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Faculty and Staff,Ìý

It’s hard to believe that it has beenÌýeightÌýmonths since COVID-19Ìýbegan toÌýfundamentallyÌýdisrupt ourÌýlives. Some days it feels like yesterday and otherÌýdaysÌýit feels likeÌýit’sÌýbeen years.ÌýWhen you add five named stormsÌýthatÌýaffected all nine of our universities,Ìýdevastated McNeese,ÌýandÌýdisplaced thousands of students, faculty, and staff;Ìýa season of heightened social unrest;ÌýandÌýaÌýpolarizingÌýpresidential election, 2020Ìýwill not soon be forgotten.ÌýThe challenges we have faced collectively:ÌýfearÌýof the unknown,ÌýaÌýreimagining of ourÌýapproach to learning and operations,ÌýandÌýevenÌýtheÌýdisagreementsÌýonÌýthat approachÌýwill ultimately make us stronger asÌýpeople, asÌýuniversities,Ìýand as aÌýsystem.ÌýÌý

Today, I come to youÌýout of deep appreciationÌýforÌýthe adaptabilityÌýand dedicationÌýyou have displayed thisÌýsemester.ÌýWhen weÌýdevelopedÌýplans for the fall, weÌýrelied onÌýthe prevailingÌýscienceÌýto createÌýtheÌýsafestÌýenvironments for our faculty, staff,Ìýand students.ÌýOf course human behavior is the primary and least controllableÌýfactor in containing the spread ofÌýCOVID-19.ÌýDiligenceÌýfrom student services leadership;ÌýlogisticalÌýacrobatics performed by facilities staff, faculty, and countless others;ÌýandÌýwidespread compliance with restrictions by studentsÌýhasÌýprovenÌýmostly effective.ÌýThat said, we recognize there areÌýnumerousÌýopportunities to improveÌýour learning environmentsÌýandÌýour business settingsÌýasÌýour work continues through this health crisis.ÌýAnyÌýof our success thisÌýtermÌýisÌýowedÌýto yourÌýdedication to the mission of learning,ÌýnotÌýallowingÌýevenÌýthe adversityÌýofÌýa global pandemicÌýtoÌýprevent youÌýfrom educatingÌý92,000 students.Ìý

During theÌýnext few weeks, weÌýwillÌýwork collaboratively with university leadersÌýto evaluateÌýourÌýexisting mitigation efforts and accommodations for faculty, staff, and studentsÌýto identify ways to improve.ÌýWe will make any necessary adjustmentsÌýto ourÌýsystemicÌýguidelinesÌýand university practicesÌýbased on those evaluations. While weÌýfullyÌýexpectÌýtoÌýbe dealing with COVID-19 forÌýat least the next semester, I am optimistic thatÌýaÌýreturn toÌýnear-normal operationsÌýisÌýin the foreseeable future. Promising vaccineÌýdevelopments,Ìýimproved therapeutics, and rapidly advancing testing optionsÌýare a welcome source of hope.ÌýÌý

Many of our institutions are wrapping on-campus activities this weekÌýbased on forecasts this summer that the fall would bring a surge of infections. As we are seeing statewide, those projections were accurate. In the coming weeks, I encourage you to stay vigilant in your effortsÌýto protect yourself and those around you. Wearing a mask, frequent hand washing, and maintaining appropriate social distancingÌýwork in a remarkably effective way. Continuing these practices willÌýhelpÌýensure the safety of your community and improve our likelihood of a successfulÌýspring.ÌýÌý

Throughout the holiday season, I hope you have time to rest and reflect on all you have accomplishedÌýinÌýthis exceedingly challenging year. Thank you for your service to the Universities of Louisiana. I hope you will recognize your part in the accomplishments of our students and carry that pride with you until we find ourselves in less complicated times.ÌýÌý

For your future. For our future.ÌýÌý

JimÌýÌý