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New Mask Mandate - Message from Provost Karen Soul - August 2, 2021 - 8:26 PM

Governor John Bel Edwards has reinstated Louisiana’s indoor mask mandate. The indoor mask mandate is effective Wednesday, August 4, through Wednesday, September 1. You can read the full news release from the Governor's office here.

Individuals are encouraged to begin mask use indoors immediately. Please be patient, especially with new members of our community, as we work to change campus signage about mask use.

All campus individuals are strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. You can learn more about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine on the CDC website. To find a local vaccination location, visit the College’s website.

If you have questions, please email covid@centenary.edu.

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Dr.Chris Holoman - July 7, 2021

Campus Update - Sent via email from Dr. Chris Holoman - July 7, 2021 11:34 aM

Dear Centenary Community,

As we look forward to the opening of the 2021-2022 academic year at Centenary, I have some important information to share about COVID-19 vaccines and campus health and safety. Please read the information below carefully to ensure that you fully understand the College’s expectations and policies regarding vaccines and community health.

As always, Centenary’s first consideration is the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. Furthermore, as a community, we need to act to help keep each other safe. The measures that we followed last year—masking, social distancing, and contact tracing—were successful in preventing a major outbreak on campus and we will continue those as necessary. However, the availability of effective vaccines offers individuals an additional choice as outlined below.

Students, faculty, and staff who provide proof of full vaccination or who have had COVID within the past three months and recovered will be exempt from some safety protocols, including the campus mask mandate and most quarantine requirements. Students, faculty, and staff who choose not to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or who prefer not to share their immunization or health information will continue to follow safety protocols like those employed last year, including regular testing and wearing a mask on campus, and may be unable to participate in certain high-risk activities.

Centenary faculty, staff, and students are strongly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CDC, large-scale clinical trials found that COVID-19 vaccination prevented most people from getting COVID-19 and is also very effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalizations related to the disease. If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, there are local and national resources available to help you learn about the safety and efficacy of the three vaccines and to find a vaccination site:

  • The CDC provides frequent updates to its Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines page, including information about vaccine safety, side effects, and activities that fully vaccinated individuals can enjoy.
  • Centenary’s Vaccination Information page contains local resources for vaccination sites, an FAQ, and links to a recording from the College’s expert vaccine panel discussion hosted in January 2021.
  • Find a vaccination location near you at vaccines.gov.

All Centenary community members should report their vaccination status via one of the following forms:

Students: https://centenary.campuslabs.com/engage/submitter/form/start/482055
Employees: https://forms.office.com/r/h5QxHpgY6E

Faculty, RAs, coaches and other staff who need to know will be notified if the students in their area are exempt from the mask requirement. No health information, including vaccination status, will be shared.

Centenary community members who choose not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or who choose not to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status must continue to follow the community health measures that have been in place for the past year, including:

  • Students and employees who have not provided proof of being fully vaccinated will be required to wear masks, practice social distancing, and provide proof of viral PCR testing every other week. Testing should be available to everyone at no cost, but all testing expenses are the responsibility of the student/employee. Because there are a large number of local providers, at this time, the College does not plan to offer testing on campus during the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Individuals who are exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine (in accordance with current applicable guidelines, vaccinated individuals are required to quarantine only if symptomatic).
  • Students violating these policies will be subject to the Conduct Policy. Employees violating these policies will be subject to the College Personnel Policy, including disciplinary action and termination.

Please send any questions regarding Centenary’s vaccine policy for the 2021-2022 academic year to covid@centenary.edu. This email address is monitored by Health Information (for students) and Human Resources (for employees), and an appropriate staff member will respond to all inquiries.

As it has since the beginning of the pandemic, Centenary will continue to monitor guidance, comply with regulations, and respond as appropriate to changing conditions.

I look forward to seeing all our returning and new students on campus very soon.

Sincerely,

Christopher L. Holoman

A Message from Karen Soul - Wednesday, May 19,2021

A message from Provost Karen Soul sent via email • Wednesday, May 19 8:50 am

Dear Centenary Community,

I am writing today with news of some important changes to safety protocols on the Centenary campus. In accordance with the most recent CDC guidance for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Centenary is making the following changes to campus policies for students and employees, effective immediately:

  • Masks are optional in both indoor and outdoor settings for fully vaccinated individuals who provide documentation of their vaccination status or recent recovery from COVID-19.
    • Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. Please review CDC guidelines for protecting yourself in between vaccine doses or before the two week period ends after a single-dose vaccine.
    • Individuals are considered to be recently recovered from the time that their CDC-recommended isolation ends until 90 days after their positive COVID test.
    • To document your vaccination status or COVID-recovery status, please fill out the appropriate form below:
  • Individuals who have not been fully vaccinated or have not recently recovered from COVID-19 must follow current policies, including wearing masks at all times when in the presence of others and practicing physical distancing.
  • The College reserves the right to require masks or additional safety protocols at large, higher-risk, or high density events.
  • The College will continue to fully comply with all state and local safety policies, including but not limited to the Louisiana Open Safely requirements for specific campus venues and events such as conferences, events museums, libraries, restaurants, etc. More information is available at https://opensafely.la.gov/PublicLinks.aspx.
  • Participants in youth camps at Centenary this summer will follow the guidelines below:
    • Children 11 and younger may choose to wear or not wear masks according to their preferences and those of their parents.
    • Children 12 and older will follow campus guidelines for students and employees.

