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Did the College Experience Shut Down Too? LSUS Student Life Keeps Connection Alive Despite Pandemic Challenges

Shreveport, LA—Angel Martin, LSU Shreveport Director of Student Life and Recreational Sports, felt caught off-guard along with the rest of the world when the COVID-19 pandemic closed universities nationwide in early 2020. Responsible for creating the “college experience”, Martin ultimately had to push past her own fears and disorientation and refused to let student traditions, engagement, and bonding opportunities that makeup student life simply fall by the wayside.

“After we got out of that temporary paralysis of ‘What next? What can we do?’; we really started to plug into how the world was coming together in creating virtual opportunities.” Martin reflected. “I was really fearful that we were going to have to start over from scratch on all of our major traditional events like Week of Welcome, a weeklong celebration during the first week of classes, and Homecoming.”

In fact, the pandemic struck just as the LSUS Student Activities Board, which oversees student life on campus, was preparing for one of its largest student events—Spring Fling.

“We were really looking forward to and planning our annual Spring Fling. If you ask current and former students what one of their favorite on-campus memories is, they’ll often say ‘Spring Fling with the crawfish.’,” Martin said. “These opportunities are planned to create place bonding for students so that they have fond memories of the times they spend outside of the classroom at LSUS.”

Martin and her team quickly connected with vendors to create a “new normal” with virtual events and at-home activities. Students enjoyed mail-to-home kits, online trivia contests, virtual scavenger hunts, how-to videos, and more. Even though it looked different, the goal for the student experience was to maintain a sense of connection, positive university association, and skill-building.

“Whether virtually or in person, we want students to come to events and have fun,” Martin said. “But usually there’s some kind of learning outcome woven in, and we always, through seminars and other activities, want them to grow their life skills.”

Students quickly adjusted to connecting virtually, particularly with the popular mail-to-home kits varying from painting and embroidery to creating a vision board. The LSUS Food Pantry even sponsored “Take and Make” meal kits. The variety of kits became widely popular, running out within an hour of them being made available online.

“I think they learned to have their fingers on the buttons at ‘go time,’” Martin chuckled.

“Since we couldn’t feed students in large groups, we did the ‘Take and Make’ meal kits through the LSUS Food Pantry. Students could take home recipe cards and raw ingredients to make their own meals. It’s fun, but you also learn a bit about cooking, measuring, and different spices and ingredients.”

Virtual activities erased the lines of scheduling and geography that previously minimized online student engagement opportunities. Martin hopes to continue to engage more online students and those who have limited time to be on campus even after the pandemic is over.

“We got a lot of positive feedback from online students because they had the opportunity to be involved in a greater capacity at LSUS, learn more about the university, and share the student life experience in a way that fits their schedule.”

In early 2021, it seemed the pandemic was slowing, but unfortunately, a second surge hit on the verge of the fall semester. The majority of the planned fall activities are outdoors, virtual, or prioritizing social distancing to encourage health and safety. The fall semester opened with a virtual scavenger hunt via the GooseChase app— a platform that proved to be both fun and practical.

“You can see the feed of students doing the tasks [in the app], and other students can see it, so it’s a way that students are connecting, showing their personalities,” Martin said. “There’s also a little bit of incorporating what LSUS is about. One of my favorite tasks is that they write a Haiku about their first day or their first week of classes, and those are really interesting to read! It’s dynamic, it’s different, and it really lets the students’ personalities come through.”

One of Martin’s proudest moments amid the pandemic was virtually unveiling the Homecoming Court. Tradition is important at LSUS, and the show went on without a hitch or glitch.

“I was really proud that we were able to do a virtual unveiling of the Homecoming Court because that could have easily been a tradition that we just let go and pick up after COVID-19. But we still got to see that students were really excited to receive that honor. It kept me reminded that the traditions are still here and we haven’t lost touch with those.”

