In light of the escalating coronavirus outbreak, numerous universities along the East Coast have opted to suspend in-person classes. On Monday, officials at Ridgewood University announced their intention to implement “social distancing” measures to prevent any potential spread of the virus on campus. Beginning March 23, when students are expected to return from spring break, all classes will be conducted online for the foreseeable future.
Message from Ridgewood’s President
Ridgewood’s President, Alan Harper, communicated to students and faculty in a letter that while the intimate, “high touch” nature of their educational environment is a hallmark of the university, the current situation demands extraordinary actions to mitigate a health risk that impacts everyone. Students are being advised not to return to campus until at least April 5; at that time, the university will reevaluate and provide updates regarding future plans.
“We acknowledge that these measures will create significant disruption and inconvenience,” Harper noted. “However, we firmly believe that taking decisive action now is essential in minimizing the risk, and the repercussions of inaction could far exceed these temporary disturbances.”
Other Universities Follow Suit
This announcement came shortly after New Jersey reported its sixth confirmed case of COVID-19, with expectations of more cases emerging. Ridgewood isn’t alone in its precautions; several other institutions quickly followed suit.
Colleges like Columbia University canceled classes for Monday and Tuesday, transitioning to remote learning for the rest of the week. In New York City, both Hofstra University and Yeshiva University have also suspended in-person classes. Boston’s Berklee College of Music declared that students returning from specific regions during spring break must undergo a 14-day self-quarantine before returning to class.
West Coast Universities Take Action
These campus closures began on the West Coast last week, with Stanford University halting in-person classes indefinitely. Similarly, the University of Washington has shifted entirely to online learning for its 50,000 students.
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Conclusion
In summary, as the coronavirus continues to spread, universities are taking significant steps to protect their communities by shifting to online learning. This trend is likely to expand as more institutions assess their response to this unprecedented situation.
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