Michigan State is preparing a potential transition to online classes as some universities closed their doors this week in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19 is a disease caused by a member of the coronavirus family.
MSU President Samuel L. Stanley touched on this issue of in-classroom learning in his most recent email to the MSU community.
“MSU has been preparing for pivoting the campus to online learning should that decision be required,” Stanley said. “The resource to support educators in moving courses to online instruction is keepteaching.msu.edu.”
This website provides many resources for online learning for faculty and students in case in-person classes need to be suspended.
New York University, Ohio State University and Harvard University have all initiated the transition.
Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie temporarily suspended all face-to-face classroom teaching, according to a public letter.
“Following our scheduled spring break (March 15 to 22), students on all IU campuses will be taught remotely (not in person) for two weeks (March 23 to April 5),” McRobbie said in the letter. “We are planning to resume face-to-face teaching on Monday, April 6. However, that could change with the evolving situation.”
McRobbie said students should return home during the break even though residents halls and dining halls will remain open.
Recent school closings alarmed some MSU professors, including math professor Rachael Lund, who sent an email to students urging them to avoid coming to class if they are feeling ill.
“If you have traveled over spring break to any of the countries under Level 3 Travel Health Notice as described on the CDC website or you are feeling sick and you believe it would be best to self-quarantine, please let me know and I will assist you to stay up-to-date in the class and accommodate you as best as possible,” Lund said in the email.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
