University of Illinois cancels face-to-face classes, encourage students who can to go elsewhere

The University of Illinois will suspend face-to-face instruction for the rest of the 2020 spring semester following the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials to reduce the density of the population in their facilities and make the environment safer for those who must remain on campus.

The University said that the suspension of face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the semester allows students to make plans to remain away from campus for the rest of the term while also providing faculty and staff the ability to plan for the rest of the semester.

Here are the new measures being taken by the U of I:

• Suspending face-to-face instruction for the rest of the spring 2020 semester.
• Intend to resume instruction using alternative delivery methods beginning Monday, March 23. Faculty and students will receive separate e-mail messages from Provost Andreas Cangellaris with more details about the transition. These updates also will be posted to the university’s COVID-19 website.
• Requiring all students who can safely do so return to their permanent home address to take their classes for the rest of the semester. University Housing is asking those students living in residence halls, Private Certified and Greek housing to begin making plans to move out.
• Students with housing contracts will receive an e-mail message with details about this process and scheduling information directly from Vice Chancellor Danita Brown Young.
• Students residing in Private Certified Housing (i.e. Bromley, Newman, Illini Tower, Stratford House etc.) and in Greek Houses should consult with their respective facility management to determine policies and processes for move-out.
• Information regarding Commencement and other year-end celebrations will be shared at a later time. All other campus events for this semester, including those sponsored by student organizations, are canceled.

Additionally:

• They are not closing our residence halls. But, are asking all students who can go elsewhere, do so. For those who cannot leave, they will work to ensure the student will have a safe and supportive home as they continue your studies.
• The university is not closing down nor ceasing operations. They plan for our modified operations to continue as announced through various messages in the past few days. Alternative instruction will continue as scheduled, as will the delivery of university operations designated as essential by college and unit executives. Students, staff and faculty should continue to attend class, teach and work as scheduled. University research offices remain open and there are have plans in place to minimize disruptions to the research enterprise. 

Chancellor Robert Jones wrote in a Mass Mail letter, “I cannot tell you when we will come out on the other side of this outbreak. And there may be new changes or new announcements in response to changing circumstances in the days to come.

“But I can promise you that we will communicate as openly, honestly and quickly as we can.

“And I can most certainly express my enormous gratitude to every single member of this university and this community for your exceptional efforts in these extraordinary days.”