(article by Bianca G. Stakes)

Did the College Experience Shut Down Too? LSUS Student Life Keeps Connection Alive Despite Pandemic Challenges

Shreveport, LA—Angel Martin, LSU Shreveport Director of Student Life and Recreational Sports, felt caught off-guard along with the rest of the world when the COVID-19 pandemic closed universities nationwide in early 2020. Responsible for creating the “college experience”, Martin ultimately had to push past her own fears and disorientation and refused to let student traditions, engagement, and bonding opportunities that makeup student life simply fall by the wayside.

“After we got out of that temporary paralysis of ‘What next? What can we do?’; we really started to plug into how the world was coming together in creating virtual opportunities.” Martin reflected. “I was really fearful that we were going to have to start over from scratch on all of our major traditional events like Week of Welcome, a weeklong celebration during the first week of classes, and Homecoming.”

In fact, the pandemic struck just as the LSUS Student Activities Board, which oversees student life on campus, was preparing for one of its largest student events—Spring Fling.

“We were really looking forward to and planning our annual Spring Fling. If you ask current and former students what one of their favorite on-campus memories is, they’ll often say ‘Spring Fling with the crawfish.’,” Martin said. “These opportunities are planned to create place bonding for students so that they have fond memories of the times they spend outside of the classroom at LSUS.”

Martin and her team quickly connected with vendors to create a “new normal” with virtual events and at-home activities. Students enjoyed mail-to-home kits, online trivia contests, virtual scavenger hunts, how-to videos, and more. Even though it looked different, the goal for the student experience was to maintain a sense of connection, positive university association, and skill-building.

“Whether virtually or in person, we want students to come to events and have fun,” Martin said. “But usually there’s some kind of learning outcome woven in, and we always, through seminars and other activities, want them to grow their life skills.”

Students quickly adjusted to connecting virtually, particularly with the popular mail-to-home kits varying from painting and embroidery to creating a vision board. The LSUS Food Pantry even sponsored “Take and Make” meal kits. The variety of kits became widely popular, running out within an hour of them being made available online.

“I think they learned to have their fingers on the buttons at ‘go time,’” Martin chuckled.

“Since we couldn’t feed students in large groups, we did the ‘Take and Make’ meal kits through the LSUS Food Pantry. Students could take home recipe cards and raw ingredients to make their own meals. It’s fun, but you also learn a bit about cooking, measuring, and different spices and ingredients.”

Virtual activities erased the lines of scheduling and geography that previously minimized online student engagement opportunities. Martin hopes to continue to engage more online students and those who have limited time to be on campus even after the pandemic is over.

“We got a lot of positive feedback from online students because they had the opportunity to be involved in a greater capacity at LSUS, learn more about the university, and share the student life experience in a way that fits their schedule.”

In early 2021, it seemed the pandemic was slowing, but unfortunately, a second surge hit on the verge of the fall semester. The majority of the planned fall activities are outdoors, virtual, or prioritizing social distancing to encourage health and safety. The fall semester opened with a virtual scavenger hunt via the GooseChase app— a platform that proved to be both fun and practical.

“You can see the feed of students doing the tasks [in the app], and other students can see it, so it’s a way that students are connecting, showing their personalities,” Martin said. “There’s also a little bit of incorporating what LSUS is about. One of my favorite tasks is that they write a Haiku about their first day or their first week of classes, and those are really interesting to read! It’s dynamic, it’s different, and it really lets the students’ personalities come through.”

One of Martin’s proudest moments amid the pandemic was virtually unveiling the Homecoming Court. Tradition is important at LSUS, and the show went on without a hitch or glitch.

“I was really proud that we were able to do a virtual unveiling of the Homecoming Court because that could have easily been a tradition that we just let go and pick up after COVID-19. But we still got to see that students were really excited to receive that honor. It kept me reminded that the traditions are still here and we haven’t lost touch with those.”

