My son at Williams heard that Amherst is moving to an all online format
Williams has cancelled admitted student events and admission tours.
Amherst is also telling students not to return to campus after spring break.
Vandy just suspended classes for the rest of the week and is implementing distance/online learning until at least the end of March, with the option of extending the distance learning option until the end of the school year in April, if deemed necessary.
I think once a few schools took the plunge, it has made it much easier for others to follow suit.
Rowan made spring break two weeks to give profs a chance to put classes online, but not planning to go online at this point. They will be ready if they decide to go that route by March 27. No changes to sports trips planned for break.
I’m so confused about the schools going online and telling students to go home and/or not to come back from spring break. How are people dealing with all their stuff in the dorms?
D19’s school hasn’t done that (yet?), but we haven’t even figured out how to move her out at the end of the school year. She’s way out of state. It will involve local storage near her school. Can’t imagine having to figure that out spontaneously.
I do wonder about empty dorms- perhaps security will be provided.
I would assume security is on duty. Not too different from other breaks. At some colleges, students have close to a month off for winter break.
D19’s school hasn’t made any announcements yet, but we are a flight away as well. I was thinking we could wait to go get her stuff, until I read this…
Sigh. Not sure we could leave her things there until Mid-May. I guess we will cross that bridge if and when we come to it.
Today was the first day I have felt anxious about all of this…not necessarily nervous about getting sick because I think I would be ok, but all the issues that are swirling around…coronavirus, stock market, oil shenanigans, politics, school cancellations, getting D home.
Today…It seems like a lot.
They will just lock up those dorms and no one will be allowed in…at all. That’s what they did in Ohio in 1970. Just locked everything up until the students were told to come back for their belongings.
NYU moving to online classes only starting Wednesday. Spring break is next week. NYU says online classes will continue at least thru the week after Spring Break. Sigh
If Amherst is telling kids they cannot return, are they giving refunds for room and board for the weeks missed? So far, they seem to be the only school saying kids cannot return. @Meddy thoughts?
D19 just texted me (from spring break) that Ohio State will be online only until March 30. They said students can stay in the dorms though.
@homerdog I’ll let you know as soon as I get any info. I can’t imagine how they will work this all out. So many moving parts, but for now we just have a letter and a video message from Amherst College President Biddy Martin:
https://www.amherst.edu/news/covid-19
As of now, Michigan is still holding classes. No cases reported yet in Michigan.
Spring Break just ended and they have instructed students and employees to self-isolate if they visited Iran, Italy, South Korea or China during the break.
Just heard on news that Harvard is also moving to online only classes.
Harvard moving to online classes. Students asked not to return form Spring break.
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2020/3/11/harvard-coronavirus-classes-cancelled/
Vanderbilt cancelling in person classes after students were exposed to a Coronavirus positive individual:
Posted by Vanderbilt on Monday, March 9, 2020 in Community Messages.
Dear Vanderbilt University community,
Due to new information received today, and based on our desire to protect the health and safety of our community from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), I am cancelling all university classes for the remainder of this week.
In addition, beginning Monday, March 16 and through at least March 30, the university is suspending all in-person classes and is moving to online and other alternative learning options. Students will hear directly from their respective deans and/or faculty instructor regarding any specific instructions.
To be clear, the university will remain open, and we will be actively reviewing the situation to determine if and when in-person classes may resume. We may extend the alternative learning approach through the end of the Spring semester (April 30) if necessary. We will keep in touch with you every step of the way.
Since some students may need to remain on campus during this period of in-person class suspension, the campus will remain open with limited or reduced services.
We are making this decision today because several students returned to campus who have since reported being exposed to an individual who tested positive today for COVID-19. The individual who tested positive is being treated at home and did not return to campus.
We take great pride in our residential living-learning model, which provides invaluable connections, camaraderie and support. Although this is one of Vanderbilt’s great strengths, we also recognize that these are extraordinary times that require exceptional measures to deal with a health risk that affects us all.
Again, faculty will communicate with students through their usual methods of communications, such as the course webpage on Brightspace or by email. Starting Monday, March 16, all coursework will be handled using methods other than in-person, on-campus instruction. Each course and each instructor will make a decision about the appropriate means in light of the nature of the course. Please monitor your Vanderbilt email and your course webpages for details. Students who find themselves with limited internet or computer access during this period of alternative instruction are encouraged to let their dean’s office know so that we can provide support.
In addition, effective immediately and until further notice, we are suspending all university-sponsored non-Athletics events and gatherings, including events sponsored by any registered student organizations, through April 30. We will seek opportunities to enable certain events through live-streaming or other platforms. This policy is based on current best-practices regarding social distancing as a prevention strategy for disease transmission. We are also reviewing Vanderbilt and conference policies for fan attendance at Athletics events and will update all in forthcoming messages. We currently plan to hold Commencement on May 8, but we will continue to evaluate that decision and keep you informed of any changes.
The university is also changing its travel policy and restricting university-sponsored international travel to any country effective March 10 through April 30. As part of this change, Vanderbilt will also have restrictions on hosting new visitors to campus during this period. Detailed guidance will be available on the university’s web site before Wednesday, March 11.
For information and updates related to the broad set of actions Vanderbilt University is taking to address this public health situation, please visit vu.edu/coronavirus.
We recognize that these actions create significant challenges for students, faculty, staff and families, and we ask for your understanding as we respond to this unprecedented public health issue.
Now, more than ever, we will pull together and do what Vanderbilt does best – collaborate, find solutions, and move forward, together. I know we are up to the task and that we will emerge from this stronger than ever as a community. Thank you in advance for your support.
Most sincerely,
Susan R. Wente
Interim Chancellor and Provost
Does anyone have any information or, really, anything, for those of us with kids in majors that are not conducive to online classes? Thinking specifically about the theater and music kids. I mean, my kid is working on the musical for mid-April. Obviously can’t be done online. A good chance the whole thing will be canceled.
I’m sure there are other majors I’m not thinking of. I just have no clue how they will finish out a semester of classes that require in-person activity of some sort.
If/when your student’s school becomes affected, they should reach out to their profs and ask.
Many classes aren’t conducive to online/remote learning, including science labs.