UNC Charlotte, other local colleges send students home with plan to hold class remotely
UNC Charlotte is among the University of North Carolina system schools transitioning students to online classes. The university said on Tuesday that all students will be required to leave residence halls by 5 p.m. Friday.
Other Charlotte-area universities are both reassuring their campus communities of increased vigilance around public health and making plans for students to attend classes virtually in the coming weeks or months due to coronavirus.
No local colleges had known cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday. On Tuesday, Mecklenburg County health officials announced four more cases locally.
Last week, UNC Charlotte professors began making plans in case students needed to finish spring semester classes remotely.
According to UNC Charlotte spokeswoman Buffie Stephens, 100 students have reported they are self-quarantined based on the self-quarantine guidelines provided by the university last Thursday.
Classes resumed last week after students’ spring break. In a memo to faculty, UNC Charlotte Provost Joan Lorden on Monday encouraged professors to “begin planning for the possibility of delivering the remainder of their spring courses virtually.”
UNC Chapel Hill announced last Wednesday that spring break for all students is being extended and then students will start remote instruction on Monday, March 23, the News & Observer reported.
Davidson College
Last Thursday, Davidson College announced it would be transitioning to remote instruction and all students are encouraged to leave residence halls.
The college also announced that a student exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 was tested for the disease. The student is currently in quarantine, according to the college’s website.
“We will know the results in a few days. Our thoughts are with this person, and we hope they recover quickly,” the statement said.
Over last weekend, Davidson President Carol Quillen sent a letter to campus with advice on washing hands, avoiding close contact (such as hand shakes) and talking with health professionals while also staying home if they feel sick.
Wingate University
Wingate University sent similar information to students and employees and suggested, “When feasible, consider utilizing conference-call technology such as Zoom, Facetime or Skype for meetings.”
Wingate officials also advised professors to “prepare now to facilitate classes remotely for up to 30 days.” Classes could be taught using Canvas, an online course platform, and professors could record lectures for students to watch on video from home.
CPCC
According to its website, Central Piedmont Community College extended its spring break until Monday, March 23 with the hope that some classes could be moved online.
“At that time, there may still be the need for a limited number of in-person classes and attendance for courses such as those with labs and other hands-on requirements. For any in-person classes and labs, the college will look for ways to conduct these with smaller groups of students.”
Previously, professors had been asked to prepare for the possibility of delivering classes virtually, said Central Piedmont Community College spokesman Jeff Lowrance.
However, any future decision to move instruction out of classrooms will have to be made in consultation with the North Carolina Community College System and the Mecklenburg County Health Department, he said last Tuesday.
Queens University
On Thursday, the university announced that all instruction will move online next, starting Wednesday, March 18 for the remainder of the semester.
Classes will be suspended until next Wednesday to allow faculty to prepare to shift instruction online. Students will also be required to leave campus with their belongings by Sunday, March 15.
Belmont Abbey College
Over the weekend, the college announced that spring break would be extended to Monday, March 30 and a decision regarding course instruction would be made no later than the Thursday prior.
Officials at Belmont Abbey College are monitoring the situation and discussing what technology would be used in the case classes are moved digitally, Belmont Abbey spokesman Rolando Rivas said. Existing technology used by professors includes the Google Suite and Canvas, he said.
“The hope is that we’re not in a situation where we’d have to do that,” Rivas said.
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is extending its spring break to Monday, March 23. Then the university will transition from “in-person instruction to alternative course delivery methods.” Students are expected to get more information next week.
If possible, students are also encouraged to stay at home away from on-campus housing, according to a statement from App State.
Johnson and Wales University
On Thursday, Johnson & Wales University announced they would “move to online and remote instruction for our non-culinary lab academic classes” from March 16 to Sunday, April 12.
Culinary labs university-wide will not be held for two weeks starting on March 16, the release said.
“During this time, we will assess the situation and make a decision regarding how to go forward for the remaining weeks in the spring term.”
Residence halls will also remain open, though students may choose to return home, the statement said.
Winthrop College
Winthrop College is switching to online classes for a limited time following spring break. Virtual classes are currently scheduled from March 23 to April 3.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 11:11 AM.
