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COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Graduate Students

The Graduate School continues to follow the guidance outlined on the University COVID-19 website. The information below provides guidance specific to graduate applicants, graduate students, and graduate education.

Everyone is welcome.

We all belong to the UL Lafayette community, and the Graduate School wants to make sure that everyone is welcomed and respected.

Fear of the COVID-19 pandemic should not be misdirected against individuals because of an individual’s national origin, race, or other protected classes. All supervisors and managers are responsible for watching, stopping, and reporting such activity to hrcompliance@louisiana.edu. The University will immediately review any allegations of harassment, intimidation, or discrimination and take appropriate action.

If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or harassment, contact our partners in the Dean of Students and Human Resource offices for support, reporting options, and additional resources. Faculty, staff, or students also can report harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, or sexual misconduct anonymously by submitting a confidential EthicsPoint complaint online here.

For consultation or training on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our learning and work environments, contact the Office for Campus Diversity.

How to Contact Us

The Graduate School is open.

You are welcome to visit us in Martin Hall 332.

You can email us at gradschool@louisiana.edu or call the main office at 337-482-6965.

You can also contact individual staff members during regular business hours by email, direct telephone number, or Microsoft Teams.

Information for Applicants

Prospective and recently-admitted students are encouraged to review our applicant FAQ page for current information regarding our application requirements and processes that have been impacted by COVID-19.

How are Graduate Student Orientations available?

The Graduate School orientations are offered online in Moodle, and they are accessible here.

  • The New Graduate Student Orientation introduces the skills, resources, and networks of support essential to success in grad school at UL Lafayette.
  • The Graduate Assistant (GTA/GRA/GA) and University Fellow Orientation, included as the last module in the New Graduate Student Orientation, includes information on completion of hiring paperwork and mandatory University trainings.

Check with your graduate coordinator for details about a program-specific orientation for new students in your department. 

International students should review plans for the New International Student Orientation on the Division of Global Engagement on its COVID-19 Response & Updates website.

International Student Guidance

The Graduate School recognizes that the worldwide pandemic has presented unique challenges for our international graduate students. The Division of Global Engagement is the best resource for international students concerned about what the disruptions caused by COVID-19 mean for VISAs and for them as students at UL Lafayette.
 

Delaying Graduate Enrollment Guidance

We understand that there are many reasons that might make enrollment difficult at this time.

Recently-admitted graduate students who have not yet begun their graduate studies may defer admission, without fee or penalty, to a later semester. Find instructions for deferring graduate admission here.

Continuing graduate students may request an Official Leave of Absence by submitting a Leave of Absence Request Form found here.

If you have funding (e.g., an assistantship, fellowship, scholarship), discuss with your graduate coordinator or assistantship/fellowship supervisor how delaying graduate enrollment may impact your funding. Similarly, if you have received federal financial aid, you should consult with the Office of Financial Aid.

Graduate Assistantship and Fellowship Guidance

Graduate students appointed as graduate assistants and fellows function in multiple capacities on our campus. They are one person who is simultaneously graduate student and graduate student employee. The information below provides guidance for navigating this unique role as it relates to the University’s COVID-19 guidance.

Graduate students appointed as graduate assistants (GTA/GRA/GA) and fellows are expected to be in residence in Louisiana and available to work on campus.

As a student, graduate students appointed as a GTA/GRA/GA or fellow must adhere to the guidance and expectations outlined at COVID-19 Information for Students

As a graduate student employee, graduate students appointed as a GTA/GRA/GA or fellow are expected to follow the guidance and use the resources at COVID-19 Information for Faculty & Staff. Additionally, graduate assistantship and fellowship appointments must align with the policies and protocols outlined in the University Return-to-Workplace Guide.

All graduate students appointed as a graduate assistant or fellow must:

  • complete the Employee COVID19 Daily Self-Check each day prior to arriving on campus
  • adhere to the Employee COVID-19 Screening Testing program
    If you are contacted by the University as part of its random testing of unvaccinated students and those who live in an on-campus congregate setting, you should respond that you are a graduate assistant/fellow and your employee testing status will be used to satisfy student testing requirements.
  • complete the Student COVID-19 Quarantine & Isolation Reporting Form if you are experiencing COVID or flu-like symptoms and/or are directed not to arrive on campus after completing the daily self-check (and follow all of the other steps identified by the University for students in the “Guidelines for if You feel Sick or Ill” here)
  • communicate promptly with your department head and/or supervisor when COVID-related concerns and/or unanswered questions arise

NOTE:  The University announced on Dec. 17, 2021 that, as a result of a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on Dec. 16, 2021, it had suspended the COVID-19 employee vaccination requirement under federal Executive Order 14042 for federal contractors and subcontractors. Learn more about the University’s vaccination requirements here.

We understand that specific reasons related to the COVID-19 health pandemic may prompt questions, concerns, and requests for accommodation. In such instances, graduate students appointed as a GTA/GRA/GA or fellow should follow these steps:

  1. Communicate with your department head and supervisor as soon as you have concerns, unanswered questions, or are uncertain about expectations for your assistantship/fellowship duties. (In doing so, remember those Grad School tips for approaching a “crucial conversation.”)
     
  2. If you are requesting an adjustment or accommodation to your assistantship or fellowship assignment, you should initiate that request by following the established process in your academic unit (or hiring unit, if not an academic appointment). That process typically begins with the department head, school director, or other unit or area head/supervisor.*
     
  3. If resolution cannot be mutually agreed upon by the academic department/hiring unit/supervisor and graduate student, the Graduate School should be notified by emailing GradSchool@louisiana.edu. The Dean of the Graduate School—in consultation with the Academic College Dean, the Dean of Students, and the Office of Human Resources—will facilitate resolution.

