New Orleans, LA -- Tulane University announced Friday it would not hold classes on its campus for the fall semester due to Hurricane Katrina. However, school president Scott Cowen announced the university's athletics program will continue.

The school was devastated by flooding due to the hurricane and the city of New Orleans was ordered evacuated.

"We want our athletes to carry the torch, face and name of Tulane University during this difficult time and we have worked out an arrangement within the context of the [overall] plan," Cowen said. "This is made possible once again with assistance and generosity from colleges and universities -- those in Conference USA and those outside of the conference -- who have generously offered to help keep our teams together by providing not only academic opportunities but also practice facilities, playing facilities and general support."

According to a press release, Tulane students will be welcomed at hundreds of colleges and universities around the country this fall, thanks to the cooperation of nine leading higher education associations, which will accept Tulane students for the fall semester only under a set of specific guidelines.

Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson and other sports personnel have been assembled in Dallas and Birmingham, where the football and women's soccer teams are training.

"We're pleased that our Green Wave teams will be able to continue to compete and proudly represent Tulane University and the city of New Orleans during the fall semester," Dickson said. "We have received a tremendous amount of support already from our Conference USA family and from athletics programs around the country. This collaborative effort to put Tulane University teams on the fields of play this fall is unprecedented."

Tulane's football team was scheduled to play its season-opener on Sunday at Southern Miss, but that contest was postponed due to Katrina's aftermath. The game was moved to Nov. 26.