IU, Purdue to suspend classroom teaching after spring break amid virus fears
(WISH) — Indiana University and Purdue University said Tuesday they will suspend classes and have remote teaching for two weeks after their spring breaks.
IU and Purdue will have spring break next week.
The suspension of IU classes includes all its campuses, including IUPUI in Indianapolis. Purdue’s suspension excludes its other campuses, a university spokesman said. Classes will continue as normal through Friday at the universities. The suspension of classes will end April 5.
IU President Michael McRobbie said in a letter that no known cases of COVID-19 have been identified on its campuses.
The IU letter says, “Alongside our extensive prevention efforts that are already being carried out, it is now necessary to take further urgent, proactive steps to help keep the IU community safe. These measures will undoubtedly cause inconvenience and disruption, yet the risks of not acting now far outweigh the foreseeable inconvenience and challenges of these actions. The steps that we are taking are necessary to help ensure the continuing good health of our community. On behalf of Indiana University, I am grateful to all of you in advance for your patience, support and dedication as we work together to energetically address the problems associated with COVID-19.”
Purdue president Mitch Daniels also issued a letter that said no COVID-19 cases have been identified at the West Lafayette campus.
Daniels’ letter says, “All faculty and staff should move their courses to online or alternative delivery before March 23 and should be prepared to continue as long as in-person instruction seems inadvisable (potentially through the end of the semester). To be clear, the campus will remain open after spring break. However, starting March 23, students must take their courses online.”
Both campuses are remaining open.
Other measures, recommendations from Purdue
— Teaching staff are asked to accommodate students who are not feeling well by being flexible with attendance policies.
— Students in the residence halls have the option of choosing whether to return to campus or not after spring break. Purdue will assure students can complete their program or study online or with other accommodations.
— All university-sponsored domestic and international travel is suspended from March 16 through May 2.
— All university-sponsored events involving external visitors are suspected from March 16 through May 2. Gatherings of 50 or more people should be postponed or canceled, or use livestreaming or other technologies.
— All summer study abroad is canceled.
Other measures, recommendations from IU
— Department leaders are to determine if staff and faculty can work from home.
— Classes will continue as normal through Friday, an IU spokesman said. The suspension of classes will end April 5.
— “While completing classes virtually, students are strongly encouraged to stay in their permanent homes away from campus, unless they are prevented from returning home because of travel restrictions or they do not have access to the technology at home, such as reliable internet access, to complete their classes remotely.”
— Face-to-face teaching is set to resume April 6.
— University-affiliated domestic travel outside Indiana is suspended through April 5.
— Visitors on IU campuses are “strongly discouraged.”
— “No new non-essential, large events should be scheduled through April 6. For events already scheduled through April 6, organizers are strongly encouraged to immediately consider canceling or rescheduling these.”