If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, there are local and national resources available to help you learn about the safety and efficacy of the three vaccines and to find a vaccination site.

  • The CDC provides frequent updates to its Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines page, including information about vaccine safety, side effects, and activities that fully vaccinated individuals can enjoy.
  • Centenary’s Vaccination Information page contains local resources for vaccination sites, an FAQ, and links to the a recording from the College’s expert vaccine panel discussion hosted in January 2021.
  • Find a vaccination location near you at vaccines.gov.

I realize that there may be questions and concerns as we make changes and begin the return to some of our pre-COVID activities and practices. You can continue to direct questions to covid@centenary.edu, and please refer to centenary.edu/covid19 for additional updates and announcements this summer.

Best wishes,
Karen

March 22, 2021 - Update from Dr. Holoman

Campus Update - Sent via email from Dr. Chris Holoman - March 22, 2021 4:42 PM

Dear Centenary community,

This month marks one year since Centenary College began to respond in earnest to what was then referred to as the novel coronavirus. It has, of course, been a year filled with so many challenges, but I am encouraged by the rapidly-expanding access to vaccines in our community and in the daily improvement in the COVID-19 metrics that we have been tracking on campus as well as those in our city, state, and nation.

For updated information on COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in Louisiana and local vaccination sites, as well as community testing locations, please visit centenary.edu/covid19. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the outstanding public health resources we are fortunate to have in Shreveport-Bossier City.

Given these improvements, I am pleased to announce the following changes to our current campus visitor and event policies, effective Friday, March 26. PLEASE READ CLOSELY!

  • Community members (non-Centenary faculty, staff, and students) will be allowed on campus to attend outdoor events sponsored by the College
  • Off-campus events sponsored by the College may be held, provided they comply with all state and local regulations in place at the time. Please consult www.opensafely.la.gov/PublicLinks.aspx while planning events.
  • Invited spectators will be welcome to attend outdoor athletic events beginning March 26. Invited spectators include Centenary students, faculty, and staff (with valid Centenary ID) and individuals submitted to a pass list that will be maintained and managed by the Athletic Department. Please see https://gocentenary.com/information/COVID-19_information for the full home spectator policy.

We feel comfortable making these changes due to the improving community conditions but, most importantly, due to the diligence that all members of our campus community have displayed to keep themselves and others safe throughout the last year. In order to keep moving Forward Safely, please also note that some crucial regulations are not changing:

We are excited to be able to make these changes and look forward to safely welcoming community members back to campus at several upcoming events, including our traditional Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 4. Please visit centenary.edu and Centenary’s social media accounts for announcements about upcoming events this spring.

I am very grateful for all the hard work, patience, and cooperation that has brought us to this point and I look forward to a successful and fulfilling Spring with you on campus.

Chris Holoman

Important information about Spring 2021 Return from provost Karen soul

Dear Centenary students,

I hope that this email finds you healthy and well. Fall 2020 was an extraordinary semester and I am very proud of the way our campus community responded to the pandemic. In particular, I want to congratulate each of you for your perseverance and accomplishments over the past few months.

One of our most important collective accomplishments was holding in-person classes and maintaining our residential campus for the entire Fall 2020 semester, something that many colleges and universities around the country were not able to do.

Please continue to follow safe practices throughout the break. Starting two weeks before you return to campus, please be especially diligent about best practices, including mask-wearing and social distancing. The return to campus plan for Spring 2021, explained in detail below, will help ensure the same success for the remainder of this academic year. Please read carefully and contact covid@centenary.edu with any questions or concerns.

Important Dates
January 3: Student-athletes return
January 10: All remaining students return

Testing and Shelter in Place Procedures

  • All students will complete re-entry testing for the Spring 2021 semester.
    • Student-athletes will be tested when they return to campus.
    • Non-student-athletes have two options for fulfilling the re-entry testing requirement:
      • Test after returning to campus.
  • Provide documentation of negative test completed 72 hours before returning to campus. All students will participate in a modified shelter in place on campus until they receive a negative test. The shelter in place procedures will help you avoid close contacts that might otherwise require you to go into a strict quarantine and may slow any potential spread of COVID.
    • Students who tested positive for COVID-19 on or after October 12th do not need to test or shelter in place, but should still diligently follow standard safety protocols.

Shelter in place FAQs

What does "shelter in place" mean?
"Shelter in place" means that you must stay in your dorm room without guests (including suitemates) unless you are: 1) seeking medical testing or treatment; 2) picking up to-go meals from the Café; 3) attending class in person; 4) attending a varsity athletic practice or supervised workout; or 5) approved by the COVID response team to leave your room for another reason (i.e. an off-campus job).

What if I need to leave my room to go to work or do something else important?
Email covid@centenary.edu to explain your situation and we will work with you.

Why can't I get a COVID test more than 72 hours before I return to campus?
The CDC recommends getting tested no sooner than 4-5 days after potential exposure; earlier tests are more likely to give a false negative result for exposure during the holiday break.