* If an adjustment or accommodation to assistantship or fellowship duties is being considered, the following are important considerations to keep in mind:

  • Department heads and supervisors must utilize the Employee Leave Guidance when addressing concerns about assistantship/fellowship assignments.
     
  • If accommodation requests are due to health-related or ADA concerns, academic departments, hiring units, and supervisors should not request documentation from graduate students to demonstrate high-risk conditions or justification for accommodation. Rather, the EEO/ADA Coordinator at hrcompliance@louisiana.edu should be contacted so that they can facilitate review of the request.
     
  • Where the request for flexibility is for reasons other than individual health considerations (e.g., age, caregiving responsibilities for or cohabitating with an at-risk individual, childcare needs) or ADA accommodations, graduate students should alert their department head or supervisor and work productively with them to balance individual needs with the needs of the University to maintain a safe campus community alongside its return to face-to-face instruction and on-campus research efforts and operations.
     
  • Any alternate work arrangements that would include fully remote work are not permitted without review and approval by the Graduate School and the Office of Human Resources. To initiate that review, department heads or supervisors should submit the Temporary Graduate Assistantship Remote Work Request to GradSchoolApprovals@louisiana.edu.
     
  • As a reminder, because the University has determined that individuals who reside outside of the United States cannot be paid stipends or receive other compensation, completion of remote assistantship or fellowship duties from abroad—even if only temporary—cannot be approved. 

Deadlines, Milestone Requirements, and Forms Guidance

Refer to the University academic calendar on the Registrar’s website for a complete list of dates and deadlines.

Milestone Exams:  The Graduate School will continue to require that milestone exams (e.g., preliminary/comprehensive/qualifying exams, foreign language proficiency exams, and all defenses) be conducted remotely through videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom in Spring 2022.

Requests to conduct a milestone requirement in person may be made to the Dean of the Graduate School. Such requests should be initiated by the graduate coordinator or committee chair, and they are asked to consult with department heads prior to making an in-person exam/defense request. Requests must include justification and identify all participants as well as the proposed location, date, and time. In-person exams/defenses must follow all health and safety requirements set by the University.

Public Defense Requirements:  For graduate programs that require a public defense of theses/dissertations, this requirement has been reinstated. Public defenses should be made available through videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom.

Outside Observers:  The Graduate School returned to assigning outside observers to thesis, dissertation, and synthesis project defenses/presentations as required by University policy. Outside observers also may be requested using the Outside Observer Request Form.

Approval Signatures on Milestone Forms:  Many milestone forms are now available as webforms via the forms webpage. For forms still unavailable as a webform, approvals will continue to be accepted as follows:

  • The student should initiate the process by completing all parts of the form and forwarding it by email to the appropriate faculty member in their department (most often the graduate coordinator) for review and approval.
  • Upon review and approval, the faculty member/graduate coordinator will convey approval to the Graduate School by sending the completed form as a pdf document to gradschoolapprovals@louisiana.edu.
  • Approval signatures from required individuals will be accepted:
    •  whenever possible, on the scanned form with actual ink hand-signed signatures
    • from a UL email account from which the approver indicates their approval on the form itself or in the body of the email to which the form is attached
    • from a professional email address of an approver external to UL Lafayette (i.e., outside committee member) from which the approver indicates approval on the form itself or in the body of the email to which the form is attached

Clear Prior Guidance and Deadlines:  The “clear prior” requirements and deadlines for students will continue to be adjusted through the deadlines identified below to provide accommodation to delays caused by Covid-19 disruptions.

“Clear prior” offers a grace period to complete the final review and approval process to graduate students who have satisfied all degree requirements except submission of the successfully defended thesis/dissertation/synthesis project manuscript to the Graduate School. While the degree is not officially conferred until the following semester, students who meet the clear prior deadline are exempt from paying additional tuition and fees for the semester in which the degree is officially awarded.

Requirements for clear prior will continue to be modified temporarily to require only submission of the successfully-defended, committee-approved manuscript for Graduate School review and approval by the following deadlines:

  • January 12: Clear Prior deadline to be exempt from Spring 2022 tuition and fees
  • June 6: Clear Prior deadline to be exempt from Summer 2022 tuition and fees

During normal times, the final thesis/dissertation/synthesis project manuscript would be required to be not only successfully defended and committee approved but also completely through Graduate School review and approval by these deadlines.

Support Resources for Graduate Students

General Resources and Support for Students

Refer to the University's Student Resources and Support for complete information.

The Writing Center remains available to support graduate students. Review its website for current updates.

The Office of Disability Services remains available to support graduate students with in-person and virtual appointments and online accommodation requests. The ODS Testing Center is open to support in-person testing accommodations.

Student Health and Counseling Services

Student Health Services continues to see students who are ill and offers well visits with appropriate safeguards. Make an appointment by calling 482-1293.

Taking care of your mental health is important. The University's Counseling and Testing Center is open for in-person sessions and continues to offer telehealth sessions. Emergency in-person appointments are available. To schedule a telehealth session, call (337) 482-6480 or email counseling@louisiana.edu. Sessions and services are free to University faculty, staff, and currently registered students. Other mental health and wellbeing tips and resources from Counseling and Testing Services are described here.

Emergency Student Support

The Student COVID-19 Quarantine & Isolation Form must be completed if a student has been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting results or has been told to quarantine or isolate because of symptoms or exposure to COVID-19. If students have a non-COVID-19-related anticipated or unplanned absence, they will continue to use this webform to notify the Dean of Students.

Campus Cupboard, our campus community’s food pantry, is offering pick-up service from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. To ensure that orders are ready for pick up and to minimize face-to-face interactions, customers should complete this form.

The Certification and Agreement for the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides direct funds to eligible students. Learn more about eligibility and status of awards.

The Student Emergency Fund is a University resource (separate from CARES Act funding) that has provided limited financial assistance to currently enrolled students who are unable to meet essential and immediate expenses associated with their academic studies.

