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Emergency Updates

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• FEBRUARY 26TH POWER OUTAGE UPDATE ARCHIVE

February 28

10:20 p.m.

Vice president for the Division of Facilities Management and Real Estate Planning, Marion Bracy, took this picture this evening! While this is a great sign, this is the beginning. There is additional reliability testing that needs to be done before The Oaks can be fully energized. 

5:40 p.m.

At this time, Entergy is conducting testing to bring power back to campus. We should note that, amid the equipment failure that happened on Dillard’s end, our friends at Entergy have gone above and beyond to be of assistance to the University.

Classes:

Remote instruction will continue through Friday, March 3 with no changes being made to the 2022-2023 academic calendar.

Update on residents’ return to campus:

As mentioned below, the University is planning to bring residents back to campus in phases beginning Thursday, March 2. This is to ensure that we have the necessary resources in place to transition all residents back to campus with minimal issues.

Meals on Thursday:

Due to the move back to campus being pushed back to Thursday, breakfast will be served at the Hilton and lunch will be served at Loyola, the same times as previous days. Dinner plans are pending the restoration of power.

Please continue to return to this page, monitor your University emails and Dillard's social media platforms for updates.

2:08 p.m.

At this time, our contractors are assessing the readiness of Dillard’s entire electrical system. So far, the testing is revealing that the University is in a position to begin the power restoration process. This process will be gradual, however. The University community will be updated throughout the day.

Residents’ return:

Because of the gradual restoration of power, the University will implement a phased return to campus, starting Thursday, March 2. Residents of Camphor-Hartzell, Williams and Straight Halls will receive instructions on when they are to return to campus.

As we can all imagine, especially those of us who have had to evacuate our homes because of hurricanes, our residents may not return to the most pleasant odors when they get back to campus. The facilities and residential life teams are working together to assess the conditions of rooms before students return to campus. Once it is determined that rooms are ready, those teams will also supply residents with supplies to clean their rooms and empty their refrigerators.

February 27

10:18 p.m.

Alternative wifi access:

In addition to the Norman Mayer and Nova Navra libraries and Loyola, students have access to the Office of Community and Church Relations at 3301 Annette St.

Updated meal schedule:

On-campus mail service:

Regular mail service is interrupted during the power outage. The exceptions are medications, financial information, vital documents, etc. Students who receive these types of items will be notified by their carrier that their items have arrived. Upon notification, contact Michelle Matthew at 504.784.9819 or mmatthew@dillard.edu to arrange special delivery.  

2:57 p.m.

Electric repairs:

As the University’s electrical contractor continues to work to bring power back to the campus, the team has taken the time to test each transformer on site as a way to ensure that there is a sustainable solution to providing the campus with power. To assist in this effort, the original designer of the system has been on campus to assist with the testing and consultation. In the meantime, the equipment needed to bring the campus back to life is being flown in.

Alternative wifi access:

For students on campus who are in need of wifi, the following locations have partnered with Dillard:

Norman Mayer Public Library, 3001 Gentilly Blvd. and the Nova Navra Public Library, 1902 St. Bernard Ave. (2-hour guest passes, first-come, first served)

Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Loyola University New Orleans Monroe Library

Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Emergency contact numbers:

Main campus:  504.283.8822

Dillard University Police Department:  504.616.9792 (temporary)

Facilities Management:  504.710.0679 (temporary)

10:11 a.m.

The Office of Community and Church Relations at 3301 Annette St. is open for students and employees who need wifi access.

February 26

5:15 p.m.

As part of the repair process, PSB will be deliberately shut down temporarily. Do not enter or attempt to use elevators.

3:53 p.m.

As our electrical contractors were continuing their work, power to the Student Union was interrupted, affecting the campus wifi.

Understanding that this will now affect Gentilly Gardens, we are encouraging students to make a plan for studying with internet access. Some may want to return home for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. For those who elect to stay in the Gardens, consider walking across the street from campus to use Norman Mayer Public Library. The University is working with other surrounding public libraries and campuses to ensure that there is a place for students to work online until service is restored.

Before 6 p.m., students in Camphor-Hartzell, Straight and Williams Halls must complete the emergency housing sent from the Division of Student Success to provide an update of where you will reside through Wednesday. That form was shared via email and residential hall GroupMe groups. This form will grant you access to a Hilton Riverside hotel room. If space is available, we will open these rooms to residents of Gentilly Gardens.   

