A Message from the Dean of Students

March 11, 2020

Dear Parents,

I wanted to reach out to you following President Fitts' announcement that classes will be taught online beginning March 23 and students will be moved out of residence halls for the remainder of the semester. This is an unprecedented time for our campus, our country and, in fact, the world. I have heard from many of you and from many of your students. Anxiety is high. Whether first year or senior, our students are grieving some part of their expected college experience. Some of you may feel relieved to have them at home and others may feel anxious about what they will do at home for the next several months. No matter how you're feeling, it's perfectly valid. The next several weeks are going to be difficult. I want you to know that we are committed to working through this together.

In terms of supporting your students, here are some things to think about:

  • Try to remain calm. Your anxiety often translates to your student's anxiety. It's important to make sure that they are taking this seriously (note: not hanging out with 1000 of their closest friends at The Boot) but not to scare them to the point of debilitation.
  • Listen to your students! Let them tell you how they are feeling about this situation and validate those feelings.
  • Manage your information intake and help your son or daughter manage their information intake. There is a lot of sensational news out about the coronavirus. Look at credible news sources and read more than just the headlines. It's important for you to be able to provide information to your student that is based on fact.
  • Develop a plan. I know this is difficult with information that is changing so rapidly but having even a short-term (day-by-day) plan can help everyone to continue to move forward.
  • Provide reassurances. We are going to get through this. Tulane has a history of navigating through difficult situations, and we are able to do this because we are all in this together.

Tulane is not closed! We will still be here to assist you as you navigate these upcoming weeks. Our staff is still on hand and TUPD continues to provide safety patrols on campus and in the surrounding neighborhood. If you need support, please do not hesitate to reach out. This sheet contains helpful information for accessing or continuing to access some very important resources remotely.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. We are grateful for your support as we navigate these uncharted waters. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us. As is our history, we will emerge from this stronger than ever.

Sincerely,

Erica Woodley
Dean of Students