Health Insurance, Loss of Benefits

Reach out to the Office of Student Health Services for guidance about health insurance options and the loss of health insurance benefits due to unemployment.

If you are unemployed and have lost health insurance benefits, you may qualify for health insurance government assistance through Louisiana Medicaid or the Health Insurance Marketplace.

If you aren’t currently enrolled in coverage or have lost your benefits, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period through the Health Insurance Marketplace. You can access the Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov.

At any time, although depending on your income, you may apply for Louisiana Medicaid medical benefits. You can learn more and apply for Medicaid online at MyMedicaid.la.gov.

Employee Leave and Unemployment Insurance related to COVID-19

If you are a graduate assistant, fellow, or other kind of student employee who the University has deemed necessary to be away from the workplace due to COVID-19, it may be possible that you qualify for accommodation under the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA). To learn more visit the COVID-19 Employee Leave Guidance webpage.

The state of Louisiana has implemented new measures concerning the special circumstance of COVID-19 as it relates to unemployment insurance. If your hours have been reduced due to COVID-19 or you are unable to work remotely due to the nature of your position, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance. Student employees who are otherwise not eligible for leave are eligible to apply for this unemployment insurance. Please note that these considerations do not apply to those who continue to be paid and/or who continue to work remotely.

Review the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) website for information concerning the special circumstance of COVID-19 for which employees may apply for unemployment insurance. While immediate relief may not be available due to the large number of applications being received, we recommend that students who think they may be eligible for this assistance begin the process immediately.

In order to file a claim, please visit www.louisianaworks.net/hire or by calling the LWC Claim Center at 866-783-5567.

Graduate School COVID-19 Updates

New Process for GTA/GRA/GA Appointments and PAFs Announced - 2020.05.04

The Graduate School has introduced a new process for submission of PAFs for graduate assistantship appointments.

Graduate coordinators and assistantship supervisors are invited to initiate GTA/GRA/GA appointments now using this form for Summer Intercession, Summer, Fall 2020, and the 2020-2021 academic year. Upon submission, the Graduate School will review the information, contact you if there is additional information needed, and route the PAF for the appropriate approvals. Know that we will be utilizing DocuSign to route and secure approvals for these GTA/GRA/GA PAFs.

Prior to submission of your appointments using the link above, we ask that you review your plans for graduate student hiring in your individual areas with your immediate supervisors.

To ensure time for review and routing, take note of the following deadlines:

  • Summer Intercession PAF forms are due May 11.
  • Summer PAF forms are due May 22.
  • Fall (or 2020-2021) PAF forms are due June 1.

Please be reminded that no graduate student appointed as a GTA/GRA/GA may be permitted to work until official notification of PAF approval has been received. Unauthorized hiring may result in disciplinary action.

Policies governing assistantship appointments may be found in the University Catalog here.

Fall 2021 Guidance

COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Graduate Students

The Graduate School continues to follow the guidance outlined on the University COVID-19 website. The information below provides guidance specific to graduate applicants, graduate students, and graduate education.

We are in this together, and we ask you to continue doing your part. Don’t wait, vaccinate. Maintain physical distance from individuals who are not a part of your household. Wear a mask. Wash your hands, well and often. Be an example for others.    

Everyone is welcome.

We all belong to the UL Lafayette community, and the Graduate School wants to make sure that everyone is welcomed and respected.

Fear of the COVID-19 pandemic should not be misdirected against individuals because of an individual’s national origin, race, or other protected classes. All supervisors and managers are responsible for watching for, stopping, and reporting it. The University will immediately review any allegations of harassment, intimidation, or discrimination and take appropriate action.

If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or harassment, contact our Human Resource partners for support, reporting options, and additional resources at hrcompliance@louisiana.edu. Faculty, staff, or students who would like to report harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, or sexual misconduct can fill out a Complaint Form online.

For consultation or training on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our learning and work environments, contact the Office for Campus Diversity.

How to Contact Us

The Graduate School is open. You are welcome to visit us in Martin Hall 332.

You can email us at gradschool@louisiana.edu or call the main office at 337-482-6965.

You can also contact individual staff members during regular business hours by email, direct telephone number, or Microsoft Teams.

Information for Applicants

Prospective and recently-admitted students are encouraged to review our applicant FAQ page for current information regarding our application requirements and processes that have been impacted by COVID-19.

Guidance for Graduate Course Delivery in Fall 2021

The University and the University of Louisiana System have committed to a return to face-to-face instruction and on-campus research efforts. With that in mind, UL Lafayette, as President Savoie has explained, continues to work toward being “as close to normal as we can be when the fall semester begins.” For graduate studies, this has meant planning for a return to face-to-face instruction in graduate programs that are not traditionally offered via online delivery.

You should continue to talk with your Graduate Coordinator and your individual professors about the delivery method for your graduate courses. To review the definitions of the course delivery modes and learn the delivery type for individual graduate courses, see the Schedule of Classes.

Below is a general overview of how our graduate programs plan to offer courses in Fall 2021.