(article by Bianca G. Stakes)

[09/01/21]   A message to all LSUS students:

After an unexpected delay in production, the parking decals have finally arrived on campus. Beginning tomorrow morning, decals numbers will be assigned to you, and then mailed to your address in myLSUS. Because of demand, please expect to begin seeing these arrive at your listed address in approximately one week’s time. Prior to affixing the decal to your vehicle, we ask that you review the enclosed parking brochure to familiarize yourself with the proper location for the placement of the decal.

Please note that decals will NOT be mailed to any students enrolled in online programs. If you are a student in this classification, and you still need a parking decal to access the campus or visit the Noel Memorial Library, please stop by the Cashier’s Desk located on the 1st floor of the Administration Building, Room 129, and one will be issued to you.

As with each previous year, the LSU Shreveport Police Department will still honor the “grace period” to allow these decals to reach your listed address. So, in this time period, you will not be issued a citation for anything related to your decal, or lack thereof. You can however still be issued citations for other matters such as speeding, or parking in a fire lane. As a fair warning, October 4th looks to be the perfect starting point to begin the enforcement of all matters related to parking on campus.

[08/26/21]   Vaccinations will be given in the UC from 10-2 today AND tomorrow. If you get a shot either day, you will get a $100 gift card as well as being eligible for one of the 14 cash prizes (up to $1000) in the LSUS Lottery!

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Covid vaccination will be given this Thursday and Friday from 10-2. Thursday they will be in the UC Theater and Friday they will be in the UC Ballroom. The first 14 prizes in our Cash Lottery will be drawn Monday. If you are not yet vaccinated note that Covid vaccination is now mandatory for all except 100% on line students and faculty. Please get vaccinated now to become eligible for the lottery. To be eligible you must Report Your Vaccination using the following link:

https://lsucommunity.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aXiuvOCUy0FVzxQ

If you already reported your vaccination DO NOT report it again – it won’t improve your chances at winning the cash!!

If you are faculty please get this info to the students. Also, any student who comes to an on campus shot day will receive a $100 Visa gift card (courtesy of the state) in addition to being eligible for the LSUS cash lottery. Again, the vaccination must be reported to be eligible.

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[08/25/21]   A MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR:

Greetings,
- Welcome back to the Fall 2021 semester! I am happy to have all of our students, faculty, and staff back with us, whether it is here on campus or online. This has been a challenging summer for us as we dealt with the ever-changing dynamics of the current COVID-19 surge that is driven by the Delta variant. We are committed, however, to providing a safe environment for all of those on campus for the Fall semester.
- This week the Food & Drug Administration granted full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for anyone age 16 and over. FDA approval provides a standard for vaccine safety and effectiveness; this is a major step in our collective efforts to defeat the COVID-19 virus.
- In light of this approval, any LSUS student enrolled in one or more face-to-face academic courses, to remain enrolled, must present evidence of at least one COVID vaccination shot or begin regular COVID testing beginning September 13, 2021. Testing will be available on campus throughout the Fall 2021 semester, and the university will host regular vaccination days beginning this week. LSUS will provide additional information, including a schedule of vaccination dates, testing days and locations, along with how to submit your official proof of vaccination, in the coming weeks. In the meantime, students can report their vaccination status to the university here.
- These are difficult times for us all, and I urge you to be diligent in maintaining your personal health and welfare, as well as helping to safeguard the health and welfare of those around you. As always, these plans may change as the landscape of dealing with the virus evolves in the coming months. Let us all do our part to stay safe as we learn, grow, and work together.

Join LSUS’s Virtual Going Viral Game Show at 6 p.m. CDT: https://eventgameshows.com/lsu824/.

$200 in prizes up for grabs! Tip: have 2 devices (phone/tablet/computer) available to join the zoom and play the game simultaneously.

Join LSUS’s Virtual Going Viral Game Show at 6 p.m. CDT: https://eventgameshows.com/lsu824/.

$200 in prizes up for grabs! Tip: have 2 devices (phone/tablet/computer) available to join the zoom and play the game simultaneously.

