Semester Kickoff
I’m excited to welcome students, faculty, and staff back for the fall semester. All of you are to be commended for the resilience and perseverance you demonstrated in serving our students with such flexibility and compassion.

Move In Day will occur Friday, August 12th and Saturday, August 13th. Please visit Campus Housing for dates/times of Move In Day.

New Student Convocation starts at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at A.A. Fredericks Fine Arts Auditorium, followed by the President’s Picnic on Normal Hill at 6:00 p.m. New Student Convocation and President’s Picnic are for first year students.

During the month of August, the Student Services Center will remain open on Fridays until 4:30 p.m. If you have questions regarding recruiting, admissions, registrar, financial aid, one card, or accounting, please feel free to stop by for a visit.

Faculty & Staff Pay Raises
State funding for NSU is the best in more than a decade. Some of those additional state funds are earmarked for faculty pay raises, including long-needed equity adjustments in our faculty salary structure. There will be 4% across-the-board raises for faculty and unclassified staff pending board approval. Civil Service staff members will receive increases as dictated by civil service rules.

NSU Ranks Top 5 in Louisiana for Praxis® Elementary Education Pass Rates
The Director of the School of Education, Dr. Katrina Jordan, shared some exciting news with me this week regarding NSU’s ranking on Best Praxis® Elementary Education Pass Rates in Louisiana. NSU showcases a higher-than-average pass rate for the Praxis® tests compared to the state average. Students pursuing a teaching degree in Louisiana have a stronger chance of passing the Praxis® exams on the first try by enrolling in Northwestern State University. Congratulations!

Shared Effort & Responsibility
I’m confident that we can restore the university’s stability and growth by working together and focusing on student retention and recruiting. Please do everything necessary to help and support our students and recruit new students amid the pandemic’s impact on the economy, education, and society.

It’s wonderful to welcome everyone back, and I look forward to working with you to make this a memorable year for our students, faculty and staff, alumni, and those impacted by NSU’s influence.