The University got back into the swing of things fairly quickly after Hurricane Isaac, but students like Taylor Constance are still trying to catch up after missing more than a week of class.
Constance, a business sophomore in the Air Force National Guard, is one of several students who was activated in the National Guard to help residents affected by Hurricane Isaac. He was notified the morning of Aug. 28 that he was needed, and by the next day, he was in New Orleans.
University Registrar Robert Doolos said activated students should contact their professors about missing class, but he said students often do not have the time to do so. He said students can also speak to someone in the office of their college dean who will contact the student’s professors.
Jennie Stewart, assistant dean of students and associate director of the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability, said she came in contact with four students who were sent by their academic colleges and did not know what to do.
Stewart said she told the students to talk to both their professors and academic counselors.
About 100 students listed in the National Guard, but not necessarily activated, were contacted by the Office of the University Registrar via email the weekend after Isaac hit, giving them options for returning to class. A Board of Regents policy allows activated students to withdraw without a “W” or resign with a full tuition refund, according to the email.
Stewart said academic counselors are able to assist students in evaluating whether they can make up their coursework or if they should withdraw.
When he was activated, Constance said he was concerned about making up his work, especially because he is taking Arabic.
“Now, I’m trying to balance the decision, should I drop a semester and just try and get my life back together?” he said.
While in New Orleans, Constance and other Guard members woke up at 4 a.m. every day and had to arrive at their work site around 5:30 a.m. After working all day, the members would return to the Convention Center around 8:30 p.m. and wait in line to shower in trailers because the building had no showers.
Constance said he would get about four hours of sleep each night, and he’s still trying to catch up on his sleep.
He and his unit handed out water and MREs to those in need and helped load cars for families leaving the city. They also worked with the Army to control security around the Ninth Ward.
“We all had to work together and do our own separate parts,” he said.
Constance said although he was able to return to school last Thursday, many people are still working in New Orleans.
Upon returning to school, Constance said his professors have been helpful in letting him catch up on work, but they have told him they can’t hold back the class for a few people. Constance said he’s giving himself another week to get his work together.
“I just don’t want to quit, you know, right now,” he said.
