PRESS RELEASE

University of Louisiana System Campus Closures Due to Hurricane IkeBATON ROUGE (September 11, 2008) - (*Latest information as of 5 p.m.) McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have cancelled classes for Friday, Sept. 12 due to Hurricane Ike.  The following is specific information about each closure:

MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY, Lake Charles, Louisiana
1-800-622-3352; www.mcneese.edu/emergency

McNeese closed at noon today, Thursday, Sept. 11, due to the potential effects of Hurricane Ike on Calcasieu Parish. Afternoon classes were cancelled and night classes are cancelled.

Offices closed at noon and essential employees are directed to report to duty as requested by their supervisors.

Resident students may wish to consider going home to their families or leaving with friends. If resident students leave, they are advised to take with them coursework, books, work and athletic uniforms and other personal items.

At this time, the University plans to re-open on Monday and resume classes as scheduled and all offices will re-open as usual at 7:45 a.m. Future announcements will be made through the local media, the McNeese Web page, Portal, FirstCall and e-mail as necessary.

The most recent National Weather Service report calls for Hurricane Ike to make landfall along the Texas coast sometime early Saturday morning. Tropical force winds are expected to begin in Calcasieu Parish on Friday.

Employees and students are advised to monitor local and national media and weather Web sites for updates on Hurricane Ike.

NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY, Thibodaux, Louisiana
1-866-709-8927; www.nicholls.edu; http://emergency.nicholls.edu   

Due to the threat of tropical storm force winds from Hurricane Ike, Nicholls State University has implemented Phase I of its Hurricane Preparedness Plan. As a result, no classes will be held on Friday, Sept. 12.

Thursday evening classes will continue as scheduled. Classes will resume on Monday, Sept. 15.

Food service and accommodations for on-campus residents will continue on Friday and throughout the weekend. No students are being evacuated from campus at this time. On-campus residents should contact residence hall staff members for additional information.

Only essential faculty and staff are requested to work on Friday. Employees should contact their supervisors to determine if they need to report for duty. All employees should report back to work on Monday, Sept. 15.

The Praxis Test scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20. Contact the Testing Center at 985-448-2599 for additional information.

Please continue to monitor your e-mail and the Nicholls website, www.nicholls.edu and its emergency website at http://emergency.nicholls.edu for additional updates.

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE, Lafayette, Louisiana
1-337-482-2222; www.louisiana.edu

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced this afternoon that it will be closed on Friday, September 12, 2008.  The decision to close was based on the threat of Tropical Storm Force Winds due to Hurricane Ike in Acadiana and the concern for the safety of students who would typically walk around campus.

Residence halls are fully staffed and secured for any students who currently live on campus and choose to remain on campus. 

Essential personnel should report to work unless otherwise notified.

The University will resume all normal operations on Monday, September 15, 2008.

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At this time, the other five UL System campuses remain open and operating as usual.  Please refer to individual websites for the latest, up-to-date information.

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, Grambling, Louisiana
www.gram.edu

LOUSIANA TECH UNIVERSITY, Ruston, Louisiana
www.latech.edu  

NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY, Natchitoches, Louisiana
www.nsula.edu  

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY, Hammond, Louisiana
www.selu.edu

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE, Monroe, Louisiana
www.ulm.edu