September 29, 2021
Dear Students and Families:
We are disheartened by the reports of thefts in our residence halls following Hurricane Ida. Beyond financial loss, we recognize that these thefts represent a violation of personal space, comfort and trust. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, our goal was to assess and repair residence halls in order to return our students to their campus homes. This included contracting with several companies experienced in damage assessment and remediation. It is apparent that during the assessment and remediation process, an individual or individuals took advantage of the emergency situation.
We are deeply sorry for our students’ losses and that our recovery process did not protect everyone’s belongings. As part of our ongoing review of emergency protocols, we are developing strategies to avoid such a situation in the future.
In collaboration with TUPD, we are processing all reports of theft. To assist us in this effort, as we mentioned last week, we urge any student who believes that items were removed from their room to immediately file a report with TUPD by calling 504-865-5381 no later than Wednesday, Oct. 6. A police report is the necessary first step to document losses. Please click here for details on the process, reporting deadlines and resolution timeframes.
View Reporting Process & Deadlines
Each student who files a police report will also be assigned a case manager to ensure that they receive emotional support as they process their response to this event. Case managers will contact students who filed reports with TUPD by the end of this week. In the meantime, if any student is in need of a laptop or other missing equipment necessary for their studies, please contact Erica Woodley or file a concerns report.
Please know that we are taking every possible measure to remedy this situation as quickly as possible.
Patrick Norton, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Dusty Porter, Vice President, Student Affairs
