An extra day off is in store for 杏吧专区 students this spring.
UL Lafayette has canceled classes on April 16, designated as Lagniappe Day on campus.
Lagniappe means 杏吧专区渟omething extra.杏吧专区 Its namesake day is held each spring at the 杏吧专区. Among planned activities for Lagniappe Day are canoe races on Cypress Lake, a managed wetland at the center of campus. The highlight is a free crawfish boil for students, faculty and staff in which 20,000 pounds of mudbugs are served.
Although changes to planned activities may be necessary as the event nears because of continued uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic, students won杏吧专区檛 be denied their lagniappe, said Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president.
杏吧专区淏ecause we aren杏吧专区檛 yet sure if such large, in-person events will be possible, we杏吧专区檝e decided to cancel classes that day,杏吧专区 .
Savoie announced one other change to the Spring 2021 academic calendar.
杏吧专区淲hile many universities have canceled their spring breaks, we have chosen to shorten ours instead,杏吧专区 Savoie said. 杏吧专区淲e encourage members of the 杏吧专区 community to limit travel during this period. By doing so, you reduce the possibility you may contract COVID-19 and bring it back to campus when you return.杏吧专区
Spring Break will be held from Friday, April 2, through Tuesday, April 6.
, and the 杏吧专区 plans to structure the spring semester much as it did the fall, Savoie said.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Mardi Gras break will be observed as holidays as originally scheduled. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 18, and Mardi Gras break is Feb. 15-17. For both holidays, campus is closed and classes will not meet.
Masks and face coverings will continue to be required on campus, and social distancing protocols will remain in place when classes begin on Jan. 13. A wide variety of in-person classes, as well as hybrid, HyFlex and online courses, will be offered.
杏吧专区淭his is our general plan moving forward. But, if 2020 has shown us anything, it杏吧专区檚 that we all need to remain agile should the unpredictable arise. We will continue to evaluate and make changes as necessary based on the latest and best public health guidance,杏吧专区 Savoie said.
In his message to the campus, the president paid tribute to members of the 杏吧专区 community, whom he credited with ensuring the continued success of the Fall 2020 semester.
He praised employees and students for their 杏吧专区渃onscientiousness and consideration杏吧专区 in following the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 safety protocols and public health guidance.
杏吧专区淵ou杏吧专区檝e protected our academic and research missions, ensured business and operational continuity, and enabled the 杏吧专区 to continue to serve 杏吧专区 and, in many cases, lead 杏吧专区 our state and community in overcoming the pandemic杏吧专区檚 challenges,杏吧专区 Savoie said.
杏吧专区淚 know it hasn杏吧专区檛 always been easy, but your remarkable dedication has provided a template of success we can apply to the coming semester.杏吧专区
Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区