Fairfield University welcomes 44 students displaced by Hurricane Katrina | Press Releases

Late Registration Session the latest effort to help students

Fairfield University officials met this morning to ease the transition for some 44 students displaced by Hurricane Katrina who will be studying at Fairfield this semester. The 36 full-time and eight part-time students come from Loyola University-New Orleans and Tulane University.

Judith Dobai, associate academic vice president for enrollment management, said, "We are welcoming these students to our campus as visiting students who will return to their own universities in January. Our goal is to help each student keep his/her academic program intact while at the same time assisting the colleges that have suffered such a serious setback from this storm." As part of that assistance to the affected schools, she said final details are being worked out so Fairfield will be the host school for the semester but the schools that needed to close down due to hurricane damage would receive the tuition revenue anticipated from their students.

Dr. Edna Wilson, dean of University College, has coordinated Fairfield's academic advising to the displaced students. "We have offered to register students through Wednesday, Sept. 14," Dr. Wilson said, but she recommended that interested students come to a "Late Registration Session" on Friday, Sept. 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Dolan House on the University campus. Interested students may call (203) 254-4110 for additional information.

Dr. Wilson said her staff has been invaluable in working with the families and addressing their concerns. "So far we've handled over 300 calls," she said, "and each one has required special attention. We are doing our best to guide these students in the right direction."