Where can I get tested?
A list of testing sites is available at centenary.edu/covidtest and is updated frequently. To locate a testing site close to your home, visit https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html.

More information about testing options on campus will be forthcoming.

What happens after I test negative for COVID?
Email a copy of your test result to covid@centenary.edu (or to your coach and the Asst. AD for Sports Medicine if on campus for athletics). You will receive a wristband that grants you access to the Café, Randle’s, and other indoor spaces.

Please contact covid@centenary.edu with any additional questions.

CRSAA Information - February 2021

Important information about CRRSAA

Centenary has received Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) funds to help students. The CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need.

Centenary is using the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA as an indicator of need. Only students with an EFC of less than $25,000 will receive a grant. Students who are older than 27 should have received an IRS stimulus payment and thus will not receive this CRRSAA Grant.

CRRSAA grants will range from $500 to $1,500, depending on Pell Grant eligibility and EFC as determined by the FAFSA. A full breakdown of categories is available below. Students who are enrolled less than full time will receive a prorated grant.

Students receiving CRRSAA grants will receive an email from cegf@centenary.edu stating the amount of their grant. The email includes a brief survey so that students can indicate how they would like their grant to be disbursed.

Please send an email to cegf@centenary.edu with any questions about the CRRSAA grant. If you have other financial aid concerns, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@centenary.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Info about Spring 2021 Return - January 2021

Important information about Spring 2021 Return from provost Karen Soul

Dear Centenary students,

I hope that this email finds you healthy and well. Fall 2020 was an extraordinary semester and I am very proud of the way our campus community responded to the pandemic. In particular, I want to congratulate each of you for your perseverance and accomplishments over the past few months.

One of our most important collective accomplishments was holding in-person classes and maintaining our residential campus for the entire Fall 2020 semester, something that many colleges and universities around the country were not able to do.

Please continue to follow safe practices throughout the break. Starting two weeks before you return to campus, please be especially diligent about best practices, including mask-wearing and social distancing. The return to campus plan for Spring 2021, explained in detail below, will help ensure the same success for the remainder of this academic year. Please read carefully and contact covid@centenary.edu with any questions or concerns.

Important Dates
January 3: Student-athletes return
January 10: All remaining students return

Testing and Shelter in Place Procedures

  • All students will complete re-entry testing for the Spring 2021 semester.
    • Student-athletes will be tested when they return to campus.
    • Non-student-athletes have two options for fulfilling the re-entry testing requirement:
      • Test after returning to campus.
      • Provide documentation of negative test completed 72 hours before returning to campus.
    • All students will participate in a modified shelter in place on campus until they receive a negative test. The shelter in place procedures will help you avoid close contacts that might otherwise require you to go into a strict quarantine and may slow any potential spread of COVID.
    • Students who tested positive for COVID-19 on or after October 12th do not need to test or shelter in place, but should still diligently follow standard safety protocols. 

Shelter in place FAQs

What does "shelter in place" mean?
"Shelter in place" means that you must stay in your dorm room without guests (including suitemates) unless you are: 1) seeking medical testing or treatment; 2) picking up to-go meals from the Café; 3) attending class in person; 4) attending a varsity athletic practice or supervised workout; or 5) approved by the COVID response team to leave your room for another reason (i.e. an off-campus job).

What if I need to leave my room to go to work or do something else important?
Email covid@centenary.edu to explain your situation and we will work with you.

Why can't I get a COVID test more than 72 hours before I return to campus?
The CDC recommends getting tested no sooner than 4-5 days after potential exposure; earlier tests are more likely to give a false negative result for exposure during the holiday break.

Where can I get tested?
A list of testing sites is available at centenary.edu/covidtest and is updated frequently. To locate a testing site close to your home, visit https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html.

More information about testing options on campus will be forthcoming.

What happens after I test negative for COVID?
Email a copy of your test result to covid@centenary.edu (or to your coach and the Asst. AD for Sports Medicine if on campus for athletics). You will receive a wristband that grants you access to the Café, Randle’s, and other indoor spaces.

Please contact covid@centenary.edu with any additional questions.

 

Community Safety Guidelines

All Centenary community members and guests must adhere to all of the following personal safety guidelines while on campus:

  • Complete a COVID-19 symptom self-check every day before arriving on campus using the LiveSafe app.
  • Masks are required any time you are in the presence of others. Please follow CDC guidelines on correct usage for masks and other face coverings.
  • Social distancing of a minimum of six feet should be maintained at all times and in all spaces on campus.
  • Wash and/or sanitize hands frequently, especially after touching high-traffic surfaces.
  • Follow all current policies on travel, quarantine, and medical clearance. See the Forward Safely Promise, the FAQs, and the Student Handbook for specific protocols pertaining to COVID-19.

 

Students may direct COVID-related reports and questions to the Health Information Office and other key college officials by emailing covid@centenary.edu. You may also call Ashley Dehart, Administrative Coordinator for Health Information, directly at 318.869.5671. 

Faculty and staff should direct COVID-related reports and questions to ecummings@centenary.edu. 

 

Additional information for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members is available at the links below.