Graduate Program Course Delivery Modes

Accounting (M.S.) OL
Applied Language and Speech Sciences (Ph.D.) HF
Athletic Training (M.S.) OC, HY
Architecture (M.Arch.) OC, HF, RM
Biology (M.S.) OC (only BIOL 551-552 RM)
Biology, Environmental & Evolutionary (Ph.D.) OC (only BIOL 551-552 RM)
Business Administration (Graduate Certificate) OL
Business Administration (M.B.A.) - online OL
Business Administration (M.B.A.) - on campus OC
Cardiovascular Nursing (Graduate Certificate) OL
Chemical Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
Civil Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
Communication (M.S.) OC, HF, RM, OL
Computer Science (M.S.) OC, HF (only CSCE 508 OL)
Computer Science (Ph.D.) OC, HF (only CSCE 508 OL)
Computer Engineering (M.S.) OC, HF (only CSCE 508 OL)
Computer Engineering (Ph.D.) OC, HF (only CSCE 508 OL)
Counselor Education (M.S.) OC
Criminal Justice (M.S.) OC (only CJUS 410G & 505 OL, 501 HY)
Earth & Energy Sciences (Ph.D.) OC
Education (M.A.T.) Elementary Education OL
Education (M.A.T.) Elementary French Immersion OL
Education (M.A.T.) Special Education HF, RM
Education (M.Ed.) Curriculum and Instruction - Instructional Specialist OL
Education (M.Ed.) Curriculum and Instruction - Special Educ. Diagnostician HF, RM, OL
Education (M.Ed.) Gifted Education HF, RM, OL
Education (M.Ed.) Educational Leadership OC, HY
Education (Ed.D.) Educational Leadership OC, HY
Electrical Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
English (M.A.) OC, HF, HY, RM, OL
English (Ph.D.) OC, HF, HY, RM, OL
Environmental Resource Science (M.S.) OC
Francophone Studies (Ph.D.) OC, HF (only FREN 470G OL, 597 RM)
French (M.A.) OC, HF (only FREN 470G OL, 597 RM)
Geology (M.S.) OC
Health Care Administration (Post-MBA Graduate Certificate) OC, OL
History (M.A.) OC
Industrial Chemistry (M.S.) OC, HF
Informatics (M.S.) - on campus OC, HF
Informatics (M.S.) - online OL
Instructional Coach (Graduate Certificate) OL
Kinesiology (M.S.) OC, HF, HY, OL
Mathematics (M.S.) OC
Mathematics (Ph.D.) OC
Mechanical Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
Music (M.M.) OC, HF (only MUS 515 HY)
Nursing (M.S.N.) OL
Nursing Practice (DNP) OL
Petroleum Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
Physics (M.S.) OC (only PHYS 438G RM)
Professional Writing (Graduate Certificate) OC, HY, OL
Psychology (M.S.) OC, RM (only PSYC 425 HF)
Speech Pathology (Communicative Disorders M.S.) HF
Systems Engineering (Ph.D.) OC
Systems Technology (M.S.) OL
TESOL (Graduate Certificate) OC
Updated 2021.08.23

Learn more about on-campus class size and safety protocols as well as disability services and accommodations here.

Graduate Assistantship and Fellowship Guidance

The University and the University of Louisiana System have committed to a full return to face-to-face instruction and on-campus research efforts in Fall 2021.
Beyond the specific guidance provided below, graduate assistantship (GTA/GRA/GA) and graduate fellowship appointments are expected to align with the policies and protocols outlined in the University Return-to-Workplace Guide and graduate students appointed in these roles are expected to follow the guidance and use the resources at COVID-19 Information for Faculty & Staff.

Graduate students appointed as graduate assistants or graduate fellows are expected to be in residence in Louisiana and available to be on campus.

All graduate students appointed as a graduate assistant or fellow must:
• complete, each day prior to arriving on campus, the Employee COVID19 Daily Self-Check
• adhere to the Employee COVID-19 Screening Testing program
(NOTE: If you are contacted by the University as part of its random testing of unvaccinated students, you should respond that you are a graduate assistant/fellow and your employee testing status will be used to satisfy any student testing requirements.)
• complete the Student COVID-19 Quarantine & Isolation Reporting Form if you are experiencing COVID or flu-like symptoms and/or are directed not to arrive on campus after completing the daily self-check
• communicate promptly with your department head or supervisor as COVID concerns and/or unanswered questions arise

Talk with your department head or supervisor if you have concerns, or unanswered questions, about expectations for your assistantship/fellowship assignment this semester.

We understand that specific reasons related to the COVID-19 health pandemic may prompt requests for accommodation. Graduate students requesting an adjustment to their assistantship or fellowship assignment should follow the established process in their academic unit (or hiring unit, if not an academic appointment) for identifying next steps and discussing solutions.

If accommodation requests are due to health-related concerns, academic departments, hiring units, and supervisors should not request documentation from graduate students to demonstrate high-risk conditions or justification for accommodation. Rather, they should notify the EEO/ADA Coordinator at hrcompliance@louisiana.edu of such requests.

Where there are requests for flexibility for reasons other than individual health considerations (e.g., age, caregiving responsibilities for or cohabitating with an at-risk individual, childcare needs), graduate students are encouraged to alert their supervisors and to work productively to balance

individual needs with the needs of the University to return to face-to-face instruction and on-campus research efforts.

Supervisors must utilize the Employee Leave Guidance when addressing concerns about assistantship/fellowship assignments. Every reasonable effort, including consideration of different assistantship or fellowship assignments, should be made to accommodate requests for flexibility. Any alternate work arrangements that would include fully remote work are not permitted unless a Temporary Graduate Assistantship Remote Work Request has been approved by the Graduate School and the Office of Human Resources. Because the University has determined that individuals who reside outside of the United States cannot be paid stipends, completion of remote assistantship or fellowship duties from abroad cannot be approved.

If accommodation and/or alternate assistantship or fellowship duties cannot be mutually agreed upon by the academic department/hiring unit/supervisor and graduate student, the Graduate School should be notified. The Dean of the Graduate School—in consultation with the Academic Dean, the Dean of Students, and the Office of Human Resources—will facilitate resolution.

Delaying Graduate Enrollment Guidance

While we hope that you will be with us as a graduate student in Fall 2021, we understand that there are many reasons that might make enrollment difficult at this time.
Recently-admitted graduate students who have not yet begun their graduate studies may defer admission, without fee or penalty, to a later semester. Find instructions for deferring graduate admission here.
Continuing graduate students may request an Official Leave of Absence by submitting a Leave of Absence Request Form found here.
If you have funding (e.g., an assistantship, fellowship, scholarship), discuss with your graduate coordinator or assistantship/fellowship supervisor how delaying graduate enrollment may impact your funding. Similarly, if you have received federal financial aid, you should consult with the Office of Financial Aid.

