Student Support

The two main principles guiding the LSU Academic Continuity Plan are maintaining the health and wellness of the campus community and ensuring the continuity of academic programming.

LSU is currently following the CDC guidelines:

• Wash hands frequently
• Cough into elbow
• Travel: see the official LSU Coronavirus webpage to find official updates

Yes. The plan for the short-term is to move to a low-tech online and remote instructional environment to complete the semester. The timeline on this is short, and effective tools and techniques can be implemented for most disciplines.

Yes. Students who are registered with the Office of Disability Services should stay in close contact with their office liaison to ensure continuity through the end of the semester. Students, who have not registered with the Office of Disability Services but anticipate they will need to do so in order to successfully complete the semester, should do so immediately. For more information, see the Office of Disability Services website. Students can request accommodations up until the time of an exam.

University Policy Statement 22 provides for missed coursework and making up coursework due to legitimate personal illness. This policy statement will be adhered to.

Graduate and undergraduate students who have thesis or dissertation defenses scheduled for this semester should coordinate directly with their chair in order to determine how the defense will take place.

Students will be able to seek advisor assistance through Zoom, email, and by phone, depending on what unit provides advising support for them. Students can use the Navigate app to schedule their appointment time. The Office of the University Registrar has already communicated with relevant student advising offices about online forms, how to handle signatures, and related matters.

The LSU Center for Academic Success (CAS) now offers the following services 100% free and online:

• Helpful tips for transitioning to remote learning
• All of our services, including Academic Coaching, tutoring, and Supplemental Instruction
• Additional online resources and tools

LSU Communication across the Curriculum is also offering free online services, including:

• Writing coaching
• Support with other communication-intensive projects, including presentations

LSU encourages students without access to data plans or internet service to contact internet service providers in their local or regional areas and ask about their connectivity opportunities under the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Keep Americans Connected Pledge, with the , and with the use of public library Wi-Fi.

Keep Americans Connected Pledge

On March 13 and in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the pledge by broadband internet and telephone service providers and trade association to:

1. Not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic
2. Waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic
3. Open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them

The current list of companies that have taken the pledge are available on the FCC’s website at www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected. Additionally, the Chairman Pai noted “companies that have already taken additional steps to ensure that Americans, especially low-income American families and veterans, remain connected.”

To learn more about opportunities in your area:

1. You can see which companies that are internet service providers (ISPs) for your location based on your zip code or city/state: https://data.usac.org/publicreports/CompaniesNearMe/Download/Report. Running a search on this page will give you the list of companies with links to their webpages.
2. On the Keep Americans Connected Pledge page, you can see which companies have taken the pledge. Under the blue announcement box, click the statement “Display list of companies and associations that have signed the pledge” to show the companies.
3. Then, contact the companies to understand the specific opportunities they offer under the Keep Americans Connected Pledge

Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications

If you are from an eligible, low-income household as determined by the FCC’s Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications program, you may be eligible for discounted internet service.

Locations of Wi-Fi access at Louisiana public libraries

LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network worked with Institute of Museum and Library Services data, State Library of Louisiana, and public libraries across the state to build a master map that lists public library locations and details about their Wi-Fi access. Clicking on a pin on this Google map will provide additional access details for each public library location. For instance, the pin may state whether the public library’s Wi-Fi service can be accessed from a parking lot and give the required information needed to log on.

If you live outside of Louisiana, I would encourage you to seek internet connections at your local public library, including any opportunities to connect from outside any closed library buildings.

Adobe Cloud is also offering free services due to the coronavirus outbreak. Learn more.

Disability Services is to continuing to register and provide assistance to students with disabilities and their faculty throughout the accommodation process as classes are being taught in some type of online course. New student registration and returning student appointments will be held via phone call or Zoom. Our office can be contacted during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) by email at disability@lsu.edu or by calling the following phone numbers until stated otherwise.

Questions or Issues: 225-364-9145

Phone or Zoom Appointments with DS Advisers: 225-364-9123

Testing: 225-364-9113

Most in-class accommodations will apply to all methods of online instruction though some may apply differently. Accommodation letters can be saved as a .pdf document using the same request form currently used to print them. Students can then email the accommodation letters to their faculty. Please do not hesitate to contact DS at 225-578-5919 or disability@lsu.edu if any questions or issues arise.

Yes. Specific Resources and how to access types of services are listed below.

Student Health Center

SHC - Staying Well During COVID-19

LSU Student Health Center

Email: studenthealth@lsu.edu

Service Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

• Secure message medical consults only
• SHC will be using the HIPAA-compliant platform Microsoft Teams to deliver audio/ video tele-health support
• Download for free on Windows, macOS, iPhone, and Android at https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads
• Log on using your myLSU username and password

Medical Clinic

Phone: 225-578-6716

Available services include primary medical care provided by appointment and via tele-medicine and Patient Portal secure messages.

