To: Faculty, Staff and Students:
The university continues to monitor information and guidelines on the COVID-19 pandemic from state and national health agencies and to enact policies and procedures that help ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff and our campus communities.
In response to new directives from Gov. John Bel Edwards today, Northwestern will not allow gatherings of more than 50 participants on its campuses in the weeks ahead. As of today, all events in the Student Union Building have been canceled through April 15.
Also, all face-to-face events, activities and meetings of student organizations are canceled until further notice. In addition, the Student Union will close at 6 p.m. on weekdays and will be closed on weekends.
The Wellness, Recreation and Activity Center will close effectively immediately to comply with the governor’s directives for gyms and health clubs to suspend operations. It will be closed at least through April 13.
Following the governor’s directive for restaurants in the state to be closed to patrons eating on-site and to limit services to take-out, drive-through and delivery orders, the Chick-fil-A and Steak ‘n Shake Restaurants on campus will discontinue dine-in service. Take-out service will still be available at those restaurants.
Iberville Dining Hall on campus is exempt from the governor’s order and will continue to serve students in the facility but is also working toward increased take-out service.
There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Northwestern or in Natchitoches Parish. University offices and residential facilities remain open, and faculty and staff are prepared to transition Thursday to online classes and other alternate methods of course delivery.
We will continue to work diligently to assure the academic continuity and progress of our students and to assist them in every way possible in completing the spring semester successfully even in the wake of the evolving pandemic.
I deeply appreciate the extraordinary commitment of our faculty and staff to the mission of the university and the goals of our students. I encourage all of you to be diligent in complying with recommendations from health agencies for remaining safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Chris Maggio, President