Update on COVID-19 testing - July 29, 2020

Update on COVID-19 testing from President Holoman • July 29 • 3 PM

Following discussions with our partners at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, Centenary College will not require all students, faculty, and staff to be tested for COVID-19 on August 5-7 as previously announced. This change is in alignment with the most current CDC recommendations and also responds to the needs of our local community, allowing Ochsner LSU Health to concentrate testing resources on symptomatic and high-risk individuals.

On August 5-7, testing will be required for the following groups: student-athletes, choir members, dining staff, custodial staff, residence life staff. Testing will be optional for all other students, faculty, and staff.

Centenary will continue to require all students, faculty, and staff to be tested anytime their daily screening indicates a need for test, if they develop COVID-19 symptoms, or if they are advised by a medical professional to be tested. The College maintains a list of local testing centers through Health Services. Additional testing dates will be available and publicized throughout the semester.

Message from Provost Soul - July 15, 2020

July 15 4:00 PM A message from Karen Soul, Provost and Dean of the College


Centenary College is looking forward to welcoming students back to campus the week of August 3 for move in and to beginning on campus classes on Monday, August 10. Centenary administrators, faculty, and staff have collaborated with Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport to develop guidelines and protocols that promote individual and community health and safety that are based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Louisiana Department of Health, and the Louisiana Board of Regents.

As outlined in the Forward Safely Promise, students, faculty, and staff will commit, even before arriving to campus, to practices that ensure their personal health and the health of the campus community. Please read through these carefully. Centenary faculty and staff have worked diligently to prepare the campus for student return and for a truly engaging academic year; however, the success of on campus learning and activities depends on everyone’s commitment to learning and living in ways that keep individuals and our community safe. Students will be asked to sign this pledge electronically prior to coming to campus for the fall.

Centenary COVID-19 information and updates are available at www.centenary.edu/COVID19. In addition, the Student Handbook includes Campus Social Distancing Protocols and Access by Student Type, which is available at www.centenary.edu/studenthandbook.

Move-In
Move-in dates have been expanded and every student will have an assigned move-in period from August 4-9 that will be sent via email. Students should not return to campus if they have received a positive COVID-19 test within 14 days of their specified arrival date.  Students who have tested positive should notify Dean Mark Miller (mmiller@centenary.edu) to coordinate an appropriate move-in date.

Up to two family members may accompany students during move-in. Upon arrival, students and their family members will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms (temperature check, etc.). All students and family members will be required to follow campus personal safety guidelines, including wearing masks, during move-in.

Staff and volunteers who have passed health screening will be available to support students and families during move-in. Additional information regarding move-in will be shared in upcoming communications.

All students will participate in health education sessions during move in week. New students will participate in Orientation August 7-9. This will include small group, in-person activities as well as Zoom based events. More information about Orientation will be emailed to students.

Campus Classrooms, Residences, and Facilities
Centenary has made extensive campus and classroom modifications in response to COVID-19. Class enrollment has been reviewed to ensure that classroom size and capacity allow for appropriate physical distancing; hospital grade air filters have been installed in HVAC systems; and disinfecting cleaning supplies are located in classrooms, offices, and other areas on campus.

Centenary residence rooms may accommodate up to two individuals maximum. No more than four rooms share a bathroom in any residence hall on campus. Residences and bathrooms will continue to be cleaned and disinfected by Centenary custodians on a regular basis. In addition, students will be supplied with disinfecting cleaning supplies they may use as needed.

Classes and Instruction
Centenary faculty members have prepared every course in multiple delivery formats to respond to emerging needs. Faculty and staff will utilize multiple methods to interact with and support students. Meetings, office hours, and class sessions may be held in person or remotely, as needed. Each student should ensure that they have a laptop computer or other portable computer with camera should they need to access class material online.

Faculty members worked throughout the summer preparing courses and participating in professional development activities around hybrid and remote instruction. Should the College need to transition to remote only courses, we believe you will be impressed by the level of innovation and skill of Centenary faculty.
 
Students may request accommodations related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) through Disability Services (Dr. Edward Ragan, eragan@centenary.edu, 318.869.5142). Students may also Remote Student Status for the fall semester for health and family reasons. More information about Remote Student Access may be found at Information for Current Students.

COVID-19 Testing
On August 5-7, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport will test students, as well as faculty and staff, for COVID-19. If a student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, they will self-isolate on campus, or may choose to return home. If a student tests positive during fall term, they may return home or the College has a limited number of quarantine facilities on or near campus.
 
Centenary has made arrangements for students in isolation/quarantine to be monitored and to continue academic progress:

  • Students will be able to access coursework remotely during the period of isolation/quarantine
  • Personnel will check daily on their health and well-being
  • Meals will be delivered to quarantined students

Students are advised to bring an isolation bag to campus, packed and prepared and in their room in the event that they need to be quarantined quickly.

Dining Services
Dining services will be open and will offer limited dining in the cafeteria or take out. A full range of offerings will be available at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All food will be served by cafeteria staff for health reasons. Randle’s Café will be open in the Student Union Building for limited dine in or take out.

Counseling Services
Counseling Services will be open for students. Information and additional counseling resources are available at www.centenary.edu/student-life/support-services/counseling-services.

