Although many Nicholls State University operations and classes moved online due to the spread of COVID-19, students are still permitted to stay in student housing under new guidelines.

Michele Caruso, the interim vice president for student affairs, sent an email to all campus residents encouraging them to go home if possible, though she also said they would be allowed to stay on campus if necessary.

“We are encouraging students who can go home safely to do so. We do understand that some students don’t have the ability to leave, and we will continue to provide for them,” Alex Coad, the Office of Residential Living’s director, said in a statement.

Those staying on campus were asked to notify the Office of Residential Living earlier this week. Students who needed additional time to move out of on-campus housing were given the opportunity to do so per request.

Students who completely check out of housing by cleaning out their belongings and returning their keys are being given partial refunds by the university. Those refunds are being calculated for each student based on both housing and meal credits.

Students will not receive refunds until their belongings are removed and their checkout process is completed, though those having trouble returning to campus and receiving their belongings can email housing at [email protected] for assistance.

Students who remain in housing will not receive a refund but will not be charged.

Nicholls has implemented a curfew for those staying on campus, asking students to remain in their residence halls between 10:15 p.m. and 5 a.m. Residents do not have additional restrictions outside of those hours.

“Students are not confined to their room. As long as you are practicing the guidelines for social distancing, you are encouraged to go outside and get some fresh air,” Coad said.

University Health Services is remaining open for students living on campus. It is open from Monday to Wednesday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and on Thursday and Friday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Students can call the center at  (985) 493-2600. 

“The center will be open until further notice,” Jay Clune, Nicholls president, said in a statement.

Additional cleaning precautions are being implemented for those students still on campus, including a new dining option in the cafeteria that allows students to take meals with them, rather than dining in the building with other students.

“The university is taking the health and wellbeing of all of our students seriously, especially those living on campus,” Coad said. “We have our custodial staff sanitizing all surfaces regularly, and we have moved dining options to “grab and go” options to minimize social contact.”