University Messages


10.18.21 - LSUA Faculty & Staff Spring 2022 COVID-19 Vaccination and Opt Out Reporting Requirements

October 18, 2021

To:          LSUA Faculty & Staff

Re:         Spring 2022 COVID-19 Vaccination and Opt Out Reporting Requirements

Dear Faculty and Staff,

LSUA will begin requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for all students, faculty and staff for the Spring 2022 semester. We have already communicated separately to students and now we’d like to provide employees with additional details.

Beginning today, employees will be able to submit proof of vaccination through your http://my.lsua.edu/ portal or complete the vaccine accommodation request for an exemption. This will be located in the upper right portion of the page once you log in.  The deadline for employees to submit proof of full vaccination or an exemption form is January 1, 2022. Employees who fail to comply will be subject to disciplinary action.

Employees who fill out an exemption form will have to test regularly for COVID-19. More information on that testing process will follow at a later time.

Even if you already completed the Vaccine Reporting Survey that LSU launched last spring, you must still provide your proof of vaccination in the http://my.lsua.edu/ portal.

While it is the Pfizer vaccine that is fully approved by the FDA, the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines also meet LSUA’s vaccine requirements. If you have only received your first dose of Pfizer or Moderna, remember to finish your vaccine series with the same brand with which you started.

The LSUA Health Center still has vaccines on campus at no cost. We suggest you call and make an appointment if you would like to receive the vaccine. Additionally, the Louisiana National Guard will be conducting a vaccine clinic on October 19th and 20th on campus, along with representatives for the Shot for $100 program that Governor Edwards recently expanded to all individuals.  Testing is also available at the LSUA Health Center.

For additional information about protocols and COVID-19 procedures, please visit https://www.lsua.edu/coronavirus

If you have any questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine requirements, please contact Chad Gauthier, Safety & Risk Manager at (318) 473-6489 or cgauthier@lsua.edu.

Sincerely,

Paul Coreil, Ph.D.

LSUA Chancellor

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10.18.21 - LSUA Students - COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

October 18, 2021

Dear Generals,

As previously announced, LSUA will add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required immunizations required for on-campus students starting this spring.

Students must submit proof of vaccination or formally opt out via the exemption/waiver form in your http://my.lsua.edu/ portal. This will be located in the upper right portion of the page once you log in. Louisiana law allows for students to opt out of vaccinations, and those who choose this route will be required to be tested for COVID on a regular basis. More information regarding the regular testing will be released soon. Students will need complete this process by uploading their vaccine card or opt out prior to registering for the spring semester. 

Once a student uploads their vaccination card or selects the opt out option, there will be an approval process to verify before the “hold” is lifted so a student can process their registration. We do not expect this process to take long, but it is best to upload your vaccine card or opt out prior to registration opening on Oct. 25 for seniors.

Those who have not yet been vaccinated can do so at the LSUA Health Center located in Coughlin Hall.  Additionally, the Louisiana National Guard will be conducting a vaccine clinic on October 19th and 20th, along with representatives for the Shot for $100 program that Governor Edwards recently expanded to all individuals.  Testing is also available at the LSUA Health Center. Please visit https://www.lsua.edu/coronavirus for our COVID protocols.  Please help us keep campus safe by reviewing and following our protocols.

I wish you all the very best as you begin to wrap up the second half of the Fall Semester.  Continue to study hard and finish the semester strong. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Stay Safe,

Chad  Gauthier
Safety & Risk Manager

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08.02.21 - New COVID Safety Protocol Taking Effect Immediately

Monday, August 2, 2021

To:          LSUA Students, Faculty & Staff

Re:         New COVID Safety Protocol Taking Effect Immediately

Dear Generals,

Keeping our students, faculty and staff safe has been and will continue to be our top priority; therefore, we must adjust our current operations protocol that allow us to better adapt to the recent spike in COVID cases across the state and region. As you may have already heard, Governor Edwards today has reinstated an indoor mask mandate due to the current spread of COVID-19 in our state.  The recent numbers from the Louisiana Department of Health show both infections and hospitalizations continuing to rise at an alarming rate.  As an alignment with Governor Edwards recent announcements, we will immediately begin requiring masks indoors, for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, in situations when you are unable to maintain 6 feet of social distancing.  This includes employees, students and visitors to our campus.  Paper masks will be available for visitors if they arrive without a mask.  We encourage everyone to come prepared with their own mask, but if you need another LSUA cloth mask, you can request one from Chad Gauthier, LSUA Safety & Risk Manager (see contact below).

The COVID-19 pandemic is ever-changing with daily information and updates continuously coming out from the governor’s office and the LSU System.  With this continued uncertainty, definitive guidelines about COVID-19 restrictions for the fall semester will not be finalized until we approach mid-August….so please keep checking email regarding updates and new safety guidelines.

