STATE SYSTEM SCHOOLS ADJUST SCHEDULES IN LIGHT OF COVID-19

With Covid-19 (coronavirus) concerns sweeping across the nation, and with  most of its fourteen universities currently in Spring Break, the State System of Higher Education says decisions on the resumption of classes on Monday are being left to the individual institutions.

IUP updated its position this morning at 8:00:

IUP does not have any reported or confirmed cases of the coronavirus at this time. The state of Pennsylvania has reported multiple presumed positive cases.

The university’s Health Service is monitoring the emerging facts about the disease and working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to understand and enact best practices for screening and treating any student that may report symptoms. We are continuing measures already in place designed to keep our community healthy; in light of recent concerns about the virus, we have increased precautions in the dining facilities and residence halls.

Classes and other events will continue as scheduled unless we are otherwise advised by state or national agencies.

Other schools within the State System have already made decisions about the resumption of classes.

As of now, only IUP and Clarion are moving forward with the scheduled resumption of face-to–face classes on Monday.  That, of course, could change as new information is assessed.

• Bloomsburg, Kutztown, and Shippensburg will extend Spring break until March 23^rd.
• California will resume online classes on Monday, but on-campus classes will resume March 30^th in an online-only format, with students expected to return to class on April 13^th.
• Cheyney has suspended classes next week.
• East Stroudsburg will delay students’ return to campus until March 21^st while preparing to deliver classes online if necessary.
• At Edinboro and Lock Haven, online students return to class on Monday, but Spring Break is extended through next week as faculty prepare to teach online for the weeks of March 23^rd and 30^th, with the return to campus scheduled for April 6^th.
• Kutztown has extended Spring Break for a week and will resume classes on March 23^rd.
• Mansfield already had its Spring Break and says it is preparing for teaching online courses only, but has not made that decision yet.
• Spring break is scheduled next week at Millersville, which will extend the break to March 27^th and then teach classes online, with decisions pending on moving forward from there.
• Slippery Rock will resume on-campus classes on March 30^th, with online classes scheduled to resume this coming Monday.
• West Chester has suspended on-campus classes for the rest of the semester. Online students will return to class on Monday as faculty prepare to teach scheduled on-campus classes online.  All classes will be taught remotely beginning March 30^th.