Deadlines, Milestone Requirements, and Forms Guidance

Refer to the University academic calendar on the Registrar’s website for a complete list of dates and deadlines.

Milestone Exams:  The Graduate School will continue to require that preliminary/comprehensive/qualifying exams, foreign language proficiency exams, and defenses (prospectus/projects/thesis/ dissertation/synthesis projects) be conducted remotely through videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams (accessed through University licenses) in Fall 2021.

Requests to conduct a milestone requirement in person may be made to the Dean of the Graduate School. Such requests should be initiated by the graduate coordinator or committee chair, and they are asked to consult with department heads prior to making an in-person exam/defense request. Requests must include justification and identify all participants as well as the proposed location, date, and time. In-person exams/defenses must follow all health and safety requirements set by the University.

Public Defense Requirements:  For graduate programs that require a public defense of theses/dissertations, this requirement has been reinstated. Public defenses should be made available through videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom.

Outside Observers:  The Graduate School also has returned to assigning outside observers to thesis, dissertation, and synthesis project defenses/presentations as required by University policy. Outside observers also may be requested using the Outside Observer Request Form.
Approval Signatures on Milestone Forms:  Many milestone forms are now available as webforms. For forms unavailable as a webform, approvals will continue to be accepted as follows:

  • The student should initiate the process by completing all parts of the form and forwarding it by email to the appropriate faculty member in their department (most often the graduate coordinator) for review and approval.
  • Upon review and approval, the faculty member/graduate coordinator will convey approval to the Graduate School by sending the completed form as a pdf document to gradschoolapprovals@louisiana.edu.
  • Approval signatures from required individuals will be accepted:
    • whenever possible, on the scanned form with actual ink hand-signed signatures
    • from a UL email account from which the approver indicates their approval on the form itself or in the body of the email to which the form is attached
    • from a professional email address of an approver external to UL Lafayette (i.e., outside committee member) from which the approver indicates approval on the form itself or in the body of the email to which the form is attached

Clear Prior Guidance and Deadlines:  The “clear prior” requirements and deadlines for students will continue to be adjusted to provide accommodation to delays caused by Covid-19 disruptions.
“Clear prior” offers a grace period to complete the final review and approval process to graduate students who have satisfied all degree requirements except submission of the successfully defended thesis/dissertation/synthesis project manuscript to the Graduate School. While the degree is not officially conferred until the following semester, students who meet the clear prior deadline are exempt from paying additional tuition and fees for the semester in which the degree is officially awarded.

Requirements for clear prior will continue to be modified temporarily to require only submission of the successfully-defended, committee-approved manuscript for Graduate School review and approval by the following deadlines:
• August 23: Clear Prior deadline to be exempt from Fall 2021 tuition and fees
• January 12: Clear Prior deadline to be exempt from Spring 2022 tuition and fees

During normal times, the final thesis/dissertation/synthesis project manuscript would be required to be not only successfully defended and committee approved but also completely through Graduate School review and approval by these deadlines.

How are Graduate Student Orientations available?

To ensure a safe and accessible environment for our students, the Graduate School orientations are now offered online, accessible via Moodle.

The New Graduate Student Orientation introduces the skills, resources, and networks of support essential to success in grad school at UL Lafayette.

The Graduate Assistant (GTA/GRA/GA) and University Fellow Orientation, included as the last module in the New Graduate Student Orientation, includes information on completion of hiring paperwork and mandatory University trainings.

Check with your graduate coordinator for details about a program-specific orientation for new students in your department.

International students should review plans for the New International Student Orientation on the Division of Global Engagement on its COVID-19 Response & Updates website.

International Student Guidance

The Graduate School recognizes that the worldwide pandemic has presented unique challenges for our international graduate students. The Division of Global Engagement is the best resource for international students concerned about what the disruptions caused by COVID-19 mean for VISAs and for them as students at UL Lafayette.

Summer 2021 Guidance

COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Graduate Students

The Graduate School continues to follow the guidance outlined on the University COVID-19 website.
The information below provides guidance specific to graduate applicants, graduate students, and graduate education.

We are in this together, and we ask you to continue doing your part. Stay home as much as possible. Wash your hands—well and often. Maintain physical distance from individuals who are not a part of your household. Wear a mask when not home, and especially when unable to maintain physical distancing. Be an example for others.

Everyone is welcome.

We all belong to the UL Lafayette community, and the Graduate School wants to make sure that everyone is welcomed and respected.
Fear of the COVID-19 pandemic should not be misdirected against individuals because of an individual’s national origin, race, or other protected classes.

If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or harassment, contact our Human Resource partners for support, reporting options, and additional resources at hrcompliance@louisiana.edu. All supervisors and managers are responsible for watching for, stopping, and reporting it. The University will immediately review any allegations of harassment, intimidation, or discrimination and take appropriate action.
For consultation or training on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our learning and work environments, contact the Office for Campus Diversity.


How to Contact Us

The Graduate School is open. You are welcome to visit us in Martin Hall 332.
The best way to contact the Graduate School at this time continues to be by email at gradschool@louisiana.edu. You can also call the main office at 337-482-6965.
Individual staff members also remain available during regular business hours by email, direct telephone number, or Microsoft Teams.
Summer 2021 Graduation Clearance Guidance
Refer to the University academic calendar on the Registrar’s website for a complete list of dates and deadlines.
• July 9 is the deadline for chairpersons to submit the Preliminary Approval of Thesis, Dissertation, or DNP Synthesis Project Manuscript Webform and students to submit the Defended Manuscript Submission and Contact Information Webform. Submission of these forms initiates the Graduate School final manuscript review and approval process.
• July 23 is the deadline for students to complete written and/or oral examinations.
• July 23 is the deadline for students to submit the final, Grad-School-approved copy of the thesis/dissertation/synthesis project manuscript on archival paper. Due to continued remote operation, no signatures will be required on approval pages for those graduating in Summer 2021.
The Graduate School will continue to require that preliminary/comprehensive/qualifying exams, foreign language proficiency exams, and defenses (prospectus/projects/thesis/ dissertation/synthesis projects) be conducted remotely through videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams (accessed through University licenses) during Summer 2021.

