NATCHEZ &045; Twenty-three college students &045; many from the same New Orleans community college &045; have found a new home at Co-Lin’s Natchez branch.

The highest number of new students is from Delgado Community College, but the University of New Orleans, Nichols State University, Holy Cross College, Pearl River Community College, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and ITT Tech are also represented.

And Co-Lin is happy to have them, Acting Dean Gwen McCalip said.

&uot;This is one of the things Co-Lin can help in,&uot; she said. &uot;It’s something we felt we could contribute.&uot;

Students now living in a Mississippi shelter or home are considered in-state for tuition purposes.

The school has helped the students get the necessary books and volunteers are working to make sure they are up to speed with the class work.

If they were previously receiving financial aid, Co-Lin is working to make sure they still get it.

No major restructuring has been needed to accommodate the new students, McCalip said.

&uot;We were fortunate the students were able to be placed in classes that had available spaces,&uot; she said. &uot;We didn’t have to hire any extra personnel.&uot;

At one point the college was working with 30 evacuees, but some have returned home or moved to another town.

The Wesson campus of Co-Lin has 19 evacuee students.