To access care: Call 225-578-6716 for medical concerns or send a secure message to a medical provider you have seen before through the Patient Portal. If you have never seen a provider, send a message to *New**Questions* using the Patient Portal.

Medical Care After-Hours options can be found at https://www.lsu.edu/shc/about/location.php

Mental Health Service

Phone: 225-578-8774

Mental health support is provided through brief, 30-minute tele-therapy sessions to discuss current concerns, coping strategies to address those concerns, and when appropriate to connect students with other local resources to address their needs. Before a tele-therapy session, students should check-in using the Patient Portal.

To access care: Call 225-578-8774 to leave a message with your name, student ID number, physical address, and a call back number. Students who are under the current care of the Mental Health Service psychiatry may make requests for refills by calling 225-578-8774.

For Care After-Hours: Call The PHONE at 225-924-5781 for 24-hour crisis and emotional support. The PHONE also provides services through text or chat. You may reach text and chat function by texting: 225-924-5781.

Available services include:

• Assistance for student survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, relationship violence and stalking
• Wellness and nutrition education and resources
• Case management assistance, resources and referral

To access care:

• Complete Lighthouse Program Services Request Form for sexual assault, domestic violence, relationship violence and stalking support and resources
• Call 225-578-6716
• Send a secure message to a health educator, dietitian, or case manager using the Patient Portal

If you need support services or evidence collected after hours or on the weekend, please contact STAR (Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response) at 855-435-STAR, The Phone at 225-924-5781, or your local police department.

There are many agencies and providers in the community participating in tele therapy/tele med services. You can make a student of concern report at https://www.lsu.edu/saa/lsu-cares/ or contact LSU Mental Health for a referral to an appropriate community provider at 225-578-8774.

The Student Health Center Case Manager

Can support with providing assistance in obtaining health insurance if you have lost your current health insurance plan. You can contact the Case Manager directly via secure message in your patient portal, via email at nthib12@lsu.edu, or by calling 225-578-6716.

If you are unemployed and lost your health insurance benefits, you may qualify for health insurance government assistance through Louisiana Medicaid or the Health Insurance Marketplace.

If you aren’t currently enrolled in coverage or lost your benefits, you can also see if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period through the Health Insurance Marketplace. You can access the Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov.

Yes, there are several hotlines and chat lines that are operational to address your specific concerns.

Hotlines and Chat Options:

Phone: 225-924-5781

“Keeping Calm through COVID” Hotline at 866-310-7977. A 24/7 hotline to connect to trained mental health and substance abuse counselors.

SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990. A crisis support hotline operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The helpline also takes text messages: Text TalkWithUs to 66746.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

Yes. The LSU Student Health Center offers excellent guidance for coping with COVID-19 at this uncertain time.

Yes. LSU Cares is a university initiative dedicated to the well-being of students and promotion of a community that cares about each of its members.

LSU offers an online reporting system to help students, faculty, staff, families, and friends submit reports about:

• potential violations of the LSU Code of Student Conduct
• concerns regarding sexual misconduct and hazing
• concerns surrounding acts of bias or discrimination
• complaints or grievances
• concerns about students in crisis or distress
• pregnancy needs or concerns

When a report is received, staff will review the details using a CARE approach (Communicate, Assess, Refer, Educate) and then determine a response that includes appropriate campus resources. For more information, download the LSU Cares brochure.

It might also be helpful to review Helping Students of Concern for additional information.

Call LSU Police immediately by dialing 911 or 225-578-3231.

Yes. We are responding daily to all types of LSU Cares reports in order to assist our students at this challenging time. We can meet with students via zoom, email or talk by phone.

Alcoholics Anonymous is offering services

Yes. We have resources for students who are pregnant or parenting.

LSU Pregnancy and Parenting Program

Connect to a pregnancy advocate for remote services.

Specific Resources for access to healthy nutrition at such as critical time:

For Louisiana Women, Infant, Children (WIC) Program (For those who are pregnant or with children under 5), Louisiana WIC has enacted their disaster plan. Under this plan:

• Most WIC clinics are still open. Due to current COVID-19 precautions, LA WIC clinics are allowing participants and/or caregivers to stay in their vehicles for appointments. Your information will be collected over the phone and a member of the staff will come out to your vehicle. Please bring your ID, WIC EBT card and all other required documentation.
• IMPORTANT: If you or anyone in your family have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, please call your WIC clinic and reschedule your appointment.
• WIC-approved grocery stores are restocking as quickly as possible. Please continue to check back for WIC-approved items. For a list of select store hours, visit COVID-19 Select Retailers Hours of Operation.
• As the situation develops, participants can find out about any new clinic closures at LouisianaWIC.org

No. There have not been any changes to the academic calendar at this time.

No. There have not been any changes to the grade submission process at this time.