Life in NOLA

Information about living in New Orleans and attending the University of New Orleans.

Moving to a new city and university is an exciting yet stressfull experience. There are many questions that run through your mind about the city and school you are going to make home for the next six months to a year. We also understand that since Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans there is going to be more apprehension. This information page is to give you a little comfort and create excitement about moving to the city we refer to as the “Big Easy.”

New Orleans:

New Orleans is a fascinating and historically rich city that was created by diverse backgrounds and cultures. It is a city that is completely different from other cities in the United States. It has a heart and culture of its own, and a spirit that you must experience in order to understand. From the French Quarter to Uptown to the Lake Front there are interesting places to see and countless things to do.

New Orleans after Katrina:

The two greatest things about the city of New Orleans are its culture and its people. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina blew into the gulf coast of the United States and destroyed many of the coastal cities, but she did not destroy the will of the people to rebuild these areas with vigor. Since the flood waters subsided, the people of New Orleans have been working hard to get the city up and running again. Progress is made every day and things are looking better and the future is looking brighter. Even more than 2.5 years after the hurricane, recovery is gradual, but evident in every corner of the city.

The University of New Orleans:

The neighborhood around the university is still struggling to come back. It was one of the most heavily flooded, although the UNO campus was only about one third flooded. Businesses are reopening steadily. The University of New Orleans suffered little damage from Hurricane Katrina and is back up and running smoothly! We are happy to announce that most things are running as normal.

Here are a few things that you can expect to find when you come to UNO and our Lakefront Campus:

• The campus is clean and green.
• The campus is safe and secure.
• The campus is on the lakeshore, which means everyone has quick access to a beautiful vista!
• The University Center has expanded its normal hours of operation and include a new television lounge, new recreation room, refurbished study lounge, expanded food service (including a convenience store), post office and copy center.
• Wireless connectivity is being expanded on the campus. Student computer labs also are in several buildings around campus, all with high-speed internet access and personal space on your own "I" drive.
• Student health services and the pharmacy have extended their operating hours to include weekend services. Student health has also entered into a partnership with local hospitals for emergency services.
• Save-A-Center, a large full-service grocery, is less than 5 minutes drive from campus.
• Several local eateries are open.
• Current-run movies are offered on a regular basis by the Student Activities Council.
• For more information on upcoming campus events, visit the UNO Campus Events Calendar

Other useful information:

New Orleans Guide: our little guide that provides some useful information about attractions, restaurants, things to do, night life, and a local directory. We did write this before Katrina, so some places may or may not be still in operation. Also, this is a pdf file, so you must have Acrobat Reader to open it.

Click here to see pictures of UNO campus taken recently

We also have a little document we prepared: Ten Things to Do in New Orleans. Some great suggestions!

Housing/Accommodations:

UNO currently has two affordable options for on-campus housing. One option is Ponchartrain Hall, this choice comes with a meal plan (charged separately to your student account) and several amnemities. It has two residence halls with one, two or four furnished bedroom units. Pontchartrain Hall just opened in August, 2007. The other option are the Privateer Place Apartments. Students can choose between an efficiency style, two bedroom, or a four bedroom apartment for a price that will not empty your wallet. For more information about these on-campus choices, visit Student Housing.

Security:

UNO has its own police department, and campus is well-lit and quite safe even at night. For campus police, visit their web site: http://upd.uno.edu. Also, if a student does not feel safe walking on campus at night, they can call the University Police for an escort to their on-campus residence.

Transportation:

Transportation in New Orleans has always been tricky. There is a bus that runs from campus to the French Quarter, and it is possible to take public transportation to most major areas of town. For schedules and news, go to the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority web site: http://www.norta.com/. It is not, however, on a par with European cities, especially since Katrina. Most residents own cars, and many international students purchase used bicycles for getting around town.