There are many Virginia colleges and universities that are extending spring break and adapting online classes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As of Tuesday, March 17, there are 67 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Virginia. On Thursday, March 12, Longwood University confirmed that a student tested 'presumptive positive' for the coronavirus.
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Here you will find a complete set of schools and their most recent plans for coronavirus preparation. This list will be updated with each school's plan as the coronavirus continues to spread.
Bridgewater College is moving forward with a distance learning model beginning from March 16 through April 3. Click here for more information.
Christopher Newport University is canceling classes beginning March 16 to provide time for faculty and staff to make the transition to online instruction. The school will then transition to online instruction for all students from March 23 through April 10. Classes will continue as scheduled on campus for the rest of that week. Additionally, all summer 2020 study abroad programs departing in May have been canceled. School officials say there are no reported cases of COVID-19 on campus. On March 17, university officials said its closing to the public has been extended to April 10.
DeVry University is giving onsite students the option to attend classes via WebEx Conferencing, instead of coming to campus for the remainder of the March session. Your faculty member will share information in your class shell on how to attend class via WebEx Conferencing.
George Mason University has extended spring break, then will move to virtual instruction.
Hampton University is canceling all in-person classes effective Friday, March 13 through Friday, April 3. All courses will be taught remotely. Remote instruction will begin Tuesday, March 17. They will reassess the decision periodically to determine if the end date for remote instruction will change.
James Madison University is extending their spring break until March 23 and will teach online classes until April 5. JMU President Jonathan Alger said in a releasethat students will be updated on the remainder of the semester on March 27.
Longwood University will be closed until March 18, cancelling in-person classes and events following a presumptive positive diagnosis for a Longwood student on Wednesday. In a release,Longwood President W. Taylor Reveley said faculty would continue to prepare for the possibility of online classes.
Marymount University has decided to extend Spring Break until next Wednesday, and temporarily shift course programming to online delivery until later this month. For the latest updates, click here.
Norfolk State University extended spring break until March 23 and will teach classes online until April 6. University residences will reopen March 22.
Old Dominion University's classes will remain online through the spring semester, university President John R. Broderick announced on March 17.Classes will resume next week, and Broderick said the university has "assembled significant resources to help faculty and students navigate the process."
Radford University extended its spring break for an additional week and plans to teach online until April 17, according to the university’s website. The university – as most academic institutions are doing – asked that faculty, staff and students complete a voluntary travel declaration forms.
“The information will be shared with local health officials as needed on a case-by-case basis,” Radford President Brian Hemphill said in a release. “For those who traveled, the University may ask individuals to self-monitor or self-isolate for two weeks depending upon the locations that were visited and the activities that were engaged in.”
Randolph College is extending spring break one week. Students should not return to campus this weekend, and the school will not start classes next Monday March 16. This allows the school some time to continue assessing options. Faculty and staff, however, should report as usual. The school stated in a release that, "One thing that we will work out during the next week is how to adjust the schedule for the remainder of the semester to make up next week’s classes. There will be an announcement on Thursday March 19 about this."
Rappahannock Community College is shifting to remote learning, with on-campus classes canceled on March 16 and 17. Online learning will begin March 18 until April 4, with all college events suspended from March 16 to April 4.
Roanoke College has suspended face-to-face meetings of classes, effective March 12. Classes will be taught online until April 3. Professors will contact their students about the start of online classes by Tuesday, March 17. Click here for more information.
Tidewater Community College has classes canceled on Monday, March 16, and Tuesday, March 17. The college will be open and faculty and staff will be working. Classes will resume on Wednesday, March 18, using remote instruction methods. Online classes will continue as usual.
Thomas Nelson Community College is extending its spring break through Sunday, March 22. All classes will resume through virtual or alternative delivery starting Monday, March 23, and continue throughout the remainder of the spring semester. Campuses will remain open, but all college events and community events scheduled to take place in college facilities with attendance over 100 people are canceled through May 9. Click here for more.
University of Lynchburg has extended spring break and it moving all classes online until March 23. Click here to read more.
University of Mary Washington says all classes will be cancelled this Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13. This will provide faculty and staff an opportunity to virtualize instruction and prepare to move teaching and learning online and to alternate formats beginning next week. All in-person class meetings will be suspended and instruction will be moving to online and alternate learning options for a three-week period beginning on Monday, March 16, and continuing through Friday, April 3, pending further developments.
University of Richmond extended spring break, cancelling classes from March 16-20, and will hold online classes until at least April 3. The school’s website states that students with extenuating circumstances, such as international students, can submit a petition to stay in on-campus housing although access to student services and facilities will be limited.
University of Virginia students will also move to online courses starting on March 19, according to a release from U.Va. President James Ryan posted on Wednesday.
“We will not be holding classes on Grounds for the foreseeable future, quite possibly through the end of the semester,” Ryan said in a release. “We will reassess after April 5 at the earliest and periodically after that date.”
Virginia Commonwealth University announced Wednesday that it will extend its spring break for an additional week. When the semester resumes on March 23, classes will be taught remotely for the “foreseeable future.” Classrooms are expected to use digital tools such as Blackboard, videoconferencing and online programs.
The release from VCU President Michael Rao said details regarding on-campus housing, student services and dining plans are forthcoming.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for being mindful and respectful of others during this outbreak, which is not limited to any particular age group, geographic region, nationality, ethnicity or race,” Rao said.
Virginia Tech’s spring break is extended to March 23, with a transition to online courses for the remainder of the semester. All events with over 100 people are cancelled through at least April 30, though May commencement plans are still in place.
“Our campus administrators, public health experts, and community leaders have been continuously engaged in monitoring the situation in Blacksburg, across Virginia, and around the world,” a release stated. “In consultation with our partners in the Virginia Department of Health, we are adopting a range of principle-based actions, effective immediately.”
Virginia State University announced that it will cancel or modify all scheduled events for the next 30 days. Modifications include pre packaged options in dining halls and livestreams for events, like the Mr. and Miss VSU Pageant and student government activities. Christopher Newport University took a similar approach, by rerouting study abroad plans and limiting serve-served food, according to its website.
William & Mary will start online classes March 23, after an extended spring break, to continue until at least April 1. University events are cancelled until April 3.
Don't see your school closing listed? Email us at takingaction@wtkr.com letting us know your school's plan.
