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.

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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