College & Universities Update Regents on COVID Protocols

BATON ROUGE, La. – Students attending public colleges and universities across the state will be required to be vaccinated this fall according to details shared with the Board of Regents today during its regular meeting. Presidents from the Louisiana State University System, University of Louisiana System, Southern System, and Louisiana Community and Technical College System joined Regents virtually to update the Board on fall semester openings, enrollment trends, and COVID protocols.  Highlights from those reports include: Louisiana State University System:

• Student vaccination deadline: October 15
• Students who opt-out must submit to regular testing
• Fans attending LSU A&M home games must show proof of vaccine or negative COVID test result within 72 hours beginning September 11th
• 23,000 students have reported their COVID status to date, with 84% vaccinated, tested, or reporting a recent case of COVID.

University of Louisiana System:

• Student vaccination deadline: Ahead of next class registration cycle
• Students who opt-out must submit to regular testing
• 40% of students are fully vaccinated, with numbers increasing
• 17,000 student completers across the System last year despite pandemic challenges

Southern University System:

• Student vaccine deadline: Before pre-registration for spring semester classes
• Students who opt-out must submit to regular testing
• Football team and coaches are 100% vaccinated, and the band is 95% vaccinated
• Fans attending Southern University A&M home games in the suites (indoor seating) must show proof of vaccination, and all ticketholders will be required to wear masks while in the stadium.
• Enrollment is increasing as much as 10% this semester

Louisiana Community & Technical College System:

• Student vaccine deadline: October 1st
• Students who opt-out must submit to regular testing
• Continued mask and vaccine advocacy
• 5,200 completers through the ReBoot program, which provided $10 million in stimulus funding for reskilling and upskilling adults

To encourage vaccinations ahead of campus deadlines, Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed reminded Regents of the state’s Shot for $100 campaign.  Participating campuses are incentivizing student vaccinations by hosting on-campus vaccine sites where students receiving shots are given a Visa card loaded with $100 upon activation of the card. As of Tuesday, more than 120 vaccine clinics have been held or scheduled on public and private college campuses with more than 2,660 Visa cards awarded. “As our campuses are opening up, I am proud our student leaders are committed to sharing trusted information with their peers and being vaccine ambassadors on their campuses,” said Commissioner Reed.  “As a result, we are seeing stronger uptake in vaccinations among our student populations. This will help us get back to normal, which is something we all want to experience,” said Commissioner Reed.  “Meanwhile, to stay true to our mission to double the number of credentials in our state, we all remain focused on our efforts to develop talent in our state, especially in support of our healthcare heroes.” Regents also recognized the anniversary of Hurricane Laura’s landfall in Louisiana last year by receiving an update on recovery efforts at McNeese State University and SOWELA Technical Community College. All buildings on those campuses sustained some damage or were completely destroyed as a result of these storms.  One year later, 95 of the 128 impacted structures have been repaired in record time, with approximately $95.4 million expended to date. “Things have not been easy in the southwest region of our state for our leaders, our students, and our faculty, and we recognize their resiliency and grit,” said Chair Blake David.  “Our state and campus partners made colleges and universities a priority, and we are thankful for their dedication. To be open and operational, with students on campus, is truly an amazing accomplishment.”