Campus Calendar
As a reminder, the Centenary campus calendar was modified in response to COVID-19. The calendar may be accessed at www.centenary.edu/calendar.

  • The first day of Fall Term is Monday, August 10.
  • There is no Fall Break.
  • The last day of Fall Term exams is Tuesday, November 24.

The calendar includes an optional December Term from Monday, November 30-Tuesday, December 18. Information and classes for the December Term will be disseminated at a later date.

Possibility of a Return to Remote Learning
Centenary College is committed to the health and well-being of our students, as well as their academic progress. Because Centenary faculty have prepared all courses to be offered both in person and remotely, we have the flexibility to adapt to remote instruction only, should conditions warrant it.
 
Centenary College may choose to transition to remote learning only based on the following:

  • Local, state, or national advisories or restrictions that require remote-only learning
  • Quarantine capacity for the campus
  • A surge in cases coupled with increased severity of illness on campus
  • Contact tracing results

 
Centenary will notify students and families as early as possible, should this occur.

Considerations for items to bring to campus during COVID-19
As you prepare to return to campus, please ensure you have:

 
Often, students describe Centenary as their second “home.” Like you and your families, we have worked to modify this home to make it more productive, more accessible, and safer. Centenary is committed to providing an excellent education and an enriching student life experience in a supportive and healthy environment so that you can feel good about returning to campus and continuing your education.
 
Wishing you and yours health and prosperity,
Karen Soul, Ph.D.
Provost and Dean of the College

Fall 2020 Information - May 26, 2020

A message from Provost Karen Soul

Today, I want to share some important news about the College’s plans to begin in-person instruction for the Fall 2020 semester. A task force of faculty and staff met in April to review options for the Fall Semester calendar, drawing on CDC recommendations, national higher education conversations, discussions with peer institutions, and Centenary-specific data. The task force’s plan for a modified academic calendar and flexible course delivery was approved on May 14. The changes detailed below reflect the College’s dual commitment to the health and safety of Centenary students, faculty, and staff and to the personal instruction that is a vital part of the Centenary educational experience.

Here’s what’s changing, and why:

  • Move-in will occur during the week of August 3. More details on the move-in process for both new and returning students will be available later in the summer.
  • Fall Term classes will run from Monday, August 10 through Tuesday, November 17, with Fall Term exams ending on Tuesday, November 24.
    • Why start earlier? Starting the term earlier, rather than compressing it if the need arises, provides more stability for instructors and students.
    • Why end at Thanksgiving? Completing the Fall Term on campus before Thanksgiving Break lessens the possibility of COVID-19 transmission due to holiday travel.
  • Two weeks of “Flex Time” follow the Thanksgiving Break, to cover any disruptions to instruction during the Fall Term.
  • A December Term will be added. Current August Term courses may move to December, or faculty may choose to teach a course remotely during this term.
  • Faculty are preparing all courses for both remote and face-to-face delivery.
    • Why are we planning for both? Being prepared with multiple modes of delivery will help the College quickly adapt to changing circumstances and also to accommodate a variety of student needs. Remote or hybrid instruction can help ensure safe social distancing and accommodate individual health and safety needs.
    • Campus and residence life will likely look different than in years past. Centenary will follow the most current public health recommendations and requirements and will communicate any changes through email and our website.
       

Please be aware that all calendars and plans are subject to adjustment as required by current circumstances.

Academic calendar

CARES Act Information - May 4, 2020

Centenary has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds from the CARES Act to help students cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Education has specified that these funds should only go to students who are eligible for Title IV funds. Most students who have previously filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are eligible to receive these funds. Centenary’s Office of Financial Aid has communicated with students who do not currently have a FAFSA on file and encouraged them to do so immediately.

CARES ACT grants will range from $200 to $1,000, depending on Pell eligibility and whether students remained on campus when the College moved to remote instruction. Please be aware that these grant funds are separate from any refunds that the College will provide for room and board.

Students receiving a grant can expect to receive a check no later than May 15. If you have any questions regarding your grant, please send an email to cegf@centenary.edu. 

More details about the CARES Act are available on the CARES Act Information page.

CARES Act Info

Spring 2020 Academic Changes - April 8, 2020

Message from Dr. Karen Soul, Provost and Dean of the College

Centenary has passed important academic policy changes to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes are in effect only for the Spring 2020 semester in response to COVID-19.

Details on the changes are available here.

Click for more info

Remote instruction/commencement/move-out - March 27, 2020

Message from Dr. Christopher L. Holoman, Centenary president

Dear Centenary Community,

I’m sure that you have grown accustomed, as I have, to receiving many communications belonging to a genre that until a few weeks ago did not exist in our collective consciousness: COVID-19 updates. This message to our Centenary community is an especially bittersweet one, and not easy to deliver, but I can assure you that the decisions detailed below have been considered with extraordinary care and are in the best interest of our entire College community.

Our decisions deal with completing the spring 2020 term, with commencement for the Class of 2020, and with move-out procedures for all students living in residence halls during the 2019-2020 academic year.


