IU classes will be online for the rest of the spring semester due to COVID-19, according to an email sent Sunday night from IU President Michael McRobbie.
Campuses will remain open at a limited level, according to the email. Additionally, spring break will be extended a week to help students figure out travel plans, ease the burden on travel systems and give faculty time to prepare to teach the rest of the semester online.
Most residence halls and on-campus housing will close Friday, March 20, according to the email. Students should look out for additional information via email by Tuesday or on housing websites.
The Little 500 men’s and women’s races are also canceled.
The email said IU will continue to assess the status of graduation. All other IU-affiliated events are recommended to be postponed, canceled or conducted virtually for the rest of the semester.
Right before McRobbie’s email was sent out, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended all gatherings of 50 or more people be suspended for the next eight weeks. IU’s planned graduations fall right at the end of the eight-week period.
“These are extraordinary times,” McRobbie said in the email. “I know how very difficult and deeply disappointing these steps will be for many students, staff and faculty. We profoundly regret having to arrive at this place, as I know that it means further disruption for all of you and your families.”
IU will keep the community up-to-date via email and at coronavirus.iu.edu.
IDS updates on the coronavirus can also be found here.