If it is not feasible to conduct an exam/defense remotely, the committee chairperson may petition the Dean of the Graduate School to conduct the milestone requirement in person. Chairs are asked to consult with department heads prior to making an in-person exam/defense request. Requests must include justification and identify all participants as well as the proposed location, date, and time. On-campus, in-person exams/defenses must follow all health and physical distancing requirements.
For graduate programs that require a public defense of theses/dissertations, this requirement was reinstated in Fall 2020. Public defenses should be made available through videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom.

The Graduate School returned to assigning outside observers to thesis, dissertation, and synthesis project defenses/presentations as required by University policy in Summer 2021. Outside observers also may be requested using the Outside Observer Request Form.

To report a successful defense and to initiate the final review and approval process of a thesis, dissertation, or DNP synthesis project the following two things must happen:
1. Graduate Faculty Members:  The committee chairperson must report the successful defense and committee approval of the manuscript by completing the new Preliminary Approval of Thesis, Dissertation, or DNP Synthesis Project Manuscript Webform.
2. Graduating Students:  The manuscript author and graduating student must provide key information to guide our editors in the manuscript review process by completing the new Defended Manuscript Submission and Contact Information Webform.
Receipt of these two webforms triggers the Graduate School (1) to provide instructions to the graduating student on how to upload their manuscript for our final review and approval process and (2) to confirm from each committee member their approval of both the defense and the manuscript.

In an effort to further clarify and streamline processes, the Graduate School will continue the following changes to our graduation clearance processes in Summer 2021:

• No Final Report is required for doctoral degree candidates. Confirmation of a successful doctoral defense or DNP presentation will be reported to the Graduate School via approval of the new Manuscript and Defense Approval Form (see below).
• No Final Report is required for master's degree candidates who "demonstrate a general, comprehensive knowledge of a field of study" through successful completion of an integrative (capstone) course taught by a member of the Graduate Faculty. There is no need for this report; the Graduate School will verify that this requirement has been met by reviewing the final course grade.
• No Final Report is required for master's degree candidates who "demonstrate a general, comprehensive knowledge of a field of study" through an overall performance on a set of core courses taught by members of the Graduate Faculty. Again, there is no need for this report; the Graduate School will verify that this requirement has been met by reviewing final course grades.
• The Master's Degree Program Final Report is required only for master's degree candidates who "demonstrate a general, comprehensive knowledge of a field of study" through successful completion of a written and/or oral comprehensive examination, a comprehensive portfolio, comprehensive project, and/or thesis. Master's Degree Program Final Reports will be emailed to committee chairpersons for master’s degree candidates who fall into this category. Upon receipt of the form from the committee chairperson, the Graduate School will confirm approval with each additional committee member.
• The Manuscript and Defense Approval Form is required for all doctoral and thesis-track master's degree candidates. Upon receipt of the Preliminary Approval of Thesis, Dissertation, or DNP Synthesis Project Manuscript Webform by the committee chairperson (see above), the Graduate School will send this pre-populated form for review and approval to each individual committee member. In addition to confirming approval, each faculty member will verify their name, department, and rank as it should appear on the approval page in the manuscript via this form.


Clear Prior Guidance and Deadlines

The “clear prior” requirements and deadlines for students will continue to be adjusted to provide accommodation to delays caused by Covid-19 disruptions.
“Clear prior” offers a grace period to complete the final review and approval process to graduate students who have satisfied all degree requirements except submission of the successfully defended thesis/dissertation/synthesis project manuscript to the Graduate School. While the degree is not officially conferred until the following semester, students who meet the clear prior deadline are exempt from paying additional tuition and fees for the semester in which the degree is officially awarded.
Requirements for clear prior will continue to be modified temporarily to require only submission of the successfully-defended, committee-approved manuscript for Graduate School review and approval by the following deadlines:
• June 7: Clear Prior deadline to be exempt from Summer 2021 tuition and fees
• August 23: Clear Prior deadline to be exempt from Fall 2021 tuition and fees
During normal times, the final thesis/dissertation/synthesis project manuscript would be required to be not only successfully defended and committee approved but also completely through Graduate School review and approval by these deadlines.
Additional Milestone Requirements and Forms Guidance


Many milestone forms (e.g., Application for Master’s Candidacy, Petition for Regular Admission Status, Preliminary Approval of Thesis, Dissertation, Synthesis Project) are now available as webforms. For forms unavailable as a webform at this time (e.g., transfer credit request, doctoral committee appointment form, request for an official leave of absence) approvals are being accepted as follows:
• The student should initiate the process by completing all parts of the form and forwarding it by email to the appropriate faculty member in their department (most often the graduate coordinator) for review and approval.
•  Upon review and approval, the faculty member/graduate coordinator will convey approval to the Graduate School by sending the completed form as a pdf document to gradschoolapprovals@louisiana.edu.
• Approval signatures from required individuals will be accepted:
o whenever possible, on the scanned form with actual ink hand-signed signatures
o from a UL email account from which the approver indicates their approval on the form itself or in the body of the email to which the form is attached
o from a professional email address of an approver external to UL Lafayette (i.e., outside committee member) from which the approver indicates approval on the form itself or in the body of the email to which the form is attached


Graduate Assistantship and Fellowship Guidance for Summer 2021

To ensure the safety of our University community, the University has turned to a risk-based assessment to guide the return to on-campus learning and operations. As part of this effort, the University has announced a multi-phased return to campus plan that is available on the UL Lafayette COVID-19 Response website.