Completing the spring term

Centenary will complete the spring 2020 term via remote instruction. The 2019-2020 academic calendar remains unchanged, with prep week, exam week, and senior grades remaining on the dates originally set. The following changes to the calendar have been approved:

  • Easter Break will be used for instructional days, including Thursday, April 9; Friday, April 10; and Monday, April 13
  • Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8 will be used as regular class days. Please consult your course instructors for details on how this change affects individual courses.

Commencement

Given the continued fluidity of the COVID-19 situation, Centenary has decided to reschedule the on-campus commencement ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 2, to a date to be determined in mid to late August 2020. We are still, however, planning to celebrate the Class of 2020 on the original date, and we hope to gather your ideas about what kinds of virtual activities or presentations would be meaningful to you and your families. Please fill out this brief form to let us know your thoughts and suggestions for our celebrations in both May and August. Graduating seniors, please look for a separate email with more details about caps and gowns, diplomas, and other commencement items.

As I have said before, the Class of 2020 holds a special place in my heart because we began our Centenary journeys at the same time. I want you to know how proud I am of all of you and to assure you that the College is committed to recognizing all of your accomplishments and sending you off into the world in proper Centenary fashion.


Residence hall move-out

In accordance with the Stay at Home Order for the state of Louisiana, students not currently living on campus are not permitted to return to the residence halls at this time. All students will be given the opportunity to move personal items out of their 2019-2020 residence hall rooms. We are hopeful that this process can take place as close as possible to the “normal” time, but I also want to be clear that the College will not undertake this operation until we are assured by local, state, and national authorities that travel is permitted and that it is safe and advisable to do so. Please be prepared for a process that may involve making an appointment for your pick up and completing a health and travel screening. It is our responsibility to ensure the health and safety of Centenary’s students, faculty, and staff as well as the wider community, and our planning for move-out will be guided by this principle. The residence halls are being monitored by professional staff and continue under the watchful protection of our DPS officers, so our students’ belongings are safe and secure.

Thank you to all of you—students, faculty, and staff—that are working so hard and in such unfamiliar and unexpected ways to bring this semester to a satisfactory close. None of us want it to be this way, of course, but I am heartened by the positive spirit that I hear as we work through this together. Please continue to check the Centenary website for updates. I can’t wait for the chance to see you in person again!

First day of remote instruction - March 23, 2020

Message from Dr. Christopher L. Holoman, Centenary President


Dear Centenary Community,

I have just a few brief updates on this, our first day of remote instruction at the College and the last day of on-campus work for many of our staff. We have not received any significantly changed guidance from local or state authorities since Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued his Stay at Home order yesterday afternoon, but here are a few relevant points for students, faculty, and staff:

Students

  • All students should have received an email from Dean of Students Mark Miller requesting that they fill out a brief housing survey by today. All student access to campus buildings will be cut off by 5:00 p.m. today unless students have filled out the housing survey to be pre-approved to stay on campus. More details are available in the email from Dean Miller. Students who have not filled out the form or have problems accessing it should contact Dean Miller immediately at mmiller@centenary.edu.
  • Students who would like to have their mail forwarded (or unforwarded) from campus should fill out this form.
  • All students: Dining Services remain open (check centenary.edu/covid19 for updated hours). Students currently living on campus are welcome to stay, and residence halls are fully staffed and operational. Students living off campus should not return to campus without permission. No guests are allowed on campus without prior approval and students may only enter their own residence halls until further notice.
  • Graduating seniors: The deadline to order your cap and gown has been extended by one week until April 3. If our in-person graduation ceremony is adjusted or you are unable to attend, you will have the option to buy the cap and gown or to send them back without having to pay. The link to order a cap and gown is collegegrad.herffjones.com. 


Faculty/Staff

  • All faculty and staff will be receiving telework agreements from HR Director Edie Cummings over the next few days. These agreements will be sent via DocuSign and are very simple to complete. Please look for these as well as an additional email from VP for Finance and Administration Bob Blue with additional details about distance operations for the Business Office and Human Resources.
  • All staff should be prepared to work from home beginning Tuesday, March 24, unless you have been told otherwise by your supervisor. If you have not had a specific conversation with your supervisor, please reach out to him or her or to HR Director Edie Cummings for assistance or clarification.
  • Helpful hint: To access voicemail from off-campus: dial your telephone number; when you hear your greeting, dial 9 and the last 4 digits of your extension; enter your security code if you have one. For these and other helpful instructions, see the IT FAQ page.
  • If you are available and interested tomorrow (Tuesday, March 24) at 11:10 a.m., Chaplain Lindy Broderick will lead our first live-streamed chapel service from Brown Chapel. Our worldwide Centenary community can enjoy a time for (virtual) fellowship and reflection by tuning in at centenary.edu/live. Lindy will also be sharing daily reflections and encouraging messages on Engage, the online home of our campus organizations. Please visit engage.centenary.edu in the coming weeks and click on “Events” for these messages.

Once again, I offer my deep and sincere thanks for everyone’s hard work, patience, and flexibility. Of course, we will continue to update you as soon as circumstances change and as we make decisions for the paths forward.

Christopher L. Holoman
President

Stay at Home Order - March 22, 2020

Message from Dr. Christopher L. Holoman, Centenary President


Dear Centenary Community,

As you have likely heard, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued a Stay at Home order this afternoon that goes into effect tomorrow, Monday, March 23, at 5:00 p.m. The College is currently reviewing all the implications of this order and will update our community with more specific guidance tomorrow.