The University will be assigning Hilton rooms, distributing the hotel keys and shuttling shuttles going to the Hilton, after 6 p.m.  

Any students needing accommodations or who have dietary restrictions that are not on file with the University should contact Ms. Sheila Judge of Disability Services at sjudge@dillard.edu immediately.

Regarding lodging, please note that Dillard has partnered with the Hilton Riverside to ensure that students have a safe place to stay while power is in the process of being restored on campus. The University will not reimburse any students who choose other lodging or any costs associated with that lodging, including transportation and parking costs. Similarly, we will not reimburse for hotel expenses during the power outage during Mardi Gras Break.

As a reminder, dinner will be served as takeout service, 5-6 p.m. at Kearny Dining Hall.

Finally, the University has elected to move midterm exams back one week, with the exception of nursing senior exams, which will be administered on Thursday, March 2, as scheduled. Classes will be held virtually Tuesday and Wednesday (Feb 28 and March 1); and students will be expected to attend those classes. Students will also be expected to attend classes in person Thursday and Friday, March 2 and 3.

1:03 p.m.

We have completed our initial power outage assessment with Entergy and our contractor. The outage is affecting our main campus (except Gentilly Gardens, PSB and the Student Union). Our electrical contractor explained that three fuses have malfunctioned and replacement fuses must be delivered from out of town. Additionally, the University is taking extra steps to work with the contractor and Entergy to identify and resolve the issue that caused those fuses to malfunction. 

The soonest that we can expect power to be restored to the affected parts of campus is Wednesday. 

To accommodate students who reside in the affected residence halls (Straight, Williams and Camphor-Hartzell), our partner at the Hilton Riverside will allow us to move students who need lodging to that location.

Students who are able to commute to their homes are advised to do so. Other students whose families are able to pick them up from campus are advised to return to their homes, as well, until power is restored. You will receive a form designed to inform the University of your location. This is a step that we are taking for the purposes of safety as no one should remain in the locations that do not have electricity.

Until power is restored, please note that Dillard’s facilities are closed. Events that were scheduled Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday should either be held virtually, postponed or canceled. 

With that, the University has activated the following plan:

Gentilly Gardens residents will receive on-campus meal service.

Students who are placed off campus at the Hilton Riverside and SUNO residents will have meals delivered to them.

There will be no classes or exams Monday. Classes and exams will be held virtually Tuesday and Wednesday with classes resuming in person Thursday. Students who leave campus should plan to return Thursday.

Employees are advised to work from home tomorrow through Wednesday, including those who work in PSB and the Student Union. Essential personnel should check with their supervisors about working on campus Monday through Wednesday.

We will continue to update the University community several times per day as progress is made toward restoring power to the entire campus.

8:45 a.m.

Contractors have arrived on campus to begin their assessments. A limited supply of cold milk and juices are available for students in the University College office in PSB where there is power.

On-campus residents should feel free to study and cool off in both PSB and the Student Union. Also, residents should wipe down showers and wet surfaces in their rooms. University personnel are gathering garbage bags and cleaning supplies for students.

7:37 a.m.

Entergy has investigated the issue and has advised the University that a private contractor should look into the issue. The contractor is on the way to campus.

Updated hot meal schedule:

Brunch - 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., takeout only at Kearny--no dine-in.

Dinner (if power has not been restored) - 5-6 p.m., takeout only at Kearny.

SUNO Shuttle Service - 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. from SUNO

7:20 a.m.

Entergy has arrived on campus to investigate the power outage. In the meantime, on-campus residents should begin disposing of food items that have been refrigerated since or before the power outage per CDC guidelines (see below).

Brunch will be served 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dillard Dining is making arrangements for hot meal service in Kearny Dining Hall. Those plans are subject to change.

6:52 a.m.

The University has been in contact with Entergy for an updated estimated time of arrival and will relay that information as soon as that time is confirmed. Today's meal schedule is in the process of being finalized.

4:10 a.m.

The estimated time of arrival for Entergy to investigate the outage is approximately 6:30 a.m. Please follow the guidance from the 3:20 a.m. update.

3:20 a.m.

The campus is experiencing a power outage in the same area as February 20. Entergy is on the way to campus to investigate. Power is on at the Student Union, so students are free to charge devices. If you need to have prescriptions refrigerated or medical devices charged, contact Ms. Tiffany Murphy tmmurphy@dillard.edu or 504.388.6513. In case of emergency, call the Dillard University Police Department at 504.616.9792. 

Food Safety Tips for Power Outages from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.