Dean Meyer's Message: March 16

March 16, 2020

Dear Students,

I am writing with new information about the Law School’s operations and with an important request. 

First, I understand that this is an anxious time, and the pace of news and updates may well be adding to the stress.  I’m pleased to report that Law School faculty and staff are making good progress preparing to move toward remote working arrangements and to remote teaching beginning on Monday.  We’re working closely with faculty and staff to ensure that they have the equipment and training they need to continue to support students and carry out our educational mission.  We are also making progress in finalizing a schedule for making up this week’s classes and for final exams; we expect to be able to announce that very soon.

Second, evolving developments relating to the pandemic and governmental and University policies, even since my e-mail yesterday, require further changes in our on-campus operations.  Specifically:

1. As announced earlier this afternoon (below), and consistent with revised guidance from public health experts, the University is now prohibiting any gatherings of 10 or more persons.  Emerging information underscores the importance of maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from other persons at all times.  For the benefit of others as well as yourself, please be mindful of this precaution.
2. As also announced below, the University is also closing all campus libraries (including the Law Library) beginning at 5:00 p.m. today and continuing at least for the remainder of this week.  The decision whether to reopen the library to patrons thereafter will be evaluated each week based on evolving conditions.3.
3. Because of reduced staffing and the University’s directives strongly encouraging employees and students to work from their homes if possible, access to Weinmann Hall – already limited to Tulane Law students, faculty and staff using a Splashcard – will be further restricted as follows.  Student access will be confined to the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; faculty and staff access will be limited to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  No one (except for authorized facilities maintenance personnel) is authorized to be in the building outside of these posted hours.

All of this information has been added to our FAQs site on our intranet, which is continually updated with the latest information on the Law School’s response plans. 

Third, it is essential that we gather information from you about your plans for accessing remote classes in the weeks ahead, so that we can remain in contact and get you the support you need.  Please answer this short survey (Student Survey) requesting your contact information and assessing your technology needs.

In closing, let me thank you again for your understanding and resilience in the face of the ongoing disruption and anxieties caused by COVID-19.  If you are experiencing any food insecurity or other hardships relating to the dislocation, please contact Dean Gaunt so that we can try to mobilize assistance.  I’m enormously proud of the way students, staff, and faculty have rallied to the challenge and supported one another.  By pulling together, we will get this behind us and emerge as an even stronger community.  Thank you!

Best,

David Meyer