Right now, it is important to note that we are keeping the campus open for all those who need to be here, especially students currently staying in the residence halls and using campus services. Students who are on campus should stay on campus, and students who are off campus should stay off campus.

Instruction in all courses resumes - remotely - tomorrow - Monday, March 23.

I know that these next few days, and probably weeks, will not be easy. I am so appreciative of the patience, creativity, and resilience that our community has shown during this time, when things are changing by the day if not by the hour. Let us continue to treat each other with kindness and grace.

Please continue to check centenary.edu/covid19 for official updates from the College as well as helpful resources for students, faculty, and staff.

Christopher L. Holoman
President

COVID-19 Info

Campus facility access - March 18, 2020

Beginning Wednesday, March 18, Centenary will be locking all exterior doors to buildings with card access points and restricting access to only those Centenary community members who are currently approved. If you find that you need to get into any of these areas and your Centenary ID card does not provide you access, please contact the on-duty officer at 318.207.0007.

Beginning Saturday, March 21, the Centenary Fitness Center will be closed through at least Sunday, April 12. The College will continue to evaluate the changing situation during that time and will update both the College community and Centenary Fitness Center members. See the Fitness Center page for a list of free health and wellness resources.

 

Fitness Center

Remote instruction announcement - March 16, 2020

Campus update from Dr. Karen Soul, Provost and Dean of the College

Dear Students and Families,

I want you to know that Centenary College remains committed to both the well-being and academic progress of our students.

Today, the College decided that classes will move to remote instruction beginning Monday, March 23 through, at minimum, Friday. April 10. We will use Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10 for class days. Students are asked to complete this Student Access Survey to help the College know what resources are available for you to participate in remote class activities.

The College leadership team is meeting daily to review information and make decisions. Students are asked to check the College website, email, and Canvas regularly for updates and important information.


Timeline

  • Today, March 16-Friday, March 20: Faculty prepare courses for remote instruction. Classes that were originally scheduled to conduct instruction and complete assignments for this week may continue to do so. Faculty may conduct practice class meetings and assignments this week. Please respond/register, etc. if you receive a communication from a faculty member asking you to do so.
  • Monday, March 23-Friday, April 10: All class instruction is conducted via remote learning.
  • Tuesday, April 14: Classes may resume on campus. Centenary will make this determination based on federal and state guidance.

Student Support Services

Centenary will continue to provide services including tutoring, counseling, spiritual, and career support. Please watch for email, website, and Engage updates from these departments this week.


Registration and Advising

Registration has been postponed at least one week. We will conduct registration remotely and will send instructions and information this week.

Students should be prepared to spend the same amount of time on classwork. Some classes will meet remotely on the same day and at the same time that they met in person, while others will follow a new schedule in their remote form. Be prepared to be flexible.

Students are encouraged to remain where they are right now. If you stayed on campus over the weekend, please remain here. If you left campus for an off-campus location, please remain where you are.

I am grateful for your patience and perseverance as we navigate this situation together. I welcome your questions and concerns, and I will continue to send information and resources to support you during this time.

 

Classes suspended - March 13, 2020

Message from Dr. Christopher L. Holoman, Centenary President

Dear Centenary Community,

As the COVID-19 situation has continued to evolve, Centenary has decided to suspend classes from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20. The College will resume instruction on Monday, March 23. The delivery mode of instruction will be determined and communicated as soon as possible. 

While there are still no confirmed cases of the virus on campus, the increased number of cases in the state and our community raises the likelihood of exposure. In particular, we became aware last night of at least one community member who may have been exposed to the virus. That individual has exhibited no symptoms and is no longer on campus. Social distancing has been recommended as the most effective means to limit the severity of this pandemic in our society. Our actions reflect our commitment to respond to these changing conditions.

Students are encouraged to return home on Saturday, March 14. Students who leave campus are asked to take course materials and personal belongings as needed for the week or extended absence from campus. Students do not need to remove all of their belongings from residence rooms. Centenary recognizes that returning home may present a hardship for some students, so the residence halls, student support services, and dining services will remain open.

If you plan to remain on campus, please fill out this form to inform Residence Life of your decision. Please check the Dining Services website for any changes in hours of operation.

The College will remain open, and all faculty and staff are expected to maintain their regular work schedules. Supervisors will communicate plans with their respective staffs.  

If needed, courses may be offered via remote delivery. Faculty and Staff Development sessions will be scheduled beginning Monday, March 16. Information about these sessions and resources will be sent in a separate email. 

We will make every effort to ensure that seniors graduate on time and all students continue to make progress towards their degrees. 

We do not make this decision lightly but do so in regard for our students’ and community well-being. 

Dr. Christopher L. Holoman
President

Athletics suspended - March 13, 2020

Message from Marcus Manning, Director of Athletics and Recreation

Dear Centenary Community, 

Following a meeting with the league’s President’s Council, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference has made the decision to indefinitely suspend all regular season and non-conference competition effective Monday, March 16.  This follows an announcement from the NCAA yesterday afternoon canceling all winter and spring championships. This decision has not been made lightly, and is intended to protect the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff, families, fans, and surrounding community members. 