Beyond the specific guidance provided below, graduate assistantship (GTA/GRA/GA) and graduate fellowship appointments are expected to adhere to the policies and protocols outlined in the University Return-to-Workplace Guide.
Graduate students appointed as graduate assistants or graduate fellows are expected to be in residence in Louisiana and available to be on campus in Summer 2021 unless a Temporary Graduate Assistantship Remote Work Request has been approved by the Graduate School. Unfortunately, because the University has determined that individuals who reside outside of the United States cannot be paid stipends, completion of remote assistantship or fellowship duties from abroad cannot be approved.

In order to return to campus as a graduate assistant or fellow, you must complete the following:
• Before returning to campus:  "Preventing COVID-19" 25-minute course available on Moodle
• Each day prior to arriving on campus:  Employee COVID19 Daily Self-Check
• If directed not to arrive on campus due to COVID-19:  Student COVID-19 Quarantine & Isolation Reporting Form


Talk with your department head or assistantship/fellowship supervisor to determine how your position is part of the return-to-campus plan.
In an effort to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our campus community, academic departments (or hiring units) and supervisors should make every reasonable effort to accommodate requests from graduate students for flexibility, physical distancing, staggered scheduling, and remote work options.
• If the scope of assistantship or fellowship duties can be performed effectively remotely, supervisors may approve remote work until the easing of social distancing restrictions.
• If the scope of assistantship or fellowship duties typically performed do not lend themselves easily to remote work, supervisors may assign alternate duties to accommodate such requests.


Graduate students requesting an adjustment to their assistantship or fellowship assignment should follow the established process in their academic unit (or hiring unit, if not an academic appointment) for identifying solutions.
Where there are requests for flexibility for reasons other than individual health considerations (e.g., age, caregiving responsibilities for or cohabitating with an at-risk individual, child care needs), graduate students are encouraged to work productively with their supervisors to identify solutions that balance individual needs with the needs of the University.


Academic departments, hiring units, and supervisors should not request documentation from graduate students to demonstrate high-risk conditions or justification for accommodation. Rather, they should notify the EEO/ADA Coordinator at hrcompliance@louisiana.edu of such requests.


If accommodation and/or alternate assistantship or fellowship duties cannot be mutually agreed upon by the academic department/hiring unit/supervisor and graduate student, the Graduate School should be notified. The Dean of the Graduate School—in consultation with the Academic Dean, the Dean of Students, and Human Resources—will facilitate resolution.


Planning for Fall 2021

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is planning, as President Savoie has recently explained, “to be as close to normal as we can be when the fall semester begins.” For graduate studies, this means we are planning for a return to face-to-face instruction and on-campus activities in graduate programs that are not traditionally offered via online delivery.
You should talk with your Graduate Coordinator and review the delivery type for individual graduate courses on the Schedule of Classes.
The full academic calendar for the semester can be viewed on the Registrar's website.
Below is a general overview of how our graduate programs plan to offer courses in Fall 2021.
Definitions of the course delivery types are available here.

Graduate Program Course Delivery Modes
Accounting (M.S.) OL
Applied Language and Speech Sciences (Ph.D.) HF
Athletic Training (M.S.) OC, HY
Architecture (M.Arch.) OC, HF, RM
Biology (M.S.) OC
Biology, Environmental & Evolutionary (Ph.D.) OC
Business Administration (Graduate Certificate) OL
Business Administration (M.B.A.) - online OL
Business Administration (M.B.A.) - on campus OC
Cardiovascular Nursing (Graduate Certificate) OL
Chemical Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
Civil Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
Communication (M.S.) OC, HF, RM, OL
Computer Science (M.S.) OC, HF
Computer Science (Ph.D.) OC, HF
Computer Engineering (M.S.) OC, HF
Computer Engineering (Ph.D.) OC, HF
Counselor Education (M.S.) OC
Criminal Justice (M.S.) OC (only CJUS 410G & 505 OL)
Earth & Energy Sciences (Ph.D.) OC
Education (M.A.T.) Elementary Education OL
Education (M.A.T.) Elementary French Immersion OL
Education (M.A.T.) Special Education HF, RM
Education (M.Ed.) Curriculum and Instruction - Instructional Specialist OL
Education (M.Ed.) Curriculum and Instruction - Special Educ. Diagnostician HF, RM, OL
Education (M.Ed.) Gifted Education HF, RM, OL
Education (M.Ed.) Educational Leadership OC, HY
Education (Ed.D.) Educational Leadership OC, HY
Electrical Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
English (M.A.) OC, HF
English (Ph.D.) OC
Environmental Resource Science (M.S.) OC
Francophone Studies (Ph.D.) OC
French (M.A.) OC
Geology (M.S.) OC
Health Care Administration (Post-MBA Graduate Certificate) OC, OL
History (M.A.) OC
Industrial Chemistry (M.S.) HF
Informatics (M.S.) OC, HF (only INFX 502 OL)
Instructional Coach (Graduate Certificate) OL
Kinesiology (M.S.) OC, HF, HY, OL
Mathematics (M.S.) OC
Mathematics (Ph.D.) OC
Mechanical Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
Music (M.M.) OC, HF
Nursing (M.S.N.) OL
Nursing Practice (DNP) OL
Petroleum Engineering (M.S.E.) OC
Physics (M.S.) OC (only PHYS 438G RM)
Professional Writing (Graduate Certificate) OC
Psychology (M.S.) OC, HF, RM
Speech Pathology (Communicative Disorders M.S.) HF
Systems Engineering (Ph.D.) OC
Systems Technology (M.S.) OL
TESOL (Graduate Certificate) OC
Updated 2021.05.18
Learn more about on-campus class size and safety protocols as well as disability services and accommodations here.

