

June 4, 2020: Updates on transportation, housing, and Child Development Center

Preparations continue for the University's safe resumption of on-campus operations and course instruction in the fall semester. Monitor the University's social media accounts, the COVID-19 webpage, and your email for information and updates regarding campus services, operations, and academics.

Shuttle service & parking permits suspended for summer

The Office of Transportation Services has suspended bus and shuttle service and is offering free parking for the summer semester.

Students do not need to purchase parking permits and can park in parking towers for free. They may park on campus to use the University's Wi-Fi for remote and online learning.

Read more updates from the Office of Transportation Services. Email questions to parking@louisiana.edu.

New protocols for campus residents

The Office of University Housing and Residential Life has instituted new procedures and guidelines to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, employees, and visitors. Changes are categorized according to summer move-in and checkout, residence halls and rooms, and room changes.

Read more on University Housing's website. If you have any questions, call (337) 482-6471 or email oncampusliving@louisiana.edu.

ULPD taking extra precautions to ensure health and safety

The UL Lafayette Police Department is taking extra precautions to help keep you safe, including wearing masks, social distancing as possible, and handling non-emergency incidents via phone.

The process to report an incident has not changed - call (337) 482-6447. If you must visit ULPD in Bittle Hall, wear a mask, exercise social distancing, and wait for additional instructions. No more than two people will be allowed in the lobby area at one time.

Read more updates from University Police. Email questions to ulpolice@louisiana.edu.

Child Development Center opening June 8

The University's Child Development Center will open on Monday, June 8. The center has established new check-in and pick-up procedures and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols to ensure health and safety.

Learn more on the Child Development Center's website. If you have any questions, call (337) 482-5739 or email childdevelopmentcenter@louisiana.edu.

Telehealth counseling sessions available

The University's Counseling and Testing Center is offering telehealth sessions. Emergency in-person appointments are available.

To schedule a telehealth session, please (337) 482-6480 or email counseling@louisiana.edu. Sessions and services are free to University faculty, staff, and currently registered students.

Learn more on the Counseling and Testing website, including the center's plans for the fall semester and a list of resources to help you manage stress and emotional health.

Rec Sports offering virtual classes

The Office of Recreational Sports is offering exercise, strength, and yoga classes virtually via its website. The at-home exercises use furniture as a foundation for strength training.

The website also features links and tips about virtual events and workouts, and fitness apps, websites, and articles.

Learn more and view exercise courses. If you have any questions, call (337) 482-6159.

June 2, 2020: Employee Return-to-Workplace Guide now available

The Ragin’ Cajun Resiliency Plan Task Force has created a framework that will guide the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the beginning of 2021. The plan consists of three phases, and employees will return to work on campus gradually and as needed. The phased return will be based on maintaining proper social distancing, the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and cleaning and disinfecting supplies.

Phase one begins Monday, June 8. Employees will begin receiving notifications this week of the date they are expected to return to campus. If you do not receive a notification, you are not yet expected to return and, if applicable, should continue to work remotely.

  1. The first employees to return will be those faculty and staff members who are involved with critical infrastructure, health care, and research support.
  2. Employees involved in critical administration and business operations and support services and operations that must be performed on campus will return gradually over the summer.
  3. Faculty and necessary staff members whose duties require them to work on campus will return to work on campus near the beginning of the fall semester.

The number of employees on campus at any one time will be limited to meet social distancing requirements.

Areas and functions that can continue to work effectively from remotely locations will continue to do so until the easing of restrictions on social distancing.

The University will use a risk-based assessment to determine the expansion of staffing to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Departments may not increase staffing levels beyond approved levels without permission from the Ragin’ Cajun Resiliency Plan (RCRP) Executive Committee.

Employees who are unable to return to work when requested must follow the current leave guidelines.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires the University to provide paid leave for specified reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the reasons listed includes the inability to work or telework because an employee is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed.

Learn more about the FFCRA in the Employee Leave Guidance.

Learn more about returning to work on campus.

Return-to-Workplace Guide

The Office of Human Resources has created a Return-to-Workplace Guide for faculty and staff members. The guide is displayed on its website and includes important information for returning to work on campus, including:

The guide also includes a general outline of how employees will return to campus.

The comprehensive guide is part of the Ragin’ Cajun Resiliency Plan Task Force's framework that will guide the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the beginning of 2021.

The Office of Human Resources' website will be updated as more information becomes available.

May 22, 2020: CARES Act process and disbursements

The University has received funding through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The University has finalized and initiated the process, according to federal guidelines for administering CARES Act Grants to students, which includes assessing student need, determining individual payments, and distributing funds.

Learn about process and disbursements ➝

May 8, 2020: Funding Opportunities for Students Announced

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette recognizes that its students have experienced financial hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The University is administering two programs to address these needs.

All students received email on May 8 with more details about these programs.

CARES Act

The University is finalizing the process according to federal guidelines for administering CARES Act funding to students, which includes assessing student need, determining individual payments, and distributing funds to students.

To assist the University in determining eligibility, students will need to submit a 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who have not yet submitted the FAFSA have until May 15, 2020 to do so. Be sure to release your FAFSA to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, ​school code 002031. Complete the FAFSA.

The University is planning to begin disbursing CARES Act grants to students the week of May 18.

Student Emergency Fund

The University has established a Student Emergency Fund to provide limited financial assistance to students who, because of unforeseen circumstances, are unable to meet essential and immediate academic expenses.

Learn more and apply online.

April 9, 2020: Most summer courses to be online

Summer intersession courses will be offered online only.

Most summer semester courses will be taught online, but some in-person courses are available in the schedule of classes. Note that in-person courses may transition to remote delivery if necessitated by the COVID-19 situation.

Additional course offerings may be added to the schedule of courses later.

Currently enrolled degree-seeking students can begin registering for Summer Intersession, Summer, and Fall 2020 semester classes according to their registration appointment times starting on Tuesday, April 14.

April 8, 2020: Revised TOPS Requirements & CARES Act Info

Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a proclamation to ensure college students are able to meet eligibility requirements for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. According to the proclamation, current TOPS recipients should be aware that:

  • Continuous enrollment, academic year earned hours, and GPA requirements are suspended for the rest of the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • A "P" grade counts as a completed course and does not affect the student's cumulative GPA.
  • An "F" grade does affect the student's cumulative GPA.

Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act into law. The CARES Act includes information related to student loan payment deferral and federal loans and Pell grants.

The University of Louisiana System has listed the highlights of the governor's proclamation and the CARES Act on a flyer. View the flyer and learn more about TOPS and the CARES Act.

COVID-19 Updates Archive

See previous COVID-19 announcements and updates from UL Lafayette.