We are in full support of the decisions made by the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and NCAA. While disappointed for our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, their health, safety and well-being is the number one priority. 

Marcus Manning
Director of Athletics and Recreation

 

Situation update - March 12, 2020

Campus message from Dr. Christopher L. Holoman

Dear Centenary Community,

I would like to update you on some decisions that the College has made today in relation to the evolving COVID-19 situation. There are no reported cases of COVID-19 on Centenary’s campus, but we are taking the following actions to ensure the continued health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, visitors, and our wider community:

  • Travel: Beginning immediately, College-sponsored or funded non-essential domestic travel is suspended through April 30. Vice presidents must approve exceptions for their divisions. International travel for students, faculty, and staff is also suspended through April 30. All May Modules are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis. At this time, Centenary in Paris has not been canceled, but the College continues to carefully monitor many factors connected to this program.
  • Campus Events: All planned gatherings sponsored or hosted by the College through April 30 will be carefully reviewed. Many events may be canceled or postponed. Please consult the Centenary website and official social media channels for updated information on specific events. On-campus events for students will continue with appropriate precautions, but restrictions will be placed on large social gatherings.


Currently the College plans for students to continue to attend classes in person and remain in their residence halls. The Dining Halls will remain open and will introduce additional safety precautions including replacing some self-serve options with full-service stations. If conditions evolve, the College is preparing for other contingencies. We will continue to review and evaluate our approach daily in order to ensure that best practices are being followed. In all discussions and decisions, the safety of students, faculty, and staff is our highest priority.

Please continue to:

  • Monitor College information and updates at centenary.edu/covid19. This page will house all official College messages and decisions about events and operations. We are updating this page in real time as conditions change. Pro tip for rumor control: If you don’t see it here, it’s not true.
  • Follow these guidelines for keeping yourself and others safe:
    • Wash your hands thoroughly and often
    • Cover coughs and sneezes with an arm or elbow, not a hand
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
    • Practice social distancing whenever possible – consider suspending handshakes/hugs; putting space between yourself and others in public spaces; etc.
    • Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces (the College is also doing this!)
    • Stay away from others if you are ill
      Seek medical care if you have fever, cough, or difficulty breathing
    • Minimize off-campus travel and avoid large gatherings
    • If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or come in contact with anyone who may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please notify our Health Information department immediately.

I appreciate the cooperation and patience that our Centenary community is demonstrating as we continue to assess our specific situation and make the best decisions for this college.

Dr. Christopher L. Holoman
President

 

COVID-19 Info

Greece Module update - March 11, 2020

Announcement about May Module in Greece

Centenary’s Greece module has been cancelled due to concern about the emerging public health situation in Greece and ability of the Greece healthcare system to cope should it become overburdened due to the spread of COVID-19.

All students enrolled in this Module have been notified. More details are available on the Module page.

 

First Situation update - March 10, 2020

Campus message from Centenary President Dr. Christopher L. Holoman

Dear Centenary Community,

I want to inform you of what Centenary is doing in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Given the high level of uncertainty about this virus and how the situation will develop in the future, I understand the stress that this can cause. I also want to remind everyone that colleges and universities will differ greatly in their responses, as each school’s circumstances vary on things like location, size, international population on campus, and so on. As always, my first priority is the safety of our students, faculty, and staff.

We have been closely monitoring the situation for several weeks. Thus far there are no reported cases in our immediate area, but we realize that things can change quickly. The College has robust emergency preparedness plans and is continuing to update them specifically for coronavirus as information becomes available. We have a standing Memorandum of Understanding with our local Department of Health that ensures adequate support in the event of an epidemic or pandemic, including access to medicine and supplies. Our housekeeping staff is regularly trained on cleaning and sanitizing procedures and the products they use to minimize the spread of disease.

In addition to these standard procedures, Centenary is taking, or has already taken, the following actions:

  • We review daily updates from the US Department of State and the Center for Disease Control. We are also in contact with Homeland Security and consulting with professional associations such as SACSCOC and the NCAA, and other institutions, including the Associated Colleges of the South, to ensure that we are following recommended and best practices. We are developing contingency plans for completing the semester and year-end events including commencement, should conditions necessitate changes.
  • Our Facilities staff had a refresher session on cleaning products and procedures on Thursday, March 5, following up on training held in January. We have also hired two temporary custodians who are moving around campus wiping doors, equipment, rails etc. for surface sanitizing.
  • Additional hand sanitizer stations have been ordered and will be placed in key areas of campus for when handwashing is not practical.
  • We have communicated with all Centenary students currently studying abroad. At this time none of them are in areas significantly impacted by the outbreak.
  • All students signed up for school-related international travel will continue to receive up-to-date information on the status of their trip and alternative arrangements as necessary. The situation here or abroad can change quickly, so we are continually monitoring.

As soon as possible, we will have a link on the College web page for easy access to updates to this information as the situation changes.

As you know, CDC recommends that all people follow everyday preventative actions, including minimizing exposure to other people when you are sick and washing hands thoroughly. More information is available here.

Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility as we deal with this unusual and very fluid situation.

Dr. Christopher L. Holoman
President

 

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