Information for Applicants

Prospective and recently-admitted students are encouraged to review our applicant FAQ page for current information regarding our application requirements and processes. Highlights include the following:
• Some programs have made the decision to continue to suspend the GRE requirement for Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021 applications.
• The Duolingo English Test will continue to be available as a temporary alternative to IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE testing options for those applying for all 2021 terms and the Spring 2022 entry term.


How will Graduate Student Orientations be available?

To ensure a safe and accessible environment for our students, the Graduate School orientations are now offered online, accessible via Moodle, here.

The New Graduate Student Orientation introduces the skills, resources, and networks of support essential to success in grad school at UL Lafayette. The 2021 Orientation will be available on August 1.

The Graduate Assistant (GTA/GRA/GA) and University Fellow Orientation, included as the last module in the New Graduate Student Orientation, includes information on completion of hiring paperwork and mandatory University trainings.
Check with your graduate coordinator for details about a program-specific orientation for new students in your department.
International students should review plans for the New International Student Orientation on the Division of Global Engagement on its COVID-19 Response & Updates website.
International Student Guidance

The Graduate School recognizes that the worldwide pandemic has presented unique challenges for our international graduate students. The Division of Global Engagement is the best resource for international students concerned about what the disruptions caused by COVID-19 mean for VISAs and for them as students at UL Lafayette.


Delaying Graduate Enrollment Guidance

The Graduate School is committed to assisting you as you make decisions about enrollment in Fall 2021.
Recently-admitted graduate students who have not yet begun their graduate studies may defer admission, without fee or penalty, to a later semester. Find instructions for deferring graduate admission here.
Continuing graduate students may request an Official Leave of Absence by submitting a Leave of Absence Request Form found here.
If you have funding (e.g., an assistantship, fellowship, scholarship), discuss with your graduate coordinator or assistantship/fellowship supervisor how delaying graduate enrollment may impact your funding. Similarly, if you have received federal financial aid, you should consult with the Office of Financial Aid.

Summer 2020: Submitting Milestone Forms, Notifications, and Approvals

Forms and milestone notifications (including comprehensive exam and defense notifications) should be sent to GradSchoolApprovals@louisiana.edu.

Forms (e.g., transfer credit requests, doctoral committee appointments, requests for an official leave of absence) and approvals are being accepted as follows:

  •     The student should initiate the process by completing all parts of the form and forwarding it by email to the appropriate faculty member in their department (most often the graduate coordinator) for review and approval.
  •     Upon review and approval, the graduate coordinator will convey approval to the Graduate School by sending the completed form as a pdf document to gradschoolapprovals@louisiana.edu.
  •     Approval signatures from required individuals will be accepted:
    • whenever possible, on the scanned form with actual ink hand-signed signatures
    • from a UL email account from which the approver indicates their approval on the form itself or in the body of the email to which the form is attached
    • from a professional email address of an approver external to UL Lafayette (i.e., outside committee member) from which the approver indicates approval on the form itself or in the body of the email to which the form is attached

    NOTE:  A new process for submitting candidacy forms and petitions for regular admission status will be announced shortly.

Final Reports for students expecting to graduate in Summer 2020 are being handled as follows:

  •     The chairperson of the committee must notify GradSchoolApprovals@louisiana.edu (using their UL email address) that a student has successfully completed all degree requirements (e.g., comprehensive exam and/or defense).
  •     No final report form will be emailed to you. Instead, in your email notification to the Graduate School please include the names of all committee members. If a committee needs to be updated, use the Committee Update Form.
  •     The Graduate School will then email each committee member and request individual approvals of this Final Report notification. Each committee member must provide approval using their UL email address (or, in the case of external members, an email address associated with their professional appointment).

Preliminary Approval Forms for thesis students and doctoral students expecting to graduate in Summer 2020 are being handled as follows:

  •     The student should complete all parts of the Preliminary Approval Form found on the forms website here and forward it by email to the committee chair for review and approval.
  •     Upon review and approval, the committee chair shall convey approval on behalf of the full committee to the Graduate School by sending the completed form as a pdf document to GradSchoolApprovals@louisiana.edu. Approval signatures from required individuals will be accepted:
    •  whenever possible, on the scanned form with actual ink hand-signed signatures
    •  from a UL email account in which the approver indicates their approval of the form. The approver may note approval in the body of the email to which the form is attached.
    •  from a professional email address of an approver external to UL Lafayette (i.e., external committee member). The approver may note approval in the body of the email to which the form is attached.

Approval Pages for thesis/dissertation/synthesis projects for those expecting to graduate in Summer 20202 are being handled as follows:

  •     No physical signatures will be required.
  •     Upon receipt of the Preliminary Approval Form at GradSchoolApprovals@louisiana.edu from the chairperson of the committee (via their UL email address), the Graduate School will email each committee member and request individual approvals of the defended manuscript.
  •     Using their UL email address (or, in the case of external members, an email address associated with their professional appointment), each committee member must respond to this notification offering approval.

Duolingo English Test Scores - 2020.05.14

International applicants should note that the Graduate School has approved the temporary use of the Duolingo English Test scores as an alternative to IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE scores. Please visit our applicant FAQ for details.

Important Graduate Application News and Applicant FAQs - 2020.04.27

The Graduate School has made some temporary changes to our application requirements and processes. Please visit our applicant FAQ page for details and guidance for applicants and recently-admitted students. Highlights include the following:

1. Select programs have suspended the GRE requirement for Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 applications.

2. Recently-admitted international applicants who require an I-20 may submit their financial documentation through the application portal.

3. Postal mail will be received twice weekly during remote operations. Documents sent by courier service should use the following address:

UL Graduate School
620 McKinley St, Room 138
PO Box 43716
Lafayette, LA 70504