All UNC System schools join Duke in halting on-campus classes because of coronavirus
All UNC System institutions are moving their students online and out of the classroom as coronavirus continues to spread.
In messages Wednesday afternoon, UNC Chapel Hill and N.C. State University said they are extending spring break for students until Sunday, March 22 and then will start online or remote instruction on Monday, March 23.
Both universities encouraged students to stay off campus, but residence and dining halls, libraries and campus health facilities will remain open for those who are still on campus or need to return.
The move was made to “encourage greater ‘social distancing’ and mitigate the spread of the virus,” according to the letter from UNC-CH Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and Provost Robert Blouin.
UNC-CH staff, academic leaders, and information technology specialists have a website with resources to help faculty and instructors make the switch to online classes.
“There is no set end date to this new arrangement,” the message from Guskiewicz and Blouin said. “We will constantly revisit and reevaluate our policies as the situation around COVID-19 evolves. Our hope is that we, like so many communities, can return to normalcy as soon as possible, but we must plan for digital operations through the remainder of the semester, if necessary.”
The UNC System also announced Wednesday that all of its institutions — from Charlotte to Boone, Greenville to Wilmington — will “transition from in-person instruction to a system of alternative course delivery, where possible and practical, no later than March 20.” The goal is to “maximize flexibility in how we deliver education in order to limit the potential impact of the coronavirus at our institutions.”
The system said those courses also will begin on Monday, March 23 and last indefinitely, with the goal of returning to in-person instructions as soon as reasonably possible.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the coronavirus at a university, including international students, please contact higher education reporter Kate Murphy at kamurphy@newsobserver.com.
Individual schools will communicate information to students
Each institution will communicate the specific details to its students, and faculty and university leadership will decide which classes or labs will remain in-person, according to the system.
All outdoor events with 100 or more people will be canceled or postponed unless otherwise authorized by a chancellor or provost, the system said. That could include graduation and commencement ceremonies. UNC-CH has canceled all campus events for more than 50 attendees effectively immediately. For NC State, the limit is 100 people.
The system also suspended all travel outside the state, unless there’s specific authorization from a chancellor or provost.
UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State officials repeated that message to their campus communities.
Within the state, UNC-CH is allowing travel for gatherings of 50 or fewer people. NC State is a bit more flexible, allowing travel to events with less than 100 people. NC State is also asking all students, faculty and staff who traveled over spring break to tell the university about their trip through the Spring Break Travel Registry.
No cases on college campuses
There are seven confirmed cases in North Carolina, in Wake and Chatham counties, but none have been reported on any college campuses in the state. Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency Tuesday as leaders continue to deal with the coronavirus.
Duke University indefinitely suspended all on-campus classes and is offering remote instruction once students and faculty return from an extended spring break on Monday, March 23.
Duke President Vincent E. Price said students should not return to campus “if at all possible.” He said Duke is working on plans to give residential students a prorated reimbursement of any previously paid and unused housing and dining fees.
Elon University announced Wednesday that all undergraduate courses will transition from classroom instruction to online classes for two weeks following spring break. Students are encouraged to remain at home during that time, but residence halls, dining halls and other campus services and offices will be open, according to the university.
Wake Forest University announced Wednesday it is suspending all in-person classes and will start remote delivery of course instruction starting on March 23.
UNC-CH, N.C. State, Duke, Elon and Wake Forest have already restricted travel to countries with a level two or three travel warning from the CDC, including China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan. Some campuses have also canceled study abroad programs in those countries.
More information about guidance from the UNC System about the coronavirus and how other universities are handling the outbreak can be found on the system website.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 4:48 PM.