[08/24/21]   The first day of the Fall 2021 semester is a wrap! Welcome back, Pilots!

[08/21/21]   The SSC aspires to empower all University students to cultivate the personal and academic skills necessary to be independent, lifelong learners and engaged members of the global community through metacognitive development. Metacognition, “learning through engagement,” is the fundamental foundation for all of our services and resources. The process equips students with the necessary tools to develop critical thinking skills, build self-confidence, and successfully navigate their college careers.

All services can be accessed via Moodle by enrolling in the Student Success Center. From here, you can make appointments and receive important updates. Hours of operation are as follows:
LSUS Tutoring Hrs:
Mon – Thurs 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
TutorMe Online Tutoring (6hrs per week): Live, on-demand and 24/7.
Success Center Office Hrs: Monday through Friday, 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

ULead
Leadership Education & Development
University Outreach & Success
Fuel Your Success
Piloting Your Success
NSLS (National Society of Leadership and Success)
SSC Leadership Summit

ULearn
Learning Through Engagement
Academic Coaching
Peer Success Coaches (Peer Educators)
Tutoring
Supplemental Instruction
Success Sessions (Academic Support Workshops)

DevelopU
Staff Training & Development
CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association) Training
SI (Supplemental Instruction) Leader Training
DevelopU Moodle


Correy Hammond (he/him)
Director of Student Success
Louisiana State University Shreveport
Office: (318) 795-2485 Fax: (318) 795-2488
[email protected]

Kimberly Pickens Wright, Ed.D. (she/her)
Assistant Director of Student Success
Louisiana State University, Shreveport
Office: (318)795-2489 Fax: (318) 795-2488
[email protected]

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A message from Chancellor Clark:

Greetings,
- As you are aware, there has been a recent surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, primarily due to the Delta variant, with Louisiana being significantly affected in the last few weeks. On Tuesday, Governor John Bel Edwards temporarily reinstated Louisiana’s statewide indoor mask mandate for all people age five and older, which will stay in place until at least September 1, but may be extended if necessary.
- As a result, LSUS will now require all students, faculty, staff and visitors to wear masks when indoors on campus until further notice. The Governor’s mandate provides an exception for those giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience. Consistent with this exception, LSUS will designate a limited number of classrooms as being instructor mask-optional for certified fully-vaccinated instructors. These classrooms will be designated based on size and the availability of protective barriers that provide separation between the faculty member and students. Provost Taylor is currently working with the deans and the Pandemic Action Team to coordinate the protocols for this initiative. Vaccinated individuals may remove their masks in outdoor spaces on campus, but I am requesting that unvaccinated individuals wear masks in shared outdoor spaces.
- Research has shown that our best hope of defeating the virus is through vaccination. Approximately 90% of COVID-19 related hospitalizations in Louisiana are for unvaccinated individuals. COVID-19 vaccines are widely available at 1,437 locations in all of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, including at pharmacies, hospitals, health care clinics, and doctor’s offices, and those aged 12 and older are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Louisiana.
· For a list of locations, you may visit LDH’s vaccine directory at https://ldh.la.gov/directory/vaccination, or visit https://vaccines.gov.
· If you have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, please report it at https://lsucommunity.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aXiuvOCUy0FVzxQ. If you have already reported through this link, you do not need to do so again. Having accurate and up-to-date vaccine information will help our campus with planning and response in the coming months.
- The COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and the current phase brings as much uncertainty as at any other point in the last year and a half. We will continue to plan for a robust fall semester with on-campus, online, and hybrid offerings, and will update you with additional safety guidelines and mandates as we draw closer to the start of the fall semester. If you have questions regarding COVID-19 protocols or mandates, please contact the head of the LSUS Pandemic Action Team, Bill Wolfe, at [email protected].
- The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and guests continues to be our top priority in our COVID-19 planning, and I urge you to remain diligent and resolute in our efforts to combat and defeat this virus. We can do this together if we all do our part.

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