We continue to encourage everyone in our community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. At this time, approximately 90% of COVID-19 related hospitalizations in Louisiana are in unvaccinated individuals, so clearly the best protection from the virus is vaccination.  Very soon we will be announcing and rolling out an LSUA vaccine incentive program that will be made available for all LSUA students, faculty and staff who have received the vaccine.  If you are interested in receiving the vaccine so you can become eligible for the incentive program, please visit the LSUA Health Center in Coughlin Hall or contact them at 427-0110 to inquire about scheduling and availability for the vaccine.

Thanks for your continued resilience and flexibility as we continue to do what it takes to keep everyone safe.  Never hesitate to contact me via text, email or office visit if you have any questions or just want to visit.  I continue to keep an open-door policy and welcome visitors anytime. You can also contact Chad Gauthier for specific question regarding COVID-19 protocol or to report any exposures, positive COVID cases and quarantine requirements.  His email is cgauthier@lsua.edu, office phone number 318-473-6489 and cell phone number 318-290-4965.

All the best,

Paul Coreil, Ph.D.

LSUA Chancellor

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07.30.21 - VaxThatA Video

Good morning Generals, 

Our highest priority is on the health and safety of our campus. We encourage you to stop by the LSUA Health Center for your vaccination. Please see the video below and if you have any questions you may contact the LSUA Health Center at 318-427-0110.  

We are looking forward to a great Fall semester!

Paul Coreil, Ph.D.
LSUA Chancellor

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01.04.22 - New COVID Protocol for SPRING 2022 Semester

Dear Generals,

We want to again thank our campus community for the resiliency that each of you have shown during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Keeping everyone safe will continue to be our highest priority as we approach this new year. As we look to the beginning of the Spring Semester here on campus, we want to inform you of several changes to our current COVID-19 protocols, primarily due to the recent spike in COVID cases across the state and region.  

Recent reports from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) show both infections and hospitalizations continuing to rise at an alarming rate, mostly due to the Omicron variant.  Because of this, we will immediately (effective Wednesday, January 5, 2022)  begin requiring masks indoors, for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, in situations when you are unable to maintain 6 feet of social distancing.  This includes employees, students, and visitors to our campus.  We encourage everyone to come prepared with their own mask, but some will be made available at entrances to buildings for individuals if they arrive without a mask.  

In addition to the mask requirement being back in place, if you develop any COVID-like symptoms, we ask that you get tested as soon as possible and delay coming to campus until you have received a negative test.  Free testing is available in the LSUA Health Center in Coughlin Hall.  Any changes made to our protocol on campus will be posted on the LSUA Coronavirus website at: https://www.lsua.edu/coronavirus

We continue to strongly encourage everyone in our community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if you have not yet done so, and get boosted if you are eligible, preferably before returning to campus. At this time, over 75% of COVID-19 related hospitalizations in Louisiana continue to be unvaccinated individuals, so clearly the best protection to help reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our community remains vaccination.  If you are interested in receiving the vaccine or booster on campus, please visit the LSUA Health Center or contact them at 427-0110 to inquire about scheduling and availability. Additionally, all employees and students are asked to continue to upload proof of vaccination or other relevant documentation in your myLSUA portal as required.  

Thanks for your continued flexibility and cooperation as we continue to do what it takes to keep all members of our campus as safe as possible.  Never hesitate to contact me via text, email or office visit if you have any questions or just want to visit.  I continue to keep an open-door policy and welcome visitors anytime. You can also contact Chad Gauthier for specific question regarding COVID-19 protocol or to report any exposures, positive COVID cases and/or clarify quarantine requirements.  His email is cgauthier@lsua.edu, office phone number 318-473-6489 and cell phone number 318-290-4965.  

Stay safe,

Paul Coreil, Ph.D.

LSUA Chancellor

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02.11.22 - Update to Mask Requirements

Good morning Generals,

Due to the decreasing COVID cases statewide and here locally within our campus community, effective Monday, February 14, for most areas on campus, you will no longer be required to wear a mask.  However, at this time, individual faculty will have the discretion on whether masks continue to be required in classrooms or auditoriums where they teach.  In other words, if a professor or instructor requires students to wear masks in a particular class, then the mask requirement will apply in those locations and circumstances.  Additionally, faculty and staff can also require masks in their individual offices if that is their preference. Lastly, masks may also be required for certain on-campus events as well; however, prior notification will be communicated for those events.  

Even though masks are no longer required across the entire campus they are still strongly encouraged in places where social distancing cannot be maintained.  Data shows that the N95 and KN95 masks seem to provide the best protection against the virus.  Thank you for helping us continue to provide a safe environment for on-campus learning.

Please remember that COVID-19 continues to remain a threat to everyone; therefore, we ask that you continue to exercise caution concerning transmission; practice proper handwashing, social distance if possible, and continue to demonstrate prudence and good judgment through your actions around campus. 

Stay safe,

Chad  Gauthier

Safety & Risk Manager

8100 Highway 71 South

Alexandria, Louisiana 71302

Office: (318) 473-6489

Abrams Hall 115

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