Auburn University announced Thursday that all of its classes will move online from March 16 until at least April 10 to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus.
As of Thursday at 1:00 p.m., there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Yellowhammer State. Samford University on Wednesday became the first university in Alabama to move all of its classes online.
Auburn informed faculty of the news at approximately 1:10 p.m. Thursday, per tweets by Auburn journalism professor John Carvalho. A public release followed minutes later.
Campus activities will be canceled and most facilities will be closed until April 10. Auburn is urging students from returning to campus at all following spring break through that date.
A release from Auburn stated, “University officials will subsequently determine if students will return to campus for the remaining weeks of the spring semester [after April 10]. Auburn faculty will contact students on steps they should take to continue their academic coursework.”
“The Auburn Family faces many unknowns about this virus,” Auburn University President Jay Gogue said. “We are taking these unprecedented steps based on our utmost concern for the health and well-being of Auburn students, faculty and staff. In the meantime, we continue working with public health and emergency preparedness officials to make decisions in the best interest of the campus community and to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Arrangements will reportedly be made for students who do not have access to the necessary technology for online instruction.
Additionally, the university medical clinic will remain open. Auburn advised, “Those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should immediately call the Auburn Medical Clinic at 334-844-9825 before visiting the clinic.”
Auburn has a website dedicated to the coronavirus here, where members of the community can get the latest updates from the university.
Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus via the Alabama Department of Health here and find related resources from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) here.
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Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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