Coronavirus and canceled classes: A list of what local colleges are doing

Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday afternoon that he is recommending colleges and universities screen students returning from international travel or cruise ships, eliminate international travel, cancel or postpone university-sponsored travel and large meetings, and move toward online or remote learning.

Prior to this announcement, in light of the international coronavirus outbreak, local universities already were stressing the importance of good hygiene and many had cancelled large events or international trips out of precaution.

>>Gov. DeWine declares state of emergency after 3 residents contract coronavirus

Wright State University

Wright State University canceled all in-person classes for the rest of the week and will resume Monday with remote learning through at least March 30 due to the novel coronavirus.

All official university events, receptions, gatherings and student activities are suspended until further notice; however, athletic events will defer to NCAA and Horizon League guidance.

University-sponsored travel previously was limited to exclude countries under a CDC Threat Level 3, which on Tuesday included China, South Korea, Iran and Italy, but on Tuesday night WSU suspended all foreign and domestic air travel until further notice.

As for which international programs may be canceled, Wright State said that the University Center for International Education will decide by March 20, based on CDC and U.S. State Department information as well as the decisions of other institutions with programs in affected areas.

>>Dayton leaders react to Ohio's first coronavirus cases

University of Dayton

The University of Dayton canceled classes and is asking for students to leave campus by 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The cancelation came three days before its spring break.

When classes resume March 23, they will be conducted remotely, the university said.

The new guidelines call for canceling international travel and for decisions about athletic team travel to be made on a “case-by-case” basis.

This is as the Flyers men’s basketball team is having one of the most successful seasons in the school’s history and the men’s and women’s teams are likely to participate in the NCAA’s tournament games.

The guidelines for students also called for all university-sponsored international and domestic spring break programs to be canceled, and all summer study abroad programs also are canceled.

A university group is meeting several times a week to coordinate UD’s short-term response and long-term business plans.

The university said it will update its webpage with the latest information, and is in contact with the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Ohio Department of Health and Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County.

>>Secret Service issues alert about coronavirus email scams

Clark State University

Clark State Community College will move all in-person classes on all campus locations — including Springfield, the Greene Center in Beavercreek, Xenia REACH Center and Ohio Hi-Point Career Center in Bellefontaine — to online or correspondence formats beginning March 16 through March 27.

The college is currently on spring break.

The Clark State Performing Arts Center and Hollenbeck-Bayley Conference Center will continue to host programs for the time being. Any changes to events will be communicated to patrons through email and the website.

Clark State is canceling all out-of-state travel for March and evaluating any travel beyond the end of this month. In-state travel will be modified on a case-by-case basis.

Dr. Matt Franz, vice president, information technology and emergency management at Clark State, said infectious disease experts agree that proper hand hygiene and social distancing will be most effective at controlling the spread of COVID-19.

>>Ohio prepares for 'long haul' of coronavirus prevention

Wilberforce University

Wilberforce University has set up a page of information at wilberforce.edu/coronavirus-covid-19/ and is encouraging good hygiene routines including washing your hands often, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and covering your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze.

Central State University

Central State University has announced that classes after Spring Break from March 23 through April 4 will be conducted remotely, according to a statement from the president’s office.

The statement also announced all campus activites with large attendance have been suspended, and all non-essential travel has been suspended, including a planned study-abroad program in Italy, which has been canceled.

The university’s Health and Wellness Center is following recommendations of the CDC and Ohio Department of Health “to ensure that we are prepared to diagnose and treat any patients with the disease.”

The university is also in the process of putting up flyers and banners reminding students to practice good prevention and wash their hands.

>>Coronavirus and Ohio's election: Poll workers needed, early voting encouraged

Sinclair Community College

Sinclair Community College has announced that it will cease offering traditional face-to-face classes beginning March 10, instituting a special break for students from all classes March 11-23. From that point on, all classes will operate online only until further notice.

Sinclair will also prohibit all college-sponsored travel to countries on the CDC Threat Level 3 list.

Wittenberg University

Wittenberg University announced that starting Monday, March 16, it will suspend all face-to-face instruction until at least March 23, as well as suspending all international and non-essential domestic travel.

The university also announced that it was restricting attendance at indoor athletic contests to immediate family members.

Wittenberg University said that it will be re-evaluating its policies on a week-by-week basis.

>>Coronavirus: Can manufacturers weather the storm?

Miami University

Miami University has cancelled face-to-face classes beginning today through at least April 12, the university announced Tuesday. Dorms and cafeterias remain open on university campuses. The University Senate on Monday passed a resolution urging faculty, staff, and students to stay home when ill to avoid spreading any contagion, and that teachers would accommodate reasonable needs arising from illness.

Tuesday, Miami also set up a call center at 513-529-9000 for general questions or concerns that is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The university as of Tuesday afternoon listed an extensive list of preparedness steps to be taken throughout the week planning for all eventualities related to COVID-19 and preparing for the possibility of remote learning and working.

>>Coronavirus concerns cause 6 local voting locations to move

Ohio State University

Ohio State University is suspending face-to-face lectures, discussion sections, seminars and other classes, all of which will be moved to virtual instruction through Monday, March 30.

The university said that it was evaluating what to do in the case of laboratory and performance classes, which it said it will announce later this week. While taking virtual courses, the university said that students can either stay on campus or return to their permanent place of residence, whichever is the best choice for each student’s personal situation.

OSU also said that it was preparing plans for faculty and staff to telecommute, and was suspending all university-sponsored travel. Anyone who traveled on personal trips to China, Italy, Iran and South Korea, which are under a Level 3 warning from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is asked to report that travel to the university.

Those people are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days and watch for symptoms of the disease.

Finally, the university said it would not schedule any new, non-essential events through April 20.

Cedarville University

Cedarville University canceled classed for March 12 and 13 and will transition to remote, or online, classes from March 16 to March 27.

The university plans to monitor coronavirus and will update students, staff and faculty with additional plans by March 25.

Professors will give student additional details on classes and classwork will be delivered.

Students involved in clinical activities and student teaching will receive information about when those activities will continue from the deans and chairs of those departments.

Students living in residential halls should plan to be out by March 13 at 5 p.m.

The university believes the halls will reopen March 29, but will provide an update via email by March 25.

Students who are unable to stay at non-campus housing can petition to remain on campus. The process is through the Residence Life office. Petitions must be submitted by noon on March 12.

Students permitted to stay on campus should prepare for limited on-campus activities and interactions.

All faculty and staff should coordinate with supervisors to determine work expectations during this time.

All non-athletic events are canceled through March 29.

Outdoor in-season sports will continue and indoor sports will continue with spectators limited.

All nonessential travel has been canceled and is effective immediately.

The university is reviewing summer Global Outreach and study abroad travel.

About the Authors