The University of New Orleans basketball teams won't get a chance to go to the Big Dance next year. The NCAA slapped the Privateer men's and women's programs with postseason suspensions for the 2013-14 season Tuesday because of bad grades, according to the school's sports department. 

A collegiate chemistry experiment provided explosive results Friday afternoon at the University of New Orleans. About 2:45 p.m., a vial containing unnamed acids in a lab on the third floor of the lakefront university's Chemistry Science building blew up, according to the New Orleans Fire Department. No one was injured in the blast, which was described by NOFD as "mild."

Jazz Fest has wrapped and the Fair Grounds are empty, but the festival season continues this weekend down by the lake at the campus of UNO.

Despite water rate hikes and a consent decree duel that's only getting uglier, the most recent University of New Orleans' study shows Mayor Mitch Landrieu remains popular among constituents in Orleans Parish, boasting a strong 70-percent approval rating, according to the numbers collected.

Jim Richard’s “Make Yourself at Home,” on view at the New Orleans Museum of Art through February 24, 2013, remains one of the best shows of the year. A modernist journey through the colorful interiors of homes filled with a mix of high art, tchotchkes, and period furniture, Richard’s twelve-work exhibit showcases his deep knowledge of contemporary and historical art alongside refined technical skill, and pokes a little fun at modern art in the meantime.

There's been a lot of changes at the University of  New Orleans lately, but the Privateer diaspora can take comfort today in the fact that Pierre the Pirate and Lafitte the InstiGator are staying in the Southland. UNO announced they're joining the Southland Conference for athletics, effective for the 2013 fall season.

As a new school year starts, the University of New Orleans is girding for big cuts. The publicly-funded school has a budget hole of about $40 million. To make up for the losses, the school is doing everything from outsourcing the bookstore to reducing employee travel to shedding staff via firings and buyouts. The school detailed plans today. Here's a roundup:

by Shay Sokol

Tip jars aren't the only help up-and-coming NOLA brass musicians are getting these days. Jazz enthusiasts Nathan and Priscilla Gordon donated $25,000 to UNO to establish the Gordon Scholarship in Brass, which will support new undergraduate students majoring in jazz. The Scholarship will be granted each semester, provided the student remains in good standing with the University. The first award will be made as early as this upcoming fall semester.

In the wake of two recent drowning incidents, the University of New Orleans is shutting off public access to the sandy beach that is the former site of Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park. On weekends, large crowds gather at the spot to barbecue, take in the sun and, despite no swimming signs, to wade in the water. But the deaths of Bilder Lopez and Shone Badon, both 17, in separate swimming accidents over the last two months have pushed UNO to restrict further access. In a statement, the university said they plan to close the beach "until further notice" and ramp up security. "No Trespassing signs will be posted soon," the statement said.

by Mary Devon-Dupuy

Classes are mostly over at our area universities, but seniors still have to attend one final lecture before school's out. Commencement season is upon us, which means it’s time for our state’s universities to send their bright young students out into the real world. This year they’ve recruited some of the nation’s most influential people as their keynote speakers, a few of them being alums from Louisiana.