Purpose

To establish a policy and procedure governing the display of official flags (United States, Louisiana, and Thibodaux flags that are displayed in front of Elkins Hall on Highway 1) at half-staff.

Policy

Official flags shall be lowered to half-staff as a symbol of respect and mourning under the following circumstances:

• By order of the president of the United States
  • Memorial Day: from dawn until noon
  • Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15: from dawn until dusk
  • Upon the death of the following:
    • A president or former president of the United States: for a period of 30 days from the day of death
    • A vice president of the United States, chief justice or retired chief justice of the Supreme Court, president of the Senate, or speaker of the House of Representatives: for a period of 10 days from the day of death
    • An associate justice of the Supreme Court, a secretary of an executive or military department, a former vice president, or the governor of a state: from the day of death until interment
    • A Member of Congress: from the day of death until the following day
  • At all other times as proclaimed by the president of the United States

• By order of the governor of Louisiana
  • Upon the death of the following:
    • A current or former Louisiana state legislator or statewide elected official: from the day of death until the following day
  • At all other times as proclaimed by the governor of Louisiana

• By order of the president of Nicholls State University
  • Upon the death of a Nicholls community member (current student or employee, retiree, or other person who has contributed significantly to the university): from the day of death until the morning after interment
  • At all other times as proclaimed by the president of Nicholls

Procedure

Upon receiving an order from the president of the United States, the governor of Louisiana, or the president of Nicholls to lower flags to half-staff, the Office of University Relations will notify University Police to lower the official flags to half-staff for a pre-determined length of time. It is the responsibility of the university chief of police to ensure the proper display of the university flags.

For additional information call the Office of University Relations at 985.448.4143.

Approved by the President’s Cabinet
August 21, 2007